International Business Machines Corporation

Stephen Mark Igel

David Otto Lewis

Herwig Gustav Elfering

Roy A Bowcutt

Pankaj S Lunia

Fritz Freier

Walter P Krapohl

A flexible format for heterogeneous data records includes a fixed-length header containing a header ECC, a table of contents descriptor, and a table of contents ECC descriptor; a variable-length table of contents containing multiple entries, each entry containing a record descriptor and a corresponding record ECC descriptor; multiple variable-length records corresponding to the multiple entries in the table of contents; and optional ECCs corresponding to the ECC descriptors. Preferably, the format is used for vital component data in non-volatile memory of a computer system field replaceable unit, and is read by the system to identify the unit and configure the system.

Method and apparatus for formatting vital component data in a field replaceable unit of a computer system

An improved apparatus and method for isolating faults in a complex communications network such as a collision-detection network. A wrap plug connected to a communications adapter of a computer system simulates multiple functions of the network environment, rather than a single, hardwired function. A method performs a comprehensive yet convenient diagnostic test of multiple functions of the adapter while a terminal is disconnected from the network.

Apparatus and method for testing multifunction communications networks

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, MN, United States of America

Stephen Mark Igel