Patents Represented by Attorney David M. Mason
  • Patent number: 6895532
    Abstract: A wireless diagnostic system for diagnosing a problem with at least one server includes a portable diagnostic tool. The portable diagnostic tool includes a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. The portable diagnostic tool is configured to transmit requests with the tool's wireless transmitter. A wireless communication subsystem is coupled to a first server. The wireless communication subsystem includes a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. The wireless communication subsystem is configured to receive a transmitted request from the portable diagnostic tool with the subsystem's wireless receiver. The wireless communication subsystem is configured to transmit service information with the subsystem's wireless transmitter in response to a received request. The portable diagnostic tool is configured to receive the service information with the tool's wireless receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Michael B. Raynham
  • Patent number: 6675209
    Abstract: This invention specifies a mechanism that can be used by network management system (“NMS”) applications, running on a single workstation or personal computer, which continuously monitor the flow of traffic on some or all segments of their attached network. The invention enables an application to determine whether enough system resources are available to monitor all segments in the network. If not all of the segments can be monitored, the invention specifies an algorithm that can be used to intelligently select a subset of segments for monitoring. If all of the segments can be monitored the same algorithm may instead be applied to determine which segments should be monitored at a more detailed level than the rest. In effect, this invention will allow one application running on a workstation or personal computer to monitor networks that range in size from one to several thousand segments while consuming a bounded portion of its host system's resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Steven V. Britt
  • Patent number: 6618783
    Abstract: The present invention provides a PCI bus switching architecture to allow a pair of PCI processors to have access to a common set of PCI I/O cards. More specifically, this design allows either cross-coupled processor to dynamically take over the operational controls of the common set of PCI I/O cards if the primary processor for the same become inoperative. The present invention achieves the objective by employing a point to point data link connection between each processor and their respective controllers for each common set of PCI I/O cards associated with a PCI bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Peter J. Hammersley
  • Patent number: 6594848
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system for cleaning and polishing an optical disk. The system comprises a tray having a circular floor and a parameter wall; an armature having at least two circular pads being rotatably coupled to the armature; and a mechanism for rotating the armature parallel to the floor and about a central axis of the wall being perpendicular to the floor. The mechanism rotates the armature in a first direction, which in turn rotates each pad in a second direction to clean and polish the optical disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Aaron J. Lee
  • Patent number: 6561470
    Abstract: In a system for treating object surfaces, a first and a second object hanger, each comprising a plate and a shaft, are mounted upon an object such as a door that requires a surface treatment such as painting. The mounted object hangers may be placed into supporting braces on a treatment apparatus, whereupon the object can be rotated into a desired position. A positioning attachment upon each supporting brace selectively maintains the object in the desired position. Following surface treatment, the mounted object hangers may be placed into storage braces on a storage apparatus, such that any treated object surfaces may dry or cure. One storage brace includes an anchoring insert, which keeps an object hanger, and hence the object attached thereto, in a predetermined position. The storage apparatus may accommodate multiple objects in a side-by-side manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Simplistic Tools & Systems Ltd
    Inventors: Don Elmo Gottfredson, James F. Webb
  • Patent number: 6553444
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for sensing when a portable memory element (“PME”) has been properly inserted and secured within a receiving port. The present invention achieves the objective by recognizing a change in an inductive current once a locking device properly secures the PME within an optimal location of the receiving port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Holmquist, Joseph A. Eccher, Nicholas D. Thayer
  • Patent number: 6538626
    Abstract: A display apparatus for selectively and independently controlling the illumination of two visual indicators with a single control line. The apparatus includes two visual indicators connected in parallel with the cathode to anode direction of one indicator being opposite the other indicator, and a logic circuit having two signal inputs and the control line. The control line couples to a first end of the two indicators. An inverter couples between the control line and a second end of the two indicators. A combination of signals applied to the two inputs selectively illuminates one of the two indicators with one signal from the control line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Mathew A. Nieberger, Kristie Amanna, Terry W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6526017
    Abstract: In general, the present invention provides a cartridge positioning mechanism for securing and ejecting media cartridges being contained by a magazine that is fixably mounted within the cavity of an autochanger. More specifically, a rocker arm pivotally coupled to a rear portion of a magazine and a control spring, having a lift and logic component, controls the rocker arm to secure a cartridge being received within the magazine and eject a cartridge that needs to be removed. This inventive magazine structure will provide a “push to insert” and “push to eject” process for securing and removing a cartridge from a hard to reach magazine being permanently attached within a cavity of a conventional autochanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Mark A. Smith
  • Patent number: 6480443
    Abstract: In general, the present invention provides an autochanger device having a cavity for receiving a magazine containing a media cartridge, wherein a retention arm of the cavity retrains the media pieces within the magazine while the magazine fills the cavity. In particular, a detent mechanism attached to the magazine interacts with the retention arm of the library, via a magazine transport handle, to secure media cartridges contained within the magazine as the magazine is received by a cavity of the autochanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Co.
    Inventors: Wayne E. Foslien, Robert L. Mueller, Paul C. Coffin, Gregg S. Schmidtke
  • Patent number: 6463499
    Abstract: The present invention provides a data bus cable that allows the simultaneous transfer of both SCSI and IIC signals over a conventional SCSI bus cable without changing the functionality of the same during the transfer of either signal. More specifically, the present invention utilizes two unused conductive wires of a conventional SCSI bus cable to transfer the desired IIC signals before, during, or after a SCSI signal has been sent. With this invention, a conventional system for handling both SCSI and IIC signals has been simplified to increase efficiency and reduce cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventor: Timothy Wakeley
  • Patent number: 6426593
    Abstract: A display apparatus for selectively controlling the illumination of two dependent visual indicators with a single control line. The apparatus includes two visual indicators, two amplifiers, and a logic circuit. The same end of the two visual indicators connect to a conductive terminal. A first amplifier connects between the line and the other end of one indicator and a second amplifier connects between the line and the other end of the other indicator. A combination of signals applied to the two inputs selectively illuminates one or both indicators with one signal from the control line. The inventive circuit designs of the present invention are compact in size, elegant in its simplicity and operation, and miserly in its power consumption. Therefore, a minimal amount of power will be used to highly illuminate one or two visual indicators being dependent on one another with the use of a single control pin of an IC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Co.
    Inventors: Mathew A. Nieberger, Kristie Amanna, Terry W. Smith
  • Patent number: 6426498
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optics module for a scanning device such as a portable scanner. The optics module includes an illumination source and guide that transmits light through an optical window of the scanning device casing before reflecting off of the object to be scanned. The reflected light from the object travels back through the optical window and a lens before reaching a photosensor for evaluation by an associated microprocessor. The optical window of the scanning device provides a recessed portion in the scanning device casing. The recessed portion of the window is formed using the functional components of the optics module to eliminate a piece of glass typically used within the optical window that can be easily scratched or broken and provides a loss during the illumination process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Co.
    Inventors: David D. Bohn, Eugene A. Miksch
  • Patent number: 6409167
    Abstract: In general, the present invention provides an efficient and effective means for positioning multiple documents over a scanning surface of a scanner or copier without a user's intervention. More specifically, the present invention provides an apparatus and process for allowing a plurality of photographic prints to be moved from a tray to a scanning surface and back to the tray without being damaged. Each document is scanned through a transparent belt that protects the document as it moves through the inventive photofeeder and across an associated surface of a scanner or copier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Co.
    Inventor: David D. Bohn
  • Patent number: 6317334
    Abstract: The present invention provides a modular data storage system that allows a user to arrange various data storage module configurations within a single system enclosure. More specifically, the inventive system provides a program key and a connection extender having a configuration knob. Once the appropriate connection extender is coupled to a data storage module, the program key of the system enclosure will only accept a certain connection extender configuration into a bay slot. If data storage module connection is successful, the extender will create a thermal breezeway between the data storage drive and a receptive circuit board connector to reduce the operating temperature of the connected data storage module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Lisa Abruzzini, John Norman
  • Patent number: D428014
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Christopher L. Bostedt, Henry Jupille