Abstract: The present invention provides a method for identifying a serialization bottleneck in a computer system (FIG. 1). The method comprises the steps of providing statistical data with regard to the actual response time (FIG. 2) of a computing resource, providing statistical data with regard to an expected response time of the computing resource and applying a mathematical formula to the actual response time to derive a relationship between the actual and expected response time. The relationship between the expected response time and the actual response time provides an indication of the presence of a serialization problem in a computing system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for improving information retrieval from a database. In one aspect, the invention provides a method for implementing a database. The method includes the steps of providing at least one set of linked entities which contain a plurality of entities, and each said entity is arranged to store at least one data value, further providing an additional entity for at least one set of linked entities, and storing in the additional entity the aggregation of a plurality of data values contained in the at least one set of linked entities.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for improving information retrieval from a database. In one aspect, the invention provides a method for implementing a database. The method includes the steps of providing at least one set of linked entities which contain a plurality of entities, and each said entity is arranged to store at least one data value, further providing an additional entity for at least one set of linked entities, and storing in the additional entity the aggregation of a plurality of data values contained in the at least one set of linked entities.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for the reorganization of a database in a computing system. The method includes determining operations necessary to effect the reorganization of the database, estimating the completion time for the operations, and scheduling operations to be executed in the order of decreasing estimated completion time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for identifying a serialisation bottleneck in a computer system (FIG. 1). The method comprises the steps of providing statistical data with regard to the actual response time (FIG. 2) of a computing resource, providing statistical data with regard to an expected response time of the computing resource and applying a mathematical formula to the actual response time to derive a relationship between the actual and expected response time. The relationship between the expected response time and the actual response time provides an indication of the presence of a serialisation problem in a computing system.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for reducing the amount of downtime during a database reorganization. The invention provides a method whereby data values are unloaded from a table in a database, stored in a substantially original format in another location within the database whilst the database is modified, and reloaded into the modified table.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for improving transaction processing performance in a transaction processing system, particularly but not exclusively, in a transaction processing computing system comprising a plurality of processors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for improving the efficiency of transaction processing systems by associating each one of plurality of transaction types with a respective central processing unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system (10) and method (30) for estimating computing resource usage (14) for each transaction type comprising the steps of obtaining utilisation data and transaction count data, applying a linear least squares algorithm (32) to the input data (22), wherein the linear least squares algorithm (32) comprises further steps arranged to reduce the time required to perform the aforementioned linear least squares algorithm computation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a position referencing system and method for horizontal or vertical conveyance, e.g., an elevator. The position referencing system includes a plurality of spaced apart color elements or reflectors (42) attached to a static structure (40), such as a door frame in a hoistway or guideway, a light source (12) for illuminating one of the reflectors, and a sensing device (10, 48, 48?) for capturing an image of the illuminated reflector. The image captured by the sensing device is used to determine the position and/or speed of the conveyance, e.g., an elevator car.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system (1) for improving the accuracy of an estimate of computing system resource usage, the method comprising the steps of obtaining utilization data of system resource and first transaction count data, obtaining further transaction count data and processing the transaction count data and further transaction data to provide an improved estimate of the number of transactions executed during a given time interval.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for modifying a database. The method, in one aspect, comprises the steps of unloading data values from a column in a table, creating a new column, and loading the unloaded data values to the new column, wherein the number of columns from which data is unloaded is less than but not equal to the number of columns that comprise the table.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for analyzing a computing system. The method comprises the step of determining a dependency between a first and second system resource performance characteristic in a computing system. The step of determining the dependency includes the steps of providing data values for the first performance characteristic and the second performance characteristic of the computing system, and applying a mathematical algorithm to derive a correlation value between the first and second characteristics. The correlation value provides an indication of the relative association between the second characteristic and the first characteristic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for improving transaction processing performance in a transaction processing system, particularly but not exclusively, in a transaction processing computing system comprising a plurality of processors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of estimating computing system resource usage by the process of obtaining raw utilisation data from a computing system and applying a mathematical model to the input data, thereby providing an estimate of resource usage for a individual transaction type within the computing environment.