International Business Machines Corporation

Thomas Hess

Markus K Strasser

Philip Sebastian Schulz

Martin Raitza

Michael Andres

Dirk Bolte

Harald Freudenberger

Sven Wagner

Constantin Werner

Herwig Gustav Elfering

Ralf Richter

Janko Boehm

Daniel Metz

Giovanni Cautillo

A method is provided for operating a trace procedure, which traces execution of a computer program, where the program uses different callable modules. A program stack is used to store trace buffer information and an error state, and the modules include calls of the trace procedure. The method includes: (i) when entering execution of a module, storing the current write position of the trace buffer and a cleared error flag in the current frame of the stack; (ii) in case of an error condition during execution of the program, setting the error flag in the current frame; and (iii) when leaving execution of a module, determining if the error flag is set, and if not, then rewinding the trace buffer to the write position stored in the current frame, and deleting the current write position of the trace buffer and the error flag from the stack.

Operating a trace procedure for a computer program

A serial bus is provided with a device (sometimes herein referred to as an I2C serializer device) including circuitry and machine logic that operates as follows: when one of the master devices is using the bus for data communication, then the other master(s) will receive a wait signal until the bus becomes available again. This wait signal allows the master devices to wait as a 'hardware response,' rather than requiring the master devices to be equipped with software and/or firmware to control the operation of waiting until the serial bus is available. In some embodiments, the use of the I2C serializer device allows a bus operating under a bus serialization protocol (for example, I2C) to be simultaneously connected to multiple master devices even in the case that one, or more, master device(s) do not include any currently conventional form of multi-master support.

Bus serialization for devices without multi-device support

A beacon device is provided in proximity to a computing system within a computing center. A request to locate the computing system in the computing center is triggered on a central control unit. In response to the request to locate the computing system, the control unit generates specification data for a unique radio signal identifier, sends an activation request and the specification data to the beacon device, and provides the specification data to a portable device and stores the specification data on the portable device.

Locating computer-controlled entities

A beacon device is provided in proximity to a computing system within a computing center. A request to locate the computing system in the computing center is triggered on a central control unit. In response to the request to locate the computing system, the control unit generates specification data for a unique radio signal identifier, sends an activation request and the specification data to the beacon device, and provides the specification data to a portable device and stores the specification data on the portable device. In response to receiving the activation request, the beacon device sends a radio signal identifier generated from the specification data.

A method is presented for reliably operating at least one sensor connected to a central control unit. Each sensor senses a sensor value for its sensor parameter and creates an interrupt to the control unit when its sensor value is outside a sensor value range limited by an upper and a lower threshold. Upon generation of an interrupt by a sensor, a modified sensor value range is calculated so that the sensor value causing the interrupt lies within the modified sensor value range, and the modified sensor value range is applied to the respective sensor. The method further includes repeatedly verifying correct behavior of each sensor. A computer-readable medium, a computer program product, and a system for executing the above-summarized method are also presented.

Method for reliably operating a sensor

A beacon device is provided in proximity to said entity. A request to locate said entity is triggered on a central control unit. In response to the request to locate said entity, said control unit generates specification data for a unique radio signal identifier, sends an activation request and said specification data to said beacon device, and provides said specification data to a portable device and storing said specification data on the portable device. In response to receiving said activation request, said beacon device sends a radio signal identifier generated from said specification data. Signals are received on said portable device and compared with the specification data stored on the portable device. Based on the results of the comparison by said portable device, information is provided about at least one of a direction and distance to said entity. The location of said entity is detected using said direction information.

Retrieval of status information from a remote device performed on a host system is provided, wherein the remote device is connected to the host system via a bus system comprising at least two signal lines terminated with resistors on the host system side and on the remote device side. The retrieval method includes: activating a sensing phase; sensing the at least two terminated signal lines during the sensing phase; and determining operating state of the remote device based on the sensing result; wherein at least a first operating state representing a connected and powered remote device is detectable.

Retrieving status information from a remote device and corresponding host system

A data processing system boots at least one service processor controlling at least one PCIe card in an I/O unit. The data processing system boots a second service processor located in a processor unit, wherein the processor unit and I/O unit are interconnected using functional path conductors, wherein functional path conductors are according to PCIe standard. The data processing system reads location information from the first at least one service processor, wherein the location information is reported for each PCIe card prior to initializing a functional path to the PCIe card. The data processing system sends location information from the second at least one service processor to a system controller. The data processing system initializes the PCIe card and a hub card of the processor unit in order to initialize a functional path and configures the I/O unit by communicating configuration commands over the functional path.

Out of band location information retrieval

A method for dynamically assigning a plurality of storage devices to a plurality of controllers within a storage unit, the method including: sensing each storage device from the plurality of storage devices; assigning each one of the storage devices to a respective controller from the plurality of controllers; monitoring at least one of each storage device, each controller, and a link between each storage device and the respective controller; upon a failure of at least one of the link, one of the storage devices and one of the controllers, generating a list of components; transmitting the list to another controller; and establishing a new assignment for each of the components on the list. A storage unit and a computer program product are provided.

Dynamic reassignment of devices attached to redundant controllers

A method for controlling a plurality of I/O devices being attached to a microprocessor by a special number and type of interfaces is provided. A generic configurable chip is connected to the I/O space of said microprocessor, said generic chip comprising a switch matrix being adapted to assign said special number and type of interfaces to each specific device when initializing said device.

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Bad Liebenzell, Germany

Thomas Hess