Patents by Inventor Simon C. Chu
Simon C. Chu 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).
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Patent number: 8843604Abstract: A method for interlocking a plurality of servers to a server system is disclosed. The method comprises assigning an identifier to each of the plurality of servers, wherein the identifier associates each of the plurality of servers to the server system, thereby defining a plurality of interlocked servers.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2003Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Simon C. Chu, Richard A. Dayan
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Patent number: 8250626Abstract: The present invention provides a way to secure data accessed by a software package pre-loaded on a computer system (for delivery to a customer). Specifically, under the present invention, customer data is loaded on a computer system along with any software package(s) that access the customer data prior to shipping the computer system to the customer. Also prior to shipping, a set (e.g., one or more) of passwords for accessing the data such as an administrative password and a hard disk password are set. After the computer system is shipped to the customer, confirmation of proper delivery will be sought. Once this confirmation is received, an access code such as a key or the set of passwords themselves will be shipped to the customer to unlock and use the data.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2006Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David B. Rhoades, Simon C. Chu, William M. Privette
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Patent number: 7933739Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for analyzing the layout of computer equipment racks in a datacenter. One embodiment involves obtaining the position relative to the computer room of each of a plurality of temperature sensors distributed among a plurality of computer components mounted between opposing intake and exhaust ends of each computer equipment rack. The layout of the computer equipment racks is automatically determined from the positions of the temperature sensors, and a representation of the layout of the computer equipment racks is electronically stored or displayed. The actual layout is compared to target layout parameters to score the layout.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2008Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas M. Brey, Simon C. Chu, Richard Edwin Harper, William Joseph Piazza
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Patent number: 7934086Abstract: An aggregated server blade system includes a plurality of individual server blades and a management module which can be designated as a bootable device. A boot list maintained and executed in each server blade includes a management module entry in its list of bootable devices. In response to the management module entry being selected or otherwise made active as the bootable device for a particular blade, an alternative bootable-devices list maintained on the management module is referenced and the boot process proceeds according to the alternative list.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2007Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Simon C. Chu, Richard A. Dayan, Eric R. Kern, William J. Piazza
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Patent number: 7895428Abstract: Applying firmware updates to servers in a data center, the servers including one or more active servers and a standby server, each server mapped to separate remote computer boot storage, including applying the firmware updates to the standby server; selecting an active server for firmware updating; powering off the selected active server by the system management server; remapping the standby server to the remote computer boot storage for the selected active server; rebooting the standby server from the remote computer boot storage for the selected active server, designating the standby server as an active server; remapping the selected active server to the remote computer boot storage formerly mapped to the standby server; and rebooting the selected active server from the remote boot storage formerly mapped to the standby server, designating the selected active server as a standby server.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2007Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: James F. Boland, IV, Simon C. Chu, Gregory W. Dake, Eric R. Kern
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Patent number: 7673132Abstract: An aggregated server blade system includes a plurality of individual server blades and a management module which can be designated as a bootable device. A boot list maintained and executed in each server blade includes a management module entry in its list of bootable devices. In response to the management module entry being selected or otherwise made active as the bootable device for a particular blade, an alternative bootable-devices list maintained on the management module is referenced and the boot process proceeds according to the alternative list.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2007Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Simon C. Chu, Richard A. Dayan, Eric R. Kern, William J. Piazza
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Publication number: 20090234613Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for analyzing the layout of computer equipment racks in a datacenter. One embodiment involves obtaining the position relative to the computer room of each of a plurality of temperature sensors distributed among a plurality of computer components mounted between opposing intake and exhaust ends of each computer equipment rack. The layout of the computer equipment racks is automatically determined from the positions of the temperature sensors, and a representation of the layout of the computer equipment racks is electronically stored or displayed. The actual layout is compared to target layout parameters to score the layout.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2008Publication date: September 17, 2009Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas M. Brey, Simon C. Chu, Richard Edwin Harper, William Joseph Piazza
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Patent number: 7574534Abstract: Identifying an operating system running on a computer system. In one aspect of the invention, an enumeration pattern is collected, the enumeration pattern describing an enumeration of a device that has been performed between the device and the operating system running on a host computer system. The type of the operating system running on the host computer system is identified based on the collected enumeration pattern.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2006Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joseph E. Bolan, Robert K. Christner, Simon C. Chu, Peter T. Donovan, Eric R. Kern
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Publication number: 20090089567Abstract: Applying firmware updates to servers in a data center, the servers including one or more active servers and a standby server, each server mapped to separate remote computer boot storage, including applying the firmware updates to the standby server; selecting an active server for firmware updating; powering off the selected active server by the system management server; remapping the standby server to the remote computer boot storage for the selected active server; rebooting the standby server from the remote computer boot storage for the selected active server, designating the standby server as an active server; remapping the selected active server to the remote computer boot storage formerly mapped to the standby server; and rebooting the selected active server from the remote boot storage formerly mapped to the standby server, designating the selected active server as a standby server.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2007Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: JAMES F. BOLAND, IV, SIMON C. CHU, GREGORY W. DAKE, ERIC R. KERN
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Patent number: 7512830Abstract: A method and system for a failover management module for a server blade chassis. A virtual out-of-band network connects management modules in different server blade chassis. Upon a detection of a failure of the management module(s) in a first server blade chassis, a management module in a second server blade chassis takes over control of the first server blade chassis.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2004Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Simon C. Chu, Richard A. Dayan, Brandon J. Ellison, Eric R. Kern
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Publication number: 20090077166Abstract: A system for obtaining location information of a server. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention cause a node to obtain correlation of a first address of at least one target server with a second address of the at least one target server based on the second address of the at least one target server and a plurality of addresses similar in type to the first address. Embodiments further retrieve the correlation from the node. As a result, a client may access the correlated location information and communicate directly with the target server.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2008Publication date: March 19, 2009Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Simon C. Chu, Richard A. Dayan, Eric R. Kern, Phuong T. Nguyen
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Publication number: 20090031014Abstract: An aggregated server blade system includes a plurality of individual server blades and a management module which can be designated as a bootable device. A boot list maintained and executed in each server blade includes a management module entry in its list of bootable devices. In response to the management module entry being selected or otherwise made active as the bootable device for a particular blade, an alternative bootable-devices list maintained on the management module is referenced and the boot process proceeds according to the alternative list.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2007Publication date: January 29, 2009Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Simon C. Chu, Richard A. Dayan, Eric R. Kern, William J. Piazza
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Patent number: 7480720Abstract: A method and system for load balancing switch modules in a server system and a computer system utilizing the same is disclosed. In a first aspect, the method comprises assigning each of a plurality of servers to a switch module of a plurality of switch modules, such that a number of servers assigned to each of the plurality of switch modules is substantially equal. In a second aspect, a computer system comprises a plurality of servers coupled to a plurality of switch modules, a management module, and a load balancing mechanism coupled to the management module, wherein the load balancing mechanism assigns each of the plurality of servers to a switch module of the plurality of switch modules, such that a number of servers assigned to each of the plurality of switch modules is substantially equal.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2003Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Simon C. Chu, David B. Rhoades, Gregory B. Pruett, Richard A. Dayan
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Publication number: 20080273470Abstract: A system for interlocking a plurality of servers to a server system is disclosed. In a first aspect, a computer system comprises a plurality of servers, a management module coupled to each of the plurality of servers, and an interlock mechanism coupled to the management module, wherein the interlock mechanism assigns to each of the plurality of servers an identifier that associates each of the plurality of servers to the server system, thereby defining a plurality of interlocked servers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2008Publication date: November 6, 2008Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Simon C. CHU, Richard A. Dayan
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Publication number: 20080263668Abstract: A system in which a networked device automatically evaluates hacker attack notification information and, based thereon, selects and executes responses to the attack. The notification may include information such as the address of the infected system, identification of the specific worm, and a list of vulnerable applications and operating systems. The evaluation is based on factors including criticality and vulnerability of applications running on the system and connectivity of the device. A variety of automatic responses can be selected, including notification of network administration, shutdown of the device or services running on the device, updating and activation of anti-virus software, and selective handling of data sent from the address of the suspect network device. The selection of responses can occur automatically based on rules input during setup or by intervention of network administration.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2008Publication date: October 23, 2008Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Simon C. Chu, Steven W. Hunter, William Joseph Piazza, Gregory Brian Pruett
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Patent number: 7418730Abstract: A system in which a networked device automatically evaluates hacker attack notification information and, based thereon, selects and executes responses to the attack. The notification may include information such as the address of the infected system, identification of the specific worm, and a list of vulnerable applications and operating systems. The evaluation is based on factors including criticality and vulnerability of applications running on the system and connectivity of the device. A variety of automatic responses can be selected, including notification of network administration, shutdown of the device or services running on the device, updating and activation of anti-virus software, and selective handling of data sent from the address of the suspect network device. The selection of responses can occur automatically based on rules input during setup or by intervention of network administration.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2002Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Simon C. Chu, Steven W. Hunter, William Joseph Piazza, Gregory Brian Pruett
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Publication number: 20080109909Abstract: The present invention provides a way to secure data accessed by a software package pre-loaded on a computer system (for delivery to a customer). Specifically, under the present invention, customer data is loaded on a computer system along with any software package(s) that access the customer data prior to shipping the computer system to the customer. Also prior to shipping, a set (e.g., one or more) of passwords for accessing the data such as an administrative password and a hard disk password are set. After the computer system is shipped to the customer, confirmation of proper delivery will be sought. Once this confirmation is received, an access code such as a key or the set of passwords themselves will be shipped to the customer to unlock and use the data.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2006Publication date: May 8, 2008Inventors: David B. Rhoades, Simon C. Chu, William M. Privette
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Patent number: 7330965Abstract: An aggregated server blade system includes a plurality of individual server blades and a management module which can be designated as a bootable device. A boot list maintained and executed in each server blade includes a management module entry in its list of bootable devices. In response to the management module entry being selected or otherwise made active as the bootable device for a particular blade, an alternative bootable-devices list maintained on the management module is referenced and the boot process proceeds according to the alternative list.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2005Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Simon C. Chu, Richard A. Dayan, Eric R. Kern, William J. Piazza
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Publication number: 20080005370Abstract: Identifying an operating system running on a computer system. In one aspect of the invention, an enumeration pattern is collected, the enumeration pattern describing an enumeration of a device that has been performed between the device and the operating system running on a host computer system. The type of the operating system running on the host computer system is identified based on the collected enumeration pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2006Publication date: January 3, 2008Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joseph E. BOLAN, Robert K. CHRISTNER, Simon C. CHU, Peter T. DONOVAN, Eric R. KERN
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Patent number: 7296179Abstract: A method and system for method of removing a node from a multi-node computer. The node receives a system management interrupt (SMI), resulting in a quiescenting of only that node. The SMI receiving node then polls other nodes in the multi-node computer to determine if the SMI affects an operation of any of the other nodes, and quiescents any other node affected by the SMI. Each quiescent node then transfers all of the contents of its system memory to a backup memory in an unaffected remote node in the multi-node computer. The remote node than assumes the function of the removed node that had received the SMI. The method and system thus allows node removal in the event of a hot-swap request or a predicted failure of a node.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2003Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Simon C. Chu, Richard A. Dayan, Brandon J. Ellison, Eric R. Kern, William B. Schwartz, Adam L. Soderlund