Patents by Inventor Christopher Steffen
Christopher Steffen 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: 11902263Abstract: A system and method for pairing two devices for secure communications. A user selects a first device to pair with a second device. The first and second devices have the ability to securely communicate with each other through the use of encrypted communications. An encryption key is written to the first device and then burned into the encryption module on the first device. A corresponding decryption key is written to the second device and then is burned into the decryption module of the second device.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2023Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Christopher Steffen, Chad Albertson, Nicholas Ollerich, Eric J. Campbell
-
Patent number: 11880469Abstract: A system and method for providing a secure image load. The system includes a microcontroller. The microcontroller has a plurality of physically modifiable internal components (PMIC). Each of the plurality of PMICs can only be modified one time. The system further includes an image loader configured to load a boot image from the memory of the microcontroller, and a checksum calculator configured to calculate a checksum value for the boot image. The system further includes a checksum burner configured to modify the plurality of PMICs to create a binary representation of the checksum value for the image. A checksum value is calculated for the image. This checksum value is written to the microcontroller. The value is burned into the microcontroller using the PMICs. Further, responses to the checksum mismatch are burned into the microcontroller using the PMICs that are present in the microcontroller.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Christopher Steffen, Chad Albertson, Nicholas Ollerich, Eric J. Campbell
-
Publication number: 20230318806Abstract: A system and method of securely controlling a device from another device. The user of the device attempts to modify the device in some way. In response to the attempted modification a request is generated and sent to a controlling device. The request includes information related to the desired modification. The controlling device analyzes the request and a determination on how to respond to the request is made. This response is encrypted at the controlling device and transmitted to the device. The device then decrypts the response and implements the indicated response to the request. The encryption and decryption keys are burned into the corresponding devices such that information needed to decrypt the response is not transmitted to the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2022Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Eric J. Campbell, Christopher Steffen, Chad Albertson, Nicholas Ollerich
-
Publication number: 20230308261Abstract: A system and method to tie a removable component to a host device. A first pairing key is stored into a security module on a host device such as a server rack. A removable component is inserted into the server rack for the first time. In response to this first insertion the first pairing key is burned into the removable component using a plurality of physically modifiable internal components. The server rack/security module receives a request form the removable component to operate on the server rack, the request includes a burned in pairing key. The security module compares the received pairing key with the first pairing key and permits operation of the removable component in response to a match between the received pairing key and the first pairing key.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2022Publication date: September 28, 2023Inventors: Eric J. Campbell, Christopher Steffen, Chad Albertson, Nicholas Ollerich
-
Patent number: 11729472Abstract: A system and method for providing content to a user outside of a home region. A portable device displays content to a user through a network connection. A home content provider provides content to the portable device from the home region. Some of the content provided is region restricted content. A location verifier determines that the portable device and the user are both physically located within the home region. The location verifier issues to the user a location token when the user and the portable device are in the home region. A token verifier verifies the location token when the user requests the region restricted content outside of the home region. The token verifier further instructs the home content provider to provide region restricted content to the user when the user has the location token.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2019Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Eric J. Campbell, Chad Albertson, Christopher Steffen, Nicholas Ollerich
-
Patent number: 11693446Abstract: On-chip spread spectrum synchronization between spread spectrum sources is provided. A spread spectrum amplitude of a signal of a spread spectrum reference clock is obtained using one or more delay lines of one or more delay elements in a skitter circuit. A spread width of the spread spectrum amplitude of the signal is determined, using one or more sticky latches in the skitter circuit, based on one or more edges of the signal. A delay line of the one or more delay elements corresponding to a falling edge of the spread width of the signal is identified using combinational circuitry of the skitter circuit. A spread spectrum signal of a spread spectrum slave clock is synchronized with the signal of the spread spectrum reference clock based on the delay line.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: John Borkenhagen, Christopher Steffen, Grant P. Kesselring
-
Patent number: 11662381Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a phase rotator, that is located at a built-in self-test (BIST) path of a receiver, receiving a clock signal from an on-chip clock. The phase rotator shifts the phases of the clock signal. The phase rotator transmits the shifted clock signal to a binary sequence generator, that is located at the receiver. The binary sequence generator outputs a binary sequence, where the binary sequence generator is driven by the shifted clock signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Nathan Ross Blanchard, Venkat Harish Nammi, Dereje Yilma, Chad Andrew Marquart, Glen A. Wiedemeier, Jeffrey Kwabena Okyere, Erik English, Christopher Steffen, Vikram B Raj, Michael Wayne Harper
-
Publication number: 20230155986Abstract: A system and method for pairing two devices for secure communications. A user selects a first device to pair with a second device. The first and second devices have the ability to securely communicate with each other through the use of encrypted communications. An encryption key is written to the first device and then burned into the encryption module on the first device. A corresponding decryption key is written to the second device and then is burned into the decryption module of the second device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2023Publication date: May 18, 2023Inventors: Christopher Steffen, Chad Albertson, Nicholas Ollerich, Eric J. Campbell
-
Publication number: 20230121692Abstract: On-chip spread spectrum synchronization between spread spectrum sources is provided. A spread spectrum amplitude of a signal of a spread spectrum reference clock is obtained using one or more delay lines of one or more delay elements in a skitter circuit. A spread width of the spread spectrum amplitude of the signal is determined, using one or more sticky latches in the skitter circuit, based on one or more edges of the signal. A delay line of the one or more delay elements corresponding to a falling edge of the spread width of the signal is identified using combinational circuitry of the skitter circuit. A spread spectrum signal of a spread spectrum slave clock is synchronized with the signal of the spread spectrum reference clock based on the delay line.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2021Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventors: JOHN BORKENHAGEN, CHRISTOPHER STEFFEN, GRANT P. KESSELRING
-
Patent number: 11617519Abstract: A device includes a syringe, which has a tip, plunger, and barrel containing a fluid. The device also includes a needle electrode coupled to the tip of the syringe, a release component, and a control component configured to receive electrical measurements made by the needle electrode, determine impedance values from the electrical measurements, and identify a target tissue based on the impedance values. In response to the identification, the control component generates instructions to reposition a release component. A method includes receiving electrical measurements from a needle electrode, determining impedance values based on the electrical measurements. A target tissue is identified based on the impedance values, and a release component is repositioned in response.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2019Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Sarah K. Czaplewski-Campbell, Eric J. Campbell, Jennifer I. Bennett, Elin F. LaBreck, Christopher Steffen
-
Publication number: 20230055935Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a phase rotator, that is located at a built-in self-test (BIST) path of a receiver, receiving a clock signal from an on-chip clock. The phase rotator shifts the phases of the clock signal. The phase rotator transmits the shifted clock signal to a binary sequence generator, that is located at the receiver. The binary sequence generator outputs a binary sequence, where the binary sequence generator is driven by the shifted clock signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2021Publication date: February 23, 2023Inventors: Nathan Ross Blanchard, VENKAT HARISH NAMMI, DEREJE YILMA, Chad Andrew Marquart, Glen A. Wiedemeier, JEFFREY KWABENA OKYERE, Erik English, Christopher Steffen, Vikram B. Raj, Michael Wayne Harper
-
Patent number: 11570156Abstract: A system and method for pairing two devices for secure communications. A user selects a first device to pair with a second device. The first and second devices have the ability to securely communicate with each other through the use of encrypted communications. An encryption key is written to the first device and then burned into the encryption module on the first device. A corresponding decryption key is written to the second device and then is burned into the decryption module of the second device.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Christopher Steffen, Chad Albertson, Nicholas Ollerich, Eric J. Campbell
-
Patent number: 11558057Abstract: A phase locked loop includes a pulse limiter between a phase frequency detector and a charge pump. The phase frequency detector generates and sends a clock pulse to the pulse limiter. The pulse limiter generates a first signal that indicates that the clock pulse is greater than a minimum pulse width of the phase frequency detector. The pulse limiter receives a pulse limiter buffer selection signal that selects one buffer of a plurality of buffers within the pulse limiter. The pulse limiter generates a second signal that indicates a truncated pulse width as the minimum pulse width of the phase frequency detector plus a delay period that is associated with the pulse limiter buffer selection signal. The pulse limiter truncates the clock pulse to the truncated pulse width and sends the truncated clock pulse to the charge pump.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2021Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John Borkenhagen, Grant P. Kesselring, James Strom, Christopher Steffen
-
Patent number: 11528102Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a driver arranged at a stand-alone receiver that is configured to receive a binary sequence from a pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) generator arranged at the receiver. The driver is configured to adjust the signal characteristics of the binary sequence to simulate channel loss at the receiver. The driver is further configured to output the adjusted binary sequence to a downstream data path of the receiver to enable the receiver to perform a self-test.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2021Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Dereje Yilma, Nathan Ross Blanchard, Erik English, Chad Andrew Marquart, Glen A. Wiedemeier, Jeffrey Kwabena Okyere, James Crugnale, Christopher Steffen, Vikram B Raj, Michael Wayne Harper, Venkat Harish Nammi
-
Publication number: 20220335133Abstract: A system and method for providing a secure image load. The system includes a microcontroller. The microcontroller has a plurality of physically modifiable internal components (PMIC). Each of the plurality of PMICs can only be modified one time. The system further includes an image loader configured to load a boot image from the memory of the microcontroller, and a checksum calculator configured to calculate a checksum value for the boot image. The system further includes a checksum burner configured to modify the plurality of PMICs to create a binary representation of the checksum value for the image. A checksum value is calculated for the image. This checksum value is written to the microcontroller. The value is burned into the microcontroller using the PMICs. Further, responses to the checksum mismatch are burned into the microcontroller using the PMICs that are present in the microcontroller.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Christopher Steffen, Chad Albertson, Nicholas Ollerich, Eric J. Campbell
-
Publication number: 20220326287Abstract: Provided is a method for collecting sensor data using time-domain reflectometry (TDR). A primary device transmits a TDR signal to a first sensor. A reflected signal is received in response to the transmitted TDR signal. The reflected signal is analyzed to determine an impedance of the first sensor. Based on the impedance of the first sensor, a sensor value for the first sensor is determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Eric J. Campbell, Christopher Steffen, Chad Albertson, Nicholas Ollerich
-
Patent number: 11409882Abstract: A system and method for providing a secure image load. The system includes a microcontroller. The microcontroller has a plurality of physically modifiable internal components (PMIC). Each of the plurality of PMICs can only be modified one time. The system further includes an image loader configured to load a boot image from the memory of the microcontroller, and a checksum calculator configured to calculate a checksum value for the boot image. The system further includes a checksum burner configured to modify the plurality of PMICs to create a binary representation of the checksum value for the image. A checksum value is calculated for the image. This checksum value is written to the microcontroller. The value is burned into the microcontroller using the PMICs. Further, responses to the checksum mismatch are burned into the microcontroller using the PMICs that are present in the microcontroller.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2019Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Christopher Steffen, Chad Albertson, Nicholas Ollerich, Eric J. Campbell
-
Patent number: 11402418Abstract: Provided is a method for collecting sensor data using time-domain reflectometry (TDR). A primary device transmits a TDR signal to a first sensor. A reflected signal is received in response to the transmitted TDR signal. The reflected signal is analyzed to determine an impedance of the first sensor. Based on the impedance of the first sensor, a sensor value for the first sensor is determined.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2019Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Eric J. Campbell, Christopher Steffen, Chad Albertson, Nicholas Ollerich
-
Publication number: 20220006796Abstract: A system and method for pairing two devices for secure communications. A user selects a first device to pair with a second device. The first and second devices have the ability to securely communicate with each other through the use of encrypted communications. An encryption key is written to the first device and then burned into the encryption module on the first device. A corresponding decryption key is written to the second device and then is burned into the decryption module of the second device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2020Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Christopher Steffen, Chad Albertson, Nicholas Ollerich, Eric J. Campbell
-
Publication number: 20210320686Abstract: Detecting distortion in spread spectrum signals, including: identifying, based on a reference clock signal, one or more edges in a spread spectrum clock signal; incrementing one or more counters corresponding to the one or more edges, the one or more counters included in a plurality of counters; providing each bit of a respective output of the plurality of counters to a respective OR gate of a plurality of OR gates; and outputting, based on an output of an OR gate of the plurality of OR gates corresponding to a selected bit, an indication of whether distortion exists in the spread spectrum clock signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2020Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventors: JOHN BORKENHAGEN, CHRISTOPHER STEFFEN, GRANT P. KESSELRING