Patents by Inventor Bill Torrey

Bill Torrey 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: 7080245
    Abstract: A method of switching between two or more images of firmware on a host device includes storing two or more images of firmware in non-volatile memory of the host device and loading one of the images upon startup in response to a user-controllable indicator. A host device that runs firmware during operation may include a non-volatile memory unit that stores a boot code module and is configured to hold two or more firmware images, a processor for executing the boot code module and firmware, said processor being in communication with the non-volatile memory and a switch in communication with the processor, where the boot code module is configured to cause the processor to execute a particular firmware image in response to a position of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Curtis C. Ballard, Bill Torrey, Colette Howe
  • Publication number: 20050154984
    Abstract: Interface manager and methods of operation in a storage network. In an exemplary implementation, a storage network comprises an automated storage system including data access drives and transfer robotics. A plurality of interface controllers are operatively associated with the data access drives and transfer robotics. An interface manager is communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of interface controllers. Computer-readable program code is provided in computer-readable storage at the interface manager, the computer-readable program code aggregating configuration information for the data access drives and transfer robotics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Inventors: Steven Maddocks, Jeffrey Dicorpo, Bill Torrey
  • Publication number: 20030221092
    Abstract: A method of switching between two or more images of firmware on a host device includes storing two or more images of firmware in non-volatile memory of the host device and loading one of the images upon startup in response to a user-controllable indicator. A host device that runs firmware during operation may include a non-volatile memory unit that stores a boot code module and is configured to hold two or more firmware images, a processor for executing the boot code module and firmware, said processor being in communication with the non-volatile memory and a switch in communication with the processor, where the boot code module is configured to cause the processor to execute a particular firmware image in response to a position of the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Curtis C. Ballard, Bill Torrey, Colette Howe