International Business Machines Corporation

Maulin Ishwarbhai Patel

Rick A Hamilton, Ii

Chetan Mehta

John C Kennel

Carl Phillip Gusler

Jayesh M Patel

John Steven Langford

George Henry Ahrens, Jr

Michael Youhour Lim

David Lee Randall

Stephen Dale Linam

Jayeshkumar M Patel

Randall Clay Itskin

Salim Ahmed Agha

William Eldred Beebe

Stephanie Maria Forsman

Christopher Lawrence Canestaro

Chet Mehta

Jeffrey Scott Mayes

Edward Woodrow Wild, Jr

A method and apparatus for identifying unauthorized attempts to access a data processing system. A file used to contain data on failed attempts to access the data processing system is monitored. Responsive to the file containing data on failed attempts to access the data processing system, the data is analyzed to identify candidates for unauthorized access attempts.

Method and apparatus for detection and notification of unauthorized access attempts in a distributed data processing system

A method and apparatus for non-interrupt-driven handshake with acknowledgment are provided. A first software resource in a data processing system communicates a data value to a second software resource by writing the data value to a first register field, where it may be read by the second software resource. On writing the data, the first resource sets a write signal in a second register field. If the second software resource attempts to read the data value before it is written by the first resource, a reset value in the second field informs the second resource that any data in the first field is invalid. The second resource then sets a first predetermined value in a third field which informs the first resource that the second has attempted a read. If the data is valid when the second resource attempts the read, the data is retrieved, and the second resource echos the value in a fourth field. The second resource also sets a second predetermined data value in the third field which informs the first resource that the data has been read. The first resource then reads the value echoed in the fourth field to determine that the read by the second resource was error free.

Method and apparatus for state-independent non-interrupt-driven handshake with positive acknowledgement

A method, system and computer program are described for isolating bus errors detected during system start-up by utilizing a technique in which a shared mailbox associated with a service processor is provided for holding the address of an adapter in an I/O drawer. If an error is detected the server processor is notified. The server processor then retrieves the address from the mailbox, uses it to derive a location code which is then passed along with the error code to an appropriate error analysis routine. The start-up procedure is then shut down.

Method and system for error isolation during PCI bus configuration cycles

A method for managing phone activity records in an automated voice processing system. In a preferred embodiment, phone activity data from the automated voice processing system is periodically written into a first file. The phone activity data corresponds to a period of time. Prior data in the first file is overwritten each time new phone activity data is written into the first file. Prior to data being overwritten in the first file, the phone activity data from the first file is placed into a master file with prior phone activity records. The master file provides a history of phone activity within the automated voice processing system.

Method and system to extend functionality of voice processing systems

In a display computer with multiple serial ports, there is provided an on-screen facility for identifying each of the serial ports with a numerical identifier. A process is provided responsive to a change in the status of a connection to any serial port that displays the identifier for that serial port. The change in status takes place when connecting to the serial port. The process may be effectively used in systems having their serial ports extended through a universal serial bus. The identifiers for the serial ports may be stored in a look-up table from which the appropriate identifier may be obtained and displayed upon the connection of a peripheral device to a serial port. Among the many advantages of this on-screen serial port identification is the assurance that the user will not be confused or obstructed by any errors in the physical labelling of serial ports in the manufacture or assembly of computer hardware. Such mislabelling is often the result of unintentional cross-overs in the wiring of the multiple serial ports.

Display computer with on-screen identifiers for multiple serial ports for avoiding physical mislabelling of ports

A method and apparatus in a data system for processing a recursive link in a directory structure in a data processing system. A path to a directory is identified including the recursive link in the directory structure, wherein the path includes a hierarchy towards a root directory, which is a highest directory. Responsive to identifying the path, a highest unprocessed directory in the path is selected as a current directory and all directories in the directory structure beneath the current directory are identified, excluding a directory below the current directory in the path. This step is performed until all directories in the path down to the directory having the recursive link have been processed to form a set of identified directories. All files within the set of directories are identified to form a set of identified files, which then permits backup operations to proceed.

Method and apparatus for processing recursive hard links in a data processing system

A method and system for checking security when a request for system access is received by a computer system within a network environment is disclosed. When a request for system access into a network environment is first received, a service processor checks a fixed non-null pattern and based on its results performs a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) on the contents of CMOS memory to verify its authenticity. An IEEE-standard CRC algorithm is used to confirm that the data in the CMOS memory has not been corrupted. If the fixed non-null pattern and/or CRC algorithm confirms that no corruption exists, then the service processor prompts the user for a system password and performs the normal authentication checks between the entered password and a stored password. If the CRC algorithm detects that corruption exists, then the service processor determines where the request was received. In response to a determination that the request was received remotely, then access is denied as a security threat. If the service processor determines that the request was received locally, then access to the network environment is granted to the user.

Method and system for enhancing security access to a data processing system

Provided is an apparatus and method for remote retrieval of an integrated-circuit state according to the present invention uses a remote input/output (&ldquo;RIO&rdquo;) processor with a test circuit interface, which in the preferred embodiment is the TAP,. The test circuit interface is for electrically-coupling to an integrated circuit having a test circuit with at least one register for storing a state-information with respect to the integrated circuit. The RIO processor executes a program that instructs the RIO processor to retrieve the state-information in response to a request command. The retrieved state information is transmitted for analysis at a location remote from the computer system using a data-and-instruction communication device. A method of the present invention has a step of issuing a request command for state-information of the integrated circuit having, retrieving the state-information of the integrated circuit in response to the command request; and transmitting the state-information to a location remote from the integrated circuit such that the state-information is available for analysis by a service technician.

Apparatus and method for retrieval of circuit state information

A method and system for faster initial program loads by normally booting a data processing system without extended diagnostic tests is disclosed. A service processor is provided and located within the data processing system to monitor the data processing system during runtime operations for a system failure. When a system failure occurs, the service processor enables a diagnostic flag located in non-volatile memory. On the first or next boot of the data processing system after repair of the system failure, the diagnostic flag indicates to the service processor to perform an extended diagnostics test. Upon completion of the extended diagnostics test, the diagnostic flag is disabled and the service processor once again monitors the data processing system for a system failure.

Method and system for dynamically selecting a boot process within a data processing system

To emulate multi-threaded processing in an operating system supporting only single-threaded processes and single-level interrupts, the processor timer is started with a selected time-out period during execution of a master code thread. Processing of the master code thread proceeds until the timer interrupt, at which time the operating system timer interrupt service routine (ISR) transfers execution control to a slave code thread or slave code thread component. The slave code thread or component is executed in its entirety, at which time the timer is reset and execution control is returned to the master code thread, where processing resumes at the point during which the timer interrupt was asserted. To minimize disruption of the master code thread execution, a maximum latency should be enforced on the slave code thread, which may be accomplished by breaking the slave code thread into multiple components. The timer ISR maintains an index of the predetermined starting points within the slave code thread(s) with a pointer identifying the next slave code thread component to be selected when the timer interrupt is asserted. Processing thus alternates between the master code thread and the slave code thread or components, with different slave code thread components being selected in round-robin fashion. The duty cycle between the master code thread and the slave code thread or components may be varied by selection of the time-out period and the maximum latency allowed to slave code thread processing.

Methodology for emulation of multi-threaded processes in a single-threaded operating system

Accordingly, provided is an apparatus and method for generating a computer system interrupt emulation having the effect of a hardwired interrupt. A service processor with a test circuit interface can be coupled to an integrated circuit, which has a test circuit with an access to a register of the integrated circuit. A program, executable by the processor, responds to an interrupt request by instructing the processor to save a system state of the integrated circuit and to set a system state of the integrated circuit. The method for emulating an interrupt of an integrated circuit provides for receiving an interrupt request. A register of an integrated circuit is then accessed through a test circuit of the integrated circuit. The contents of the register are saved to a storage location, and the register is then set to a state responsive to the interrupt request. The interrupt request may be made locally or remotely.

Apparatus and method for computer system interrupt emulation

A data processing system and method for sharing a component of the data processing system between multiple resources are disclosed. According to the method, at least one query is transmitted from a first resource to a second resource. In response to receipt of the query by the second resource, a reply is transmitted from the second resource to the first resource. The reply indicates that the second resource has an active communication session through a particular communication port controlled by the shared component. In response to receipt of the reply by the first resource, a transfer command is transmitted from the first resource to the second resource. In response to receipt of the transfer command by the second resource, control of the component is transferred from the second resource to the first resource while maintaining the active communication session. In one embodiment, the first and second resources are software resources, and the shared component is a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) that drives a serial communication port.

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Round Rock, TX, United States of America

Maulin Ishwarbhai Patel