Author: claimsbot

1. A digital circuit comprising:
a fetchdecode unit that receives an instruction stream that includes a floating point save instruction, the fetchdecode unit generating a floating point address save microinstruction and a floating point data save microinstruction corresponding to the floating point save instruction;
a floating point linear address register; and
a floating point execution unit coupled to the floating point linear address register, the floating point execution unit using the floating point linear address register in executing floating point instructions,
wherein an update of the floating point linear address register is triggered by the floating point store data microinstruction.
2. The digital circuit of claim 1 further comprising an event floating point linear address register, wherein the floating point store data microinstruction triggers the update of the floating point linear address register or the event floating point linear address register.
3. The digital circuit of claim 1 further including a memory order buffer, the memory order buffer maintaining information pertaining to load and store instructions,
wherein the memory order buffer updates the floating point linear address when triggered by the execution of the floating point store data microinstruction.
4. The digital circuit of claim 3 wherein the information pertaining to load and store operations maintained by the memory order buffer includes for each load and store instruction:
an operation type field;
an address field; and
a store identifier field.
5. The digital circuit of claim 4 wherein the operation type field indicates whether the instruction is a load instruction or a store instruction.
6. The digital circuit of claim 3 wherein the floating point store data microinstruction triggers update of the floating point linear address by writing fault information.
7. The digital circuit of claim 1 wherein the floating point linear address register is a microinstruction-level register.
8. A method comprising:
receiving a floating point store instruction;
generating a floating point store address microinstruction;
generating a floating point store data microinstruction;
executing the floating point store address microinstruction and the floating point store data microinstruction, the floating point store data microinstruction triggering the update of a floating point linear address register; and
updating a floating point linear address register when triggered by the execution of the floating point store data microinstruction.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of updating a floating point linear address register includes updating an event floating point linear address register if an event is being handled.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the steps of generating a floating point save address microinstruction and generating a floating point save data microinstruction are performed by a fetchdecode unit.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of updating the floating point linear address register is performed by a memory order buffer.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the memory order buffer maintains the following information for each load and store operation:
an operation type field;
an address field; and
a store identifier field.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein the floating point store data microinstruction triggers the update of the floating point linear address register by writing fault information.
14. A method comprising:
receiving an instruction stream including a floating point store data instruction;
generating a floating point store data microinstruction corresponding to the floating point store data instruction;
generating a floating point store address microinstruction, the floating point store data microinstruction and the floating point store address microinstruction including a sequence number; and
in response to the execution of the floating point store data microinstruction, updating a floating point linear address using the sequence number corresponding to the floating point store address microinstruction.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the steps of generating a floating point store data microinstruction and generating a floating point store address microinstruction are performed by a fetchdecode unit.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A connection element for connecting media lines, for instance hoses to a tube piece, in particular a tube, wherein at least a first plug-shaped connection member (3) having at least two hose connections (1,2) is provided, whose plug part includes axially offset, radial openings (6,7) each connected with a hose connection (1,2), and wherein at least one socket-shaped connection member (26) is provided for receiving the plug-shaped connection member (3) in a manner rotational about the plug-in axis (8), the wall of which socket-shaped connection member likewise includes radial openings (14,15) at axial distances corresponding with the axial distances of the radial openings (6,7) of the plug-shaped connection member (3), wherein the walls of the socket-shaped and the plug-shaped connection members (3, 26) include annular or disc-shaped seals (18) sealing relative to each other between adjacent radial openings (6,7,14,15) as well as to the axial end of the socket-shaped (26) andor plug-shaped connection member (3), characterized in that the plug-in depth of the plug-shaped connection member (3) is limited by resilient stops (12) and the resilient stops (12) are designed as resilient: Locking members latching with counter stops (22,23)
2. A connection element according to claim 1, characterized in that the radial openings (6,7,14,15) are comprised of annular grooves or open into annular grooves (16, 17).
3. A connection element according to claim 1, characterized in that 0-rings seals (18) are arranged between adjacent annular grooves (16, 17) and outside the same.
4. A connection element according to claim 1, characterized in that connection boxes carrying the socket-shaped connection members (26) are provided for the supply of gas.
5. A connection element according to claim 1, characterized in that, for a number of hose connections (1,2) exceeding the number of hose connections fixable to a first plug-shaped, or the respective socket-shaped, connection member (3,26), further plug-shaped and socket-shaped connection members (3,26) having outer and inner diameters respectively differing from those of the first connection members are provided.

1. A method for processing information, comprising:
determining a first physical appliance to virtualize;
creating a first virtual appliance based on the first physical appliance, wherein the first virtual appliance provides a first service associated with the first physical appliance; and
installing an image of the first virtual appliance on a system comprising a storage array, wherein the storage array is configured to use the image of the first virtual appliance to instantiate on demand a running instance of the first virtual appliance in response to a request to provide the first service with respect to the storage array.
2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein creating the first virtual appliance includes creating the first virtual appliance from a template.
3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising installing more than one copy of the image of the first virtual appliance on the system comprising the storage array.
4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the image of the first virtual appliance comprises a first image of the first virtual appliance installed in a first storage location, and further comprising installing in a second storage location a second image of the first virtual appliance.
5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the first storage location is included in a first storage device comprising the storage array and the second storage location is included in a second storage device comprising the storage array.
6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising receiving in connection with the request to provide the first service a license key or other credential associated with the first service.
7. A system for processing information, comprising a processor configured to:
determine a first physical appliance to virtualize;
create a first virtual appliance based on the first physical appliance, wherein the first virtual appliance provides a first service associated with the first physical appliance; and
install an image of the first virtual appliance on a system comprising a storage array, wherein the storage array is configured to use the image of the first virtual appliance to instantiate on demand a running instance of the first virtual appliance in response to a request to provide the first service with respect to the storage array.
8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein creating the first virtual appliance includes creating the first virtual appliance from a template.
9. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to install more than one copy of the image of the first virtual appliance on the system comprising the storage array.
10. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein the image of the first virtual appliance comprises a first image of the first virtual appliance installed in a first storage location, and further comprising installing in a second storage location a second image of the first virtual appliance.
11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the first storage location is included in a first storage device comprising the storage array and the second storage location is included in a second storage device comprising the storage array.
12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein a license key or other credential associated with the first service is received in connection with the request to provide the first service.
13. A computer program product for storing data, comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having program instructions embodied therein for:
determining a first physical appliance to virtualize;
creating a first virtual appliance based on the first physical appliance, wherein the first virtual appliance provides a first service associated with the first physical appliance; and
installing an image of the first virtual appliance on a system comprising a storage array, wherein the storage array is configured to use the image of the first virtual appliance to instantiate on demand a running instance of the first virtual appliance in response to a request to provide the first service with respect to the storage array.
14. The computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein creating the first virtual appliance includes creating the first virtual appliance from a template.
15. The computer program product as recited in claim 13, further comprising computer instructions for installing more than one copy of the image of the first virtual appliance on one or more blades comprising the storage array.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A computerized method for processing and displaying data of a business unit comprising the steps of:
extracting, by a computer processing device, a set of past data of said business unit from a past database, wherein the extraction of said set of past data of said business unit includes:
examining files stored within the past database, and
extracting contract term data from said files stored within the past database;

determining, by the computer processing device, a set of future plan data of said business unit, wherein said determining of said set of future plan data comprises:
automatically determining by using the extracted contract term data said set of future plan data by the computer processing device;

estimating the expectation of a discounted cash flow for each element of a set of models which define a specific growth trajectory according to said set of past data and said set of future plan data, wherein for each model:
estimating a standard deviation from said past data;
setting a risk premium derived from said estimated standard deviation and a predetermined risk factor;
calculating a risk adjusted value by deducting the set risk premium from said expectation; and

displaying the risk adjusted value and an estimated discounted cash flow value probability distribution on a display device.
2. The computerized method according to claim 1, wherein the step of automatically determining said set of future plan data comprises:
automatically evaluating contract term data;
automatically determining said set of future plan data from said contract term data.
3. The computerized method according claim 1, wherein said step of extracting said set of past data and said step of determining said set of future plan data comprise the step:
displaying an activating device for simultaneously activating said extraction of at least one subset of said set of past data and determination of at least one subset of said set of future plan data in response to an input to a graphical user interface.
4. The computerized method according to claim 1, wherein said step of extracting said set of past data comprises the step:
displaying an activating device for simultaneously activating said extraction of a plurality of subsets of said set of past data and a plurality of subsets of said set of future plan data in response to an input to a graphical user interface.
5. The computerized method according to claim 1, wherein after extracting said at least one set of past data, said data are displayed to a user for manual inspection.
6. The computerized method according to claim 1, wherein a choice of a present date is received, and wherein, after the choice of the present date is received, the set of past data and the set of future plan data are determined automatically.
7. The computerized method according to claim 6, wherein a choice of a present interval is received and wherein said set of past data is provided for a past interval and wherein said set of future plan data is provided for a future interval automatically.
8. The computerized method according to claim 7, wherein the set of past data and the set of future plan data is automatically determined using at least one of the present date and the present interval.
9. The computerized method according to claim 1, wherein for the future plan data an individual estimated discounted cash flow value is determined automatically for every time unit of said future interval.
10. The computerized method according to claim 1, wherein said set of models includes a constant business-calculation model, a linear business-calculation model, and a non-linear calculation model.
11. The computerized method according to claim 1, wherein the set risk premium is modeled based on only one parameter.
12. The computerized method according to claim 1, wherein a confidence level is selected to set the risk premium.
13. The computerized method according to claim 1, wherein the automatically determining at least one preconfigured subset of said set of future plan data by the computer processing device is determined by using the past data instead of the extracted contract term data.
14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform the steps of:
extracting, by a computer processing device, a set of past data of said business unit from a past database, wherein the extraction of said set of past data of said business unit includes:
examining files stored within the past database, and
extracting contract term data from said files stored within the past database;

determining, by the computer processing device, a set of future plan data of said business unit, wherein said determining of said set of future plan data comprises:
automatically determining by using the extracted contract term data said set of future plan data by the computer processing device;

estimating the expectation of a discounted cash flow for each element of a set of models which define a specific growth trajectory according to said set of past data and said set of future plan data, wherein for each model:
estimating a standard deviation from said past data,
setting a risk premium derived from said estimated standard deviation and a predetermined risk factor;
calculating a risk adjusted value by deducting the set risk premium from said expectation; and

displaying the risk adjusted value and an estimated discounted cash flow value probability distribution on a display device.
15. A system for processing and displaying data of a business unit comprising:
a display device;
an enterprise resource planning system for maintaining data related to operation of a business entity;
a business data warehousing system for collecting, planning and reporting data in communication with the enterprise resource planning system, the business data warehousing system comprising a processor configured to:
extract a set of past data of said business unit from a past database maintained by the enterprise resource planning system by examining files stored within the past database,
extract contract data from said files stored within the past database;
extract a set of future plan data of said business unit from a future plan database by automatically determining and extracting at least one preconfigured subset of said set of future plan data from a future plan database maintained by the enterprise resource planning system;
extract all future plan data remaining after extraction of the at least one preconfigured subset of said future plan data from said future plan database;
estimate the expectation of a discounted cash flow for each element of a set of models which define a specific growth trajectory according to said set of past data and said set of future plan data including the preconfigured subset of said future plan data, wherein for each model:
estimate a standard deviation from said past data,
set a risk premium derived from said estimated standard deviation and a predetermined risk factor;
calculate a risk adjusted value by deducting the set risk premium from said expectation; and

display the risk adjusted value and an estimated discounted cash flow value probability distribution on a display device.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the set risk premium is modeled based on only one parameter.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein a confidence level is selected to set the risk premium.
18. The system of claim 15, wherein the automatically determining at least one preconfigured subset of said set of future plan data by the business data warehousing system is determined by using the past data instead of the extracted contract term data.
19. A method for valuing a business unit and providing a probability distribution and a risk adjustment using a plurality of parameterized growth models comprising the steps:
calculating, by a processing unit, for a past interval a time series of actual data from a transaction data database maintained in a system memory;
calculating, by the processing unit, for a future interval a time series of uncertain plan data, wherein said uncertain plan data is plan data subject to uncertainty;
calculating, by the processing unit, for said future interval a time series of certain plan data, wherein said certain plan data is plan data having certainty;
calculating the parameters of each of the said growth models from said actual data and said uncertain plan data using statistical techniques thus specifying a growth trajectory;
deriving for each of said growth models beyond said future interval an infinite time series of plan data according to said growth trajectory;
discounting said uncertain, certain and model dependent derived plan data using period corresponding market traded interest rates;
summing up for each of said growth models said discounted plan values thus estimating an expectation of said value of said business unit;
estimating a standard deviation for each of said models using said actual data;
setting a risk premium for each of said models from said estimated standard deviation and a predetermined risk factor;
calculating a risk adjusted value for each of said models by deducting said risk premium from said estimated expectation value; and
displaying for each of said models said risk adjusted value and a probability distribution defined by said estimated expectation value and said estimated standard deviation on a display device.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said uncertain plan data represent operating cash flows of said business unit, and said certain plan data represent investment expenses of said business unit.
21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:
establishing a benchmarking index for each element of a set of business units and for each of said growth models by dividing said risk adjusted value by a first value of said growth trajectory in said future interval.
22. The method according to claim 19, wherein for calculating the parameters of each of the said growth models said actual data and said uncertain plan data are adjusted for inflation, and the model dependent derived plan data are discounted using a period corresponding market trading interest rates, wherein the corresponding market trading interest rates are adjusted for inflation.
23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the market trading interest rates of the period represent risk free interest rates.