Patents by Inventor William Cochran

William Cochran 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).

  • Publication number: 20060157153
    Abstract: One preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a cutting system with an hydraulically powered cutting member such as a cutting wheel or blade. The cutting member is arrangeable in a first configuration for substantially vertical cutting, and the cutting member is arrangeable in a second configuration for substantially horizontal cutting. One option includes a rotating joint allowing the cutting member to be arranged between the first configuration and the second configuration. In certain preferred embodiments, the cutting system is on a frame mountable in combination with a support vehicle, such as a skid steer loader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Inventor: William Cochran
  • Publication number: 20060129899
    Abstract: Redundant capacity in a memory system is utilized to facilitate active monitoring of solid state memory devices in the memory system. All or part of the data stored in an active solid state memory device, and used in an active data processing system, may be copied to at least one redundant memory device, e.g., by transitioning a memory address range that was allocated to the active memory device to the redundant memory device. By doing so, memory access requests for the memory address range, which would normally be directed to the active memory device, may instead be directed to the redundant memory device, thus enabling the active memory device to be tested (e.g., via writing and reading test data patterns to the active memory device) without interrupting system access to that memory address range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Cochran, William Hovis
  • Publication number: 20060109726
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for implementing an enhanced DRAM interface checking. An interface check mode enables interface checking using a refresh command for a DRAM. A predefined address pattern is provided for the interface address inputs during a refresh command cycle. Interface address inputs are checked for a proper value being applied and an error is signaled for unexpected results. An extended test mode includes further testing during a cycle after the refresh command cycle. Then command inputs also are checked for a proper value being applied and an error is signaled for unexpected results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Cochran, William Hovis
  • Publication number: 20060106984
    Abstract: In a first aspect, a first method is provided for efficient memory usage. The first method includes the steps of (1) determining whether data retrieved from a first storage device is characterized as data that is primarily read; and (2) if data retrieved from the first storage device is characterized as data that is primarily read (a) writing the retrieved data in a temporary storage device with short write latency; and (b) writing the retrieved data in a high-density memory. Numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald Bartley, John Borkenhagen, William Cochran, William Hovis, Paul Rudrud
  • Publication number: 20060090112
    Abstract: Verification operations are utilized to effectively verify multiple associated write operations. A verification operation may be initiated after the issuance of a plurality of write operations that initiate the storage of data to a memory storage device, and may be configured to verify only a subset of the data written to the memory storage device by the plurality of write operations. As a result, verification operations are not required to be performed after each write operation, and consequently, the number of verification operations, and thus the processing and communication bandwidth consumed thereby, can be substantially reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Cochran, William Hovis, Paul Rudrud
  • Publication number: 20060031175
    Abstract: A multiple party system for distributing content. In one embodiment, four parties are involved in the system: a consumer, a service provider, an authenticator, and a content provider. The distribution of content from the content provider to the consumer is carried out using a predefined protocol, mutating IDs, and licenses. The authenticator controls the distribution of mutating IDs and verifies the identity of one or more participating parties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Applicant: Imagineer Software, Inc.
    Inventors: William Sellars, William Cochran, David Hunt
  • Publication number: 20050229060
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting degradation, such as, array degradation and logic degradation, in integrated circuits (ICs) including, for example, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). A monitor built-in self-test (MBIST) engine is provided. At least one monitor element is coupled to the MBIST engine and is defined by predefined circuit elements in the integrated circuit. The MBIST engine is used for controlling operation of at least one monitor element for communicating with monitor bits to identify degradation of signal, timing and voltage margins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: October 13, 2005
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Cochran, William Hovis
  • Publication number: 20050081125
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting internally defective devices by routing signals on an I/O line to a spare internal network. Such devices enable a system designer to substitute good internal networks, e.g., memory arrays, for failing internal networks without loss of functionality at the I/O level. A device includes a plurality of I/O lines, a plurality of internal networks, a plurality of multiplexers for routing signals from the individual I/O lines to the individual internal networks, and a multiplex controller for controlling the signal routing. Routing can be performed using multiplexers that operatively interconnect any I/O line with any internal network, multiplexers that shift signals on an I/O line to and adjacent internal network, and/or multiplexers that can shift signals on an I/O through a multiplexer to any other multiplexer, and then to any internal network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Cochran, William Hovis
  • Publication number: 20050060629
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for implementing a redundancy enhanced differential signal interface. A differential signaling I/O pair is coupled to a differential receiver interface. The differential receiver interface includes a pair of multiplexers coupled to a differential receiver. An error detecting mechanism is coupled to the differential receiver for detecting an error. When an error is detected, an interface operating speed is reduced. True and complement sides of a differential signaling I/O pair are alternately tested by first enabling a multiplexer control of one of the multiplexers, reading data, and checking for the error; then enabling a multiplexer control of the other multiplexer, reading data, and checking for the error. Responsive to detecting a failure of a true side or a complement side, the detected failed true side or complement side is set to a reference voltage and the reduced interface operating speed is maintained for continued operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation,
    Inventors: William Cochran, William Hovis, Randall Jensen
  • Publication number: 20050010536
    Abstract: A multiple party system for distributing content. In one embodiment, four parties are involved in the system: a consumer, a service provider, an authenticator, and a content provider. The distribution of content from the content provider to the consumer is carried out using a predefined protocol, mutating IDs, watermarks, and licenses. The authenticator controls the distribution of mutating IDs, verifies the identity of one or more participating parties, and provides tracking information for mapping service providers and consumers to particular, possibly watermarked, content items.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: January 13, 2005
    Applicant: Imagineer Software, Inc.
    Inventors: William Cochran, Samuel Gustman
  • Patent number: 6569019
    Abstract: The present invention is a virtual reality game controller that is shaped like a weapon such as a rifle, pistol or shotgun. The controller has at least one multiaxis controller that is actuated by movement part of the weapon, for example its forearm also has a plurality of switch controls that are positioned on the weapon to control movement and actions and attributes of a VR game character within the VR game space without interrupting the playing of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventor: William Cochran
  • Publication number: 20030013524
    Abstract: The present invention is a virtual reality game controller that is shaped like a weapon such as a rifle, pistol or shotgun. The controller has at least one multiaxis controller that is actuated by movement part of the weapon, for example its forearm also has a plurality of switch controls that are positioned on the weapon to control movement and actions and attributes of a VR game character within the VR game space without interrupting the playing of the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventor: William Cochran
  • Patent number: 6038777
    Abstract: A sight reduction apparatus includes a sextant, a processor, and a nautical almanac, preferably all provided in an unitary housing. The sextant includes a fixed telescope which is pointed at a known celestial body, and a radial arm is moved against an arc graduated in degrees until a mirror mounted on the sextant reflects an image of the horizon down the telescope to coincide with the known celestial body. The angular elevation of the celestial body, corrected for the exact time and date, gives the position of the user on an imaginary circle. The nautical almanac provides essential data for determining the location of a predetermined list of celestial bodies relative to a fixed location. The processor is programmed to determine the position of a user based upon measurements made with respect to two celestial bodies using the sextant and information provided in the nautical almanac and to further provide the position of a user in terms of latitude and longitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Inventor: William Cochran
  • Patent number: 5488438
    Abstract: Improvements in eye glasses for training in bowling, bowling per se, and bowling competition; eye glasses of a surround-type covering the front and sides of the entire field of vision of both human eyes; selective masking of the eye glasses whereby to form two substantially vertical, substantially parallel windows through which the bowler can see the lane in front of him/her and the pins that he/she is aiming for, but has the view in both lateral directions, at least two bowling lane widths, masked from his/her vision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Inventor: William A. Cochran