Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Brey
Thomas M. Brey 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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Publication number: 20120284540Abstract: Methods, computers, and products for managing power consumption of a computer, the computer including a computer processor and managing power consumption of a computer includes: dynamically during operation of the computer, setting, by an in-band power manager in dependence upon performance metrics of the computer processor, a current performance state (‘p-state’) of the computer processor; and providing, by the in-band power manager to an out-of-band power manager, the current p-state of the computer processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas M. Brey, Wesley M. Felter, Sumeet Kochar, Charles R. Lefurgy, Ryuji Orita, Freeman L. Rawson, III, Malcom S. Ware
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Patent number: 8307220Abstract: Methods, computers, and products for managing power consumption of a computer, the computer including a computer processor and managing power consumption of a computer includes: dynamically during operation of the computer, setting, by an in-band power manager in dependence upon performance metrics of the computer processor, a current performance state (‘p-state’) of the computer processor; and providing, by the in-band power manager to an out-of-band power manager, the current p-state of the computer processor.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2008Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas M. Brey, Wesley M. Felter, Sumeet Kochar, Charles R. Lefurgy, Ryuji Orita, Freeman L. Rawson, III, Malcolm S. Ware
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Publication number: 20120210156Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for dynamic power and performance calibration of a data processing system are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A synthesized program loaded in the data processing system is executed responsive to detecting an event in the data processing system. The synthesized program is configured to generate a set of data that is indicative of the data processing system's power-performance characteristics under varying conditions of operation. Using the set of data, a determination is made of a performance limit on an operation of the data processing system under present operating conditions of the data processing system. A parameter of the data processing system is calibrated to operate the data processing system within the performance limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2011Publication date: August 16, 2012Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Malcolm Scott Allen-Ware, Andreas Bieswanger, Thomas M. Brey, Ajay Dholakia, Andrew Geissler, Hye-Young McCreary, Freeman Leigh Rawson, III
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Publication number: 20120144218Abstract: Power is allocated between processors in a multiprocessor system. A request to acquire a lock is received from a first thread executing on a first processor. Responsive to receiving the request to acquire a lock, determination is made as to whether a second thread has acquired the lock. Responsive to determining that the second thread has acquired the lock, an original frequency of the first thread executing on the first processor and an operating frequency of the second thread executing on the second processor is identified. The operating frequency of the second thread executing on the second processor is then altered based on the original frequency of the first thread executing on the first processor. When the second thread releases the lock, the spinning thread with the highest original frequency acquires the lock.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2010Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas M. Brey, Freeman L. Rawson, III
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Patent number: 8166166Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for distributing configuration parameters. The present invention includes one or more storage devices configured to store data, a first DHCP server configured to process DHCP messages and redirect communications regarding configuration parameters for the storage devices to a second DHCP server, and a configuration datastore configured to store configuration parameters for the storage devices. The second DHCP server may be configured to process DHCP messages and retrieve configuration parameters for the storage devices from the configuration datastore. In certain embodiments, each storage initiator communicates with the DHCP servers, receives the configuration parameters such as iSCSI parameters, and provides the configuration parameters to one or more storage devices.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jesse Paul Arroyo, Joseph Edward Bolan, Thomas M. Brey, Josep Cors, Gregory William Dake, Scott Neil Dunham, William Gavin Holland, Theodore Brian Vojnovich
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Patent number: 8103884Abstract: Methods and products for managing power consumption of a computer and computers for which power consumption is managed. The computer includes the computer including a computer processor and embodiments of the present invention include providing, by an in-band power manger to an out-of-band power manager, a proposed performance state (‘p-state’) for the computer processor; determining, by the out-of-band power manager, in dependence upon a power setpoint and currently-measured operating metrics of the computer processor, whether to approve the proposed p-state; and if the out-of-band power manager approves the proposed p-state, setting operating parameters of the computer processor according to the approved p-state.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas M. Brey, Wesley M. Felter, Sumeet Kochar, Charles R. Lefurgy, Ryuji Orita, Freeman L. Rawson, III, Malcolm S. Ware
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Patent number: 8028183Abstract: Disclosed is a computer implemented method, computer program product, and apparatus for determining a safe lower bound for a commonly powered data processing system. A power management module operates the data processing system using at least one nominal operating parameter during an exploration periodicity, with the at least one nominal operating parameter being clock speed. The power management module determines whether a calibration period is occurring. The power management module calibrates the data processing system up to a measurement interval duration expiration. The power management module may repeat operating the data processing system using the at least one nominal operating parameter.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2008Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Andreas Bieswanger, Thomas M. Brey, Ajay Dholakia, Andrew Geissler, Hye-Young McCreary, Freeman L. Rawson, III, Malcolm S. Ware
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Patent number: 8015243Abstract: A method for authenticating a requesting entity in a communications environment. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes determining a client identification of a client node associated with the requesting entity, and determining whether the requesting entity associated with the client node is acting in a supervisor capacity. A key to the requesting entity is returned from a resource provider node upon determining that the client identification of the client node indicates that the client node is permitted to access one or more resources of the provider node, and that the client node is acting in a supervisor capacity.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2008Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas M. Brey, Giles R. Frazier, Gregory F. Pfister, William J. Rooney
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Patent number: 8006108Abstract: A variable group power limit is enforced to limit the net power consumption of a group of devices in a computer system, and a variable device power limit enforced on each device is independently adjustable to satisfy the current group power limit. The device power limits are dynamically selected according to a power management method that selectively reduces the device power limits of lower-utilization devices and increases the device power limits of higher-utilization devices.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2007Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas M. Brey, William Joseph Piazza
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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: 7925911Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for managing computer power among a plurality of computers so that the aggregate power consumption does not exceed a maximum subscription amount, the maximum subscription amount comprising the maximum amount of power that can be supplied to the plurality of computers.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas M. Brey, Raymond M. Clemo, Beth F. Loebach, Gregory J. McKnight
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Patent number: 7921203Abstract: Specifying associations among attributes of entities in a data center, the data center comprising a facility that houses computers and equipment supporting computer operations, the entities including the computers and the equipment, some attributes associated with a resource domain, the resource domain composed of a physical characteristic shared by some of the computers and equipment, including inducing, by a management module within the data center, a change in a value of a first attribute of a first entity; monitoring, by the management module within the data center, a change in a value of a second attribute of a second entity; determining whether the monitored change in the second attribute correlates with the induced change in the first attribute; and, if the monitored change in the second attribute correlates with the induced change in the first attribute, specifying an association among the first attribute, the second attribute, and the resource domain.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2007Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas M. Brey, Richard E. Harper, William J. Piazza
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Patent number: 7917792Abstract: A power distribution system comprises an input power line configured to supply power produced by a power source, one or more power distribution components operatively connected to receive power supplied by the power source, one or more intelligent system resources, and a power management component. Each power distribution component has one or more power outputs for distributing power along a power line connected thereto and is configured to modulate a carrier signal containing identification data along the power line connected to each output. Each system resource is operatively connected to receive power distributed by at least one of the one or more power distribution components. Each system resource is configured to receive and demodulate the carrier signal modulated by each power distribution component from which it receives power, generate a list of each power distribution component from which it receives power, and pass the list to a system bus.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2008Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Brad L. Brech, Thomas M. Brey
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Publication number: 20110066865Abstract: A nameplate for power capping a computer including a mounting surface; a module integrated in the mounting surface for providing a machine-readable designation of a power cap for a particular computer; a human readable designation of a power cap for the particular computer integrated in the mounting surface; and a mount for attaching the mounting surface to a chassis of the particular computer such that the human readable designation of a power cap is exposed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2009Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Justin P. Bandholz, Thomas M. Brey, Nickolas J. Gruendler, William G. Pagan, William J. Piazza
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Publication number: 20110035611Abstract: One embodiment provides a method of managing power in a computer system. A device of the computer system is operated at a selected power-state. The power consumption of the computer system is monitored. If the power consumption of the computer system is approaching or has exceeded a power cap selected for the computer system, then a request to reduce the power-state for the device is generated in response. The operating system is used to service the request to reduce the power-state according to the priority of the request. The reduced power state is forced out-of-band following the request to reduce the power-state if the request is not immediately serviceable by the operating system. Different approaches can be taken to force the reduced power state, using, for example, system management mode or a platform environment control interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2009Publication date: February 10, 2011Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas M. Brey, Ajay Dholakia, Scott N. Dunham, Sumeet Kochar
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Patent number: 7886027Abstract: Methods and arrangements for activating Internet Protocol (IP) configurations are discussed. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic for activating in an end node an IP configuration suitable for IP communications between the end node and another end node upon the detection of a direct IP connection of the end node to another end node. In some embodiments, the other end node may have a direct IP connect only to the end node. In some embodiments, the suitable IP configuration may involve a static IP address which has been published. In some embodiments, detecting a direct IP connection with another node may be accomplished by detecting a crossed-over Ethernet connection. In some embodiments, an operating system device driver may activate the suitable IP configuration. In other embodiments, an embedded system may activate the suitable IP configuration.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2006Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joseph E. Bolan, Thomas M. Brey, Brandon J. Ellison, Aaron E. Merkin
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Patent number: 7882562Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for deploying sensitive communication parameters to a diskless computing device. A parameter structure module is included to store one or more Internet Small Computer System Interface (“iSCSI”) communication parameters in an extendable data structure configured to store a set of basic parameter settings and a set of extended parameter settings. A link module is included to establish a secure link to a diskless computing device over a physically secure connection. A deployment module is included to deploy the extendable data structure over the secure connection to a non-volatile memory in the diskless computing device. The non-volatile memory is configured to provide sensitive iSCSI communication parameters provided by the extendable data structure to a CPU of the diskless computing device during a boot sequence.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2005Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jesse Paul Arroyo, Joseph Edward Bolan, Thomas M. Brey, Josep Cors, Gregory William Dake, Scott Neil Dunham, William Gavin Holland, Theodore Brian Vojnovich
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Patent number: 7818413Abstract: A system for authenticating a requesting entity in a subnet communications environment includes determining a client identification of a client node associated with the requesting entity, and determining whether the requesting entity associated with the client node is acting in a supervisor capacity. A key to the requesting entity is returned from a resource provider node upon determining that the client identification of the client node indicates that the client node is permitted to access one or more resources of the provider node, and that the client node is acting in a supervisor capacity.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2008Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas M. Brey, Giles R. Frazier, Gregory F. Pfister, William J. Rooney
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Patent number: 7792597Abstract: In one embodiment, a control system supports an unlimited number of feedback control loops all sharing control of a component. A component performance rate or “speed” is used as a common metric for negotiating control of the component. Each control loop continuously monitors a system parameter it is tasked with regulating, compares it to a setpoint for that system parameter, and “requests” a speed in relation to the deviation of the associated system parameter from the corresponding setpoint. A controller receives the requested speeds as dynamic inputs and selects one of the requested speeds according to predefined selection logic. The controller communicates the selected speed to an actuator, which causes the component to operate at the selected speed. In this manner, the control system in effect negotiates control of the component in a way that ensures that all of the system parameters are being managed within safe limits.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2007Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas M. Brey, Wesley Michael Felter, Sumeet Kochar, Charles Robert Lefurgy, Malcolm Scott Ware, Christopher Landon Wood
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Patent number: 7720907Abstract: A system for supervisor partitioning of client resources in a subnet communications environment includes a plurality of client nodes, each receiving an allocated set of resources determined by a central authority, which assigns resources to a supervisor key associated with each supervisor of the plurality of client nodes. At each of the client nodes, the allocated set of resources are partitioned using a local supervisor associated therewith, with each supervisor associating one or more resource keys with one or more resources allocated to the corresponding client node, and assigning the one or more resource keys to the one or more applications. The supervisor keys are configured so as to prevent a given supervisor from partitioning resources not allocated to the client node associated therewith. Following the partitioning, communication packets are issued from the one or more applications to a resource provider node without inspection by the corresponding supervisor.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas M. Brey, Giles R. Frazier, Gregory F. Pfister, William J. Rooney