Patents by Inventor Don Elwell

Don Elwell 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).

  • System and method for multiple device drivers to arbitrate for a single device
    Patent number: 6216196
    Abstract: A computer system for controlling the operation of a multifunction device, including a central processing unit, a memory device connected to the central processing unit, a plurality of device drivers, wherein each of the plurality of device drivers issues commands to control the multifunction device and an arbitration mechanism connected to the plurality of device drivers and further connected to the multifunction device, wherein commands issued by the plurality of device drivers are received by the arbitration mechanism, and wherein the arbitration mechanism determines a sequence for the commands to be issued to the multifunction device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Ariel Corporation
    Inventors: Don Elwell, James Sienicki, Christopher Zimmermann