International Business Machines Corporation

Daniel Ming-Te Hsieh

Francis James Canova, Jr

David J Allard

Byron K Tiller

Julie F Goodwin

James Robert Lewis

Raymond L Yee

Charles S Lanier

Debra A Johnson

William Villafana

Wayne P Whitley

Thomas T Murakami

Jean Luter Stout

Connie Yudip Au

Randall Scott Springfield

Ching-Yun Chao

Tushar Deepak Chandra

Roger E Hough

Amal Ahmed Shaheen

Jose L Rivero

Bradley J DeBauche

Neal A Osborn

Brent A Beatty

Peter Rowland Eastwood

Robert Bedford Ferrier

Rodolfo Augusto Mancisidor-Landa

Javashree Ramanathan

Roger L Cox

Harold D Hudson

James Christian Wulf

Russell Stephen Padgett

Anthony F Corkell

Within a computer cluster usage reference counts are maintained for replicated databases within a computer cluster using cluster membership and cluster voting services. Such a method includes the maintaining of a local reference count for all open distributed data resources within a given node, tracking by a group services client of those nodes that have the open distributed data resources, and using cluster membership services to update the local reference counts for node failures.

Apparatus and method for tracking access to data resources in a cluster environment

In a personal communications device having a touch sensitive display screen, text may be marked by a user to be used with different applications. In particular, to begin marking, a user has to maintain his touch at a location on the screen for a short predetermined period of time until the system detects that the position is held over the same character for a delayed period, at which time the system beeps to provide an indication that there has been a change of operation mode. The marking mode continues in operation until the user removes his contact from the touch screen. Thus, text over which the contact point passes after the initiation of the marking mode is marked, until the user removes his contact point from the touch screen. A second beep is sounded to alert the user of the termination of the marking mode, and the appearance of a menu of operations on the screen. The menu of operations echoes the marked text for user confirmation. The marked text may be used by the user in a number of applications, among which include a calling application whereby the marked text is used to place a call.

Apparatus and method for marking text on a display screen in a personal

A field programming tool for a personal communications device, provides an automatic, capability to update computer programs stored in the device. The personal communications device includes an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), that stores the operating system programs and the applications programs to be loaded into a random access memory (RAM) for executed by a central processing unit (CPU) in the device. A reprogramming card is provided for the device, containing pre-stored new programs that are to be loaded into the EPROM of the device. A method is provided for automatically loading the new programs from the reprogramming card into the EPROM, in an accurate, foolproof manner. This is accomplished using a sequencing program stored on the reprogramming card and loaded into the RAM of the device, where it is executed. An option attach connector alerts the device that the reprogramming card is connected to the PCMCIA slot of the device. It's presence is a signal to the device to begin the automatic operation of reprogramming the EPROM with the new programs stored in the reprogramming card, using the sequencing program in the reprogramming card.

Field programming apparatus and method for updating programs in a

An option attach connector has a first indicator bit combination that alerts the device that a public switched telephone network connection has been made to it. The presence of the first indicator bit combination is a signal to the device that telephone, FAX, and E-MAIL communications applications are to be conducted over a PSTN link. The presence of the first indicator bit combination invokes a stored computer program to provide appropriate connections between the PSTN link and the telephone, FAX, and modem hardware in the device. The connections are made by an audio multiplexer that receives control signals from the system CPU, while executing the stored computer program. The program determines the communications application selected by the user and selectively configures the PSTN link to be connected to the either the ear piece and microphone for voice communications, or to the FAX/modem for FAX communications, or to the modem alone for E-MAIL communications. The absence of the option attach connector invokes a default indicator bit combination that alerts the device that a cellular telephone network connection is desired by the user. The presence of the default indicator bit combination is a signal to the device that telephone, FAX, and E-mail communications applications are to be conducted over a cellular network.

Selective reconfiguration method and apparatus in a multiple application

Growing community of inventors

Coral Springs, FL, United States of America

Daniel Ming-Te Hsieh