Abstract: Mechanisms for measuring, analyzing, and presenting performance data associated with a memory controller system are described. The mechanisms include a performance monitor that detects and analyzes performance including efficiency and latency of a memory controller system. In addition to determining performance, the systems identifies reasons for loss of memory controller system efficiency. Moreover, the reasons, the efficiency, and the latency are analyzed and presented in a manner easily understandable to a user.

Abstract: The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for time-based navigation within resource utilization data. A computer system is configured to present resource utilization data representing performance of computer resources. The resource utilization data is displayed on a diagnostic data trace during the execution of the application. The user can select a desired time range and the resource utilization data within the time range will be displayed at other traces. The diagnostic data trace is still presented so that the user can understand the relation between the selected time range and the overall time length. Further, the user can modify the selected time range by change the extents of the selected time range using resizing tool. The resource utilization data within the modified selected time range, similarly, is also displayed along with the diagnostic data trace.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus is provided including diagnostic mechanism and comparator circuitry. The comparator circuitry is responsive to a signal indicative of execution of a block of program instructions to trigger any watchpoints or watch ranges within that block of program instructions. The relative ordering of the watchpoints or watch ranges is established by ordering characteristics associated therewith, such as programmable priority values, or an implicit ordering given by the storage location of the watchpoint or watch range.

Abstract: A functional coverage model may be generated based on a trace. The functional coverage model may comprise values of attributes. The values may be extracted from one or more entries comprised by the trace. Based upon a selection of a field of an exemplary entry, content of the corresponding fields in other entries may be extracted and utilized. In some exemplary embodiments, names of attributes may be extracted from the trace. In some exemplary embodiments, a reference trace may be utilized as a comparative baseline coverage by generating a functional coverage model based upon the reference trace and comparing coverage of a second trace in respect to the functional coverage model with the coverage of the reference trace.

Abstract: In a remote technical support system, in response to a request for service, a user device receives an executable application from the technical support controller, which executable application is subsequently invoked at the user device. Additionally, the user device receives configuration information from the technical support controller. The executable application then performs technical support processing of the user device in accordance with the configuration information. The executable application can be configured, based on the configuration information, to engage in dynamic workflow, i.e., to make decisions about what activities to perform based on previous results. Because the configuration information can be selected according to the specific nature of the user device and/or the specific nature of the service request, the executable application can be tailored to best address the requesting end user's needs with minimal attention from a remote technician.

Abstract: A recording medium stores a program which causes a computer to execute a process for responding to failure of a management subject apparatus, based on incident information. The program causes the computer to execute a management procedure. The procedure manages steps of the response to the failure with the incident information. A response knowledge acquisition procedure referring to failure response information in which is described response knowledge corresponding to each step of the response to the failure, and acquires response knowledge for the failure in accordance with the step of the response to the failure managed by the failure response step management procedure with the incident information. A response knowledge process execution procedure executes a process in accordance with the response knowledge for the failure acquired by the response knowledge acquisition procedure.

Abstract: A method for diagnosing problems in a computer system by providing a user interface for visualizing flows through subsystems of the computer system, and allowing a user to explore relationships between a triage map which graphically depicts subsystems, and a transaction trace graph, which depicts a time sequence of invoked components of the subsystems. In one aspect, in response to a user selecting a portion of the transaction trace graph which depicts an invoked component, the user interface visually distinguishes one of the subsystems which invokes the invoked component. In another aspect, the transaction trace can be played back so that subsystems in the triage map are highlighted in turn, in a time sequence, as components of different subsystems are invoked. A time marker can skip to selected time points which result in updating of the triage map.

Abstract: A support element for verifying an array repair code solution includes a memory subsystem element including product data read from multichip modules utilized in a mainframe computing device, a wafer test repair algorithm, and a system test repair algorithm. The support element also includes a CPU emulator that causes the support element to perform an initial microcode load that includes a memory test, the memory test applying the wafer test repair algorithm to the product data to generate a wafer test repair solution and the system test repair algorithm to the product data to generate a system test repair solution and one or more repair rings for storing the wafer test repair solution and the system test repair solution.

Abstract: A system and method provide system monitoring and detailed troubleshooting workflow guidance. Individual system components may be monitored and faulty system components identified. Subsequently, component-related, context-related, and/or user-specific troubleshooting workflow guidance associated with the faulty system component identified may be retrieved and/or determined by a processor and presented. The component-related guidance may be based upon which system component is faulty. The context-related guidance may be based upon the type of error with the faulty system component. The user-specific guidance may be based upon information specific to the user, such as user specifications, preferences, and configurations. The troubleshooting guidance may provide virtual guidance related to the workflow steps to be performed to identify the error with the faulty component and then correct the error identified.

Abstract: A system and method of employing a facade to intercept change action commands to be carried out on a target IT endpoint resource. The intercepted commands are compared to information on a corresponding change ticket and any differences, along with the information such as target history, are used to compute a risk assessment of the risk in allowing the intercepted change action commands to be executed. Where the risk exceeds a predetermined threshold, the intercepted change action commands may be modified or eventually aborted.

Abstract: A method for recording and replaying execution of an application running on a computer system using a program module is provided. The method includes recording events which result from the execution of the application including a non-deterministic event, wherein the program module deterministically records the non-deterministic event, saving the recorded events for deterministic replay of the recorded execution, restoring the saved recorded events, and deterministically replaying the recorded execution of the application.

Abstract: An automated regression testing intermediary configured to accept a first set of automated test instructions from an application testing tool. A data structure comprising predefined fields is configured so when a test instruction is received from the application testing tool, a command will be used to identify at least one field of the data structure that will be populated with a parameter test instruction. A library of generic target automated test instructions is provided. Each generic test instruction has a form and format different from the received test instruction. The intermediary is configured to select generic target automated test instructions from the library and populate selected generic target automated test instructions with parameters obtained from the data structure such that the resulting created target-specific automated test instructions can be used to regression test the application under test.

Abstract: Methods, articles, and systems for determining a probable cause of a component's abnormal behavior are described. To determine the probable cause, a computing device computes, for one or more pairs of components having dependency relationships, a likelihood that behavior of one component of a pair is impacting behavior of the other component of the pair. This computing is based on joint historical behavior of the pair of components. The computing device then determines that one of a plurality of components is a probable cause of the abnormal behavior based on the computed likelihoods.

Abstract: A low privilege debug pipeline publisher advertises a debugging pipeline. Instead of having a client to which a debugger on the server has been attached interrogate the server for debugging information, the client requests information from the server. Control is returned to the server which can refuse to provide the requested information to the client. A debuggee server executes client code being debugged in an isolated context so that pausing the code at a breakpoint does not block the server. The server can apply transforms to compiled code to make the code cooperate with debugging services so that a privileged component to inspect the debuggee code is not needed.

Abstract: Device component information (physical information, logical information) on each device such as a host computer, a switch, and storage on the SAN is acquired via an LAN 9. Element information is created from the acquired device component information. According to the element information, a link between element information is created. Furthermore, when a plurality of links are established for an element, information is stored in advance so as to be used for selecting one of the links. Thus, each element stored the minimum information for routing and it becomes possible to search an associated element more effectively.

Abstract: A controller is provided that controls data transfer between a processor and a data transfer device and that includes: a storage unit that stores first data outputted from the processor; a determination unit that compares control information of the first data and control information of second data received from the processor after the first data, and determines whether a first case in which the first data and the second data include the same data body holds according to a result of the comparison; a management unit that stores a portion of the control information of the second data as duplicate information associated with the first data in the first case, and stores the second data in the storage unit in a second case other than the first case; and a control unit that controls output of data stored in the storage unit to the data transfer device.

Abstract: A computing device for use with a power system is provided. The computing device includes a processor that is programmed to organize data representative of at least one fault within the power system and to generate a graphical representation of the organized data. The computing device also includes a presentation interface that is coupled to the processor for presenting the graphical representation to a user to enable the user to identify the fault. Moreover, a user interface is coupled to the presentation interface and configured to enable the user to select at least one data point on the graphical representation such that the user is enabled to identify at least one variable of the fault.

Abstract: A test script transformation architecture helps generate accurate test scripts for evolving applications. Applications often have complex graphical user interfaces for which the permutations and combinations of GUI elements give rise to an enormous field of potential commands and command sequences to be tested. Furthermore, these applications change over time, rendering prior test scripts unworkable. The architecture facilitates the automatic generation of new test scripts to reliably test subsequent application versions, while greatly reducing the time, cost, and resource expenditures needed to arrive at new test scripts.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for computers, including a connector interface for connecting the diagnostic system to a PC, a storage medium for storing executable instructions that boot the PC when the diagnostic system is connected to the connector interface, for storing diagnostic testing program code that scans and tests the PC, and for storing a phone number for a remote online help-desk facility, a modem for communicating wirelessly with the online help-desk facility when the PC is not fully operational, and for enabling the remote online help-desk facility to remotely run the diagnostic testing program code on the PC and view the results, an audio subsystem for enabling voice communication between a user and a representative at the remote online help-desk facility, and a processor for controlling the storage medium, the modem and the audio subsystem. A method is also described and claimed.

Abstract: The management and analysis of events of communications environments are facilitated. Events, such as alert and network events, are separated into a plurality of pools, depending on the classification of event. Each pool has events exclusive of one type of event. The events are placed in the appropriate pools via one or more analysis routines. Additionally, events of at least one type of pool are further analyzed using one or more analysis routines to determine which events, if any, are to be reported.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for providing a framework to enable a builder to construct a situational application, wherein the framework provides access to one or more background data sources. A graphical user interface is displayed to receive feedback inputs, including one or more inputs which describe the problem detected within a data item of a situational application, by an end-user. Feedback inputs may include a unique identifier of the problem data item and identification details of the service from which the data originates. A second input may be of a note, which provides suggestions for improving the data within the data item. Preference information is provided to a notification agent within the framework of the situational application about whether the owner of the data allows direct correction of the data and whether feedback input has to be stored in a problem cache.

Abstract: A method for visualizing execution of a program includes the steps of representing the program graphically as a flow diagram, and applying a marking to elements of the flow diagram as a function of state data of a state of the program that is being executed or has been executed.

Abstract: A data storage device (DSD) tester for testing a DSD is disclosed. The DSD tester comprises a plurality of bays, a screen, and control circuitry operable to detect when a first DSD has been inserted into a first bay. Independent of operator input, a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on the screen is automatically updated to reflect the first DSD has been inserted into the first bay. Independent of operator input, a DSD test is automatically executed on the first DSD. When the first DSD is removed from the first bay, independent of operator input, the GUI is automatically updated to reflect the first DSD has been removed from the first bay.

Abstract: A system for reporting and analyzing problems encountered by computer users. The system includes a recording tool executing on a user computer to capture a sequence of user interactions in the context of a graphical user interface. When a problem or other stop event is encountered, the tool generates a report indicating user interactions leading to the stop event, including information such as the specific sequence of controls for specific programs accessed by the user. The report can be analyzed to identify a sequence of user interactions characteristic of a problem type, which in turn may be used to find a solution for a particular user's problem. The system may also include a server that receives and analyzes reports from multiple computer users to identify patterns of user interactions that characterize problem types. This information may be used for associating specific problems with future reports or to improve products.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a data storage device is disclosed that can include a data storage medium having a device failure partition including a device failure log to store operational state information. The operational state information can include commands, data, performance data, and environmental data associated with the data storage device. The data storage device can further include a controller adapted to selectively store the operational state information to the device failure log in a first-in first-out (FIFO) order representing recent states of the data storage device.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for testing and analyzing websites via a test-enabled web browser. In the representative embodiment a user controls a test-enabled web browser via a set of pull-down menus, thereby choosing between alternative testing and analysis functional capabilities, selecting files in which to store recordings (scripts), choosing files into which to place test results and messages, and setting various parameters that affect how the testing and analysis functions are performed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing automated problem reporting in elements used in conjunction with computer networks are disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of elements that perform data migration operations and a reporting manager or monitor agent which monitors the elements and data migration operations. Upon detection of hardware or software problems, the reporting manager or monitor agent automatically communicates with elements affected by the problem to gather selected hardware, software, and configuration information, analyzes the information to determine causes of the problem, and issues a problem report containing at least a portion of the selected information. The problem report is communicated to a remote monitor that does not possess access privileges to the elements, allowing automated, remote monitoring of the elements without compromising security of the computer network or elements.

Abstract: Links are established between data elements common to different application programs to make it easier for a user to perform an action in one application program using data available in another application program. Data elements are identified in a first data set for a first application program. One or more performable actions is associated with each identified data element. Common or matching data elements in a second data set for a second application are identified. When a user selects one of the matching data elements in the second data set, a selectable list of actions is presented to enable performance of a selected action from within the first application program in relation to the data element selected in the second application program.

Abstract: Methods and systems for implementing such methods for providing server diagnostic and system management information may include, but are not limited to: receiving a network fault status request input; illuminating one or more server node fault indicators for one or more degraded server nodes having one or more faults; receiving a server node fault status request input for a degraded server node having one or more faults; and displaying one or more diagnostic service notifications for one or more faults of the degraded server node. Display of diagnostic service notifications may allow for completion of various service operations associated with service notifications once information specific to a fault is presented. Such service operations may include placing a system in standby mode, transferring workloads to other systems, initiating a firmware update, placing the system in a mode that allows for physical maintenance, or ordering parts associated with one or more faults.

Abstract: A computerized method for collecting error data and providing error reports relating to occurrences of errors of software applications installed on one or more computing devices is disclosed. Data for describing software applications and identifying software application errors is collected from the computing devices and stored in a catalog. Data associated with error occurrences is obtained and combined with related data being stored in the catalog. A report is generated based on the error occurrences and related catalog data.

Abstract: A plant control system includes: an engineering apparatus for defining change information so as to change definition information about the system; and a control apparatus for referring to the change information downloaded from the engineering apparatus to set an output value of a field device. The control apparatus includes a locking part for inhibiting setting of the output value of the field device.

Abstract: Various embodiments of systems and methods for data mappings with visual debugging capabilities are described herein. A debugger is used to debug data transformations while presenting the actual transformation being debugged. The mapping being debugged is depicted differently than the rest of the mappings. A user can check the current context, continue debugging, resume execution, or terminate the debug session.

Abstract: A user of a user computer whose hard disk drive (HDD) is “fried” can press a special key to cause BIOS to automatically gather location information about the computer from its GPS receiver and gather information about the HDD, activate a WWAN transceiver, and automatically send the location and HDD information over the WWAN to a service computer, which may return a location of a nearest service center to the user computer and any other advice including recovery advice for the HDD that the service center might be able to divine from the information sent to it by the user computer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system method for automatically providing resolutions for abnormal end codes from a mainframe system. An abnormal end code for a mainframe computer system is received from a user. A storage device is accessed to determine if there is a resolution for the abnormal end code. If there is a resolution for the abnormal end code, the resolution is provided to the user. If there is not a resolution for the abnormal end code, it is determined what question should be asked of the user. The question and the answer to the question received for the abnormal end code help determine the correct resolution for the abnormal end code.

Abstract: Displaying instrument output is disclosed. Instrument output data is received. A difference between two or more corresponding portions of data included in the received instrument output data is determined. At least a selected part of the received instrument output data is displayed in a manner that highlights the difference.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and systems for analyzing defects in an object such as a semiconductor wafer. In one embodiment, it provides a method of characterizing defects in semiconductor wafers during fabrication in a semiconductor fabrication facility. This method comprises the following actions. The semiconductor wafers are inspected to locate defects. Locations corresponding to the located defects are then stored in a defect file. A dual charged-particle beam system is automatically navigated to the vicinity defect location using information from the defect file. The defect is automatically identified and a charged particle beam image of the defect is then obtained. The charged particle beam image is then analyzed to characterize the defect. A recipe is then determined for further analysis of the defect. The recipe is then automatically executed to cut a portion of the defect using a charged particle beam.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detecting and reporting malfunctions in computer programs is described. A reporting library of an Application Programming Interface (API) is configured to direct a report of software malfunction to a specified server. The API is implemented in an application to be executed on a computer system. The application implementing the API is to report software malfunction of the application to the specified server.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for conveying which hardware components of a logically partitioned computer system are assigned to a selected logical partition of the computer system. Partition information for the computer system is received. Further, a request is received from a user to view which hardware components of the computer system are assigned to a selected logical partition of the computer system. Based on the received partition information, one or more hardware components are determined that are assigned to the selected logical partition. Based on the determined hardware components, a virtual model of the computer system is generated that visually distinguishes hardware components assigned to the selected logical partition from hardware components not assigned to the selected logical partition. The virtual model is output responsive to the request.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a home appliance diagnosis system and to a method for operating same, wherein product information is output in a predetermined signal sound by a home appliance product, and the signal sound is transmitted via a communication network connected to a remote service center to enable the service center to easily check the state of the home appliance product. In addition, the product information is encoded into a predetermined format and modulated to enable sound to be outputted by the home appliance product, thereby preventing noise or signal errors. The present invention enables stable signal modulation and accurate sound output, and enables the easy recovery of the sound transmitted to the service center via the communication network.

Abstract: A technique for debugging of a signal processing program or model (or the debugging and reconciliation of two independent software instantiations). Timelines (Vectors) of signal values for verification are condensed to a small amount of information, easy to understand and manage. The information is stored in “Intelligent Points”, which can be graphically specified by the test engineering. The Intelligent Points can include one or more attributes that describe how to generate the appropriate signals. The information so stored can then be automatically expanded to complete timelines.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing infrastructure failure rates. The apparatus and methods may compile and store data related to the physical devices and applications associated with an infrastructure change. Variables may be derived from the stored data using a range of methods and multiple variable values may be consolidated. A model may be developed based on the values and relationships of the derived variables. The model may be applied to assess the risk of a prospective infrastructure change.

Abstract: A Web address converter helps dynamic Web sites get the attention of spiders of Internet search engines. With the Web address converter, requests from Web browsers using static addresses access corresponding dynamic Web pages and requests from search engines generate an instance of a Web page having links with static addresses pointing to corresponding dynamic Web pages. The Web address converter performs both Dynamic-to-Static (D-to-S) address conversion and Static-to-Dynamic (S-to-D) address conversion. D-to-S address conversion is done when generating a spider-friendly main page for a spider of a search engine to crawl. S-to-D address conversion is used when a browser uses a static address to access a corresponding dynamic Web page. The static address that the browser uses was originally created when the spider-friendly main page was generated.

Abstract: A maintenance system of an image forming apparatus is composed of an image forming apparatus and a central management apparatus connected to it via a communication line. The image forming apparatus is composed of an image forming unit for forming an image, an information output unit for outputting intra-machine information of the image forming unit, a voice information input unit for inputting voice information of a user of the image forming unit, and a first communication controller for outputting the intra-machine information and voice information via the communication line.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including: a display unit; an information generating module configured to generate, based on a first error code that represents an internal state of the information processing apparatus, a second error code that is more acknowledgeable to a user as compared with the first error code; and a display controller configured to control the display unit to display the second error code so as to allow the user to dictate the internal state of the information processing apparatus by use of the second error code.

Abstract: Detecting performance bottlenecks in a target application is provided. In response to receiving hotspot selections from a user interface, bottleneck rules are extracted from a database. A hotspot is a region of source code that exceeds a time threshold to execute in the target application. Metrics needed to evaluate the bottleneck rules extracted from the database are identified. The identified metrics are computed. It is determined whether each bottleneck rule extracted from the database is evaluated to true using the computed metrics for hotspots in the target application. In response to determining that a bottleneck rule is evaluated to true using an appropriate computed metric corresponding to the bottleneck rule, a bottleneck description is created for the bottleneck rule. Then, the bottleneck description is sent to the user interface.

Abstract: A method for analyzing the performance of a video game uses a diagnostic tool that is associated with application code of the video game. The diagnostic tool is activated when the video game is in operation, and real-time performance data is captured and displayed. A warning is generated when a performance metric violates a pre-set condition. The warning may be displayed on a display screen that is used to provide information for rectifying the violation.

Abstract: A system and method for path saturation in a storage area network so that the throughput of the storage area network may be determined. The system and method includes a software utility suite that uses either a system administration scripting language, e.g., Perl or Korn shell, or by compiled or machine language software. The software utility suite includes a set of software tools to be installed on one or more computer systems sharing access to a data storage system, such as a storage area network (SAN). The software tools running on these separate computer systems communicate and collaborate in a peer-to-peer fashion in order to coordinate loading, testing and measurement of storage throughput on the shared data storage system. The software tools further coordinate the collection, storage and presentation of results data obtained through such loading, testing and measurement of the storage throughput of the shared data storage system.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable media are provided for automatically evaluating the download of content retrieved from a content catalog to one or more mobile communications devices. The specific mobile communications devices and content that will be downloaded to the mobile communications devices may be identified by way of a web interface. This download information may be sent to an automatic test script, executed on a computing device that instructs various components throughout the download process. A remote device may receive instructions and download information from the automatic test script to initiate the download process, such that the content, retrieved from a wireless communications network, may be downloaded to the identified mobile communications device. After the download process has completed, a report that includes an indication of download results may then be generated and stored in a memory of the computing device.

Abstract: A method includes providing a plurality of failure dies, and performing a chip probing on the plurality of failure dies to generate a data log comprising electrical characteristics of the plurality of failure dies. An automatic net tracing is performed to trace failure candidate nodes in the failure dies. A failure layer analysis is performed on results obtained from the automatic net tracing. Physical failure analysis (PFA) samples are selected from the plurality of failure dies using results obtained in the step of performing the failure layer analysis.

Abstract: A computer-implementable method, system and computer media are presented for calculating software test coverage of a Graphical User Interface (GUI). In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of: detecting an activation of a monitored active area in a GUI; recording the activation and a name of a user who activated the monitored active area; recording an order of any prior and subsequent activations of active areas in the GUI, wherein the prior and subsequent activations are performed prior to and subsequent to the activation of the monitored active area; recording any errors associated with the activation of the monitored active area; recording a total number of times that the monitored active area was activated during a pre-determined test period; and creating a report that describes test results for the monitored active area.