Patents by Inventor Gregory P. Ziarnik

Gregory P. Ziarnik 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: 10175993
    Abstract: Examples disclose a method, system, and computer readable media to configure a device within a computing system. The examples process configuration data when standby power is applied to the device. Additionally, the examples configure the device based on the configuration data, wherein the device is configured prior to initialization of the computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory P Ziarnik, Mark A Piwonka, Michael R Durham
  • Patent number: 9865141
    Abstract: A system is disclosed that includes memory resources and one or more processing components coupled to the one or more memory resources. At least one of the memory resources stores a basic input/output system (BIOS). The one or more processing components are coupled to the memory resources to run a program for operating a point-of-sale (POS) terminal. The program enables a user to provide an input to open a cash drawer. A controller circuit receives a signal from the BIOS when the user provides the input and generates a pulse signal having a predetermined duration to cause a voltage signal to be transmitted to a solenoid of the cash drawer. The voltage signal causes the solenoid to change states in order to open the cash drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Binh T Truong, Nam Nguyen, Larry W Kunkel, Gregory P Ziarnik, Michael R Durham
  • Patent number: 9639145
    Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a computing device is provided. The computing device includes an interface module and a power management module. The interface module is to provide a user interface that facilitates enabling and disabling of an always on feature, and further facilitates configuration of a permissible advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI) S3 state period. The power management module to receive a request to enter an ACPI S3 state, determine whether the always on feature is enabled, and in response to determining that the always on feature is enabled, determine whether the computing device is within a user-defined permissible ACPI S3 state period. In response to determining that the computing device is within the user-defined permissible ACPI S3 state period, the power management module is to set a wake event and cause the computing device to enter the ACPI S3 state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert C Brooks, Michael R Durham, Mark A Piwonka, Gregory P Ziarnik
  • Patent number: 9483426
    Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to locking a system management interrupt (SMI) enable register of a chipset. Example embodiments include at least one contact configuration register to configure a contact of a chipset, and a contact SMI enable register of a chipset to store an enable value or a disable value. In example embodiments, the disable value stored in the contact SMI enable register is to prevent the chipset from providing an SMI request to a processor in response to an SMI signal received at the contact. Example embodiments further include locking the contact SMI enable register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory P. Ziarnik, Michael R. Durham, Mark A. Piwonka
  • Patent number: 9419312
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to disablement of a connection between a battery and a connection module. In an embodiment, a connection between the battery and a connection module may be disabled if the connection module is drawing current from the battery or if a monitored signal transitions from a high logic level to the low logic level. The connection module is to draw the current or pull the signal down to a low logic level in response to one or more components related to the device becoming exposed or an enclosure related to the device being breached or opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory P Ziarnik, Stephen J Higham, Michael R Durham
  • Publication number: 20160139657
    Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a computing device is provided. The computing device includes an interface module and a power management module. The interface module is to provide a user interface that facilitates enabling and disabling of an always on feature, and further facilitates configuration of a permissible advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI) S3 state period. The power management module to receive a request to enter an ACPI S3 state, determine whether the always on feature is enabled, and in response to determining that the always on feature is enabled, determine whether the computing device is within a user-defined permissible ACPI S3 state period. In response to determining that the computing device is within the user-defined permissible ACPI S3 state period, the power management module is to set a wake event and cause the computing device to enter the ACPI S3 state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Robert C Brooks, Michael R Durham, Mark A Piwonka, Gregory P Ziarnik
  • Patent number: 8984539
    Abstract: A device including an interface component configured to couple the device to a computing machine, a storage component configured to store a device driver for the device, and a driver application executed from the storage component and configured to identify the device as a storage device if a device driver has not been loaded onto the computing machine and bad the device driver onto the computing machine in response to the device coupling to the computing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Luke Mulcahy, Gregory P. Ziarnik, William R. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 8909909
    Abstract: An example method comprises activating a computer power-on button and releasing the power-on button when the computer begins to energize; reactivating the computer power-on button a second time within a predetermined time period from the first activating step; and sensing the reactivating step with the predetermined time period and initiating a command to enter a BIOS pre-boot routine instead of booting to the computer operating system (OS). The command to enter the BIOS pre-boot routine is initiated before activation of a computer keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory P Ziarnik, Mark D. Tupa
  • Publication number: 20140344491
    Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to locking a system management interrupt (SMI) enable register of a chipset. Example embodiments include at least one contact configuration register to configure a contact of a chipset, and a contact SMI enable register of a chipset to store an enable value or a disable value. In example embodiments, the disable value stored in the contact SMI enable register is to prevent the chipset from providing an SMI request to a processor in response to an SMI signal received at the contact. Example embodiments further include locking the contact SMI enable register.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Gregory P. Ziarnik, Michael R. Durham, Mark A. Piwonka
  • Patent number: 8856560
    Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to determining a setting at a component. An output to be powered by a low power state power rail can output a value. The component is to be powered by an auxiliary power rail and determines the setting based on the value at auxiliary power good.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory P. Ziarnik, Michael R. Durham, Stephen J. Higham
  • Patent number: 8661233
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for determining a configuration for system board based on a connector. The connector may have a structure that enables a system board to determine configuration data associated with a system configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Mikuszewski, Gregory P Ziarnik
  • Publication number: 20130290740
    Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to determining a setting at a component. An output to be powered by a low power state power rail can output a value. The component is to be powered by an auxiliary power rail and determines the setting based on the value at auxiliary power good.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Gregory P. Ziarnik, Michael R. Durham, Stephen J. Higham
  • Publication number: 20130288491
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to disablement of a connection between a battery and a connection module. In an embodiment, a connection between the battery and a connection module may be disabled if the connection module is drawing current from the battery or if a monitored signal transitions from a high logic level to the low logic level. The connection module is to draw the current or pull the signal down to a low logic level in response to one or more components related to the device becoming exposed or an enclosure related to the device being breached or opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Gregory P. Ziarnik, Stephen J. Higham, Michael R. Durham
  • Publication number: 20130246198
    Abstract: A system is disclosed that includes memory resources and one or more processing components coupled to the one or more memory resources. At least one of the memory resources stores a basic input/output system (BIOS). The one or more processing components are coupled to the memory resources to run a program for operating a point-of-sale (POS) terminal. The program enables a user to provide an input to open a cash drawer. A controller circuit receives a signal from the BIOS when the user provides the input and generates a pulse signal having a predetermined duration to cause a voltage signal to be transmitted to a solenoid of the cash drawer. The voltage signal causes the solenoid to change states in order to open the cash drawer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Binh T. Truong, Nam Ngyuen, Larry W. Kunkel, Gregory P. Ziarnik, Michael R. Durham
  • Patent number: 8533845
    Abstract: A method of operating a computer includes receiving an operating system request to access configuration settings. The request is executed in accordance with authorization determined by at least one operating system access control parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: B. Dalvis Desselle, Gregory P. Ziarnik
  • Patent number: 8495354
    Abstract: Systems and methods of securely updating BIOS are disclosed. One such system comprises a reprogrammable memory, a first and a second register, and comparison logic. The reprogrammable memory comprises a first portion and a protect input. The protect input is configured to disallow writes to at least the first portion when the memory protect input is at a first level, and to allow writes to at least the first portion when the protect input is at a second level; The comparison logic is configured to drive a comparison output to a third level responsive to the first and second registers having equal values, and to drive the comparison output to a fourth level responsive to the first and second registers having different values. The comparison output is electrically coupled to the memory protect input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Louis B. Hobson, Mark A. Piwonka, Gregory P. Ziarnik
  • Publication number: 20120254598
    Abstract: Embodiments provide methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for determining a configuration for system board based on a connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Andrew Mikuszewski, Gregory P. Ziarnik
  • Patent number: 8266461
    Abstract: A computer system includes a processor and a fan operative to provide cooling airflow for reducing a temperature of the processor, the fan having a temperature threshold corresponding to operation of the fan at a speed greater than low speed. The computer system also includes a temperature-monitoring unit selectively operative in one of a reduced-acoustic mode and a normal-acoustic mode such that in the normal-acoustic mode, the temperature-monitoring unit attempts to control the temperature of the computer system by adjusting the speed of the fan and in the reduced-acoustic mode, the temperature-monitoring unit attempts to control the temperature of the computer system by throttling the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory P. Ziarnik, Mark D. Tupa
  • Publication number: 20120198113
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to measuring a continuous time period a power button signal is in an active state. In an embodiment, a controller is to measure the continuous time period the power button signal is in an active state, where the power button signal enters the active state when a power button is physically activated by a user to initiate a power down of a system. Further, the controller is to generate and send an interrupt to the system if the continuous time period is greater than a controller time, the interrupt having higher priority than an operating system of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Gregory P. Ziarnik, Mark Piwonka, Louis B. Hobson
  • Publication number: 20120166780
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for entering a computer pre-boot routine without using the keyboard or having the computer display operable. In order to turn the computer on, the user depresses the main power-on button. If the user does nothing else the computer system boots normally. But if the user desires to enter any of the pre-boot functions, the user simply depresses the power-on button a second time within a short predetermined period of time. An interface circuit will latch upon this second power-on button press, and before the BIOS hands off to the operating system, the BIOS will check this latch and if set, will enter the desired pre-boot function or optionally enter into a menu allowing selection of all pre-boot functions. The interface circuit has the ability to allow a time period after the first button press before the second button press would be accepted. It also has the ability to reject the second press if too long a period has expired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Gregory P Ziarnik, Mark D. Tupa