Patents by Inventor Timothy W. Steele

Timothy W. Steele 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).

  • Deadlock avoidance in a multi-processor computer system with extended cache line locking
    Patent number: 10331576
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for avoiding false activation of hang avoidance mechanisms of a system is provided. The computer implemented method includes receiving, by a nest of the system, rejects from a processor core of the system. The rejects are issued based on a cache line being locked by the processor core. The computer implemented method includes accumulating the rejects by the nest. The computer implemented method includes determining, by the nest, when an amount of the rejects accumulated by the nest has met or exceeded a programmable threshold. The computer implemented method also includes triggering, by the nest, a global reset to counters of the hang avoidance mechanisms of a system in response to the amount meeting or exceeding the programmable threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael A. Blake, Pak-kin Mak, Robert J. Sonnelitter, III, Timothy W. Steele, Gary E. Strait, Poornima P. Sulibele, Guy G. Tracy
  • DEADLOCK AVOIDANCE IN A MULTI-PROCESSOR COMPUTER SYSTEM WITH EXTENDED CACHE LINE LOCKING
    Publication number: 20180307628
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for avoiding false activation of hang avoidance mechanisms of a system is provided. The computer implemented method includes receiving, by a nest of the system, rejects from a processor core of the system. The rejects are issued based on a cache line being locked by the processor core. The computer implemented method includes accumulating the rejects by the nest. The computer implemented method includes determining, by the nest, when an amount of the rejects accumulated by the nest has met or exceeded a programmable threshold. The computer implemented method also includes triggering, by the nest, a global reset to counters of the hang avoidance mechanisms of a system in response to the amount meeting or exceeding the programmable threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Michael A. Blake, Pak-kin Mak, Robert J. Sonnelitter, III, Timothy W. Steele, Gary E. Strait, Poornima P. Sulibele, Guy G. Tracy
  • Method and apparatus for producing steerable coated guidewires and the steerable guidewires produced thereby
    Patent number: 6371929
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing steerable coated guidewires and the steerable guidewires produced thereby. The steerable coated guidewire has an inner wire member having a constant outer diameter over a major segment thereof and a tapered outer decreasing diameter over a minor segment thereof and a coating adhered to the inner wire member. The coating has a constant outer diameter such that the coated steerable guidewire has a constant outer diameter. The diameter decreases preferably in a linear manner over the length of the minor segment from a maximum diameter Dmax to a minimum diameter Dmin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventor: Timothy W. Steele