Abstract: A storage apparatus is provided that is capable of reducing data maintenance management costs with a performance that is both highly reliable and fast. The present invention is storage apparatus where an intermediary device is arranged between a controller and a plurality of disk devices of different performances arranged in a hierarchical manner. The controller unit carries out I/O accesses to and from the disk devices via the intermediary devices based on access requests sent from host apparatus. The intermediary device includes a power saving control function for the disk device and carries out operation control such as spin off and spin up of disk devices in accordance with conditions set in advance.

Abstract: In a wireless network, the decision of when and whether to send unsolicited polls to a particular mobile wireless device may be made by monitoring communications conditions affecting the ability of the particular device to gain channel access, and sending unsolicited polls if the ability to gain channel access is below a threshold value. Such conditions may include one or more of channel load, device transmission load, collision rate, and number of mobile wireless devices contending for access.

Abstract: A method and a system for data transmission between a first electronic device and a second electronic device, wherein the second electronic device is in a sleep mode. Transmission of data between the first electronic device and the second electronic device occurs while a microprocessor in the second device is in sleep mode and the wireless transceiver is in a wake mode. The first electronic device transmits data signals and the second electronic device detects the transmitted signal. A base band processor in the second electronic device optionally determines if the signal is from a known source. If the first electronic device is a known electronic device, an interrupt signal is generated to wake up the microprocessor in the second electronic device. The wakened microprocessor opens a communication port and disables the wake-up interrupt. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the data receive line is directly coupled to a line that triggers an interrupt when a signal is detected.

Abstract: A method and system suitable for grouping a plurality of multifunction devices (MFDs), the system including a storage station for storing information gathered from the plurality of MFDs by selectively polling the plurality of MFDs; wherein the information is selectively processed based on static performance data and dynamic performance data relating to the plurality of MFDs.

Abstract: A device may include polling logic configured to store a table of received addresses, sequentially receive sensor data from each address in the table via a serial data bus, store the sensor data in a memory, receive an address from a processor via a high speed data bus, and provide stored sensor data from the memory to the processor via a parallel data bus.

Abstract: A centralized polling system is set forth for providing constant time select call functionality to a plurality of polling tasks in an operating system kernel. In one aspect, the CPS registers for and thereby captures events of interest on a continual basis. Polling tasks are supplied with active events thereby eliminating the need to repetitively poll large numbers of inactive sockets. An exemplary embodiment of the CPS includes a system interface to the operating system kernel, a data structure for maintaining a profile for each of the polling tasks, and an application programming interface for registering the polling tasks, receiving the active sockets and corresponding read/write event types via the system interface, updating the profile within the data structure for each of the polling tasks, and returning the current read and write ready sockets to respective ones of the polling tasks.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for routing data in a radio data communication system having one or more host computers, one or more intermediate base stations, and one or more RF terminals organizes the intermediate base stations into an optimal spanning-tree network to control the routing of data to and from the RF terminals and the host computer efficiently and dynamically. Communication between the host computer and the RF terminals is achieved by using the network of intermediate base stations to transmit the data.

Abstract: High-speed data streams are exchanged between two digital computing devices one or both of which lacks DMA. Data transfers are performed by the devices using High-Level Datalink Control (HDLC) frames. An initiating device indicates that it wishes to exchange data with the other device by sending an HDLC frame with data stream indentification and other information. The initial HDLC frame is sufficiently short that at least an essential portion of the frame can be stored in a receive buffer of the interface circuitry. Although the receiving device may not receive the entire HDLC frame correctly because of the possibility of an overrun condition, enough information is preserved in the interface circuitry to complete the transaction. The responding device then proceeds to read or write data at high speed using a series of exchanges with the initiating device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for handling a registration message received from a host processor, where the registration message delegates a poll operation with respect to a device from the host processor to another component. Information from the message may be stored in a poll table, and the component may send a read request to poll the device and report a result of the poll to the host processor based on a state of the device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an electronic apparatus comprises at least one memory module, and a universal serial bus (USB) host controller coupled to the memory, wherein the USB host controller implements hardware assisted idleness endpoint detection.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus and method are provided for managing polling loops. The data processing apparatus comprises a main processing unit and a subsidiary processing unit operable to perform a task on behalf of the main processing unit. The subsidiary processing unit is operable to set a completion field when the task has been completed and the main processing unit is operable to poll the completion field in order to determine whether the task has been completed. If on polling the completion field a threshold number of times the main processing unit determines that the task has not been completed, the main processing unit is operable to enter a power saving mode. The subsidiary processing unit is operable, when the task has been completed, to cause a notification to be issued on a path interconnecting the main processing unit and the subsidiary processing unit. The main processing unit is arranged, upon receipt of the notification to exit the power saving mode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rate control are provided. An isochronous circuit controls data transmission between a first device and a second device. The first device outputs a set of data packets to the isochronous circuit at a first data rate, and the second device pulls the set of data packets from the isochronous circuit at a second data rate. The isochronous circuit comprises a buffer, a rate calculator and a register. The buffer buffers the set of data packets bound to the second device through a USB. The rate calculator monitors occupation of the buffer to estimate the second data rate. The register is coupled to the rate calculator for storage of the second data rate. The first device may access the estimate of the second data rate from the register to update the first data rate.

Abstract: A data buffer that is a target for data received over a communication channel is examined, and a device associated with the communication channel is polled, to find, process, and return data transmitted over the channel. Other methods and apparatus to reduce network latency are described and claimed.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a device management system, which comprises a first device connected to a network, an information processing device connected to the network, a second device connected to the information processing device, and a management device connected to the network. The management device comprises: a request judgment unit configured to accept a request regarding management and to judge whether a target device of the request is the first device or the second device based on a database; a first management unit configured to transmit the first management command to the first device in accordance with a first protocol; and a second management unit configured to transmit the second management command to the information processing device in accordance with a second protocol. The information processing device comprises a command relaying unit configured to send the second management command to the second device.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a system which uses a temporal ordering policy for allocation of limited processor resources. The system starts by executing instructions for a program during a normal-execution mode. Upon encountering a condition which causes the processor to enter a speculative-execution mode, the processor performs a checkpoint and commences execution of instructions in the speculative-execution mode. Upon encountering an instruction which requires the allocation of an instance of a limited processor resource during the execution of instructions in the speculative-execution mode, the processor checks a speculative-use indicator associated with each instance of the limited processor resource. Upon finding the speculative-use indicators asserted for all instances of the limited processor resource which are available to be allocated for the instruction, the processor aborts the instruction.

Abstract: A method and system suitable for grouping a plurality of multifunction devices (MFDs), the system including a storage station for storing information gathered from the plurality of MFDs by selectively polling the plurality of MFDs; wherein the information is selectively processed based on static performance data and dynamic performance data relating to the plurality of MFDs.

Abstract: An effective method for securing the release of the transmission, rendering, and outputting of an imaging/print job at an imaging device, for imaging/print jobs that originate in traditional print/spooling subsystems include the following steps. A print job header is associated with an imaging/print job to form a headed imaging/print job. A secured release input (that may be input at a secured release input apparatus of the client host device) is associated with the print job header by including a secured release indicative command/code in the print job header. The headed imaging/print job is divided into data packets. Initial data packet(s) are transmitted to the imaging device. It is determined whether the secured release indicative command/code is present in the initial data packet(s). Acceptance of subsequent data packets of the headed imaging/print job are prevented if the secured release indicative command/code is present in the initial data packet(s).

Abstract: Described is a distributed copying technique that may be used in migrating large amounts of data from one or more source devices to one or more destination devices. The data source is divided into partitions. As Fibre Channel adapters (FAs) become available, each of the FAs may copy a partition of the data. In connection with specifying paths used for the distributed copying technique, a preferred path selection (source port-target port mapping) may be made by executing code in a controlling data storage system to perform discovery processing. The preferred path selection is used for the duration of the distributed copying unless the preferred path is unable to transmit data. A target port of the preferred path may be randomly selected from all accessible target ports, and/or in accordance with a specified portion of the target ports. Preferred paths may also be specified using an API (application programming interface).

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for routing data in a radio data communication system having one or more host computers, one or more intermediate base stations, and one or more RF terminals organizes the intermediate base stations into an optimal spanning-tree network to control the routing of data to and from the RF terminals and the host computer efficiently and dynamically. Communication between the host computer and the RF terminals is achieved by using the network of intermediate base stations to transmit the data.

Abstract: A driver for a data storage device includes an access command and a verification command. The access command initiates an access (write, erase or read) of the data storage device while allowing a calling application to continue running without having to wait for the completion of the access. The verification command queries a preceding access. If the query indicates failure of the preceding access, the verification command repeats the preceding access until the preceding access succeeds. The verification command is called by the access command before the access command initiates a new access. The verification command also is called by an application following a sequence of related access command calls. A write access command saves the data to be written in a memory separate from the data storage device, in case the verification command needs that data to repeat a failed write.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method and an apparatus to collect and dynamically update processor polling information. In one method embodiment, the present invention collects processor polling information at boot time to be provided to an operating system. The processor polling information describes operating conditions of an integrated processing system. The operating system is then notified that a triggering event has occurred that may potentially alter the operating conditions of the integrated processor system. Providing to the operating system updated processor polling information during runtime to reflect the operating conditions of the integrated processor system after the occurrence of the triggering event.

Abstract: A centralized polling system is set forth for providing constant time select call functionality to a plurality of polling tasks in an operating system kernel. In one aspect, the CPS registers for and thereby captures events of interest on a continual basis. Polling tasks are supplied with active events thereby eliminating the need to repetitively poll large numbers of inactive sockets. An exemplary embodiment of the CPS includes a system interface to the operating system kernel, a data structure for maintaining a profile for each of the polling tasks, and an application programming interface for registering the polling tasks, receiving the active sockets and corresponding read/write event types via the system interface, updating the profile within the data structure for each of the polling tasks, and returning the current read and write ready sockets to respective ones of the polling tasks.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhancing efficiency (e.g., reducing power consumption and bus activity) in a data bus. In an exemplary embodiment, a client-driven host device state machine switches among various states, each comprising a different polling frequency. A client device on the data bus (e.g., serial bus) checks for non-productive periods of polling activity, and upon discovering such a period, informs the host. The state machine then alters its polling scheme; e.g., switches to a lower state comprising a reduced polling frequency, and polling continues at this reduced frequency. In one variant, the client device continuously monitors itself to determine whether it has any data to transmit to a host device and if so, the host is informed, and the state machine restarts (e.g., to its highest polling state). By eliminating extraneous polling, power consumption and serial bus activity is optimized, potentially on both the host and the client.

Abstract: Data is transferred from a terminal to a computer over a USB cable. This is accomplished when the terminal transmits a control signal to the computer through a control line of a USB cable based on a value stored in a terminal register unit. The computer receives the control signal, sets a value of the computer register unit, and generates an interrupt according to the value in the computer register unit. The computer executes a USB reception thread that receives data from the terminal. By controlling an operation of the USB reception thread of the computer through the control line and each register unit, a load applied to a kernel of the computer can be reduced.

Abstract: A system and method harvest data from at least one device, by canvassing the devices and tracking which canvassed devices yielded harvested data and then repeating such canvassing and tracking until either data has been obtained from all of the devices, or a certain time has passed since the beginning of the canvassing period. In a further embodiment, when data has been obtained from all the devices or the time has passed, whichever comes first, the harvested data is sent to a central processing center.

Abstract: In a computer system to which a plurality of I/O devices are connected and a pool I/O device is included therein, a periodical operation confirmation is performed on a pool I/O device to be used when a fault occurs. A pool I/O device operation confirmation section obtains pool I/O device status information from a pool I/O device status information storage section (provided inside or outside the computer system). The status information includes a pool I/O device ID for identifying the pool I/O device, a type of the pool I/O device, a status value indicating an operation confirmation result, and an update time indicating the most recent operation confirmation time. Then, the pool I/O device operation confirmation section activates the pool I/O device and performs an operation confirmation thereon; terminates the operation of the pool I/O device after the operation confirmation; and updates the pool I/O device status information using the operation confirmation result obtained by the operation confirmation.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for routing data in a radio data communication system having one or more host computers, one or more intermediate base stations, and one or more RF terminals organizes the intermediate base stations into an optimal spanning-tree network to control the routing of data to and from the RF terminals and the host computer efficiently and dynamically. Communication between the host computer and the RF terminals is achieved by using the network of intermediate base stations to transmit the data.

Abstract: A method of ensuring system serialization in a multiprocessor multi-nodal environment is used to force all processors in a multiprocessor environment to temporarily suspend operations while one processor changes the system state. Architected designs where latencies between nodes are made known and predictable greatly simplify the task of coordinating quiesce responses within the system. When latencies are not fixed and topologies such as open or closed bus architectures are be used a more dynamic approach is required to ensure system serialization. Adaptive quiesce logic on each node's SCE can dynamically identify the role of the node within the system and automatically configure itself to guarantee that no enabled processor within the entire system receives a quiesce indication before all processors have reached the stopped state. This is also true for systems where nodes are being concurrently added or removed during system operation. Bus states process quiesce requests.

Abstract: System and method for reacting to an expected impact involving a vehicle including an anticipatory sensor system for determining that an impact involving the vehicle is about to occur prior to the impact and an impact responsive system coupled to the sensor system and actuated after its determination of the expected impact. The sensor system includes wave receivers spaced apart from one another, each receiving waves generated by, modified by, or reflected from a common object exterior of the vehicle. The impact responsive system attempts to reduce the potential harm resulting from the impact and can be a protection apparatus which protects a vehicular occupant or a pedestrian, such as one including an airbag and an inflator for inflating the airbag.

Abstract: A device that is connected to a bus can transmit data to one or more other devices and/or can receive data from other devices, through the bus, includes storage (i.e., memories or memory areas) in which data to be transmitted or received is temporarily stored, and a control device that determines whether or not any data is to be transmitted and, if appropriate, in which storage the data that are to be transmitted next is stored and/or in which storage the received data is to be stored. Information not contained in the data transmitted through the bus is stored in each storage, and is used to allocate a priority level to the respective storage, and the control device takes this information into account to decide the storage in which the next data to be transmitted will be stored and/or the storage in which the received data is to be stored.

Abstract: A method of telecommunication network switch port polling enables very highly channelized ports to be polled. A polling engine reads information from at least one of a plurality of poll registers, and each of the plurality of poll registers is associated with a unique identifier. Depending on the information read from the at least one poll register, the polling engine reads a channel number representing the channel to be polled from a location in channel memory. The polling engine determines the location from the unique identifier associated with the at least one poll register from which the information is read. The polling engine polls channel represented by the read channel number.

Abstract: An information delivery and display system includes one or more information display devices that play display information, and a monitoring/control server that sends information to the information display device when the information display device carries out polling at predetermined time intervals. The monitoring/control server includes a control instruction unit that creates control instruction information to change a polling interval of the information display device and that sends the created control instruction information to the information display device when the information display device carries out polling.

Abstract: A polling communication system includes a main station and a plurality of sub stations connected to the main station. The main station includes an address control part and a polling control part. The address control part divides a predetermined polling cycle into a plurality of kinds of polling intervals each having a different number of times of polling, and holds addresses of polling target sub stations corresponding to the respective polling intervals. The polling control part switches the polling intervals and changes the addresses in the address control part according to states of the sub stations. Each of the sub stations includes another polling control part that sends a response when the sub station is polled by the main station.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for analyzing file I/O activity on local attached storage devices within a computer network is provided. In an embodiment, a software agent executes on one or more servers within the network, and monitors the I/O activity on the network's local attached storage (e.g., SAN, NAS, and IDE and SCSI disks). A management interface is also provided for monitoring I/O activity-related data and for receiving reports on such I/O activity. In an embodiment, collected I/O-related data and any predefined I/O metrics are stored in a central repository (e.g., a relational database). The system, method and computer program product provide accurate metrics to assists system administrators in deciding, justifying and validating resource purchases for and allocations within the network.

Abstract: An inquiring apparatus and method thereof is provided for assisting the CPU to inquire the state of the peripheral device. When the CPU needs to perform an inquiring process to wait for a peripheral device to come to an expected state, an inquiring apparatus is activated, instead of the CPU, to perform an inquiring process. The CPU is placed in a power-saving state which stops outputting the clock to the CPU when the inquiring apparatus performs the inquiring process. The inquiring process includes outputting a read cycle to the peripheral device receiving a current state of the peripheral device in response to the read cycle; and comparing the current state with the expected state. If the current state and the expected state are the same, the clock is outputted to the CPU again.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a processor, a peripheral device conducting an operation requested by the processor, a clock/power control unit supplying a clock signal to the processor, and a hardware polling processor detecting current state data output from the peripheral device and regulating the clock/power control unit to interrupt the clock signal to the processor in accordance with a result of the detection, during a state read operation for detecting current state data of the peripheral device.

Abstract: A process and software for aggressive capture of digital recording on computers, for the purpose of reducing audio latency, which includes periodic frequent polling of a recording buffer containing audio recording data and a known value, reading out data values that do not match the previously written known value, and writing over the data with the known value.

Abstract: A method and a system for data transmission between a first electronic device and a second electronic device, wherein the second electronic device is in a sleep mode. Transmission of data between the first electronic device and the second electronic device occurs while a microprocessor in the second device is in sleep mode and the wireless transceiver is in a wake mode. The first electronic device transmits data signals and the second electronic device detects the transmitted signal. A base band processor in the second electronic device optionally determines if the signal is from a known source. If the first electronic device is a known electronic device, an interrupt signal is generated to wake up the microprocessor in the second electronic device. The wakened microprocessor opens a communication port and disables the wake-up interrupt. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the data receive line is directly coupled to a line that triggers an interrupt when a signal is detected.

Abstract: A polling device of the present invention performs communication control such that frame synchronous transfer modes and frame asynchronous transfer modes are used so as to perform a communication operation, and includes: a polling counter section for reading all communication channels for each address number; a state circuit for changing the order of priority in transfer each time the polling counter section counts one round of values after initializing the state circuit for each frame period; a latch section for latching a value of the polling counter section; and a matching detection section for comparing the value latched by the latch section with a value of the polling counter section, in which a polling operation is started from the value latched by the latch section at the time of initializing the state circuit for each frame period.

Abstract: In response to requests for I/O processing sent from a computer, I/O which should be processed at a priority is enabled to be processed without being affected by other processing, by classifying I/O into those to be processed at a priority and those not to be processed at a priority. The storage control apparatus comprises an I/O processing controller with a memory that is common for the whole controller. The storage control apparatus manages information for dividing and controlling a plurality of I/O processes as priority and non-priority in that memory and operates while suppressing non-priority I/O processing on the basis of information in the memory.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for autopolling physical layer (PHY) devices in a network is controlled by information contained in a plurality of poll registers. A user independently defines the PHY addresses and register numbers for a plurality of external PHY registers and provides these to the poll registers. In each poll register, an enable bit is provided for each of the selected PHY registers. When a host CPU sets one of the enable bits, the poll logic reads the corresponding PHY register and stores the result in a corresponding poll data register. One poll data register is provided for each poll register. Thereafter, at each polling interval, the poll logic compares the current contents of the selected PHY register with the contents of the corresponding poll data register. If a change is detected, an interrupt is set in an interrupt register, which causes an interrupt to the host CPU.

Abstract: I/O measurement data associated with the performance of an I/O operation process is gathered during the I/O process. The I/O measurement data is saved in an IRB memory location specified by a test subchannel instruction. An I/O interrupt signals the completion of the I/O operation process.

Abstract: A polling method, apparatus, and system to detect the attachment and detachment of Universal Serial Bus devices in a wireless system. A hub provides a wired connection to the host and wireless attachment points for its devices, The host periodically queries the hub for changes in the hub's status register by sending a polling message through each of its wireless ports, and awaits a response. A peripheral device that wishes to attach to the system responds by sending its unique peripheral address. If a device currently occupies the port, the hub sends out the device's unique address in the polling message. If the device is still present, it responds by sending its unique peripheral address. If a response is not received after multiple retries, the device is considered detached. The hub thus determines the status of the ports and updates the status register, which is queried by the host.

Abstract: A home network system for controlling one or more home appliances connected to a network and a method for operating the same. If an alive message or a connection termination message is normally generated from the home appliance, or if the alive message or the connection termination message is not normally transmitted to a network manager due to a transmission failure in a communication path, the network manager automatically recognizes a network connection state of the home appliance using a network search process, performs a connection termination operation according to the recognized information, and updates network information, resulting in increased reliability and user's convenience of the home network system.

Abstract: A method for adapting the periodicity of polling for pending service requests, by polling system devices for pending service requests, recording whether or not there was a pending service request and, based on accumulated data, determining whether or not the system devices are idle. Based on this determination, the system may elect to enter a power conservation mode until device activity is signaled, or an adjustable period of time elapses. The adaptation mechanism may alter the periodicity of the timer interrupt, disable or enable device interrupts, and modify variables used to determine system idleness (including minimum latency and minimum idleness thresholds). In this manner, the system can conserve power while maintaining system performance and responsiveness.

Abstract: The present invention provides a network interface adapter for connecting a client computer to a computer network that includes a reduced hardware media access controller (MAC) coupled through a physical interface (PHY) to the network physical link. A significant portion of the MAC functionality is implemented as software within the processor of the host client computer. The hardware portion of the preferred MAC implementation provides memory for buffering communications between the PHY and the client computer. The preferred hardware aspects of a MAC in accordance with the present invention also includes a register interface for register-driven communications between the hardware portion of the MAC and the software portions of the MAC implemented within the client computer. By implementing most of the MAC functionality in software within the host computer, the preferred MAC provides lower cost, lower power consumption, and generally greater flexibility.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a race free data transfer algorithm using hardware based polling. One disclosed method transfers information between a target device and a buffer which is one of a set of buffers. The buffer is pointed to by a current buffer value stored in a controller. The current buffer value is adjusted to point to a next buffer if the current buffer value is different than a last buffer value. One of the set of buffers is serviced utilizing either the current buffer value or the last buffer value from the controller.

Abstract: A slave can take any of a start state in which the slave can communicate with a master, a communication control state in which at least the slave can receive a start request signal transmitted by the master and makes a transition to the start state upon reception of the start request signal, or a standby state in which power is less consumed than in the start state or the communication control state. The slave further includes a state control section for repeatedly operating so that the slave in the standby state is switched to the communication control state at a predetermined timing and is switched to the standby state when the communication control state continues for a predetermined time period without receiving the start request signal.

Abstract: A process and software for aggressive capture of digital recording on computers, for the purpose of reducing audio latency, which includes periodic frequent polling of a recording buffer containing audio recording data and a known value, reading out data values that do not match the previously written known value, and writing over the data with the known value.

Abstract: The invention specifies a system having a plurality of devices which are connected to one another via an IEEE 1394 interface and one of which contains a control unit which, when operated appropriately by a user, polls system data for devices in this system via the interface and passes this system data to an output unit of this device. The device having the output unit is, by way of example, a set-top box having a microprocessor which a user uses to poll system data for the devices, which contains, in particular the input and output characteristics of the latter, via the interface and which the user can use to store this system data on a smart card by means of a write/read device. Alternatively or at the same time, the system data can be shown on a display or transmitted to a desired address via a modem connection.