International Business Machines Corporation

Intermec IP Corporation

Peter George Capek

Clifford A Pickover

Michael K Gschwind

James Allan Kahle

Harm Peter Hofstee

Ravi Nair

Sumedh Wasudeo Sathaye

John-David Wellman

Erik Richter Altman

Daniel Joseph Friedman

Robert K Montoye

Harley K Heinrich

Jeffrey Haskell Derby

Thomas Anthony Cofino

Kevin Patrick McAuliffe

Paul Jorge Sousa

Brian John Walsh

Dimitri Kanevsky

Charles Ray Johns

Paul Andrew Moskowitz

Sara H Basson

Gennaro A Cuomo

Masakazu Suzuoki

Takeshi Yamazaki

Martin Edward Hopkins

William Grey

Jay H Unger

Dailun Shi

Robert J Marinelli

A computer-readable medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processor of a computer system to perform operations for controlling computer system activities. The operations include receiving a command entered with an input device of the computer system to begin opportunistic computer system activities, where the command specifies a time period available for opportunistic computer system activities. Then initiating at least one computer system activity during the time period available for opportunistic computer system activities.

Apparatus and methods for performing computer system maintenance and notification activities in an opportunistic manner

The present invention concerns methods and apparatus for performing computer system maintenance and notification activities in an opportunistic manner during time periods identified by a user when the user expects not to be using the computer system. In methods and systems of the present invention, the user prioritizes computer system maintenance activities from high to low. When an opportunity arises to perform maintenance activities due to the user, for example, being away from the computer, the user specifies the length of time the user expects to be away from the computer using apparatus of the present invention. Methods of the present invention then initiate computer system maintenance activities beginning with the highest-priority maintenance activity that can be completed during the time period identified by the user. The method continues performing maintenance activities from highest to lowest priority for so long as there is enough time remaining to perform the next maintenance task. In the present invention notification activities using the computer system resource can be performed in an opportunistic manner. For example, in the present invention a user can specify a length of time the user expects to be away from the computer; during this period the computer system would automatically generate an 'away from my desk' reply to anyone sending the user an e-mail.

A facility is provided for managing register maps for map-based indirect register file access within a processor. The management facility includes a register mapping including a set of maps, each map of the set of maps having a plurality of map registers. A set of actual registers is indirectly accessed by the processor via map entries of the set of maps. The number of actual registers in the set of actual registers is greater than the number of map entries in the set of maps, and the map entries of the set of maps reference only a subset of the set of actual registers at any given time. The facility includes managing updates to multiple entries of the set of maps of the register mapping by updating multiple map entries of at least one map of the set of maps responsive to executing a single update instruction.

System for SIMD-oriented management of register maps for map-based indirect register-file access

A computer architecture and programming model for high speed processing over broadband networks are provided. The architecture employs a consistent modular structure, a common computing module and uniform software cells. The common computing module includes a control processor, a plurality of processing units, a plurality of local memories from which the processing units process programs, a direct memory access controller and a shared main memory. A synchronized system and method for the coordinated reading and writing of data to and from the shared main memory by the processing units also are provided. A hardware sandbox structure is provided for security against the corruption of data among the programs being processed by the processing units. The uniform software cells contain both data and applications and are structured for processing by any of the processors of the network. Each software cell is uniquely identified on the network.

Non-homogeneous multi-processor system with shared memory

Method for SIMD-oriented management of register maps for map-based indirect register-file access

The present invention is a method for scheduling an event or meeting consisting of a plurality of persons which is determined by optimizing one or more variables. In the preferred embodiment, one or more requests for a meeting are pooled. A selected variable is optimized and an event is scheduled on the optimized variable. As additional meeting requests are pooled which conflict with the initial optimized event, the selected variable is again optimized and the event is dynamically rescheduled based on the optimized variable.

Event scheduling with optimization

A method for providing a service for a traveler to acquire at least one item at the traveler's destination, comprising the steps of receiving a request from a traveler for obtaining at least one item; providing the traveler with the option to one of rent and purchase the at least one item, arranging for the at least one item to be supplied, arranging for shipping of the at least one item to a location selected by the traveler at a time selected by the traveler; and conducting a transaction with the traveler for obtaining the at least one item.

System and method for obtaining items at a traveler's destination

A method and system for attached processing units accessing a shared memory in an SMP system. In one embodiment, a system comprises a shared memory. The system further comprises a plurality of processing elements coupled to the shared memory. Each of the plurality of processing elements comprises a processing unit, a direct memory access controller and a plurality of attached processing units. Each direct memory access controller comprises an address translation mechanism thereby enabling each associated attached processing unit to access the shared memory in a restricted manner without an address translation mechanism. Each attached processing unit is configured to issue a request to an associated direct memory access controller to access the shared memory specifying a range of addresses to be accessed as virtual addresses. The associated direct memory access controller is configured to translate the range of virtual addresses into an associated range of physical addresses.

Method and system for maintaining coherency in a multiprocessor system by broadcasting TLB invalidated entry instructions

A method and system for attached processing units accessing a shared memory in an SMT system. In one embodiment, a system comprises a shared memory. The system further comprises a plurality of processing elements coupled to the shared memory. Each of the plurality of processing elements comprises a processing unit, a direct memory access controller and a plurality of attached processing units. Each direct memory access controller comprises an address translation mechanism thereby enabling each associated attached processing unit to access the shared memory in a restricted manner without an address translation mechanism. Each attached processing unit is configured to issue a request to an associated direct memory access controller to access the shared memory specifying a range of addresses to be accessed as virtual addresses. The associated direct memory access controller is configured to translate the range of virtual addresses into an associated range of physical addresses.

Symmetric multi-processing system utilizing a DMAC to allow address translation for attached processors

Symmetric multi-processing system with attached processing units being able to access a shared memory without being structurally configured with an address translation mechanism

A method of customizing and modifying program material to tailor it to a receiving end user or client. When program material is to be generated for future customization or modification, an encrypted license tag is associated with the program material. When examining putatively modifiable program material for possible modification, a license tag is decrypted. If clear text results then the putatively modifiable program material is established to be modifiable or customizable. Then the program material is modified or customized to suit the profile of a client or end user who is to receive this customized program material. With the encrypted license tag, the owner of the program material can control the modifications made to his or her program material.

Method for providing individually customized content in a network

An RF tag has an enable/disable circuit connected to a critical part of an electronic object/circuit, e.g. a computer mother board. The critical part of the circuit is any circuit component and/or connection that can enable and/or disable the electric circuit operation. Signals are sent to the tag to change data in the tag memory which causes the enable/disable tag circuit to control the critical part to enable and disable the electric circuit. A system checks the status of the tag, e.g. the electronic circuit was paid for, before enabling the electronic circuit.

Radio frequency identification transponder with electronic circuit

Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for providing information in the form of an insertion to a user during delays in retrieving program material with an interactive system. This may include making a determination of whether the delay is going to be sufficiently long to provide the user with an insertion. In addition, the insertion may be customized to either the user or to the program material requested, or to both the user and the requested program material. The insertion may include control logic that provides the user with control over the insertion and/or the interactive system.

Methods, systems and computer program products for providing insertions

A method of distributing program material to a number of access providers which have identified themselves as having clients meeting profiles specified in a program material placement request, which is typically from an advertiser. More specifically, summary information is transmitted to a control distribution node from each of the access providers, where the summary information describes customer profile information on the customers using each respective access provider. This summary information is then processed by the control distribution node to allocate the number of copies of program material that may be delivered to the clients or customers by each of the access provider nodes.

Growing community of inventors

Ossining, NY, United States of America

Peter George Capek