Abstract: A method and device are disclosed for calculating estimated time stamps ìt in video distribution apparatus, MPEG-2 program encoders, multiplexers, splicers. True times Yt of a data packet number t having the linear form: Yt=Yt−1+&bgr;t, &bgr;t=&bgr;t−1+&eegr;t, with &eegr;t being a small perturbation relative to the linear relation between time and packet number. The true times of data packet number t are observed as: ot=Yt+&egr;t, where &egr;t is an observational error. The estimated time stamps are produced according to: ìt=ìt−1+&bgr;t and such that the value of &bgr;t is made dependent on the exceeding by #ot−ìt−1−&bgr;t−1 # of max[&egr;t]. The results are accurate and smooth estimated time stamps.

Abstract: In a system where a remote backup platform is enabled to automatically duplicate each registry key change in a local platform, a method is provided wherein restoration of original remote registry key data can be accomplished by utilizing a remote disk file which stores original data. When local original registry data on the local platform is lost to due breakdown, then a restoration program can access the backup remote registry key data for conveyance to the local registry key.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing and maintaining date information associated with an electronic device. The system is typically configured to prompt a user to enter or otherwise establish a valid date at some point after power is applied to the system. After establishing a valid date, the real time clock is configured to maintain real-time date/time information. Upon determining that a valid date has been set, the system may subsequently obtain date/time information from the real time clock and store the obtained date and time in the non-volatile memory as the in-service date. The system may be enabled to determine if, subsequent to establishing an in-service date, the user altered the date/time information in a manner that indicated an intent to extend the warranty period beyond the manufacturer specified warranty period.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for generating differential profiles having been subject to condition A vs. condition B (A vs. B) from data obtained in separately performed experimental measurements A vs. C and B vs. D. When C and D are the same, the invention provides methods for determination of systematic measurement errors or biases between different measurements carried out in different experimental reactions, i.e., cross-experiment errors or biases, using data measured for samples under the common condition and for removal or reduction of such cross-experiment errors. The invention further provides methods for generating differential profiles A vs. B from data obtained in single-channel measurements A and B.

Abstract: A recovery method for a high-dimensional index structure is disclosed, in which a reinsert operation is employed based on ARIES (algorithm for recovery and isolation exploiting semantics) and a page-oriented redo and a logical undo. Further, a recording medium on which a program for carrying out the above method is recorded is disclosed, the program being readable by a computer. The recovery method for a high-dimensional index structure employing a reinsert operation according to the present invention includes the following steps. At a first step, an entry is inserted into a node, a minimum bounding region is adjusted, an overflow is processed, and a log record is stored. At a second step, the log record thus stored is recovered.

Abstract: A primary computer system has a database, application programs that modify the local database, and a transaction manager that stores audit records in a local image trail reflecting those application program modifications to the local database. In a remote backup system, a Receiver process receives audit records from the primary system. The audit records include audit update and audit backout records indicating database updates and database backouts generated by transactions executing on the primary system. The Receiver stores the audit update and audit backout records in one or more image trails. For each image trail there is an Updater process that applies to a backup database volume the database updates and backouts indicated by the audit update and audit backout records in the image trail. The remote backup system periodically executes a file purge procedure, which identifies the oldest transaction table from among the transaction tables in the last image trail file accessed for each of the image trails.

Abstract: A storage system maintains a log image consisting of log records kept in a page log and log records kept in a distributed log kept in staging buffers of multiple storage media. The distributed log contains incremental log records that are occasionally forced to the storage media prior to filling an entire page of log records. The storage system has a log recovery manager that recovers the log image following a failure. The log recovery manager first reads the log records from the page log to reproduce a majority of the log image. The log recovery manager then scans the distributed log to locate any more recent log records that may exist. Once a more recent log record is found, the log recovery manager adds it to the recaptured log image and proceeds to find even more recent log records. To speed the recovery, the log recovery manager intelligently begins the search for the next incremental log record at a location in the storage system that the next log record is likely to reside.

Abstract: A fault monitoring apparatus is connected to computer systems and monitors a fault in the computer systems. The fault monitoring apparatus is provided with a storage section for storing and holding fault recovery information including rules for defining recovery operations when faults occur in the computer systems, and when a fault occurs in the computer systems, retrieves the rules previously set in the fault recovery information and instructs the computer systems so as to perform a recovery operation corresponding to a rule matching to the fault which occurs in the computer systems.

Abstract: A programming environment can be modified to provide automatic support for reverting program memory states. Such memory reversions are used to provide automatic support for undo, redo, and abort operations for application programs written with the programming environment. Memory allocation code (e.g., functions, procedures, etc.) are modified to mark allocated memory as protected, and an exception handler is assigned to such memory. Attempts to access the memory cause an exception to be generated. This exception is caught, providing opportunity for the memory to be preserved before it is modified. Previous memory states can be retrieved by restoring such stored memory states.

Abstract: In a computer system, the controller of one or more primary data recording devices sends update information to the controller of one or more secondary data recording devices to maintain a remote copy of data stored on the primary data recording devices. The primary controller receives a command from a computer that specifies a prospective suspend time after which remote copy operation is to be suspended. After the suspend time passes, the primary controller stops sending the update information to the secondary controller and begins storing indicators of the updated information in cache memory. The primary controller may resume remote copy operation in response to a command received from the computer by first entering into a pending mode of operation in which cached indicators are used to identify update information that must be sent to the secondary controller to resynchronize the remote copy. When the information for all cached indicators has been sent, normal remote copy operation may be resumed.

Abstract: Audit Trail recovery is enhanced by including addresses of immediately prior periodic saves of all active or open Steps or transactions in each new period save area. Reduced cost in main memory usage and on-the-fly processing to accomplish audit trail format that enhances recovery time results from ability to immediately address next prior period save data once a last periodic save is found in reading back the audit trail. Reading back the audit trail to find the last periodic save can be avoided too by directly addressing the last periodic save in preferred embodiments since the computer system will in all events temporarily maintain a record of the address of the last periodic save to record the next time a periodic save is to be made, so this temporarily maintained record can be accessed and used to jump directly to the last periodic save address on the audit trail.

Abstract: A compensating resource manager provides a mechanism for more easily integrating non-transactional durable resources to participate in transactions within a component-based on-line transaction processing system, a well as resources having transaction processing support not conforming to the transaction processing system. The durable resource is integrated using the compensating resource manager by developing two simple components, a worker component that implements a normal action on the resource and a compensator component that implements a compensating action that reverses the normal action on the resource. The worker component uses system-provided services to register its respective compensator component and to log information, such as on a write-ahead basis, to allow the compensator component to reverse its normal action.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the performance on non-full stripe writes while closing the RAID5 write hole is disclosed. When a RAID controller receives data to be written to a disk array, the controller stores the data in nonvolatile memory, and opens a write operation. When the current write operation is initiated, the controller reads the old data from the disk array and checks for cached parity that corresponds to the stripe of data that is to be modified. If the parity is cached, the controller reads the cached parity, and if the parity is not cached, the controller reads the old parity from the disk array. New parity is then computed. If the parity was cached, the controller will modify a parity log to show an outstanding data write. If the parity was not cached, the controller will open a parity log to show an outstanding data and parity write. The new parity is then cached in non-volatile memory. The controller then determines whether the following write operation is for the same stripe of data.

Abstract: An independent checkpointing method using a memory checkpoint on a distributed system that includes a message transmission routine, a message processing routine, and a periodical checkpoint routine. The message transmission routine adds a self checkpoint number to a message to be transmitted when a current process tries to send a message to another process. The message processing routine performs a memory checkpoint and processes a message in reference to a checkpoint number of a transmission process, a checkpoint number of the current process, a memory checkpoint flag, and a message transmission flag when a message is received from a process. The periodical checkpoint routine performs a checkpoint that records a necessary state information for recovery against faults periodically in reference to the memory checkpoint flag.

Abstract: An information synchronization method and apparatus stores a change log having an associated change counter at a first database, updates the change counter at the first database in response to a database update command from a second database, and returns the updated change counter to the second database in response to a processing condition resulting from the database update command at the first database. The information synchronization protocol ensures that the second database maintains the most current change counter for use in a subsequent synchronization procedure and in the event that an interruption or error occurs, thereby increasing the efficiency of information synchronization by enabling the second database to process only those changes of the first database occurring after the updated change counter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a power failure recovery mechanism for a recording and reproducing device such as a DVD player, wherein a recording indication information and a recovery pointer information is written in a non-volatile random access memory, while a recovery information is recorded on a record carrier such as a recordable optical disc. At a power-up operation, the recording indication information is used to determine a power failure and the pointer information is used to reproduce the recovery information in case of a determined power failure. Thus, the pointer information indicates the location of incremental recovery data structures on the record carrier, such that a recovery can be achieved after a power failure without requiring a restart of the entire recording.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program for managing a set of data by a distributed set of services is provided. The set of data is organized into a plurality of related sets of data. Management of the related set of data is assigned, by a set of services, to a service within the distributed set of services based on an optimization criteria. Responsive to a failed service within the distributed set of services, management of the related set of data managed by the failed service is transferred to another service within the distributed set of services.

Abstract: Recovery of a filesystem directory structure is performed to restore it to any point in time and also to synchronize a database restore and a filesystem restore to bring the two restores to a database consistent state. A database management system (DBMS) manages external files and hierarchical directory structures to enable recovery and reconciliation of the files and filesystems, under DBMS control, after filesystem crashes. First, a database table, which recorded previous directory creations and deletions, is used to rebuild a filesystem's directory structure to any previous database state and then external file link information is used to restore files to that same state.

Abstract: A TCP-connection-router performs encapsulated clustering by dividing each encapsulated cluster into several Virtual EC (VECs), dynamically distributing incoming connections within a VEC based on current server load metrics according to a configurable policy. In one embodiment, the connection router supports dynamic configuration of the cluster, and enables transparent recovery which provides uninterrupted service to the VEC clients.

Abstract: An event tracing program generally receives performance data about an event occurring on the computer system from a data producer program. The event tracing program responds by recording the event performance data in one of a set of a log buffers. When a log buffer becomes full, the event tracing program places the log buffer on a buffer flush list. The filled buffer is then written out to a more permanent storage medium, such as a disk. From time to time, the event tracing program may also transfer a buffer to the flush list prior to becoming full after a time-out period. To prevent a buffer from being flushed while event performance data is being recorded in the buffer, a reference count is incremented prior to the record operation to signify that the buffer is currently being modified. For high performance on multiprocessor systems, the buffers are allocated per processor to minimize data sharing among processors.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for copying, transferring, backing up and restoring data are disclosed. The data can be copied, backed up or restored in segments sizes larger than the data blocks which comprise a logical object. In some embodiments, the segment can correspond to a track of a primary storage device and the data blocks to a fixed size block. In some instances, copying, storage and transfer of the segments which include multiple data blocks can result in transfer of a data block not in a logical object.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for recovering from memory failures in computer systems. The method of the present invention includes the steps of: identifying a predetermined instruction sequence; monitoring for memory access errors in response to the request; logging a memory access error in an error logging register; polling the register for any logged memory access error during execution of the instruction sequence; and raising exceptions, if the memory access error is logged. Within the system of the present invention, memory access errors are stored in an error logging register, machine check abort handles are masked, and memory controllers are under full control of the software so that memory access errors can be intercepted and responded to without necessitating a system reboot or application restart. The present invention is particularly applicable to O/S code which can not otherwise recover from memory errors except by rebooting.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing session information. In one embodiment, a communication session is established between a client computer and a server computer. When the client computer and the server computer establish the communication session, the client or the server typically stores information about the communication session, which is referred to as “session information.” The session information is stored in a first log file stored in a persistent volatile memory and in a cache file stored in a volatile memory of the server. The cache file is reconstructed after a server failure by retrieving the session information stored in the first log file.

Abstract: A system, method, and program for maintaining data consistency among updates to data storage areas are provided. Each update has an update time the update was made. There are multiple groups of data storage areas. For each group, updates to the data storage area in the group are stored in a journal for storing updates to the group, wherein there are multiple journals. An indication is made in a memory area for each group of a group update time comprising a most recent update time of the updates in the group. The update time for each update in the group is not greater than the group update time. A determination is made of a minimum group update time across all the groups. At least one update is applied to storage if the update time for the update does not exceed the minimum group update time. The data storage areas may be partitioned among a plurality of computer systems, and may be maintained in at least one primary and secondary storage.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for computer hard disk drive (HDD) protection and recovery. The apparatus includes a HDD controller board and a back-up HDD, both installed in a computer system having a working HDD. The apparatus utilizes hardware switches electrically coupled to the controller board, including a HDD selection switch and a copy command button. During normal operations, the switch remains switched to the working HDD, and as a result, the back-up HDD is switched off and remains transparent to the computer system and therefore protected from software viruses and other intrusions. The method includes a first-time image back-up process. When there is a failure of the working HDD, the back-up HDD can be instantly used as a normal HDD by switching the switch to the back-up HDD, so the computer system can be up and running without any interruption.

Abstract: Previous to the sending of an electronic mail, an attached file verifying unit retrieves a mail text to retrieve the presence or absence of an attachment representation indicative of the existence of an attached file, and if the attached representation has been retrieved, it issues for display a warning message urging the sender to verify the forget-to-attach. Furthermore, the attached file verifying unit compares the estimated number of attached files based on a number of attached files representation in the mail text with the actual number of attached files existing in the electronic mail, and if the actual number of the attached files is less than the estimated number of the attached files, it issues a warning message indicative of a lack of the attached files. In addition, the attached file verifying unit compares a file name in the mail text with a file name in the attached file, and if the two are not coincident with each other, it issues a warning message indicative of attachment of an erroneous file.

Abstract: In order to obviate data discrepancy between a primary source database and a secondary remote backup database, a Tracker program is used to sense the lack of synchronism between a primary audit file and secondary audit file. Then, a Catch-up program operates to transfer sectioned audit files from the primary to secondary in a parallel transfer mode until the primary and secondary audit files are accurate duplicates of each other, i.e., they are now in synchronism.

Abstract: In an object oriented software environment, a system and method is disclosed that addresses both state recovery and relationship recovery in the event of a system halt. The system is suited to enterprise-class distributed systems with extensive object relationships. Each essential object is saved in persistent storage. Essential values within each object are updated in storage according to a method within each object. After a partial or total halt of the system, the state of the software is reconstructed in a two phase process. In the first phase, the essential objects are restored from persistent storage, along with essential values. In the second phase, a method uniquely implemented by each object will reconstruct non-essential objects and variables. The second phase is ideally tailored to allow the system to be reconstructed even when the underlying hardware or software has been altered.

Abstract: A computer readable storage medium for executing a simulation process representing a collection of semiconductor devices and tests for the devices. The simulation process constitutes a batch job of a plurality of execution modules representing nodes of a directed acyclic graph. Each of the nodes contains a directory identifying any parent modules which have to be executed prior to executing the module, and identifying any child execution modules which are to be executed subsequent to executing the module. The directory also includes a status file indicating the state of execution of the module containing the directory. A supervisory processor performs a job farming operation on each of the execution modules in a distributed processing system. The execution modules are processed in an order defined by the identity of any parent and child modules referenced in the directories. At the completion of execution of a module, the status file of the directory is changed to indicate that the module has been executed.

Abstract: In order to correlate or synchronize the database of a source primary host with the backup database of a remote secondary host, the present method operates to speed up the transfer of audit blocks from primary host to secondary host when an out-of-sync signal indicates the secondary host audit blocks are not on a par with the primary host audit blocks. A Catchup process utilizes multiple buffers of audit blocks at the primary host which can then be asynchronously transferred, by a sequence of Catchup tasks, on a parallel concurrent operation, over to physical files of said secondary host.

Abstract: The method enables an improved and faster error recognition of software errors in a processor or processor system in which programs subject information received from other programs to an error check, particularly to a plausibility check, and, given acquisition of error statuses, output a corresponding error message to the operating system. This error message contains an indication of the other program generating the faulty information and is stored in a respective error message table. The operating system thus learns of programs suspected of working in a faulty way from other programs collaborating with these programs, so that program errors can be recognized and localized significantly faster.

Abstract: A database multipoint synchronization which allows multiple clients to simultaneously access and edit a database while avoiding inadvertent data corruption and ensuring the integrity of data within the database. A database manager, which may be configured as part of a database software application, keeps track of modifications saved to a database file and increments a modification change counter accordingly. When a client user accesses a database record, the database manager detects the modification change counter value. Then if that client seeks to save modifications to the database record, the database manager detects the current modification change counter value to discern whether other clients have saved modifications to the record following the access by the client presently seeking to save modifications. If the modification change counter has incremented, the client is denied authorization to save the modifications and offered a choice of alternative operations.

Abstract: In a time-versioned storage mechanism, data is stored as a plurality of records, each including at least one attribute, a time span indicating the time span for which the attribute is valid, an insertion time indicating when the record was created, and a type field. The type field indicates whether the record is a concrete record, a delta record that possibly modifies the attribute value of a previous concrete or delta record, or an archive record replacing one or more records that have been archived. The data is accessed to find an attribute value from the point of view of a specified viewpoint time, by retrieving only records with insertion times not later than said viewpoint time, and constructing an attribute value from the retrieved records. The data is updated only by adding concrete records or delta records, without modifying attribute values in the concrete records or delta records.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for indenting changes to a logical object on a host computer by examining information relating to a physical level in a data storage system wherein the logical object is stored. In one embodiment, a method for determining changes to a logical object subsequent to a reference time is described for a logical object that belongs to an application layer of a host computer in a computer system. The computer system includes the host computer, a storage system, and at least one mapping layer that maps the logical object to a physical layer relating to physical storage locations on the storage system. The physical layer includes physical change information relating to changes made to the physical storage locations on the storage system subsequent to the reference time.

Abstract: In an enterprise-wide network which includes at least one centralized computer and a plurality of desktop computers, a method for enterprise system management comprising the steps of: storing an Already Have list for each desktop; storing a plurality of Should Have sub-lists; and generating a respective Should Have list from the stored sub-lists for a respective desktop computer during configuration of the desktop computer; wherein the Schema of the generated Should Have list includes at least one dynamic linkage which encompasses more than on Should Have sub-lists.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for testing one or more semiconductor devices (e.g., packaged chips). Test equipment performs at least tests of a first type on the semiconductor device and identifies failures in the semiconductor device, if any. A number of failures is determined. In the case where there are some failures, decision circuitry determines whether it is more efficient to repeat the tests or repair the semiconductor device, if it is repairable.

Abstract: A replica system and a method of producing a replica are provided for dealing with a database management system including both database programs and files. The system transmits and receives data between interfaces using a common data format, by including a replica manager which receives a replica instruction and determines an object to be read from a master database and an object to be written in a copy database, according to the replica instruction. By giving a command to the database management system, data associated with the object to be read is read from the database, and data format is converted into a standard data format. The received data is then converted to data format associated with the object to be written, and the converted data is finally stored in the copy database.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the maintenance of redundant postage accounting datafiles. Redundant postage accounting report data is maintained by the present invention by first creating a datafile on a postage metering device (e.g., an SMD) to store postage accounting data. A second datafile is created on a computer capable of communicating with the SMD (which may be either remote or local to the computer). For every transaction which updates the postage accounting data stored in the SMD, the datafile residing on the computer is updated to reflect the change.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing overhead associated with recovering after a failure. According to the method, a checkpoint value is maintained that indicates which records of a plurality of records have to be processed after the failure. The plurality of records contain change information that corresponds to a plurality of data blocks. A target checkpoint value is determined based on a desired number of data block reads that will be required during a redo phase of recovery. Changes contained in volatile memory are then written to nonvolatile memory to advance the checkpoint value to at least the target checkpoint value. According to another aspect of the invention, the target checkpoint value is determined using a circular queue of offset buckets. The offset buckets are used to store index values that are associated with buffers in the ordered list. The target checkpoint value is periodically set equal to an index value that is contained in an offset bucket.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing one or more records. A scan module transmits a scan request to a session storage manager. The scan request identifies a particular record at which the scan module 612 starts a scan session. The session storage manager also receives an application request from an application to modify the record. The session storage manager then transforms the requested record into a version if the record exhibits a predetermined characteristic.

Abstract: A handheld computer which contains an LCD display having a digitizing surface to allow pen input. Internal storage takes several forms, such as a large flash ROM area, battery-backed up RAM and an optional hard disk drive. Several alternative communication paths are available, such as the previously mentioned modem, a parallel printer port, a conventional serial port, a cradle assembly connected to the host computer, and various wireless short distance techniques such as radio frequency or infrared transmission. The computer can readily communicate with other sources, particularly to a host desktop computer, to allow automated synchronization of information between the host and the handheld system. Preferably the remote synchronization is performed at several user selectable levels. When the handheld computer is in a cradle and actively connected to the host computer, automatic capture of updated data in the host computer is performed.

Abstract: A transaction processing method, system and computer program product for processing applications comprising multiple component transactions. A transaction failure of a component transaction causes a reliable admission of failure by means of a failure indicator to be made available to one or more further transactions. The failure indicator is stored in recoverable storage, so that its effect can survive system failure and recovery.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for maintaining consistency of data across storage devices. A cut-off time value is provided to the system. The system then obtains information on data writes to a first storage device, including information on time stamp values associated with the data writes indicating an order of the data writes to the first storage device. At least one group of data writes having time stamp values earlier in time than the cut-off time value is then formed. The system then transfers the data writes in the groups to a second storage device for storage therein.

Abstract: Synchronization system and associated methods provide synchronization of an arbitrary number of datasets, including more than two datasets. To achieve this, a reference dataset is used to store a super-set of the latest or most-recent data from all user datasets to provide a repository of information that is available at all times. Therefore, if the user later wishes to synchronize a new user dataset, such as one in a server computer that stores user information, the system already has all the information necessary for synchronizing the new dataset, regardless of whether any of the other datasets are then available. Further, to simplify use, a unified user interface is provided that allows the user to easily determine which of his or her datasets are currently set to be synchronized and allows the user to conveniently alter the current settings to select one, two, or even more than two clients for synchronization.

Abstract: In an object oriented software environment, a system and method is disclosed that addresses both state recovery and relationship recovery in the event of a system halt. The system is suited to enterprise-class distributed systems with extensive object relationships. Each essential object is saved in persistent storage. Essential values within each object are updated in storage according to a method within each object. After a partial or total halt of the system, the state of the software is reconstructed in a two phase process. In the first phase, the essential objects are restored from persistent storage, along with essential values. In the second phase, a method uniquely implemented by each object will reconstruct non-essential objects and variables. The second phase is ideally tailored to allow the system to be reconstructed even when the underlying hardware or software has been altered.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a technique for restoring a database in a computer. In accordance with the present invention, the database contains objects and is stored on a data storage device connected to the computer. After a system failure, a log file is read. The log file contains one or more modifications to the database objects. Each modification has an associated data page and time stamp or sequence number. The modifications are sorted by at least one predefined sorting key value. The sorted modifications are then grouped by database object. The sorted modifications are applied to each database object in parallel.

Abstract: A method for creating a status report data file for a document job in a document system including a central database configured to create a status report data file for each document job received at the central database and a plurality of sub-systems coupled to the central database where each sub-system is configured to perform a specific document task pertaining to a document job. A status report for a document job is created in the central database upon the appearance of that job from any one of a plurality of sub-systems coupled to the central database.

Abstract: An identifier of a process, which is designed in advance to be executed only before a check point, is recorded on a delay process recording table, while an identifier of a process (check point process) exclusively for picking up a check point is recorded on a delay process recording table. A process queuing unit queues the process recorded on the delay process recording table to a delay executable queue, and queues the other processes to an executable queue. A process selecting unit selects and schedules one of the processes stored in the executable queue. Referring to the check point process recording table, it is determined whether the selected process is a check point process. If it is, all the processes stored in the delay executable queue are scheduled immediately before the check point process. Thus, an influence of delay in processing necessary for securing the matching of the system can be minimized.

Abstract: Conventional segment LRU are used to capture data entries. The time that each entry is most recently accessed is stored and held from one entry to another. If a central processing unit encounters a cache failure upon accessing the cache memory for writing or reading data to or from the storage device, the time point of storage of an entry at an LRU position in a protection area and that of an entry at an LRU position in an examination area are compared to each other. If the former is earlier, the entry at the LRU position in the protection area is moved to an MRU position in the examination area to reduce the size of protection area, while the cache failure entry is added to the MRU position in examination area and an entry at the LRU position in the examination area is driven out of the cache memory. If the latter is earlier, the entry at the LRU position in the examination area is extracted and driven out of the cache memory and the cache failure entry is added to the MRU position in the examination area.

Abstract: The system and method of this invention automatically manages a group of computers by automatically gathering data, storing the data, analyzing the stored data to identify specified conditions, and initiating automated actions to respond to the detected conditions. The invention, hereafter “SYSTEMWatch AI-L”, comprises a SYSTEMWatch AI-L client which turns a computer into a managed computer, a SYSTEMWatch AI-L console, which turns a computer into a monitoring computer, a SYSTEMWatch AI-L send facility, which allows a system administrator to send commands to various SYSTEMWatch AI-L clients through the SYSTEMWatch AI-L console, and a SYSTEMWatch AI-L report facility which allows a system administrator to query information collected and processed by the SYSTEMWatch AI-L clients and SYSTEMWatch AI-L consoles.