(19)

(11)

EP 1 169 675 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 28.12.2000 (43) Date of publication: 09.01.2002 Bulletin 2002/02 (21) Application number: 00913912.2 (22) Date of filing: 10.03.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G06F 9/46 (86) International application number: PCT/US0006/550 (87) International publication number: WO 0054/151 (14.09.2000 Gazette 2000/37)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 12.03.1999 US 267794 (71) Applicant: Sun Microsystems, Inc. Palo Alto, California 94303 (US)	(72) Inventors: GUPTA, Abhay Milpitas, CA 95035 (US) ABDELNUR, Alejandro Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (US) (74) Representative: HOFFMANN - EITLE  Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Arabellastrasse 4 81925 München 81925 München (DE)