Patents by Inventor David C. Liddell

David C. Liddell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6542997
    Abstract: A computer system includes a chassis with a single motherboard supporting at least one processor module. A power sub-system receives three power supply units and distributes power within the computer system. Each of the three power supplies has a power rating such that two of the three power supplies are sufficient to power the computer system. The combination of such a single-motherboard-based design with a redundant three-power supply sub-system provides reliability of operation in a cost-effective manner. The power sub-system includes a power distribution board with power distribution logic operable to distribute power from the power supply units for powering the processor module. The power distribution logic is operable to interrupt power for powering the processor module when two of the power supply units fail or are not present. An alarm sub-system is provided for reporting power supply faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy B. Rolls, Michael J. Bushue, Gary S. Rumney, Rhod J. Jones, David C. Liddell, Peter Heffernan
  • Patent number: 6539486
    Abstract: A computer system includes processing circuitry and alarm circuitry connectable to a network. A power sub-system includes at least three power supply units, wherein at least a predetermined plurality of power supply units are required to power the computer system. A power distribution mechanism is connectable to the power supply units. The power distribution mechanism is connected to the processing circuitry to supply main power thereto and is connected to the alarm circuitry to supply standby power thereto. The power distribution mechanism is operable to supply main power to the processing circuitry when at least a said predetermined plurality of connected power supplies are operative and is operable to supply standby power to the alarm circuitry when at least one power supply is operative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy B. Rolls, Michael J. Bushue, Gary S. Rumney, Rhod J. Jones, David C. Liddell, Peter Heffernan
  • Patent number: 6519704
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant computer architecture is described wherein the effect of hardware faults is diminished. The architecture employs a main data bus having a plurality of interface slots for interconnecting conventional computer sub-systems. The number and type of sub-systems may vary considerably, however, a central processor sub-system which encompasses the inventive elements of the invention is always included. The central processor sub-system employs a plurality of central processing modules operating in parallel in a substantially synchronized manner. One of the central processing modules operates as a master central processing module, and is the only module capable of reading data from and writing data to the main data bus. The master central processing module is initially chosen arbitrarily from among the central processing modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Liddell, Emrys J. Williams
  • Patent number: 6173416
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant computer architecture is described wherein the effect of hardware faults is diminished. The architecture employs a main data bus having a plurality of interface slots for interconnecting conventional computer sub-systems. The number and type of sub-systems may vary considerably, however, a central processor sub-system which encompasses the inventive elements of the invention is always included. The central processor sub-system employs a plurality of central processing modules operating in parallel in a substantially synchronized manner. One of the central processing modules operates as a master central processing module, and is the only module capable of reading data from and writing data to the main data bus. The master central processing module is initially chosen arbitrarily from among the central processing modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Liddell, Emrys J. Williams
  • Patent number: 6170068
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant computer architecture is described wherein the effect of hardware faults is diminished. The architecture employs a main data bus having a plurality of interface slots for interconnecting conventional computer sub-systems. The number and type of sub-systems may vary considerably, however, a central processor sub-system which encompasses the inventive elements of the invention is always included. The central processor sub-system employs a plurality of central processing modules operating in parallel in a substantially synchronized manner. One of the central processing modules operates as a master central processing module, and is the only module capable of reading data from and writing data to the main data bus. The master central processing module is initially chosen arbitrarily from among the central processing modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Liddell, Emrys J. Williams
  • Patent number: 6141766
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant computer architecture is described wherein the effect of hardware faults is diminished. The architecture employs a main data bus having a plurality of interface slots for interconnecting conventional computer sub-systems. The number and type of sub-systems may vary considerably, however, a central processor sub-system which encompasses the inventive elements of the invention is always included. The central processor sub-system employs a plurality of central processing modules operating in parallel in a substantially synchronized manner. One of the central processing modules operates as a master central processing module, and is the only module capable of reading data from and writing data to the main data bus. The master central processing module is initially chosen arbitrarily from among the central processing modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Liddell, Emrys J. Williams
  • Patent number: 6134679
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant computer architecture is described wherein the effect of hardware faults is diminished. The architecture employs a main data bus having a plurality of interface slots for interconnecting conventional computer sub-systems. The number and type of sub-systems may vary considerably, however, a central processor sub-system which encompasses the inventive elements of the invention is always included. The central processor sub-system employs a plurality of central processing modules operating in parallel in a substantially synchronized manner. One of the central processing modules operates as a master central processing module, and is the only module capable of reading data from and writing data to the main data bus. The master central processing module is initially chosen arbitrarily from among the central processing modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Liddell, Emrys J. Williams
  • Patent number: 6134672
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant computer architecture is described wherein the effect of hardware faults is diminished. The architecture employs a main data bus having a plurality of interface slots for interconnecting conventional computer sub-systems. The number and type of sub-systems may vary considerably, however, a central processor sub-system which encompasses the inventive elements of the invention is always included. The central processor sub-system employs a plurality of central processing modules operating in parallel in a substantially synchronized manner. One of the central processing modules operates as a master central processing module, and is the only module capable of reading data from and writing data to the main data bus. The master central processing module is initially chosen arbitrarily from among the central processing modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Liddell, Emrys J. Williams
  • Patent number: 6092218
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant computer architecture is described wherein the effect of hardware faults is diminished. The architecture employs a main data bus having a plurality of interface slots for interconnecting conventional computer sub-systems. The number and type of sub-systems may vary considerably, however, a central processor sub-system which encompasses the inventive elements of the invention is always included. The central processor sub-system employs a plurality of central processing modules operating in parallel in a substantially synchronized manner. One of the central processing modules operates as a master central processing module, and is the only module capable of reading data from and writing data to the main data bus. The master central processing module is initially chosen arbitrarily from among the central processing modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Liddell, Emrys J. Williams
  • Patent number: 6049893
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant computer architecture is described wherein the effect of hardware faults is diminished. The architecture employs a main data bus having a plurality of interface slots for interconnecting conventional computer sub-systems. The number and type of sub-systems may vary considerably, however, a central processor sub-system which encompasses the inventive elements of the invention is always included. The central processor sub-system employs a plurality of central processing modules operating in parallel in a substantially synchronized manner. One of the central processing modules operates as a master central processing module, and is the only module capable of reading data from and writing data to the main data bus. The master central processing module is initially chosen arbitrarily from among the central processing modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Liddell, Emrys J. Williams
  • Patent number: 6047392
    Abstract: A system and method for tracking dirty memory which, in one embodiment, comprises a first memory corresponding to a first processor, a second memory corresponding to a second processor and a third memory coupled to the first memory, wherein the third memory stores bits corresponding to the pages of the first memory, and wherein each bit is set to "dirty" when the first processor writes to the corresponding page of the first memory and is set to "clean" when the corresponding page of the first memory is copied to a corresponding page of the second memory. The system and method can be used in a computer having multiple cpusets to assist in cpuset re-integration by copying the contents of one cpuset's memory to another cpuset's memory while the operating system of the computer continues to run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Liddell, Emrys J. Williams
  • Patent number: 6038684
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant computer architecture is described wherein the effect of hardware faults is diminished. The architecture employs a main data bus having a plurality of interface slots for interconnecting conventional computer sub-systems. The number and type of sub-systems may vary considerably, however, a central processor sub-system which encompasses the inventive elements of the invention is always included. The central processor sub-system employs a plurality of central processing modules operating in parallel in a substantially synchronized manner. One of the central processing modules operates as a master central processing module, and is the only module capable of reading data from and writing data to the main data bus. The master central processing module is initially chosen arbitrarily from among the central processing modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Liddell, Emrys J. Williams
  • Patent number: 5889940
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant computer architecture is described wherein the effect of hardware faults is diminished. The architecture employs a main data bus having a plurality of interface slots for interconnecting conventional computer sub-systems. The number and type of sub-systems may vary considerably, however, a central processor sub-system which encompasses the inventive elements of the invention is always included. The central processor sub-system employs a plurality of central processing modules operating in parallel in a substantially synchronized manner. One of the central processing modules operates as a master central processing module, and is the only module capable of reading data from and writing data to the main data bus. The master central processing module is initially chosen arbitrarily from among the central processing modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Liddell, Emrys J. Williams
  • Patent number: 5627965
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant computer architecture is described wherein the effect of hardware faults is diminished. The architecture employs a main data bus having a plurality of interface slots for interconnecting conventional computer sub-systems. The number and type of sub-systems may vary considerably, however, a central processor sub-system which encompasses the inventive elements of the invention is always included. The central processor sub-system employs a plurality of central processing modules operating in parallel in a substantially synchronized manner. One of the central processing modules operates as a master central processing module, and is the only module capable of reading data from and writing data to the main data bus. The master central processing module is initially chosen arbitrarily from among the central processing modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Integrated Micro Products, Ltd.
    Inventors: David C. Liddell, Emrys J. Williams