Patents by Inventor Andrew Harvey Barr

Andrew Harvey Barr 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).

  • Patent number: 7664994
    Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a high-availability cluster apparatus having a plurality of computing nodes and a hardware interface configured to connect to each of said nodes. The internode connections are coupled to the hardware interface to communicate node status signals between said nodes. A node is removable from being connected to the hardware interface without interrupting a topological continuity of the internode connections. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ken Gary Pomaranski, Andrew Harvey Barr, Kenneth N. Konesky
  • Patent number: 7613961
    Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of compiling a program to be executed on a target central processing unit (CPU). The method includes opportunistically scheduling diagnostic testing of CPU registers. The method may include use of a predetermined level of aggressiveness for the scheduling of the register diagnostic testing. The scheduled diagnostic testing may include writing known data to a register, reading data from the register, and comparing the known data with the data that was read. If the comparison indicates a difference, then a jump may occur to a fault handler routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Harvey Barr, Ken Gary Pomaranski, Dale John Shidla
  • Patent number: 7596726
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for selecting a primary resource in a redundant subsystem. In one method embodiment, the present invention receives a list of available resources for a redundant subsystem. Additionally, the available resources are tested and results of the testing are generated. Then, the primary resource is selected for the subsystem based on the results of the testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ken Gary Pomaranski, Andrew Harvey Barr
  • Patent number: 7586946
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for automatically evaluating and allocating resources in a cell based system. In one method embodiment, the present invention receives a request to generate a cell based system of resources. A list of allocatable resources having corresponding evaluation data is then accessed. The request for the cell based system is then compared with the list of allocatable resources having corresponding evaluation data. The allocatable resources are then assigned to the cell based system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ken Gary Pomaranski, Andrew Harvey Barr, Dale John Shidla
  • Patent number: 7581210
    Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of compiling a program to be executed on a target microprocessor with multiple functional units of a same type. The method includes opportunistically scheduling a redundant operation on one of the functional units that would otherwise be idle during a cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Dale John Shidla, Andrew Harvey Barr, Ken Gary Pomaranski
  • Patent number: 7513779
    Abstract: The invention includes a device and method providing a return-signal pathway through a circuit board connector. In one embodiment of the invention, a circuit board connector having an integral bypass capacitor provides a return-signal path between the circuit boards without using the ground planes of the circuit boards outside of an area occupied by the connector. The circuit board connector includes first connector reference conductor arranged for coupling with a first circuit-board reference plane, a second connector reference conductor arranged for coupling with a second circuit-board reference plane, and a capacitor coupled between the first and second reference planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Andrew Harvey Barr
  • Patent number: 7428655
    Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a high-availability (HA) cluster system. The cluster includes a plurality of computing nodes and clustering software configured to manage the cluster. In addition, the cluster includes a smart card, including a microprocessor-based system, communicatively connected to each of the nodes. Another embodiment disclosed relates to an apparatus adapted for use with a corresponding node of a high-availability (HA) cluster. The apparatus includes a microprocessor, control software, at least one input channel to receive data from the corresponding node, at least one output channel to send commands to the corresponding node, at least one input link to receive commands from clustering software of the HA cluster, and at least one output link to send information to the clustering software. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ken Gary Pomaranski, Andrew Harvey Barr
  • Patent number: 7424624
    Abstract: A rack equipment power purchase plan supervision system and method is presented. In one embodiment of the present invention, a rack equipment power purchase plan supervision system includes rack equipment for processing information. The rack equipment is supervised by a rack equipment power purchase plan supervision component in accordance with a power purchase plan. The power purchase plan defines operational settings of the rack equipment for various power supply conditions. A communication bus for communicating information communicatively couples the power purchase plan supervision component and the rack equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ricardo Espinoza-Ibarra, Kirk Michael Bresniker, Andrew Harvey Barr
  • Patent number: 7415700
    Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of compiling a program to be executed on a target microprocessor with multiple execution units of a same type. The method includes selecting one of the execution units for testing and scheduling the parallel execution of program code and diagnostics code. The diagnostic code is scheduled to be executed on the selected execution unit. The program code is scheduled to be executed on remaining execution units of the same type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ken Gary Pomaranski, Andrew Harvey Barr, Dale John Shidla
  • Patent number: 7409576
    Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of preventative maintenance of a high-availability cluster. A least-recently-tested active node is determined. The least-recently-tested active node is swapped out from the HA cluster, and a stand-by node is swapped into the HA cluster. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ken Gary Pomaranski, Andrew Harvey Barr
  • Patent number: 7386744
    Abstract: A rack equipment power pricing plan control system and method is presented. In one embodiment of the present invention, a power pricing plan rack equipment control method is utilized to control operation of rack equipment. A power pricing plan for operating the rack equipment is established. The rack equipment is operated in accordance with the power pricing plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Harvey Barr, Kirk Michael Bresniker, Ricardo E. Espinoza-Ibarra
  • Patent number: 7363516
    Abstract: A rack equipment management system and method for providing a convenient and efficient manner to automatically manage rack equipment associated with information processing based upon power consumption and heat dissipation policies is presented. In one embodiment of the present invention, a rack equipment management system includes a rack equipment management policy data store, a management component, and a communication bus. The rack equipment management policy data store stores policy information related to rack equipment operations. The management component manages power consumption and thermal load of the rack equipment. The communication bus communicatively couples the rack equipment management policy data store and the management component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kirk Michael Bresniker, Ricardo Espinoza-Ibarra, Andrew Harvey Barr
  • Patent number: 7272733
    Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of providing dynamic power redundancy for a system. A number of power supply units, n, that are presently in an up state is tracked. In addition, a number of power supply units, N, that are presently needed to supply power to the system is dynamically determined. If a margin of safety corresponding to a difference between n and N reaches a minimum acceptable level, then action is taken to increase the margin of safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ken Gary Pomaranski, Andrew Harvey Barr
  • Patent number: 7228462
    Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of communicating status from a node of a cluster of computer systems. A first status signal is received from a computational node, and a default status signal is generated. The first status signal and the default status signal are used to generate a second status signal. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a method of communicating node status within a cluster of computer systems. A first signal indicative of the status of a current node is generated. A second signal indicative of the status of a preceding node is received. The first signal is transmitted to a next node if the current node is present in the cluster, and the second signal is transmitted to the next node if the current node has been removed from the cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ken Gary Pomaranski, Andrew Harvey Barr
  • Patent number: 7228460
    Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a node system of a high-availability cluster. The node system includes at least a first register and an output port. The first register stores multi-state status data of the node, and the output port sends signals representing this multi-state status data. The multi-state status data includes at least one degraded state. The node system may also include a second register and an input port. The input port receives signals representing the multi-state status data of another node. The second stores this multi-state status data from the other node. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a method of status reporting for a node of a cluster. A set of rules is applied to determine current multi-state status of the node. The states of the multi-state status including a good state, a bad state, and at least one degraded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ken Gary Pomaranski, Andrew Harvey Barr
  • Patent number: 7222246
    Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of providing dynamic temperature-adjusted power redundancy for a system. Tracking is performed of the number of power supply units, n, that are presently in an up state. The temperature in which the power supply units are operating is measured, and a temperature-adjusted number of power supply units, N, which are presently needed to supply power to the system, is dynamically determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ken Gary Pomaranski, Andrew Harvey Barr
  • Patent number: 7213170
    Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of providing CPU functional testing. Operations are executed on multiple functional units of a same type in the CPU. The outputs of the multiple functional units are automatically compared. The results of the comparison are checked only for redundant operations. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a microprocessor with built-in functional testing capability. The microprocessor includes multiple functional units of a same type and registers that receive outputs from the multiple functional units. In addition, comparator circuitry is built-in that also receives the outputs from the multiple functional units and compares the outputs to provide functional testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Dale John Shidla, Andrew Harvey Barr, Ken Gary Pomaranski
  • Patent number: 7206966
    Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of executing program code on a target microprocessor with multiple CPU cores thereon. One of the CPU cores is selected for testing, and inter-core context switching is performed. Parallel execution occurs of diagnostic code on the selected CPU core and the program code on remaining CPU cores. Another embodiment disclosed relates to a microprocessor having a plurality of CPU cores integrated on the microprocessor chip. Inter-core communications circuitry is coupled to each of the CPU cores and configured to perform context switching between the CPU cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Andrew Harvey Barr, Ken Gary Pomaranski, Dale John Shidla
  • Patent number: 7206969
    Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to a method of compiling a program to be executed on a target microprocessor. A cycle is identified during which a functional unit would otherwise be idle. A diagnostic operation is opportunistically scheduled for execution on the functional unit during that cycle, and a comparison is scheduled to compare a result from executing the diagnostic operation with a corresponding predetermined result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Dale John Shidla, Andrew Harvey Barr, Ken Gary Pomaranski
  • Patent number: 7198094
    Abstract: A device for removing heat from an electronic component, comprising a heat sink that can be coupled to the electronic component and conduct heat therefrom. A finned appurtenance coupled to the heat sink can transfer the heat into a fluid medium. The fins are oriented at an angle with respect to several flow streams of the fluid medium across the fins. Each flow stream follows a unique direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephan Karl Barsun, Andrew Harvey Barr, Robert William Dobbs