Patents by Inventor Mark W. Wenning

Mark W. Wenning 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: 8478923
    Abstract: A processor receives interrupts of a same type from hardware. The processor determines a rate at which the interrupts are being received. The processor compares the rate at which the interrupts are being received to a threshold rate. In response to determining that the rate at which the interrupts are being received is greater than the threshold rate, the processor sends just the first received interrupt to firmware for processing. All other of the interrupts are not sent from the processor to the firmware but instead are suppressed by the processor. By comparison, in response to determining that the rate at which the interrupts are being received is less than the threshold rate, the processor can send all the interrupts from the processor to firmware for processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shiva Dasari, Suresh Lavani, Newton P. Liu, Thanh Nguyen, Mehul Shah, Robert K. Sloan, Wingcheung Tam, Mark W. Wenning
  • Publication number: 20130097412
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for performing a boot sequence in a multi-processor system are provided. Embodiments include: in response to detecting initiation of a boot sequence of the multi-processor system, initializing, by a bootstrap processor (BSP), BSP memory associated with the BSP and initializing, by an application processor, memory associated with the application processor; determining, by the BSP, whether the initialization of the BSP memory is completed; and if the initialization of the BSP memory is completed, loading, by the BSP, an operating system on the BSP memory regardless of whether the application processor has completed initialization of the memory associated with the application processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiva R. Dasari, Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Newton P. Liu, Terence Rodrigues, Mehul M. Shah, Robert K. Sloan, Wingcheung Tam, Mark W. Wenning
  • Publication number: 20130007356
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for assigning a classification to a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) are provided. Embodiments include determining, by a modifier, a classification of a DIMM; and providing a visual indication of the determined classification of the DIMM, including modifying, by the modifier, a top edge of a printed circuit board of the DIMM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Newton P. Liu, Thanh Nguyen, Terence Rodrigues, Robert K. Sloan, Mark W. Wenning
  • Publication number: 20120079256
    Abstract: A processor receives interrupts of a same type from hardware. The processor determines a rate at which the interrupts are being received. The processor compares the rate at which the interrupts are being received to a threshold rate. In response to determining that the rate at which the interrupts are being received is greater than the threshold rate, the processor sends just the first received interrupt to firmware for processing. All other of the interrupts are not sent from the processor to the firmware but instead are suppressed by the processor. By comparison, in response to determining that the rate at which the interrupts are being received is less than the threshold rate, the processor can send all the interrupts from the processor to firmware for processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Shiva Dasari, Suresh Lavani, Newton P. Liu, Thanh Nguyen, Mehul Shah, Kevin R. Sloan, Wingcheung Tam, Mark W. Wenning
  • Patent number: 7886139
    Abstract: A method and system that enable system firmware to efficiently boot an operating system (OS) and/or client program from a network-connected Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) device. The method generally comprises: (1) defining the firmware representation of the iSCSI device within the hierarchical data structure that represents the system hardware; and (2) extending the network support package to accommodate additional boot arguments that allow system firmware to acquire the information required for booting from the network-connected iSCSI device, while utilizing one of the existing discovery protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Carol B. Hernandez, Stephen D. Linam, John T. O'Quin, II, Mark W. Wenning
  • Patent number: 7734818
    Abstract: A mechanism is added to a network support package to enable/allow the specification of additional boot discovery protocols and additional network address formats. The mechanism defines qualifier keywords that are added to the boot arguments and processed by the network support package. The qualifier keywords modify the boot arguments associated with a bootstrap method by specifying a way to acquire the arguments (i.e., a specific boot discovery protocol), the format of the arguments, and other parameters associated with the arguments. Multiple qualifier keywords may be added to the boot arguments at a time, and the keywords can be applied in their order within the arguments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Carol B. Hernandez, Stephen D. Linam, John T. O'Quin, II, Mark W. Wenning
  • Patent number: 7734743
    Abstract: Firmware of an InfiniBand (IB) host computer device provides a representation of an IB Host Channel Adapter (HCA) within the hierarchical data structure during system initialization. An ib-boot support package encapsulates arguments for booting over an IB network using an ibport device. The ib-boot support package supports use of one or more command keywords, each identifying a specific type of support package utilized to retrieve the boot image. When the srp keyword is provided, an SRP protocol is used to access the storage boot device and retrieve the boot file. Access to the boot server is thus provided via one of the support packages, and the boot image is returned to the host device via the IB network for completion of boot operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Carol B. Hernandez, Stephen D. Linam, John T. O'Quin, II, Mark W. Wenning
  • Patent number: 7689679
    Abstract: Firmware of an InfiniBand (IB) host computer device provides a representation of an IB Host Channel Adapter (HCA) within the hierarchical data structure during system initialization. An ib-boot support package encapsulates arguments for booting over an IB network using an ibport device. The ib-boot support package supports keywords identifying a network support package or a Sockets Direct Protocol (SDP) support package. When the first keyword is provided, the IPoIB network protocol is used to access the boot server and retrieve the boot file. When the second keyword is provided, the IB network boot method is implemented, whereby the SDP network protocol is used to access the boot device. Access to the boot server is thus provided via one of the support packages, and the boot image is returned to the host device via the IB network for completion of boot operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Carol B. Hernandez, Stephen D. Linam, John T. O'Quin, II, Mark W. Wenning
  • Publication number: 20080209196
    Abstract: A method and system that enable system firmware to efficiently boot an operating system (OS) and/or client program from a network-connected Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) device. The method generally comprises: (1) defining the firmware representation of the iSCSI device within the hierarchical data structure that represents the system hardware; and (2) extending the network support package to accommodate additional boot arguments that allow system firmware to acquire the information required for booting from the network-connected iSCSI device, while utilizing one of the existing discovery protocols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Carol B. Hernandez, Stephen D. Linam, John T. O'Quin, Mark W. Wenning
  • Publication number: 20080209450
    Abstract: Firmware of an InfiniBand (IB) host computer device provides a representation of an IB Host Channel Adapter (HCA) within the hierarchical data structure during system initialization. An ib-boot support package encapsulates arguments for booting over an IB network using an ibport device. The ib-boot support package supports use of one or more command keywords, each identifying a specific type of support package utilized to retrieve the boot image. When the srp keyword is provided, an SRP protocol is used to access the storage boot device and retrieve the boot file. Access to the boot server is thus provided via one of the support packages, and the boot image is returned to the host device via the IB network for completion of boot operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Carol B. Hernandez, Stephen D. Linam, John T. O'Quin, Mark W. Wenning
  • Publication number: 20080209018
    Abstract: Firmware of an InfiniBand (IB) host computer device provides a representation of an IB Host Channel Adapter (HCA) within the hierarchical data structure during system initialization. An ib-boot support package encapsulates arguments for booting over an IB network using an ibport device. The ib-boot support package supports keywords identifying a network support package or a Sockets Direct Protocol (SDP) support package. When the first keyword is provided, the IPoIB network protocol is used to access the boot server and retrieve the boot file. When the second keyword is provided, the IB network boot method is implemented, whereby the SDP network protocol is used to access the boot device. Access to the boot server is thus provided via one of the support packages, and the boot image is returned to the host device via the IB network for completion of boot operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Carol B. Hernandez, Stephen D. Linam, John T. O'Quin, Mark W. Wenning
  • Publication number: 20080209197
    Abstract: Extending the network support package to accept network addresses in IPv6 format and allow the use of other boot discovery protocols, such as DHCP, to acquire the information needed to boot a system using a file on a remote server. A mechanism is added to the network support package to enable/allow the specification of additional boot discovery protocols and additional network address formats. The mechanism defines qualifier keywords that are added to the boot arguments and processed by the network support package. The qualifier keywords modify the boot arguments associated with a bootstrap method by specifying a way to acquire the arguments (i.e., a specific boot discovery protocol), the format of the arguments, and other parameters associated with the arguments. Qualifier keywords are optionally appended before the arguments. Multiple qualifier keywords may be added to the boot arguments at a time, and the keywords can be applied in their order within the arguments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Carol B. Hernandez, Stephen D. Linam, John T. O'Quin, Mark W. Wenning
  • Patent number: 6523149
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus is provided to perform noise analysis of electrical circuits. The method and system partitions an original multi-port circuit to a reduced circuit model having a specific layout configuration. The reduced circuit model may have a variety of configurations. Then an input signal is applied to a first port of the reduced circuit model using the specific layout configuration and an output signal is measured from a second port of the reduced circuit model. The process continues until all input ports which may contribute noise to the circuit are measured and then the results are calculated to determine the total output of simulated noise experienced by the circuit. The calculated output results of the reduced circuit model are then used to determine whether the original circuit is designed to withstand the quantity of noise experienced by the reduced circuit model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sharad Mehrotra, Mark W. Wenning, David J. Widiger