Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for tracking arbitrary task dependencies on computers in a grid environment including the steps of downloading a task to a computer coupled to the grid and identifying the dependencies necessary to perform the task and downloading the dependency executables to check the dependencies on the computer, and executing the downloaded dependency executables on the computer. When the dependencies are satisfied, executing the task on the computer and returning the results of the task to the grid server. When at least one of the dependencies are checked and are not satisfied on the computer, returning an error for the task to the grid server, recording the particular dependencies that failed as not satisfied for the computer, and recording a timestamp indicating when the dependency was checked.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program for processing invalid data. Data is received at a shared component for processing. A shared component is a component that is capable of being shared by multiple entities. The shared component has a plurality of threads. An attempt is made to process the data using one of the threads from the plurality of threads. The data is invalid and therefore the attempt at processing the invalid data results in the shared component and its plurality of threads failing. In response to the failure of the shared component, at least two instances of the shared component are created. At least one thread is assigned to each component instance, where the number of threads assigned to each component instance is restricted to a maximum number that is less than the original number of the plurality of threads.

Abstract: To address shortcomings in the prior art, the invention uses fate sharing information to compute backup paths. Fate sharing information relates groups of nodes or links according to common characteristics, attributes, or shared resources (e.g., a shared power supply, close proximity, same physical link). In one embodiment, fate-sharing information includes costs associated with groups of nodes or links. When a primary path contains a link or node that is in a fate-sharing group, the other links or nodes in the fate-sharing group are assigned the cost associated with that fate-sharing group. The node computing the backup path takes into account the assigned cost together with other node and link costs. Discovering the existence of the relationships and assigning costs to the groups may be done manually or automatically.

Abstract: Power consumption may be reduced in a media device including a first processor coupled to the non-volatile memory, either directly or indirectly, allowing the first processor to generate a pointer structure. The first processor may also be coupled, either directly or indirectly to a memory space, allowing the first processor to write the pointer structure in the memory space. The media device includes a second processor, such as a DSP/SHW or peripheral processor, and may be also be coupled, either directly or indirectly to the memory space, allowing the second processor to retrieve a block of media data from the non-volatile memory. Retrieval of the block of media data may be read directly from the non-volatile memory, or in some cases, the media data being retrieved may be parsed. The media data may be an audio file data, video file data, or both.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture are provided to support dynamic assignment of data from a continuous stream of data to one or more storage devices in a storage network. The storage network is configured with one or more tiers in a hierarchy, with at least one storage device in each tier. Similarly, the storage network is in communication with both a storage manager and a data manager. The storage manager sorts the storage devices, maintains a demand function of each device, and calculates a burn rate for each storage device. The data manager is in communication with the storage manager and assigns data from the received stream of data to at least one of the storage devices.

Abstract: A method including receiving network topology and resource management information; generating a mapping between the network topology of a network and resource reservation paths associated with flows using the network based on the network topology and resource management information; generating a failure recovery plan (FRP) based on the mapping, wherein the FRP instructs one or more other network devices on how to manage a failure such that one or more resource reservation paths associated with flows impacted by the failure are not deleted; and loading the FRP on the one or more other network devices.

Abstract: A stack switch for performing pass-through forwarding operations, assigning stack switch identifiers to a plurality of stack switches, temporarily disabling supervision messages exchanged by stack switches, and electing a primary master stack switch is disclosed. In the pass-through mode, the stack switch automatically forwards packets between stack ports independent of their destination address to maintain connectivity between adjacent stack switches while conventional bridging and routing operations are disabled. The sequential identifiers are also preferably assigned in accordance with the sequential position of the various stack switches to better reflect the topology of those switches. The switch is also preferably adapted to temporarily disable the transmission of supervision messages between stack switches to prevent re-assignment of network management functions when switch resources are low.

Abstract: Described are a printer and a method of controlling it, in which discarding received data and clearing data from a receive buffer is started when an off-line error occurs and the printer goes off-line. When the printer returns on-line, a control unit causes a data receiving unit to stop discarding said received data and causes sending a clear response as an on-line status report telling the host computer that the printer is returning on-line.

Abstract: A method and system for transmitting data corresponding to at least one endpoint device problem in a packet communications network is described. Specifically, an endpoint device detects at least one problem that pertains to the endpoint device. The endpoint device then generates data pertaining to the endpoint device problem. Lastly, the endpoint device then transmits the data detailing that endpoint device problem to the packet communications network.

Abstract: A global processor operating mode is used select whether a processor stops processing when an error is detected or ignores the error and continues processing while overriding values as needed to recover from the error. When a soldier-on mode is enabled the system attempts to recover from the error while also recording the error state of the first error in on-chip registers for later analysis. When the soldier-on mode is not enabled and an error occurs, the system stops processing and the error is reported up to the operating system.

Abstract: Analysis of audit information that takes into account a wide context allows for a rich picture from which system conditions may be assessed. Event information about various events that have occurred or are occurring, on various sources in the computing arrangement, is maintained. Each entity has an “activity identifier”, which remains the same across various events performed by that entity at the various sources. Event information associated with the various sources is contextually analyzed on the basis of the activity identifier, to assess whether a condition exists that impacts the performance and/or security of the computing arrangement. In case it is determined that such a condition exists, an action is performed to remediate the condition.

Abstract: In a storage system that includes two or more file servers each including an arbitrary number of operating virtual file servers, a management server: holds a load information table regarding a load on each virtual file server for each time period and redundancy information table for the storage system; judges, with reference to the load information table and redundancy information table, whether or not the loads on the virtual file servers can be handled by a smaller number of file servers than the number of currently-operating file servers; selects, if the judgment result is positive, a power-off target file server and makes another file server fail over a virtual file server in the power-off target file server; and turns off the power-off target file server.

Abstract: A system and method for providing collaborative master data process management. A master data store comprises data for at least one data domain. A master data management module is configured to provide access to the data to one or more applications. A master data management service module provides at least one service providing access to the data based on a service-oriented architecture. A business process management module is configured to generate, execute and manage at least one business process related to the data domain. The at least one business process uses at least one of the at least one service provided by the master data management service module. A master data process module is configured to generate at least one data process comprising a business process involving an operation on the data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system model models characteristics of a real-world system. The system model includes a plurality of sub-portions that each correspond to a component of the real-world system. A plurality of test vectors are applied to the system model and coverage achieved by the test vectors on the sub-portions of the system model is measured. In response to a failure of the real world system, a suspected failed component of the real-world system is matched to a particular sub-portion of the system model. A test vector to be applied to the real-world system to test the suspected failed component is selected in response to coverage achieved on the particular sub-portion of the system model.

Abstract: Disclosed is an abnormal pattern detection program for a function call in a source program that makes a computer, which is connected to a main memory and an output device, execute the following processes. (1) A reading process for reading the source program onto the main memory. (2) A sentence extracting process for extracting previous and next sentences of every function call of each function from the source program read onto the main memory. (3) A setting process for setting common appearance patterns, which are included in the previous and next sentences of every function call extracted through the sentence extracting process and appear in a high frequency, on the main memory. (4) An output process for outputting a warning message from the output device when a function call whose previous and next sentences do not include any of the common appearance patterns is found in the source program.

Abstract: The invention is directed to monitoring execution of software threads, particularly by detecting a lockup or stall in execution of a software thread and initiating a remedial action in response. Advantageously, some embodiments of the invention automatically detect a lockup or stall in execution of a software thread by periodically sampling information corresponding to the thread, and, in accordance with a determination made using the information, initiate an attempt to recover from such a condition in execution without the need for manual intervention.

Abstract: A bottom-up (or upward) multilayer network recovery method and apparatus based on a root-cause analysis are disclosed to quickly and accurately perform a recovery operation. The bottom-up multilayer network recovery method based on a root-cause analysis includes: simultaneously counting, by a fault detection layer, a root-cause analysis (RA) time and a hold-off (HO) time, upon detecting an occurrence of a fault; performing, by the fault detection layer, a root-cause analysis during the RA time to recognize a layer in which a root-cause has occurred; when the root-cause has occurred in the fault detection layer, immediately recovering the fault by the fault detection layer, and when a root-cause has occurrence in a lower layer, waiting for the HO time until such time as the lower layer can recover the fault; and when the fault has not been recovered even after the HO time has lapsed, recovering the fault by the fault detection layer.

Abstract: A pipelined processing device includes: a processor configured to receive a request to perform an operation; a plurality of processing controllers configured to receive at least one instruction associated with the operation, each of the plurality of processing controllers including a memory to store at least one instruction therein; a pipeline processor configured to receive and process the at least one instruction, the pipeline processor including shared error detection logic configured to detect a parity error in the at least one instruction as the at least one instruction is processed in a pipeline and generate an error signal; and a pipeline bus connected to each of the plurality of processing controllers and configured to communicate the error signal from the error detection logic.

Abstract: Providing homogeneous recovery in a redundant memory system that includes a memory controller, a plurality of memory channels in communication with the memory controller, an error detection code mechanism configured for detecting a failing memory channel, and an error recovery mechanism. The error recovery mechanism is configured for receiving notification of the failing memory channel, for blocking off new operations from starting on the memory channels, for completing any pending operations on the memory channels, for performing a recovery operation on the memory channels and for starting the new operations on at least a first subset of the memory channels. The memory system is capable of operating with the first subset of the memory channels.

Abstract: A method to read selectively system information messages in a mobile wireless communication device. The mobile wireless device receives a first transmission of a multiple segment message through a radio frequency receiver. The mobile wireless device detects decoding errors in at least one of the received segments of the first transmission. In response to detecting decoding errors, the mobile wireless device selectively receives a first subset of segments in a second transmission of the multiple segment message. The mobile wireless device powers down at least a portion of the radio frequency receiver during receive time intervals for a second subset of segments in the second transmission. The first subset of segments in the second transmission corresponds to segments in the first transmission received with decoding errors. The second subset of segments in the second transmission corresponds to segments in the first transmission received without decoding errors.

Abstract: Resources to be used by concurrent threads in a multithreaded processor are allocated based on thread types of the threads, and thread-type-based criteria governing resource allocation decisions are dynamically modified based on feedback information indicating the degree to which various thread types are using the resource. For each of at least two thread types, an amount of the resource is reserved, and amounts currently allocated are tracked. When an allocation request for a new thread is received, the allocation is made or not based on the new thread's type, the amount of the resource reserved for that type, and the amount currently allocated to threads of that type. If, based on feedback information from the allocation decision, the amount of the resource reserved for one thread type is determined to be insufficient, the reserved amounts are modified to better meet the demand.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes a computing system accessing inventory data maintained in a repository of inventory data, the inventory data maintained for use in determining tax revenue to be collected from at least one customer, and auditing the inventory data, the audit including accessing a data record included in the inventory data, subjecting the data record to at least one of a validation process, a range split condition check process, and a tax code identifier check process, and generating output data representative of a result produced by the at least one of the validation process, the range split condition check process, and the tax code identifier check process. When the result indicates an error condition, the output data is configured to facilitate a correction of the error condition in the inventory data included in the repository of inventory data. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A program update device includes: a first storage unit to retain a program of a first version; a second storage unit to retain a program of a second version equal to or later than the first version; an acquiring unit to acquire a difference between the program of the second version and a program of a third version later than the second version; and an update unit to generate the program of the third version from the program of the second version that is stored in the second storage unit and the difference acquired by the acquiring unit, and to store the generated program of the third version in the first storage unit.

Abstract: Provided are a booting method of updating software components installed in a system and recovering from an error that occurs in an update, a method and system for automatically updating the software and recovering from the error, and a computer readable recording medium storing the method. The master boot record and the backup boot record are used to stably update a kernel and effectively recover from an update error. The component configuration database is used to update a plurality of software components including a kernel in a transaction, and perfectly recover from an update error.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a node comprises a plurality of IEEE 1394 subnet interfaces for communicating over a plurality of IEEE 1394 buses. Each of the plurality of IEEE 1394 subnet interfaces comprises a respective IEEE 1394 physical layer and IEEE 1394 link layer for communicating over a respective one of the plurality of IEEE 1394 buses. At least the IEEE 1394 physical layers for the plurality of subnet interfaces do not share hardware. The node further comprises at least one programmable processor that executes software that comprises common network layer functionality that interacts with all of the plurality of IEEE 1394 subnet interfaces and routes IEEE 1394 data packets among the plurality of IEEE 1394 buses.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a process monitor configured to monitor the status of processes executed in accordance with respective monitored driver programs which are to be monitored among driver programs associated with respective devices, an error processor configured to operate when a processing error is detected by the process monitor, to register, in a nonvolatile memory, driver information indicating the driver program with respect to which the error has been detected, and an execution controller configured to call and execute the driver programs, wherein when the information processing apparatus is started, the execution controller skips execution of the driver program indicated by the driver information registered in the nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: In a job management device: a request reception unit stores job-input information in a storage device on receipt of a job-execution request; and an execution instruction unit sends to one or more job-assigned calculation nodes a job-execution instruction together with execution-resource information, and stores job-assignment information in the storage device in association with a job identifier. When the contents of the job database are lost by a restart of the job management device, a reconstruction unit collects the job-input information and the job-assignment information from the storage device, collects the execution-resource information from the one or more job-assigned calculation nodes, and reconstructs the job information in the job database.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting decimal floating point data processing exceptions. A processor accepts at least one decimal floating point operand and performs a decimal floating point operation on the at least one decimal floating point operand to produce a decimal floating point result. A determination is made as to whether the decimal floating point result fails to maintain a preferred quantum. The preferred quantum indicates a value represented by a least significant digit of a significand of the decimal floating point result. An output is provided, in response to the determining that the decimal floating point result fails to maintain the preferred quantum, indicating an occurrence of a quantum exception. A maskable exception can be generated that is immediately trapped or later detected to control conditional processing.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer usable program product for tolerating soft errors by selective duplication are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An application executing in a data processing system, selects an instruction that has to be protected from soft errors. The instruction is marked for duplication such that the instruction is duplicated during execution of the instruction. The marked instruction is sent for execution to a hardware front end.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to method, device and system for detecting errors in a communication system. A signal is received from a transmitter at a receiver wherein the signal includes a data portion and a result of a hash function. The hash function is computed in part from a transmitter identification code. The receiver determines if the result of the hash function matches both the data portion and the transmitter identification code. The receiver discards the signal if the result of the hash function does not match both the data portion and the transmitter identification code of the transmitter.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for bad block remapping. A bad block identifier module identifies one or more data blocks on a solid-state storage element as bad blocks. A log update module writes at least a location of each bad block identified by the bad block identifier module into each of two or more redundant bad block logs. A bad block mapping module accesses at least one bad block log during a start-up operation to create in memory a bad block map. The bad block map includes a mapping between the bad block locations in the bad block log and a corresponding location of a replacement block for each bad block location. Data is stored in each replacement block instead of the corresponding bad block. The bad block mapping module creates the bad block map using one of a replacement block location and a bad block mapping algorithm.

Abstract: Provided a communication device and a method of self-healing thereof. The communication device is characterized by one or more operational functions and comprising one or more resources operatively coupled to at least one sensor, said sensor directly or indirectly coupled to a recovery block, wherein the device is configured to held an emergency configuration related to at least one of said operational functions and/or at least one of said resources; the sensor is configured to monitor at least one of said resources for information, indicative of at least one possibly malfunctioned resource, and to report, directly or indirectly, this information and/or derivative thereof to the recovery block; and the recovery block is configured to initiate at least one remedial action in respect of at least one of said resources in case the received information and/or derivative thereof meets a certain criterion, wherein said remedial action to be provided in accordance with the emergency configuration.

Abstract: Techniques for host to host transfer of media and the use of persistent reservation to protect media during host to host transfer is disclosed. Exemplary embodiments may be realized as methods and systems for transferring a sequential media loaded in a drive from a first host to a second host without physically unloading the media. The first host may have a persistent reservation or non-persistent reservation of the drive. Likewise, the second host may have a persistent reservation or non-persistent reservation of the drive. Logical unload, logical load and preemption commands are utilized as is error recovery from a failed reservation.

Abstract: A computer system has a plurality of components which can be initialized. A plurality of components can be initialized and each component is configured to produce status data from which the level of need for that component to be initialized can be inferred. At least one component is configured to: receive status data from other components; make a comparison using the status data received from respective components; in dependence on the comparison, select one or more components for initialization; and, issue initialization instructions to the selected component(s). By making a comparison between the status data from different components, the relative need for different components to be initialized can be evaluated, allowing a component with a high need for initialization to be selected over a component with a lower need.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for processing tasks with failure recovery. The method includes storing one or more tasks in a queue, wherein each task has an associated exit routine, and determining at least one task to process based on a priority scheme. The method further includes processing the at least one task, and calling the exit routine based on determining that the task has not completed processing within a preselected period of time.

Abstract: A server device constituting a group management system includes one or more manufacturing apparatuses for performing a preset process on a target substrate, and the server device includes a measurement information storage unit for storing therein one or more measurement information; an instruction receiving unit for receiving an output instruction of the measurement information, which contains information specifying a predetermined start point and valid time information; a measurement information acquisition unit for acquiring, from the measurement information storage unit, measurement information ranging from the predetermined start point to a time point of the valid time; an output information composing unit for composing output information by using the acquired measurement information; and an output unit for outputting the output information composed by the output information composing unit.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a virtual machine, the method includes: monitoring, using an out of band monitor, information exchanged between the virtual machine and a hypervisor; and evaluating a state of the virtual machine by applying a statistical classification process to at least a portion of the monitored information.

Abstract: A modular framework may be provided for configuration checks that enable a developer to classify and describe each check and then subsequently search for checks and integrate them with other checks. Each check may include a dependency on other checks to create a hierarchy. Additionally, multiple checks may be combined. The combination of checks may be used to check configuration of specific processes or systems. Each check unit and business configuration check may contain keywords, descriptions, and documentation to enable the checks to be subsequently searched and reused in different applications. Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture may be provided.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer usable program product for predictively managing failover in a high availability system are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A disruptive activity occurring on the HA data processing system is detected. The disruptive activity has a potential to cause an operation of the HA data processing system to perform outside a specified parameter. A determination is made of a desired response in the HA data processing system should the disruptive activity disrupting the operation. A precautionary action is initiated with respect to the HA data processing system.

Abstract: A distributed session failover mechanism is disclosed for facilitating the replication and retrieval of session information. A first server, in a trusted network, providing a single sign-on (SSO) solution, stores session information pertaining to a particular client requesting services associated with the server. In order to provide session failover, the first server sends a copy of the session information to a bus mechanism, which is connected to one or more persistent repositories. When a second server attempts to validate the client, the second server may discover that the first server failed. The second server then requests a copy of the session information pertaining to the client from the bus mechanism. The bus mechanism retrieves the copy from a persistent repository and provides the copy to the second server.

Abstract: A process control system is provided having a plurality of I/O devices in communication using a bus. A primary redundant I/O device and a secondary redundant I/O device are coupled to the bus, where the secondary redundant I/O device is programmed to detect a primary redundant I/O device fault. The secondary redundant I/O device, upon detecting the primary redundant I/O device fault, publishes a primary redundant I/O device fault message on the bus. The controller may deactivate the primary redundant I/O device and activate the secondary redundant I/O device responsive to the primary redundant I/O device fault message.

Abstract: The use of loops in SAS networks is enabled by designating ports connected to loop connections as table loop ports (TLPs). Under normal operating conditions, each TLP is blocked from receiving BCNs, appears to the expander to have nothing connected to it, and is made invisible to initiators. The loop connection and TLPs may be enabled and used to access devices when a problem is detected. In particular, the TLP will now appear in a list of destination ports within the expander to which a BCN should be propagated. In addition, during a subsequent self-configuration, the TLP is allowed to populate its route table with devices accessible through it, and the existence of the TLP is also reported back to initiators. After re-discovery is complete, communications between the initiator and a target can resume, with traffic re-routed through the TLPs as needed, bypassing the failure point.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for managing exchange IDs for multiple asynchronous dependent I/O operations generated for virtual Fibre Channel (FC) target volumes. Features and aspects hereof allocate a range of exchange identifier (X_ID) values used in issuing a plurality of physical I/O operations to a plurality of physical FC target devices that comprise the virtual FC target volume. The plurality of physical I/O operations are dependent upon one another for completion of the original request to the virtual FC target volume and allow substantially parallel operation of the plurality of physical FC target devices. A primary X_ID is selected from the range of allocated X_ID values for communications with the attached host system that generated the original request to the virtual FC target volume.

Abstract: A coordinated channel change system. In particular implementations, a method includes receiving a prepare-to-change message, wherein the prepare-to-change message indicates instructions to prepare to change channels and includes a designated channel, and forwarding the prepare-to-change message to one or more child nodes. The method also includes receiving a ready-to-change message from the one or more child nodes, and transmitting a change-to-channel message to the one or more child nodes, wherein the change-to-channel message indicates instructions to switch to the designated channel. The method also includes receiving an acknowledgement message from the one or more child nodes, and changing to the designated channel.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that augments a circuit design with a mechanism for detecting and correcting timing errors. This system first partitions the circuit into a set of blocks that are clocked by an independent clock source, and integrates an error signal propagation circuit between the set of blocks. For a respective block, the system determines a set of internal registers that are to be implemented as double data sampling registers, and replaces the determined set of internal registers with double data sampling registers, wherein a given double data sampling register is configured to generate an error signal when it detects a timing error. Then, the system integrates a two-phase error correction circuit into the respective block, wherein when notified of a timing error by a double data sampling register, the two-phase error correction circuit is configured to stall registers in the respective block.

Abstract: When errors arise in a computing system that has plural modules, this invention corrects those errors. In the first instance, the invention excludes the computing system itself, but receives error messages from the plural modules of that system—along plural receiving connections, respectively. Plural sending connections return corrective responses to plural modules of that system, respectively. In a second instance, the invention further incorporates that system. The invention is hierarchical: plural levels or tiers of apparatus and function are present—a first (typically uppermost) one directly serving that system as described above, and others (lower) that analogously serve the first tier of the invention—and than also the subsequent tiers, in a cascading or nested fashion, down to preferably a bottom-level tier supporting all the upper ones. Each level preferably controls power interruption and restoration to higher levels. Ideally the hierarchy is in the form of a “system on chip”.

Abstract: The invention enhances automatic incident control, problem control, and problem prevention using information provided by the analysis or analysis data. The burden on the part of both users and providers to resolve problems is reduced by using a method of automatic analysis data upload and intelligent problem analysis and resolution. Problems are better identified, investigated, diagnosed, recorded, classified, and tracked until affected services return to normal operation and errors trends are used to proactively prevent future problems.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method, which can comprise automatically generating a trouble ticket responsive to a determined failure of one or more elements of a management Permanent Virtual Circuit (PVC). The management PVC can be established between a signaling device and a device communicatively coupled to a backbone network.

Abstract: A system and associated method for determining a recovery time for a resource in a heterogeneous computing environment comprising interdependent resources. A graph for the resource representing all sequence dependencies and all group relations are created. The recovery time may be a cumulative startup time or a cumulative shutdown time of the resource considering interdependencies of the resource to other resources. The recovery time for all support resources having sequence dependencies with the resource is calculated and each node representing the support resources are removed from the graph. Then the recovery time for all member resources left in the graph that have group relations with the resource is calculated per a group type of the resource. The recovery time for the resource is a sum of the recovery time of all support resources, the recovery time of all member resources, and a unit recovery time of the resource.

Abstract: A method of suppressing unwanted windows created by an operating system is described. The method comprises: monitoring calls from the operating system relating to creation of a window and ascertaining if a monitored call relates to creation of a window of a type corresponding to a window type to be blocked. If the window is not of a type that is to be blocked, then the method involves displaying the window. If the window is of a type that is to be blocked, then the method involves: registering a new window procedure for that window; and returning an error message to the operating system using the new window procedure to suppress display of the window.