Abstract: A safety accessory for stabilizing a user on a step ladder is provided. The safety accessory includes an elongate member having a shaft and at least one handle portion extending perpendicularly to the shaft and structured to be gripped by the user, the handle portion having a strap ring; a harness configured to removeably couple to the strap ring of the handle portion, the harness being structured to cradle and urge the user toward the center of gravity of the step ladder when the user stands on at least one of the plurality of steps of the step ladder; and a clamp configured to removeably attach to a selected location on the side rail of the step ladder, the clamp having a receptacle structured to slideably receive the shaft of the elongate member and a positioning structure configured to maintain the shaft of the elongate member into a selected one of a plurality of longitudinal positions with respect to the clamp.

Abstract: A safety accessory for stabilizing a user on a step ladder is provided. The safety accessory includes an elongate member having a shaft and at least one handle portion extending perpendicularly to the shaft and structured to be gripped by the user, the handle portion having a strap ring; a harness configured to removeably couple to the strap ring of the handle portion, the harness being structured to cradle and urge the user toward the center of gravity of the step ladder when the user stands on at least one of the plurality of steps of the step ladder; and a clamp configured to removeably attach to a selected location on the side rail of the step ladder, the clamp having a receptacle structured to slideably receive the shaft of the elongate member and a positioning structure configured to maintain the shaft of the elongate member into a selected one of a plurality of longitudinal positions with respect to the clamp.

Abstract: A safety accessory for stabilizing a user on a step ladder is provided. The safety accessory includes an elongate member having a shaft and at least one handle portion extending perpendicularly to the shaft and structured to be gripped by the user, the handle portion having a strap ring; a harness configured to removeably couple to the strap ring of the handle portion, the harness being structured to cradle and urge the user toward the center of gravity of the step ladder when the user stands on at least one of the plurality of steps of the step ladder; and a clamp configured to removeably attach to a selected location on the side rail of the step ladder, the clamp having a receptacle structured to slideably receive the shaft of the elongate member and a positioning structure configured to maintain the shaft of the elongate member into a selected one of a plurality of longitudinal positions with respect to the clamp.

Abstract: Systems and methods including a database server application integrated with a non-volatile memory-based cache. The database system is configured for accelerating file system data file accesses of the database server application. The user can specify caching requirements in the terminology of the database server application. The system translates the specified caching requirements into cache directives and implements the cache directives in the non-volatile memory-based cache that satisfy the specified caching requirements.

Abstract: Systems and methods including a database server application integrated with a non-volatile memory-based cache. The database system is configured for accelerating file system data file accesses of the database server application. The user can specify caching requirements in the terminology of the database server application. The system translates the specified caching requirements into cache directives and implements the cache directives in the non-volatile memory-based cache that satisfy the specified caching requirements.

Abstract: A host server computer system that includes a hypervisor within a virtual space architecture running at least one virtualization, acceleration and management server and at least one virtual machine, at least one virtual disk that is read from and written to by the virtual machine, a cache agent residing in the virtual machine, wherein the cache agent intercepts read or write commands made by the virtual machine to the virtual disk, and a solid state drive. The solid state drive includes a non-volatile memory storage device, a cache device and a memory device driver providing a cache primitives application programming interface to the cache agent and a control interface to the virtualization, acceleration and management server.

Abstract: A host server computer system that includes a hypervisor within a virtual space architecture running at least one virtualization, acceleration and management server and at least one virtual machine, at least one virtual disk that is read from and written to by the virtual machine, a cache agent residing in the virtual machine, wherein the cache agent intercepts read or write commands made by the virtual machine to the virtual disk, and a solid state drive. The solid state drive includes a non-volatile memory storage device, a cache device and a memory device driver providing a cache primitives application programming interface to the cache agent and a control interface to the virtualization, acceleration and management server.

Abstract: A dual side-by-side refrigerator having a courtesy section and a paid-vend section both cooled by a single cooling unit. A frontal door or double-hung doors are mounted at the front of the cabinet to cover both courtesy and paid-vend sections. An array of sensors including product-removal sensors in the paid-vend section detect removal of products, and door-open sensors the opening of door(s). A programmable controller is connected to all of the sensors for compiling data therefrom and for communicating it to a hotel front desk, and to room service. The fully-monitored refrigerator simplifies and improves housekeeping services because empty containers and wrapper are not left for the next guest, and refrigerators which were not opened since the last cleaning need not be restocked and/or cleaned.

Abstract: An arbiter uses a history based bus arbitration scheme to more fairly allocate a shared resource among multiple devices. The arbiter uses a history queue to dynamically update the priorities of the devices using the shared resource, and makes the grant decision in a single calculation using the combination of the history queue and requests from bidding devices. The priority for granting master to each device is dynamically modified so that the least recently serviced requestor will be granted the shared resource. A hidden arbitration scheme provides more fair history based resource allocation. A bus retry scheme demotes priority for processing devices that are assigned bus master but do not perform bus operations within a predetermined number of clock cycles. The arbiter also prevents bus grants during hot swap operations.

Abstract: A memory control system and method for controlling access to a global memory. The global memory has multiple memory banks coupled to a memory bus. Multiple memory controllers are coupled between processing devices and the memory bus. The memory controllers control access of the processing devices to the multiple memory banks by independently monitoring the memory bus with each memory controller. The memory controllers track which processing devices are currently accessing which memory banks. The memory controllers overlap bus transactions for idle memory banks. The bus transactions include a control bus cycle that initially activates the target memory bank and data bus cycles that transfer data for previously activated memory banks.

Abstract: A file directory structure generator and retrieval tool for use in a computer network is disclosed. The computer network comprises an output device, a local memory, a shared memory, and a local processor operating according to an operating system program and an application program. The local memory and the shared memory store files in a directory structure. Each file and level in the directory structure has network access privileges. The file directory structure generator and retrieval tool has a document locator module that maps the directory structure of the files stored in the memory to a real world hierarchical file structure of files and directories independent of conventions of the operating system. The document locator module can also change the network access privileges for files and directories without exiting the application program.

Abstract: A file directory structure and retrieval system for use in a computer that operates according to an operating system program and an application program. The memory of the computer stores files in a directory structure. A document locator module maps the directory structure of the files stored in the memory to a real world hierarchical file structure of files and directories. The mapping is independent of conventions of the operating system. The document locator module can create, move and delete files and directories without exiting the application program. An open module operates in the background of the application program and intercepts control of the processor when a command is executed to cause a file to be opened. The open module displays on the output device an open card to allow entry of information relating to the contents of the file and location of the file in the real world hierarchical file structure of the file. It causes the file to be opened.