Abstract: A method and computer that reduces ABENDs due to end of volume encounters of a job. The method provides an extend-to-new volume processing in response to such encounters. The method permits the definition of primary storage groups and extend storage groups and allows the linking of an extend storage group to a primary storage group. When the job encounters an end-of-volume condition on the current storage volume and is further unable to extend to a new volume in the primary storage group, the method then tries to find a new volume in one or more extend storage groups that are linked to that primary storage group. If no new volume can be found in an extend storage group, an ABEND process is performed.

Abstract: A storage controller configured to adopt orphaned I/O ports is disclosed. The controller includes multiple field-replaceable units (FRUs) that plug into a backplane having local buses. At least two of the FRUs have microprocessors and memory for processing I/O requests received from host computers for accessing storage devices controlled by the controller. Other of the FRUs include I/O ports for receiving the requests from the hosts and bus bridges for bridging the I/O ports to the backplane local buses in such a manner that if one of the processing FRUs fails, the surviving processing FRU detects the failure and responsively adopts the I/O ports previously serviced by the failed FRU to service the subsequently received I/O requests on the adopted I/O ports. The I/O port FRUs also include I/O ports for transferring data with the storage devices that are also adopted by the surviving processing FRU.

Abstract: A system including an event monitor monitoring at least one transmission link. Each event monitor receives transmission link addresses from an address sequencer and transmits related event data to a centralized storage register. The address sequencer also transmits the addresses to the storage register. The event monitor compares new event data for each address with old event data stored by the event monitor. If a difference is detected, the event monitor sends a strobe signal to the storage register, which stores the event data reflecting the difference and the related address data. The strobe signal is also sent to a signaling device, which sends an interrupt signal to cause a microprocessor to read the event and address data from the storage register. Optionally, the signaling device does not send an interrupt signal until a threshold number of strobe signals have been received.

Abstract: A voter function block, which can be integrated into a function block diagram programming environment in a process plant control or safety system, implements voter logic in conjunction with providing operational and maintenance overrides which may be set to override individual inputs to the voter function block as well as to override the output of the voter function block. The voter function block, which is easy to create, use, test, debug and document, includes one or input limit detection units which detect if a particular redundant input has reached a specified limit indicating a condition within the process plant, an override unit that may be set by a user to override the consideration of that input in the voting function, a voting logic entity that determines if a trip condition exists based on the values of the valid or non-inhibited inputs, and an inhibit block that may used to override the output of the voter logic block during, for example, a startup or other operational condition.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for problem identification and resolution using intelligent agents. In at least one embodiment, an agent is a software element configured to detect a situation (e.g., problem or problems) and take steps to preserve a context in which the situation occurs. The agent may also be configured to identify one or more courses of action (e.g., solutions) to be taken in response to the situation. In one embodiment, a user trains an agent to take a particular action upon detecting a particular problem. The training may be initiated after accessing a log containing details about the problem context and recommended courses of action.

Abstract: An apparatus generally having a plurality of disk drives and a controller is disclosed. Each of the disk drives may have a first region and a second region. The first regions may have a performance parameter faster than the second regions. The controller may be configured to (i) write a plurality of data items in the first regions and (ii) write a plurality of fault tolerance items for the data items in the second regions.

Abstract: In lieu of the common practice of attempting to maximize the likelihood of sample deviations from unknown true values, representations of data inversions are generated by implementing optimizing techniques which are based upon a concept of maximizing the likelihood of deviations of successively determined inversion-conforming data sets from previously acquired (hence invarient) data- point samples. Inversion-conforming data sets are considered to be sets of coordinate points which correspond to the projection of respective data points along corresponding coordinates onto a fitting approximation or onto the locus of any respectively rendered approximating relationship which corresponds to a data inversion or a considered estimate of the same.

Abstract: Management of lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) service may be accomplished through the use of remote mirroring and a unique application program interface (API). Both a primary and a secondary LDAP server are maintained. Any modification to the primary LDAP server is then mirrored on the secondary LDAP server. When a call is attempted on the primary server, if it fails, the call is retried on the secondary LDAP server. The API allows for specialized grammar for commands that permits the system to handle primary (and secondary) LDAP server failure.

Abstract: A low-level function which enforces logical partitioning establishes a set of virtual indicator lights for certain physical components, the virtual indicator lights being only data in memory, a separate set of virtual indicator lights corresponding to each respective partition. Processes running in a partition can switch and sense the virtual indicator lights corresponding to the partition, but have no direct capability to either switch or to sense the virtual lights of any other partition. The low-level enforcement function alone can switch the state of the physical indicator light, which is generally the logical OR of the virtual indicator lights of the different partitions.

Abstract: A data transfer method which quickens the resumption of work execution in an environment in which works are executed by a plurality of computers according to a schedule. The work server identifies a work to be processed, identifies a file used by the identified work, and then restores the data of the identified file.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for auditing and tracking changes in a managed hosting server. Embodiments of the present invention track changes made to systems in a server farm or data center. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention track changes to the operating system, file system, registry, application software files, and other important files and maintain the changes in a database. This database of changes can then be queried to identify the root cause of problems and aid in systems and applications management in the data center.

Abstract: A method for notifying events to a node in a cluster includes (1) receiving a first event message and a second event message, (2) queuing the first and the second event messages, (3) sending the first event message to a first service callback, wherein the first service callback calls a first callback function to handle the first event message, (4) sending the first event message to a second service callback after (a) a the first service callback has handled the first event message and (b) a corresponding first service callback at a member node has handled the first event message, wherein the second service callback calls a second callback function to handle the first event message, and (5) sending the second event message to the first service callback after the first and the second callback functions have handled the first event message, wherein the first service callback calls the first callback function to handle the second event message.

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for producing an error signal and carrying out measures based thereon in a motor vehicle equipped with a wheel-slip control system and/or a wheel deceleration control system. At least one function variable representing the functionality of the wheel-slip control system and/or wheel-deceleration control system may be monitored for an error and if at least one error is detected, the value of at least one error counter may be incremented. When there is at least one detected error, at least one error signal may be output when the value of at least one error counter exceeds a predeterminable limiting value. For at least one error counter, at least two different, predeterminable limiting values coexist simultaneously, and when each of these is exceeded by the counter reading of the at least one error counter, different error signals may be output.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of operating a network analyzer, comprises applying a stimulus signal on at least one port of the network analyzer for provision to a device under test (DUT) within a test fixture coupled to the network analyzer; generating measurement data from the DUT in response to the stimulus signal on at least one port of the network analyzer; and generating an amplitude response of the DUT across a frequency range, wherein a port extension module of the network analyzer automatically applies loss compensation to the amplitude response in a manner that is non-linearly related to frequency according to at least one controllable parameter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for managing resources in a multithreaded processor. In one embodiment, a resource is partitioned into a number of portions based upon a number of threads being executed concurrently. Resource allocation for each thread is performed in its respective portion of the resource.

Abstract: An object of remote copy can be specified in units of a file or a directory more detailed than in units of a volume. If a host computer issues a write request of a file to NASa, NASa references a source NAS of remote copy and a source directory of remote copy at each entry on a copy file table and determines whether the file to be written is an object of remote copy; if it is determined to be an object of remote copy, the file to be written is remotely copied to a target directory of remote copy of a target NAS thereof.

Abstract: A problem with a journaling file system is that the load on input/output processing executed between a server and a storage system is increased because a journal log is written when the file system is updated and updated data is written when flush processing is executed. In a system according to the present invention, a storage system that has received journal logs from a server uses updated data included in the journal logs to execute flush processing.

Abstract: A system and method for testing information handling systems distributes test units across a network to communicate with a test server. The test server communicates test executables and runtimes to the test units according to scripts of a script package, test engines associated with the test server and a test unit profile. To load and execute an executable and runtime on a test unit, a test controller associated with the test server sends an execution identifier to a test unit process abstraction layer controller. A validator of the test unit controller responds to the execution identifier with test unit configuration profile information that the test server controller applies to one or more test engines and a script to generate an executable and runtime that is sent to the test unit controller. An activator of the test unit process abstraction layer controller activates the executable scripts through the runtime and tracks test results.

Abstract: Measurement data storage is triggered in response to occurrence of a user set condition with respect to one or more user-selected measured parameters, to thereby capture real-time monitored test data. In an application for a vehicle diagnostic tool, such as an engine analyzer, the measurements and attendant display may be provided during engine operation or actual vehicle operation. The tool software allows a user to specify any one or more of the measured parameters; and for any selected parameter, the user can identify an event with regard to the selected parameter. During the test, the processor executing the software captures measured parameter data, and the processor analyses the appropriate measured parameter data with respect to any and/or all user specified conditions. Triggering may be based on occurrence of an event or combinations of events.

Abstract: Techniques for handling exceptions raised during the execution of Java computer programs are disclosed. The techniques can be used by a Java virtual machine to efficiently handle exceptions. A method descriptor is implemented in a Java method frame which is stored in the Java execution stack. The method descriptor provides one or more references to exception handlers associated with the Java method. The references can be used to quickly identify and invoke the appropriate exception handler. This can be achieved without having to use a native language execution stack. As a result, the overhead associated with several returns from native functions (routines or methods) can be avoided since the information needed to invoke the appropriate exception handler can be obtained efficiently from the Java execution stack. Accordingly, the performance of Java virtual machines, especially those operating with limited resources, can be significantly enhanced.

Abstract: The invention is to provide a basic input/output system updating method that divides a memory in an electronic device into a system program area and a boot program area, wherein a basic input/out system (BIOS) program is stored in the said system program area and an initialization sequence is stored in the boot program area. When the initialization sequence in the said system program area is destroyed and the BIOS program is lost, the invention enables a user to toggle a switch to a closed position to connect the said microprocessor to the said boot program area to read the initialization sequence stored therein.

Abstract: A method for extracting a signal of interest from a signal generated from at least one subject, comprises the steps of (A) obtaining a time-series signal generated from the subject as a data group consisting of a plurality of pieces of data, (B) obtaining a plurality of extracted data groups from the data group, wherein each extracted data group comprises a predetermined number of pieces of data selected from the data group, (C) calculating standard deviations of the plurality of extracted data groups to obtain a standard deviation group, and (D) referencing each standard deviation included in the standard deviation group and selecting the signal of interest.

Abstract: Remote incremental program verification may be achieved by receiving content verified by at least one content provider, installing the content on a resource-constrained device, issuing the resource-constrained device to an end user, and allowing post-issuance installation of verified content on the resource-constrained device by a trusted post-issuance installer. The at least one content provider includes an applet provider, a device manufacturer, a device issuer, and a trusted post-issuance installer. The content includes at least one program unit, where each program unit comprises an Application Programming Interface (API) definition file and an implementation. Each API definition file defines items in its associated program unit that are made accessible to one or more other program units, and each implementation includes executable code corresponding to the API definition file. The executable code includes type-specific instructions and data.

Abstract: A method for managing a plurality of failures in a video and data network is provided. The method includes discovering a failure in the video and data network. The discovered failure is the root cause of the failure. Next, the root cause failure is correlated with the plurality of failures to determine related failures generated as a result of the root cause failure. The related failures are then suppressed. One or more user's affected by the root cause failure are determined. If the root cause failure is automatically resolvable, the root cause failure is automatically resolved.

Abstract: An enclosure services processor card is arranged to selectively split a fiber-channel arbitrated-loop (FC-AL) into two split loops. The card is adapted to plug into a backplane for a rack enclosure and includes a first switch operatively connected to a hub for the FC-AL. The hub comprises a plurality of port bypass circuits, each port bypass circuit being connected to a pair of tracks which in use connect to a respective one of each of the devices comprising the fiber channel arbitrated loop. The hub further comprises a pair of switches operatively controlled by the first switch, the pair of switches being disposed between respective port bypass circuits at which the loop is to be split. In a first state the pair of switches connect the devices in a single loop and in a second state the pair of switches divide the devices into two split loops.

Abstract: The invention relates to an information distribution apparatus capable of distributing multimedia information without fail even if interruption has arisen in real-time distribution of multimedia information. In the information distribution apparatus, distribution information serving as real-time information is received by the receiving end, while being stored in a storage section provided in the sending end. Even if distribution is interrupted in the course of distribution, a time stamp corresponding to the time at which interruption has arisen is stored. When a re-transmission request is issued by the receiving end, distribution information is loaded from a memory location corresponding to the time stamp, and the thus-loaded information is transmitted to the receiving end. In this case, the speed at which information is loaded from the storage section is increased so as to catch up with real-time distribution.

Abstract: A method of detecting a fault or a potential fault of a DBMS operating in a clustered environment is provided. The DBMS includes a log of diagnostic information that is related to the status of the DBMS. At predetermined intervals, monitoring of the log of diagnostic information is conducted for at least one of a plurality of predefined conditions occurring anywhere in the clustered environment. The predefined conditions are related to a fault or a potential fault of the DBMS. Before a fault of the DBMS occurs, the presence of at least one of the predefined conditions in the log is detected. A response to the detected predefined condition (e.g., a fail-over) is provided.

Abstract: A method for file deletion and recovery against system failures in a database management system comprising steps of deleting files listed in a pending action list during a transaction commit process, writing a non-atomic file deletion as an atomic operation into a log and recovering uncompleted file deletion during restart recovery by using the log is disclosed. When system failures occur during file deletion in a database management system, resources of which releasing is interrupted by failures are released perfectly through recovery step, so it is advantageous in that coherency of data is maintained and efficiency of storage device arises.

Abstract: A testing unit is provided with a test data communication port adapted to output test data to a device being tested. The testing unit also has an expected test result data communication port adapted to output expected test result data to the device. The device being tested generates test result data in response to the test data, and compares the test result data with the expected test result data to generate test status data, such as a pass or fail indication.

Abstract: A computer system that includes a computer and a storage system. The storage system includes a plurality of storage resources, each of which includes one or more storage volumes. Data sets are allocated among the storage volumes according to a policy of requirements and preferences based on separation of critical data sets so that a single point of failure in one storage resource will have minimal impact on data sets stored in a different resource. According to the method, a second currently stored data set to be separated from a new first data set is identified. A storage resource and any volume thereof that contains the second data set is identified. An eligible volume list for selection of a storage volume for the first data set is formed according to the policy. The storage volumes of the storage resource identified as containing the second data set are excluded from the eligible volume list.

Abstract: A method is provided for continuing node operations in quorum-based protocols. This is particularly valuable in the situation in which a group of nodes includes only two nodes and in which communications to a node is lost. Provision is made for adding additional status indications to each node indicating whether or not it is enabled for single-node quorum operation. Provision is also made for identifying one node as a primary node and another node as a secondary node for time-out response purposes.

Abstract: To predice impending system failures, dummy messages are periodically transmitted from a surveillance computer via a message broker to a host computer that executes processes in response to electronic messages from terminals and returns an electronic message. The dummy electronic messages are time-stamped when transmitted from the surveillance computer, when received and transmitted by the message broker, and when a process is executed by the host. The surveillance computer predicts impending failures by comparing the time required while a transmitted dummy electronic message returns to the surveillance computer, a mean value of the required time, a time required while the dummy electronic message passes through the message broker, a mean value of the time for the passage, a time required for a dummy electronic message transmission between each computer and a mean value of the time for transmission to each base value.

Abstract: A programming device with a software tool provided to create a control program based on a control problem to be solved, e.g., controlling a technical process. A user is given information on software blocks (A-G) that are stored in the programming device (1) and/or in an automation device (4). In particular, the software blocks are configured for the programming device to recognize those software blocks that are stored in the programming device (1) and those that are stored in the automation device (4). The programming device, by performing a comparison, displays the comparison result for a user of the programming device.

Abstract: An adaptive motion estimation apparatus and method. A full search motion estimation part obtains a motion vector from all blocks in a predetermined search range based on a current frame and/or field and a reference frame and/or field and a prediction motion estimation part estimates a motion vector from ambient blocks about a block in which a candidate motion vector is estimated. A motion vector selection part determines a motion vector having a position value of a smallest error in comparison with a stored threshold value among the obtained and estimated motion vectors as a final motion vector. Since the full search motion estimation algorithm and the prediction motion estimation algorithm are adaptively selected, a smooth and correct motion vector reflecting an actual motion is obtainable.

Abstract: A system (10) for cataloging and detecting network faults, includes a communication interface (12) for receiving a fault message from a network. A parser (14) is connected to the communication interface (12). The parser (14) parses the fault message for an event type. An associative database (16) is connected to the parser (14) and stores a tally for the fault message.

Abstract: This invention is comprised of a data processing system containing at least one main processor connected to a system bus, a system memory connected to the system bus and accessible to each of the main processors, a tamper mechanism, and a local service processor. The tamper mechanism is configured to change state each time the system is inserted into a slot in a rack enclosure. The local service processor is connected to the tamper mechanism and configured to update an insertion log upon detecting a change in state of the tamper mechanism. The insertion log provides a count and a history of rack insertions to which the system has been subjected. The system may include a non-volatile storage element which is updated exclusively by the local service processor that contains the insertion log. The insertion log may include an insertion counter. In this embodiment, the local service processor is configured to increment the insertion counter upon each insertion.

Abstract: Remote incremental program verification may be achieved by receiving content verified by at least one content provider, installing the content on a resource-constrained device, disabling subsequent installation of content on the resource-constrained device, and issuing the resource-constrained device to an end user. The at least one content provider includes an applet provider, a device manufacturer, and a device issuer. The content includes at least one program unit, where each program unit comprises an Application Programming Interface (API) definition file and an implementation. Each API definition file defines items in its associated program unit that are made accessible to one or more other program units, and each implementation includes executable code corresponding to the API definition file. The executable code includes type specific instructions and data.

Abstract: A communication device for exchanging communication between user devices and a communication network reduces power consumption after detecting a low power condition. The communication device advantageously operates during a power outage when a power supply for the communication device fails. The communication device includes a network interface, a power control circuitry, and a processor. The network interface exchanges digital communication signals with the communication network. The power control circuitry detects a low power condition. The power control circuitry then generates a power control signal in response to the low power condition. The processor exchanges first communication signals between the network interface and an analog telephone interface or a digital computer interface. The processor receives and processes the power control signal to lower power consumption of the communication device.

Abstract: A method and system for recovering a master boot record within a data processing system. In accordance with the method of the present invention, a master boot record recovery setup utility is invoked by a user. In response to invoking the master boot record recovery utility, the master boot record in a first bootable device is copied to an alternate non-volatile storage device. A recovery flag is set within BIOS indicating that the MBR has been securely copied. In response to a failed boot attempted from the first boot device, the copy of said master boot record within said alternate non-volatile storage device is accessed and utilized to boot the system.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus for forming an image in accordance with control codes stored in a plurality of memory media, when the control codes stored in the plurality of memory media to control the image forming apparatus is rewritten, rewrite execution codes adapted to execute rewrite of the control codes are transferred to predetermined one of the plurality of memory media from an external apparatus, and rewrite of the control codes is performed in accordance with the transferred rewrite execution codes.

Abstract: A measuring section measures a measuring object to generate a plurality of measurements for a plurality of measurement assays. Anomaly sensors detect an anomaly during a measuring process for each measurement. A memory stores the plurality of measurements. A primary-error-code associating section associates a primary error code with at least one measurement in which an anomaly was detected during the measuring process. A secondary-error-code associating section associates a secondary error code with at least one measurement in which no anomaly was detected during the measuring process.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting an edge of a data signal carried on an observability bus. In one embodiment, a first performance counter is connected to receive the data signal in order to assert a trigger signal in response to detecting an assertion of the data signal. A second performance counter is connected to receive the data signal and the trigger signal. The second performance counter detects the edge responsive to detecting the assertion of the data signal and a logic level in the trigger signal that is a complement to a logic level associated with the assertion of the signal.

Abstract: One or more fingerprints may be utilized in each class in order to allow for faster subtype checking. A subclass fingerprint may be utilized to track the superclasses of a class, and an interface fingerprint may be utilized to track the locally declared interfaces of the class and any interfaces which it inherits. This allows for subtype checking that is extremely fast and efficient by utilizing comparison and other logical operations during the checking.

Abstract: Signals obtained in capillary High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) are notoriously noisy. The signal can be improved by increasing the path length of the light passing through the sample stream, but increased path length decreases resolution (resolving N closely spaced peaks in the actual separation into N peaks of almost equal separation on the chromatogram. A novel approach is to operate on segments of the chromatogram signal, averaging, integrating, or correlating the data within the segment. This approach may be utilized with analog or digital signals. The important information, contained in the integrated, summed or correlated signal, will increase the chromatographic signal relative to the noise information.

Abstract: On a page by page basis, a printer serves to print out in sequence print data transferred from a host connected thereto by way of a network. Every time receiving print data from the host, a link information creation unit of the printer creates and saves link information indicative of correlations between packets of print data received and pages on the printer side. In case a print error such as paper jam has occurred during the print out, a resend request unit recognizes from the link information the number of a packet to which a print page subjected to the print error corresponds, and issues a request for resend.

Abstract: A computer system identifies jobs affected by a fault which occurs in any device or mechanism in a storage system to control the execution of such jobs. The computer system includes a DBMS server device, a virtualization switch device, and storage device. Each of these devices holds part of data mapping information on a data mapping path from a particular DB table accessed by a job, through a logical volume for storing the table, to physical disk units for distributively storing data on the volume. The management server device acquires the part of data mapping information from each device, and integrates the data mapping information on a job-by-job basis. When any device or mechanism fails on the data mapping path, the management server device identifies jobs affected by the fault with reference to the data mapping information. The management server device also controls the execution of these jobs.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, method, and computer program product for detecting and correcting packet losses that adversely affect video quality. This packet loss feature may be employed as part of the secure video conference system, method and computer program product, or be employed in a non-secure system, method and computer program product.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system to register and provide a persistent indentifier of information that may be located in multiple locations, formats, and accesible in variable fashions based on the context of use. The present disclosure further provides the ability to automatically make information available and associated with its identifier. The disclosure also details the ability to create identifier. The disclosure also details the ability to create identifiers from content authoring tools within and for documents and/or other information. The invention teaches how to associate a single identifier while making information available, and accessible under varying conditions, from varying locations, in varying formats, based on various contexts of access. The present disclosure further teaches an enhanced digital object identifier, an enhanced Handle system, and enhanced directory registry that facilitate the access, association, and instantiation of information over a communications network.

Abstract: Processes and systems are disclosed for creating a maintenance report for a communications system. One embodiment includes communicating with a communications network and acquiring a telephone line record. The telephone line record include at least one of i) customer information from a Customer Record Information System, ii) facility information from a Loop Facility Assignment Control System, and iii) equipment information from a switch system analyzing telephone switches. The maintenance report is generated using the acquired telephone line record. The process creates the maintenance report using fresh data.

Abstract: A method and system are described for presenting neighbors of a device in a network via a graphical user interface. According to exemplary embodiments, a determination is made for a segment of the network that includes the device whether a connecting device is coupled to a corresponding connecting device included in another segment of the network. Identities of the device and the coupled connecting and corresponding connecting devices are presented together with visual cues identifying a connectivity among the presented identities in the graphical user interface.