In system networking, such as computer networking, a large number of cables are often plugged within the system network. For instance, a server network can contain tens or even hundreds, or more, cables connecting servers and other components within the network. Depending on the implementation, cables may span between front and back sides of a computer rack, or between computer racks, or across a data center, or even across separate rooms of a facility.
In operation, it is possible for a cable connector to become unseated, or partially unseated or disengaged, from its corresponding socket (or primary contact element), potentially causing errors within the system network. For instance, this condition can lead to interference in the transmission of signals, and can result in an intermittent behavior or a complete failure of a device, subsystem, system, or network.
Various mechanisms can contribute to unseating of a cable connector, such as an operator inadvertently causing a disruption, operational vibration of a connection, poor mechanical engagement and/or mechanical interference with a connection. These issues can arise in a variety of environments, including, for instance, with scalable computing hardware, mainframe computers, similar computer hardware, and even with appliances, or more generally, any cable connected device(s). In certain cases, there have been field and manufacturing issues caused by an unseated cable connector, such as a degraded link condition or a link down condition. The cable connector and associated cables are typically dense for system networking and having substantial mass, which can put added strain on the connections. Sometimes, this strain can cause an unseating, such as a partial unseating, of a connection that is not easy to detect visually. Often, the solution is to reset all of the card and cable connections in a particular link path to address a potential unseating event, which can be time-consuming.
Shortcomings of the prior art are overcome and additional advantages are provided through the provision, in one or more aspects, of an apparatus for monitoring seating of a cable connector within a socket. The apparatus includes a seating monitor associated with the socket. The seating monitor includes an actuator and a detector. The actuator is partially exposed within the socket, and is engaged by the cable connector and physically moved from a cable unplugged position to a cable plugged position with seating of the cable connector within the socket. The detector detects and monitors seating of the cable connector within the socket based on position of the actuator. The detector includes a fixed member fixedly positioned within the detector, and a slidable member slidable relative to the fixed member. The slidable member is coupled to the actuator to slide with the actuator's movement between the cable unplugged position and the cable plugged position. The detector further includes a detector circuit to generate a signal representative of position of the slidable member relative to the fixed member, and thus, representative of position of the cable connector within the socket.
In another aspect, an apparatus for monitoring seating of cable connectors within network sockets is provided. The apparatus includes seating monitors associated with the network sockets. Each seating monitor is associated with a respective network socket and includes an actuator and a detector. The actuator is partially exposed within the network socket, and is engaged by a cable connector and physically moved from a cable unplugged position to a cable plugged position with seating of the cable connector within the network socket. The detector detects and monitors seating of the cable connector within the network socket based on position of the actuator. The detector includes a fixed member fixedly positioned within the detector, and a slidable member slidable relative to the fixed member. The slidable member is coupled to the actuator to slide with the actuator's movement between the cable unplugged position and the cable plugged position. The detector includes a detector circuit to generate a signal representative of position of the slidable member relative to the fixed member, and thus, representative of the position of the cable connector within the socket. The apparatus also includes a monitor system coupled to the seating monitors to monitor over time seating of the cable connectors within the network sockets based on the signals generated by the detector circuits of the seating monitors.
In a further aspect, a method of fabricating an apparatus to monitor seating of a cable connector within a socket is provided. The method includes associating a seating monitor with the socket. The associating of the seating monitor includes providing an actuator partially exposed within the socket. The actuator is engaged by the cable connector and physically moved from a cable unplugged position to a cable plugged position with seating of the cable connector within the socket. Associating the seating monitor further includes providing a detector to monitor seating of the cable connector within the socket based on position of the actuator. The detector includes a fixed member fixedly positioned within the detector, and a slidable member slidable relative to the fixed member. The slidable member is coupled to the actuator to slide with movement of the actuator between the cable unplugged position and the cable plugged position. The detector also includes the detector circuit to generate a signal representative of position of the slidable member relative to the fixed member, and thus representative of the position of the cable connector within the socket.
Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention.
One or more aspects of the present invention are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as examples in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Aspects of the present invention and certain features, advantages and details thereof, are explained more fully below with reference to the non-limiting example(s) illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Descriptions of well-known systems, devices, processing techniques, etc., are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the invention in detail. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description in this specific example(s), while indicating aspects of the invention, is given by way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation. Various substitutions, modifications, additions, and/or other arrangements, within the spirit and/or scope of the underlying inventive concepts will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure. Note also that reference is made below to the drawings, which may not be drawn to scale for ease of understanding, where the same reference numbers used throughout different figures designate the same or similar components. Further, note that numerous inventive aspects and features are disclosed herein, and unless inconsistent, each disclosed aspect or feature is combinable with any other disclosed aspect or feature as desired for a particular application of monitoring seating of one or more cable connectors within one or more sockets of a network.
Certain aspects of the illustrative embodiments may be described below using specific code, designs, architectures, protocols, layouts, schematics, or tools only as examples, and are not limited to the illustrative embodiments. Furthermore, the illustrative embodiments may be described in certain instances using particular software, tools, and data processing environments only as example for clarity of description. The illustrative embodiments can be used in conjunction with other comparable or similarly purposed structures, systems, applications, or architectures. Certain monitor control aspects can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof
Any advantages listed herein are only examples and are not intended to be limiting to the illustrative embodiments. Additional or different advantages can be realized by specific illustrative embodiments. Furthermore, a particular illustrative embodiment can have some, all, or none of the advantages listed herein.
Networks, such as computer networks, communication networks, power networks, and other networks, as well as many electronic or electrical systems, typically rely on cables to connect product components of the network or system to one another. For instance, within a network, such as a computer network, a large number of cables can be plugged within the network. As noted initially, in operation, it is possible for a cable connector to become unseated, or partially unseated or disengaged, from its corresponding socket (or primary contact element), potentially causing errors within the system network. This condition can lead to interference in the transmission of signals, and can result in an intermittent behavior or a complete failure of a device, subsystem, system, or network.
Various mechanisms can contribute to unseating of a cable connector, such as an operator inadvertently causing a disruption, operational vibration of a connection, poor mechanical engagement, mechanical interference with a connection, etc. These issues can arise in a variety of environments, including, for instance, with data processing centers containing scalable computing hardware, mainframe computers, or other computer hardware, etc., as well as with appliances or other devices. In fact, the unintended unseating of a cable connector can occur with any cable connected device. Depending upon the device, subsystem, system, network, etc., unseating of a cable connector can result in degraded or interrupted operation. For instance, in a data center environment, cable connectors and their associated cables are typically dense for system networking and have substantial mass, which can put added strain on the connections. Sometimes, the strain can cause an unseating, such as a partial unseating, of a connection that is not easy to detect visually.
By way of example,
As can be understood from the depiction of
Advantageously, disclosed herein are apparatuses and methods to monitor seating of a cable connector within a socket of a network using seating monitors associated with the sockets or receptacles. In one or more embodiments, the seating monitors allow the system to monitor directly a magnitude of seating and/or unseating of a cable connector within the socket. The seating monitors are associated with the sockets, meaning that power is available to conduct system-level monitoring and store any displacement data or unseating information at a central location to determine whether to take an action. In one or more embodiments, the seating monitors can be implemented using capacitive sensors to detect relative displacement, and from the relative displacement data, the monitor system can provide, for instance, a warning when relative displacement or unseating is greater than an allowable value, with displacement data generated being stored for further analyzing and action, if necessary. The seating monitors disclosed herein directly measure, in one or more embodiments, an amount of connector displacement. The aspects disclosed herein can also apply to any type of cable, or cable connector, plugged within a socket, with power connectors being illustrated in the drawings, and described further below by way of example only.
Generally stated, apparatuses and methods are provided herein for monitoring seating of one or more cable connectors within one or more sockets, such as one or more network sockets. The apparatus includes a seating monitor associated with the socket. For instance, the seating monitor can be incorporated, at least in part, into a common socket or receptacle into which the cable connector plugs. The seating monitor includes an actuator partially exposed within the socket, and a detector to detect and monitor seating of the cable connector within the socket based on position of the actuator. The actuator is engaged by the cable connector and physically moved from a cable unplugged position to a cable plugged position with seating of the cable connector within the socket. The detector includes, in one or more embodiments, a fixed member, a slidable member, and a detector circuit. The fixed member, such as a fixed card, is fixedly positioned within the detector. The slidable member, such as a slidable card or slidable card assembly, is slidable relative to the fixed member. The slidable member is coupled to the actuator to slide relative to the fixed member with movement of the actuator between the cable unplugged position and the cable plugged position. The detector further includes a detector circuit to generate a signal representative of position of the slidable member relative to the fixed member, and thus, representative of position of the cable connector within the socket.
Depending upon the seating monitor implementation, the detector circuit could be implemented to generate a signal representative of seated or unseated position of the connector relative to the socket, or could be implemented to provide displacement data indicative of an amount of unseating of the connector cable from the socket for forwarding to, for instance, a monitor system, which monitors displacement change over time, performs trend analysis, and if desired, provides a predictive indication or signal, such as an alarm or service call, that a particular cable connector is about to become unseated from its respective socket.
In one or more implementations, the detector circuit includes a capacitive sensor associated with the fixed member and the slidable member to sense position of the slidable member relative to the fixed member. In such an implementation, the detector circuit generates actuator displacement data from, at least in part, the capacitive sensor, where capacitance sensed by the capacitive sensor varies with position of the slidable member relative to the fixed member. For instance, the capacitive sensor can include one or more first capacitor pads disposed on a first surface of the fixed member, and one or more second capacitor pads disposed on a second surface of the slidable member, where the first surface and the second surface are opposite facing surfaces of the fixed and slidable members.
In one or more specific embodiments, the fixed member is, or includes, a fixed card, and the slidable member is, or includes, a slidable card, where the slidable card is biased towards the fixed card, and spaced from the fixed card via one or more offsets associated with the slidable card and/or the fixed card.
In one or more implementations, the detector circuit includes an electrical contact sensor associated with the fixed member and the slidable member to sense position of the slidable member relative to the fixed member. The detector circuit generates actuator displacement data from, at least in part, the electrical contact sensor, where a signal produced by the detector circuit varies with position of the slidable member relative to the fixed member. For instance, in one or more implementations, the signal can represent a seated or unseated position of the cable connector within the socket.
In one or more embodiments, the electrical contact sensor includes multiple, differently sized contact pads associated with one of the fixed member and the slidable member and a conductive spring contact associated with the other of the fixed member and the slidable member. The conductive spring contact makes electrical connection with one or more different contact pads of the multiple contact pads with changing position of the slidable member relative to the fixed member. For instance, in one or more embodiments, the fixed member is, or includes, a fixed card, and the slidable member is, or includes, a slidable card, and the multiple contact pads are disposed, in one embodiment, on a first surface of the fixed card, and the conductive spring contact is coupled to a second surface of the slidable card, where the first surface and second surface are opposite facing surfaces.
In one or more embodiments, the slidable member is spring-biased in a first direction, and the slidable member moves in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, with movement of the actuator from the cable unplugged position to the cable plugged position.
In certain embodiments, the detector circuit generates an acoustical signal and/or a visual signal based on the signal generated by the detector circuit exceeding a set reference signal representative, for instance, of seating, partial seating and/or unseating of the cable connector within the socket.
In one or more embodiments, a monitor system, such as a cognitive monitoring system, is provided to monitor over time seating of the cable connector(s) within the socket(s), based on the signal(s) generated by the detector circuit. Upon detection of an unseating of a cable connector, at least in part, from a socket, the cognitive monitoring system can perform an action, such as provide an indication that the cable connector should be re-seated within the socket. In one or more embodiments, the cognitive monitoring system can receive signals (or displacement data) from a plurality of seating monitors, for instance, from a plurality of seating monitors within a network. The cognitive monitoring system can be a system-level monitor and storage that receives displacement data or information for analytics, and determines subsequent action. For instance, the monitor system could provide an indication of an unseating, partial unseating, or seating condition.
By way of example,
As illustrated in
Referring collectively to
In one or more embodiments, fixed member 310 can be sized larger than slidable member 320, which moves upward or downward based on displacement of the actuator within the socket. In the embodiment depicted, fixed member 310 also includes elongate slots 316 sized to allow actuator arms 232 (
where:
Xc=the capacitive reactance;
R=a resistance value selected for a particular implementation; and
Vin=oscillator input voltage.
Further, the variable capacitance C can be expressed as:
where:
ƒ=oscillator frequency.
As depicted in
By way of example,
The remote server, such as a cloud-based monitoring system 810, can be implemented as any of a variety of computer systems, such as those described below with reference to
As a further example,
As depicted in
By way of example,
Those skilled in the art will note from the above description that provided herein are apparatuses and methods to monitor directly the magnitude of seating and/or unseating of a cable connector within a socket. The apparatus is implemented, at least in part, at the receptacle side of the connection. This location means that power is available to continuously conduct, for instance, system-level monitoring and storing of displacement or unseating information to determine one or more actions to be performed. The apparatus can use, in one or more embodiments, capacitive sensors and/or electrical contact sensors to detect relative displacement and provided an appropriate warning when a relative displacement or unseating is greater than an allowable value, as well as store displacement information for subsequent action. Advantageously, the capacitor sensor directly measures the amount of connector displacement. While the embodiments depicted and described herein are illustrated as power connections, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the apparatuses and methods disclosed are applicable to any type of cable connector-to-socket connection.
Exemplary embodiments of a computing environment which may implement one or more aspects of the present invention are described below with reference to
By way of further example,
Computing system 1512 can be described in the general context of computer system-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer system. Generally, program modules can include routines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and so on that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.
As depicted in
In one embodiment, processor 1516 may be based on the z/Architecture® offered by International Business Machines Corporation, or other architectures offered by International Business Machines Corporation or other companies. z/Architecture® is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., USA. One embodiment of the z/Architecture® is described in “z/Architecture Principles of Operation,” IBM® Publication No.SA22-7832-11, 12th edition, September 2017, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
In other examples, it may be based on other architectures, such as the Power Architecture offered by International Business Machines Corporation. One embodiment of the Power Architecture is described in “Power ISA™ Version 2.07B,” International Business Machines Corporation, Apr. 9, 2015, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. POWER ARCHITECTURE is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., USA. Other names used herein may be registered trademarks, trademarks, or product names of International Business Machines Corporation or other companies.
Bus 1518 represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus.
Computing system 1512 can include a variety of computer system readable media. Such media can be any available media that is accessible by computing system 1512, and it includes both volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.
System memory 1523 can include computer system readable media in the form of volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 1530 and/or cache memory 1532. Computing system 1512 may further include other removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storage media. By way of example only, storage system 1534 can be provided for reading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media (not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, a magnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable, non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical disk drive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile optical disk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media could be provided. In such instances, each can be connected to bus 1518 by one or more data media interfaces. As described below, memory 1523 can include at least one program product having a set (e.g., at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out the functions of embodiments of the invention.
Program/utility 1540, having a set (at least one) of program modules 1542, can be stored in memory 1523 by way of example, and not limitation, as well as an operating system, one or more application programs, other program modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one or more application programs, other program modules, and program data or some combination thereof, can include an implementation of a networking environment. Program modules 1542 generally carry out the functions and/or methodologies of embodiments of the invention as described herein. Alternatively, a separate cable connector monitoring system, module, logic, etc., 1501 may be provided within computing environment 1512.
Computing system 1512 can also communicate with one or more external devices 1514 such as an imaging subsystem 1515, a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 1524, etc.; one or more devices that enable a user to interact with computing system 1512; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.) that enable computing system 1512 to communicate with one or more other computing devices. Such communication can occur via Input/Output (I/O) interfaces 1522. Still yet, computing system 1512 can communicate with one or more networks such as a local area network (LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g., the Internet) via network adapter 1520. As depicted, network adapter 1520 communicates with the other components of computing system, 1512, via bus 1518. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardware and/or software components could be used in conjunction with computing system 1512. Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode, device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays, RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.
One or more aspects may relate to or use cloud computing.
It is understood in advance that although this disclosure includes a detailed description on cloud computing, implementation of certain teachings recited herein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather, embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented in conjunction with any other type of computing environment now known or later developed.
Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g. networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing, memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or interaction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may include at least five characteristics, at least three service models, and at least four deployment models.
Characteristics are as follows:
On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with the service's provider.
Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).
Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to demand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumer generally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of the provided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher level of abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).
Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elastically provisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out and rapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilities available for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can be purchased in any quantity at any time.
Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service.
Service Models are as follows:
Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer is to use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessible from various client devices through a thin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based email). The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage, or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exception of limited user-specific application configuration settings.
Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer is to deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquired applications created using programming languages and tools supported by the provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, or storage, but has control over the deployed applications and possibly application hosting environment configurations.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to the consumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and other fundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy and run arbitrary software, which can include operating systems and applications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage, deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networking components (e.g., host firewalls).
Deployment Models are as follows:
Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for an organization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party and may exist on-premises or off-premises.
Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by several organizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns (e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and compliance considerations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third party and may exist on-premises or off-premises.
Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the general public or a large industry group and is owned by an organization selling cloud services.
Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or more clouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities but are bound together by standardized or proprietary technology that enables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting for load-balancing between clouds).
A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus on statelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability. At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure comprising a network of interconnected nodes.
A cloud computing node may include a computer system/server, such as the one depicted in
Referring now to
Referring to
Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and software components. Examples of hardware components include mainframes 61; RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture based servers 62; servers 63; blade servers 64; storage devices 65; and networks and networking components 66. In some embodiments, software components include network application server software 67 and database software 68.
Virtualization layer 70 provides an abstraction layer from which the following examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers 71; virtual storage 72; virtual networks 73, including virtual private networks; virtual applications and operating systems 74; and virtual clients 75.
In one example, management layer 80 may provide the functions described below. Resource provisioning 81 provides dynamic procurement of computing resources and other resources that are utilized to perform tasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing 82 provide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloud computing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of these resources. In one example, these resources may comprise application software licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloud consumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources. User portal 83 provides access to the cloud computing environment for consumers and system administrators. Service level management 84 provides cloud computing resource allocation and management such that required service levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planning and fulfillment 85 provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of, cloud computing resources for which a future requirement is anticipated in accordance with an SLA.
Workloads layer 90 provides examples of functionality for which the cloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads and functions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping and navigation 91; software development and lifecycle management 92; virtual classroom education delivery 93; data analytics processing 94; transaction processing 95; and cable connector monitoring processing 96.
The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skills in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skills in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.
The present invention can be an apparatus, system, method, and/or computer program product at any possible technical detail level of integration. The computer program product can include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.
The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.
Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device.
Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.
Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions.
These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
In addition to the above, one or more aspects can be provided, offered, deployed, managed, serviced, etc. by a service provider who offers management of customer environments. For instance, the service provider can create, maintain, support, etc. computer code and/or a computer infrastructure that performs one or more aspects for one or more customers. In return, the service provider can receive payment from the customer under a subscription and/or fee agreement, as examples. Additionally or alternatively, the service provider may receive payment from the sale of advertising content to one or more third parties.
In one aspect, an application may be deployed for performing one or more embodiments. As one example, the deploying of an application comprises providing computer infrastructure operable to perform one or more embodiments.
As a further aspect, a computing infrastructure can be deployed comprising integrating computer readable code into a computing system, in which the code in combination with the computing system is capable of performing one or more embodiments.
As yet a further aspect, a process for integrating computing infrastructure comprising integrating computer readable code into a computer system can be provided. The computer system comprises a computer readable medium, in which the computer medium comprises one or more embodiments. The code in combination with the computer system is capable of performing one or more embodiments.
Although various embodiments are described above, these are only examples. For example, computing environments of other architectures can be used to incorporate and use one or more embodiments. Further, different instructions, instruction formats, instruction fields and/or instruction values may be used. Many variations are possible.
Further, other types of computing environments can benefit and be used. As an example, a data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing program code is usable that includes at least two processors coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements include, for instance, local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memory which provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage during execution.
Input/Output or I/O devices (including, but not limited to, keyboards, displays, pointing devices, DASD, tape, CDs, DVDs, thumb drives and other memory media, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers. Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modems, and Ethernet cards are just a few of the available types of network adapters.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”), and “contain” (and any form contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises”, “has”, “includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more steps or elements. Likewise, a step of a method or an element of a device that “comprises”, “has”, “includes” or “contains” one or more features possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below, if any, are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of one or more aspects of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand one or more aspects of the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.