Patents Assigned to Micron Electronics, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20070250926
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing the unauthorized access to data stored on removable media, such as software, include storing a predetermined signature in the area of non-volatile memory in a computer system. Upon initialization of the computer system, a check is made to verify the signature. Only if the signature is verified will decoding software operate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Duane Allen
  • Patent number: 7065682
    Abstract: The invention comprises, in various embodiments, a method for monitoring an internal test on a remote computer. The method includes reading a line from the remote computer with a processing unit. The line is capable of sending at least one result signal for the test. The method includes sending a fail signal from the processing unit to a reporting device when none of the new result signals are read during any time period of a preselected length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Cowan
  • Patent number: 6678005
    Abstract: A method and system for notifying a viewer of the arrival or presence of one or more video input signals in a video display system, such as a personal computer (PC) or television (TV) system. If a video signal is already present, the system may optionally notify a viewer of the termination or absence of the video signal. The invention further provides the viewer with the opportunity to dynamically select the video source to view. Upon sensing the presence of a new video signal, the system alerts the viewer who may then select whether to view the new video signal or maintain prior viewing status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Anderson, Robert R. Hoffman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6654804
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that automatically adjusts a web hosting service plan for a web site based upon measured usage of the web site. The system measures the usage statistics of the web site, compares the usage statistics against a set of available service plans for the web site, determines if staying with the current service plan results in a lowest cost, and switches the service plan to the plan with the lowest cost if applicable. In one embodiment of the present invention, the service plan specifies a fixed cost for a maximum amount of bandwidth, and an additional cost for additional bandwidth over the maximum bandwidth. In one embodiment of the present invention, the system measures the following usage statistics: bandwidth resulting from access to the web site, disk space used by the web site, response time of the web site, and memory space used by the web site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Hoyt A. Fleming, III
  • Patent number: 6587363
    Abstract: The invention comprises data processing systems and components thereof. Such systems may include a memory controller, a plurality of memory devices, a data bus coupling the memory controller with the plurality of memory devices, and at least one bus switch located in the data bus between the memory controller and one of the plurality of memory devices. Memory integrated circuits and memory modules including at least one switch in the data bus are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Dean A. Klein
  • Patent number: 6499073
    Abstract: A software architecture for the hot add and swap of adapters. The software architecture allows users to replace failed components, upgrade outdated components, and add new functionality, such as new network interfaces, disk interface adapters and storage, without impacting existing users. The software architecture supports the hot add and swap of off-the-shelf adapters, including those adapters that are programmable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter A. Wallach, Mehrdad Khalili, Mallikarjunan Mahalingam, John M. Reed
  • Patent number: 6470403
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for using at least two first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) buffers in a pipelined bus, comprising, interlocking the at least two FIFO buffers, wherein the act of interlocking comprises defining a transaction correspondence between the phases tracked by each of the buffers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd C. Houg
  • Patent number: 6449703
    Abstract: A memory controller which has multiple stages of pipelining. A request buffer is used to hold the memory request from the processor and peripheral devices. The request buffer comprises a set of rotational registers that holds the address, the type of transfer and the count for each request. The pipeline includes a decode stage, a memory address stage, and a data transfer stage. Each stage of the pipeline has a pointer to the request buffer. As each stage completes its processing, a state machine updates the pointer for each of the stages to reference a new memory request which needs to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Jeddeloh
  • Patent number: 6421746
    Abstract: A method of monitoring issuance of interrupt and transaction commands without involving central processor units of computer systems. The method employs a fabric controller to manage transaction commands among peer and host devices. The method employs an interrupt controller to manage interrupt commands issued by peer devices. With this method, congestion due to control and data traffic is minimized and a more efficient operation of central processor units is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Tahir Q. Sheikh, Walter A. Wallach
  • Patent number: 6418523
    Abstract: A modular architecture for storing, addressing and retrieving graphics data from main memory instead of expensive local frame buffer memory. A graphic address remapping table (GART), defined in software, is used to remap virtual addresses falling within a selected range, the GART range, to non-contiguous pages in main memory. Virtual address not within the selected range are passed without modification. The GART includes page table entries (PTEs) having translation information to remap virtual addresses falling within the GART range to their corresponding physical addresses. The GART PTEs are of configurable length enabling optimization of GART size and the use of feature bits, such as status indicators, defined by software. The GART is implemented during system boot up by configuration registers. Similarly, the PTEs are configured using mask registers. The GART may be used in conjunction with a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) to improve address remapping performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: A. Kent Porterfield
  • Patent number: 6417484
    Abstract: A laser marking system for IC packages including a tray input shuttle assembly, a tray transport borne by a transport actuator for moving a cooperatively configured tray carrier carrying a tray of unmarked packaged ICs received from the tray input shuttle assembly to a tray output shuttle assembly over a transport actuator path extending under an open-bottomed enclosure of a laser marking station. The tray input shuttle assembly, laser marking station and tray output shuttle assembly each has associated therewith a sliding wedge-type lift mechanism for raising and lowering the tray carrier vertically with respect to the transport so as to facilitate tray loading of the tray carrier from a stack of trays on the tray input shuttle assembly, insertion and withdrawal of the tray carrier bearing a tray of packaged ICs for marking into and out of the marking station and unloading of a tray of marked packaged ICs from the tray carrier onto a stack of trays on the output shuttle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Canella, Tony T. Ibarra
  • Patent number: 6409514
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing training activities are disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention is a method including scheduling the worker for a selected class in response to user input, tracking an available class the worker might attend; electronically determining whether the available class is the selected class; querying the worker about attending the available class if the available class is the selected class; receiving the worker's reply to the query; and enrolling the worker in the available class responsive to the reply. In another embodiment, the invention is a method including tracking a worker's training information; tracking information regarding a class available for the worker to attend; comparing the training information with the available class information; and automatically electronically contacting the worker regarding attending the available class responsive to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Bull
  • Patent number: 6363398
    Abstract: A method and system for accessing a database management system running on a server computer from within a JAVA applet running on a client computer. The JAVA applet prepares a URL to address an active server page on the server computer, embedding a database query within the URL. The JAVA applet then accesses the active server page using the prepared URL. The server computer, upon receiving a request for access to the active server page, executes a script stored within the active server page that receives the database query embedded within the URL, passes the query to the database management system, receives from the database management system the query results, creates a HTML document, and stores the query results in the HTML document. The server computer then returns the HTML document to the client computer, where the JAVA applet reads the query results from the HTML document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Andersen
  • Patent number: 6345850
    Abstract: A vacuum lifter is disclosed. The vacuum lifter includes an overhead hose, a housing, and a roller rotatably fixed to the housing. The housing is adapted to roll on the roller. In one embodiment the vacuum lifter also includes a sealing plate with a pliable sealing ring. The vacuum lifter can be used to lift, move, and deposit various objects from one place to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Foust
  • Patent number: 6347352
    Abstract: A computer system, method, and controller bus agent for control access to a computer bus. The computer system includes a parallel architecture in which plural bus agents are directly coupled to the computer bus. Each bus agent includes plural bus requester ports each coupled to a different bus requester. As such, the computer system employs a relatively flat, parallel architecture that handles bus requests from the bus requesters in parallel. The controller bus agent includes an internal arbiter and an external arbiter. The internal arbiter arbitrates between bus requests received from the plural bus requesters coupled to the controller bus agent. The external arbiter arbitrates between the bus requests received from other bus agents and from the internal arbiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe Jeddeloh, Dean A. Klein
  • Patent number: 6341322
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for interfacing buses includes a system interface processor coupled to a first bus and including a command register accessible via a second bus. A request buffer and a response buffer are provided which are accessible via the second bus and coupled to the interface processor. The request buffer can be used to store information to be transmitted from the second bus to the first via the interface processor while the response buffer can be used to store information to be transmitted from the first bus to the second bus via the interface processor. The interface processor may include a status register to indicate the status of the interface controller. The interface controller may also include a command register to receive commands transmitted over the second bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ji-hwan Liu, Ken Nguyen, Karl S. Johnson, Mallikarjunan Mahalingam
  • Patent number: 6330690
    Abstract: A fault tolerant method of resetting a server through either a local or remote client machine. The remote machine accesses the server by use of a dial-in modem connection, while the local machine accesses the server by a local serial connection. The resetting operation brings the server and the operating system software to a normal operational state. Reset is used after diagnostics or recovery have been performed without the use of the server operating system software or to restart the server after an unexpected crash.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmad Nouri, Karl S. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6304929
    Abstract: A software architecture for the hot add and swap of adapters. The software architecture allows users to replace failed components, upgrade outdated components, and add new functionality, such as new network interfaces, disk interface adapters and storage, without impacting existing users. The software architecture supports the hot add and swap of off-the-shelf adapters, including those adapters that are programmable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter August Wallach, Mehrdad Khalili, Mallikarjunan Mahalingam, John M. Reed
  • Patent number: 6292359
    Abstract: A mount for a computer component such as a disk drive includes horizontal platforms having upstanding studs and a strap. The strap is movable between an open position in which a drive may be removed from or installed into the mount and a closed position in which the upstanding studs are inserted into bores in the component and the strap keeps the component in place such that the studs remain in the bore and the drive is secure. Each end of the strap travels in a vertical channel formed along a corresponding vertical wall of the mount. Each end of the strap is provided with a detent and each vertical channel includes a detent receptacle sized to engage the detent. The detent receptacle corresponds to a closed position. A second detent receptacle may also be provided to hold the strap in an open position. The detent reliably secures the drive in the closed position while allowing the strap to be moved easily between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig L. Boe
  • Patent number: 6282090
    Abstract: A computer and a cooling unit for cooling a computer having a housing with a first panel including an aperture, a central processing unit coupled to a circuit board, a heat exchanger coupled to the central processing unit, and a power supply positioned apart from the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is positioned internally in the housing, and it is obstructed from the aperture in the first panel. In one particular embodiment, the cooling unit has a separate support element segregated from the power supply and an airflow director attached to the support element. The support element, for example, may have a first section attached to either the housing the motherboard, or another component of the computer apart from the central processing unit. The support element may also have a second section extending from the first section to an airflow site proximate to the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Johnson, Travis Schaff