Patents by Inventor Alex Williamson
Alex Williamson 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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Patent number: 11036666Abstract: Systems and methods for asynchronous mapping of a hot-plugged I/O device associated with a virtual machine. An example method comprises: executing, by a host computer system, a virtual machine managed by a hypervisor, wherein the virtual machine is associated with a hot-pluggable input/output (I/O) device; responsive to detecting removal of the I/O device, unpin a memory buffer associated with the I/O device; and responsive to receiving a signal indicating completion of unpinning the memory buffer, release the I/O device from the hypervisor.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Red Hat Israel, Ltd.Inventors: Alex Williamson, Michael Tsirkin
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Publication number: 20200042485Abstract: Systems and methods for asynchronous mapping of a hot-plugged I/O device associated with a virtual machine. An example method comprises: executing, by a host computer system, a virtual machine managed by a hypervisor, wherein the virtual machine is associated with a hot-pluggable input/output (I/O) device; responsive to detecting removal of the I/O device, unpin a memory buffer associated with the I/O device; and responsive to receiving a signal indicating completion of unpinning the memory buffer, release the I/O device from the hypervisor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Inventors: Alex Williamson, Michael Tsirkin
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Patent number: 10474616Abstract: Systems and methods for asynchronous mapping of a hot-plugged I/O device associated with a virtual machine. An example method comprises: executing, by a host computer system, a virtual machine managed by a hypervisor; responsive to detecting hot-plugging of an input/output (I/O) device, pinning a memory buffer associated with the I/O device; and responsive to receiving a signal indicating completion of pinning the memory buffer, notifying the virtual machine of the I/O device being hot-plugged.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2018Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Red Hat Israel, Ltd.Inventors: Alex Williamson, Michael Tsirkin
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Publication number: 20180246838Abstract: Systems and methods for asynchronous mapping of a hot-plugged I/O device associated with a virtual machine. An example method comprises: executing, by a host computer system, a virtual machine managed by a hypervisor; responsive to detecting hot-plugging of an input/output (I/O) device, pinning a memory buffer associated with the I/O device; and responsive to receiving a signal indicating completion of pinning the memory buffer, notifying the virtual machine of the I/O device being hot-plugged.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2018Publication date: August 30, 2018Inventors: Alex Williamson, Michael Tsirkin
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Patent number: 9996494Abstract: Systems and methods for asynchronous mapping of a hot-plugged I/O device associated with a virtual machine. An example method comprises: executing, by a first processing thread running on a host computer system, a virtual processor associated with a virtual machine; initializing, by a second processing thread, a table entry of a guest input/output (I/O) table associated with the virtual machine, wherein the table entry maps a device identifier of an I/O device to a memory buffer associated with the I/O device; pinning the memory buffer associated with the I/O device; responsive to receiving, by a hypervisor running on the host computer system, a completion signal from the second processing thread, notifying the virtual machine of the I/O device being hot-plugged.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2015Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Red Hat Israel, Ltd.Inventors: Alex Williamson, Michael Tsirkin
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Patent number: 9910690Abstract: A hypervisor receives a request pertaining to a multi-function device managed by the hypervisor from a guest operating system of a virtual machine where the multi-function device comprises a main function and a plurality of sub-functions and the request identifies an address within a configuration space associated with one of the plurality of sub-functions of the multi-function device. The hypervisor determines the main function of the multi-function device in view of the address of the configuration space associated with the sub-function, accesses a data structure associated with the main function to obtain an indicator of availability of the main function to the guest operating system, and determines, view of the indicator of availability, whether the main function is available to the guest operating system.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2015Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.Inventor: Alex Williamson
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Patent number: 9851992Abstract: A hypervisor of a host detects a request by a guest or a hypervisor administrator to expose a device associated with the host to the guest. The hypervisor locates free space in a configuration space of the device. The hypervisor assigns a configuration space associated with the hypervisor to the located free space. The hypervisor notifies the guest of the configuration space associated with the hypervisor and a range of addresses associated with the free space. The hypervisor exposes the device to the guest. The configuration space associated with the hypervisor may be a message-signaled capability associated with the hypervisor.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2013Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: Red Hat Israel, Ltd.Inventors: Michael Tsirkin, Alex Williamson
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Patent number: 9804873Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing device state information to a destination hypervisor. An example method of providing device state information to a destination hypervisor includes sending, by a source hypervisor to a guest running on a virtual machine, a request to save a state of a device into a memory region that is accessible by the source hypervisor. The device is assigned to the virtual machine. The method also includes providing the content stored at the memory region to a destination hypervisor.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2015Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Red Hat Israel, Ltd.Inventors: Michael Tsirkin, Alex Williamson
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Publication number: 20170147370Abstract: A hypervisor receives a request pertaining to a multi-function device managed by the hypervisor from a guest operating system of a virtual machine where the multi-function device comprises a main function and a plurality of sub-functions and the request identifies an address within a configuration space associated with one of the plurality of sub-functions of the multi-function device. The hypervisor determines the main function of the multi-function device in view of the address of the configuration space associated with the sub-function, accesses a data structure associated with the main function to obtain an indicator of availability of the main function to the guest operating system, and determines, view of the indicator of availability, whether the main function is available to the guest operating system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2015Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventor: Alex Williamson
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Publication number: 20170068634Abstract: Systems and methods for asynchronous mapping of a hot-plugged I/O device associated with a virtual machine. An example method comprises: executing, by a first processing thread running on a host computer system, a virtual processor associated with a virtual machine; initializing, by a second processing thread, a table entry of a guest input/output (I/O) table associated with the virtual machine, wherein the table entry maps a device identifier of an I/O device to a memory buffer associated with the I/O device; pinning the memory buffer associated with the I/O device; responsive to receiving, by a hypervisor running on the host computer system, a completion signal from the second processing thread, notifying the virtual machine of the I/O device being hot-plugged.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2015Publication date: March 9, 2017Inventors: Alex Williamson, Michael Tsirkin
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Publication number: 20170046184Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing device state information to a destination hypervisor. An example method of providing device state information to a destination hypervisor includes sending, by a source hypervisor to a guest running on a virtual machine, a request to save a state of a device into a memory region that is accessible by the source hypervisor. The device is assigned to the virtual machine. The method also includes providing the content stored at the memory region to a destination hypervisor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2015Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Michael Tsirkin, Alex Williamson
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Patent number: 9569241Abstract: An example system and method of sharing a device assigned to a plurality of virtual machines includes identifying a first virtual machine in which a device is active. When a condition is satisfied, control of the device is transferred from the first virtual machine to a second virtual machine. Transferring control of the device includes sending a first communication to cause the first virtual machine to relinquish control of the device based on an indication that power will be removed from the device and further to cause the virtual machine to save first state information maintained by the first virtual machine to a first memory. The first state information is associated with the device. Transferring control of the device also includes saving second state information maintained by a host machine to a second memory. The second state information is associated with the first virtual machine and device.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2013Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Red Hat Israel, Ltd.Inventors: Michael Tsirkin, Alex Williamson
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Patent number: 9436505Abstract: A system and method of removing power from a device assigned to a virtual machine running on a host machine includes receiving a request, by a notification module, from the virtual machine to remove power from the device, and receiving, by the notification module, an indication from the virtual machine that a condition has been satisfied; managing an execution priority for requests, by a task module, where the task module schedules the request to be executed after the notification module receives the indication that the condition has been satisfied; and in response to execution of the request, by a power down module, sending a communication to the host machine to cause the host machine to remove power from the device.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2013Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Red Hat Israel, Ltd.Inventors: Michael Tsirkin, Alex Williamson
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Patent number: 9069741Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for handling a level triggered interrupt generated by a device assigned to a virtual machine running on a host machine. An example system includes a host machine that hosts a virtual machine and a device coupled to the host machine. The device is assigned to the virtual machine and generates one or more interrupts. The example system also includes an interrupt handler that receives an interrupt generated by the device, masks the interrupt, injects the interrupt into the virtual machine, receives an indication that the virtual machine has attempted to access the device, and in response to the indication that the virtual machine has attempted to access the device, unmasks the interrupt from the device.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Red Hat, Inc.Inventor: Alex Williamson
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Publication number: 20150040124Abstract: A hypervisor of a host detects a request by a guest or a hypervisor administrator to expose a device associated with the host to the guest. The hypervisor locates free space in a configuration space of the device. The hypervisor assigns a configuration space associated with the hypervisor to the located free space. The hypervisor notifies the guest of the configuration space associated with the hypervisor and a range of addresses associated with the free space. The hypervisor exposes the device to the guest. The configuration space associated with the hypervisor may be a message-signaled capability associated with the hypervisor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2013Publication date: February 5, 2015Inventors: Michael Tsirkin, Alex Williamson
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Publication number: 20140245050Abstract: A system and method of removing power from a device assigned to a virtual machine running on a host machine includes receiving a request, by a notification module, from the virtual machine to remove power from the device, and receiving, by the notification module, an indication from the virtual machine that a condition has been satisfied; managing an execution priority for requests, by a task module, where the task module schedules the request to be executed after the notification module receives the indication that the condition has been satisfied; and in response to execution of the request, by a power down module, sending a communication to the host machine to cause the host machine to remove power from the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: Red Hat Israel,Ltd.Inventors: Michael Tsirkin, Alex Williamson
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Publication number: 20140244877Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for handling a level triggered interrupt generated by a device assigned to a virtual machine running on a host machine. An example system includes a host machine that hosts a virtual machine and a device coupled to the host machine. The device is assigned to the virtual machine and generates one or more interrupts. The example system also includes an interrupt handler that receives an interrupt generated by the device, masks the interrupt, injects the interrupt into the virtual machine, receives an indication that the virtual machine has attempted to access the device, and in response to the indication that the virtual machine has attempted to access the device, unmasks the interrupt from the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: Red Hat, Inc.Inventor: Alex Williamson
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Publication number: 20140245291Abstract: An example system and method of sharing a device assigned to a plurality of virtual machines includes identifying a first virtual machine in which a device is active. When a condition is satisfied, control of the device is transferred from the first virtual machine to a second virtual machine. Transferring control of the device includes sending a first communication to cause the first virtual machine to relinquish control of the device based on an indication that power will be removed from the device and further to cause the virtual machine to save first state information maintained by the first virtual machine to a first memory. The first state information is associated with the device. Transferring control of the device also includes saving second state information maintained by a host machine to a second memory. The second state information is associated with the first virtual machine and device.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2013Publication date: August 28, 2014Applicant: Red Hat Israel,Ltd.Inventors: Michael Tsirkin, Alex Williamson
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Patent number: 8148042Abstract: A heat-sensitive imaging element includes an IR dye having a structure according to Formula I, wherein at least one of the Rd groups is a group which is transformed by a chemical reaction, induced by exposure to IR-radiation or heat, into a group which is a stronger electron-donor than the Rd; or wherein at least one of the Ra groups is a group which is transformed by a chemical reaction, induced by exposure to IR-radiation or heat, into a group which is a stronger electron-acceptor than the Ra. The imaging element is able to form a visible print-out image with a high contrast directly after image-wise exposure by IR-radiation or heating.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2006Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Agfa Graphics NVInventors: Paul Callant, Hieronymus Andriessen, Alex Williamson, Christel Geukens, Jos Louwet
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Publication number: 20100221662Abstract: A heat-sensitive imaging element includes an IR dye having a structure according to Formula I, wherein at least one of the Rd groups is a group which is transformed by a chemical reaction, induced by exposure to IR-radiation or heat, into a group which is a stronger electron-donor than the Rd; or wherein at least one of the Ra groups is a group which is transformed by a chemical reaction, induced by exposure to IR-radiation or heat, into a group which is a stronger electron-acceptor than the Ra. The imaging element is able to form a visible print-out image with a high contrast directly after image-wise exposure by IR-radiation or heating.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2006Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: AGFA GRAPHICS NVInventors: Paul Callant, Hieronymus Andriessen, Alex Williamson, Christel Geukens, Jos Louwet