Patents by Inventor Clifton E Kerr

Clifton E Kerr 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).

  • Publication number: 20240061964
    Abstract: A secure control module for BMC platform offloading to a remote application includes a processor, a network interface, and a connector with data connections. The connector is configured to connect to one or more data connections of a motherboard of a host. The secure control module includes non-transitory computer readable storage media storing code executable by the processor to perform operations that include receiving management signals from the connector. The management signals include input related to controlling the host. The operations include transmitting the management signals over the network interface to a management application running on a remote server, and receiving, over the network interface, management information from the management application. At least a portion of the management information is in response to the management signals. The operations include transmitting the management information over the connector to the host on at least one of the one or more data connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Scott Faasse, Christopher L. Wood, Clifton E. Kerr, Keith Campbell, Brian Fuchs
  • Patent number: 11853209
    Abstract: Shared memory workloads using existing network fabrics, including: presenting, by a Memory Mapped Input/Output (MMIO) translator, memory of the MMIO translator as a portion of a memory space of a host; receiving, by the MMIO translator, a first interrupt from an input/output (I/O) adapter; and storing, by the MMIO translator, without sending the first interrupt to an operating system, data associated with the first interrupt from the I/O adapter into the memory of the MMIO translator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Connor B. Reed, Jeffrey R. Hamilton, Clifton E. Kerr
  • Publication number: 20230004679
    Abstract: Component access control includes: receiving, by an access control module, permissions specifying authorization of physical access to one or more secured components of a computing system by one or more requestors; receiving, by the access control module from a requestor, a request to physically access one of the secured components of the computing system; determining, by the access control module based on the permissions, whether the requestor is authorized to physically access the secured component; and responsive to determining that the requestor is authorized to physically access the secured component, granting the requestor physical access to the secured component while prohibiting the requestor from physically accessing other secured components of the computing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: MANUEL R. HERNANDEZ SANTOS, KEITH M. CAMPBELL, ERIC PETTERSEN, CLIFTON E. KERR, CHRISTOPHER L. WOOD, STEVEN L. VANDERLINDEN
  • Patent number: 11474578
    Abstract: Data exchange using fan unit signal lines is disclosed, including receiving a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal on a PWM signal line of a fan unit; detecting that a frequency of the PWM signal is outside a frequency range used to control a fan speed of a fan in the fan unit; selecting a data output based on the frequency of the PWM signal; and sending the data output on a tachometric signal line of the fan unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: LENOVO ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Keith M. Campbell, Christopher L. Wood, Connor B. Reed, Clifton E. Kerr
  • Publication number: 20210406175
    Abstract: Shared memory workloads using existing network fabrics, including: presenting, by a Memory Mapped Input/Output (MMIO) translator, memory of the MMIO translator as a portion of a memory space of a host; receiving, by the MMIO translator, a first interrupt from an input/output (I/O) adapter; and storing, by the MMIO translator, without sending the first interrupt to an operating system, data associated with the first interrupt from the I/O adapter into the memory of the MMIO translator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: CONNOR B. REED, JEFFREY R. HAMILTON, CLIFTON E. KERR
  • Publication number: 20210408942
    Abstract: data exchange using fan unit signal lines including receiving a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal on a PWM signal line of a fan unit; detecting that a frequency of the PWM signal is outside a frequency range used to control a fan speed of a fan in the fan unit; selecting a data output based on the frequency of the PWM signal; and sending the data output on a tachometric signal line of the fan unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: KEITH M. CAMPBELL, CHRISTOPHER L. WOOD, CONNOR B. REED, CLIFTON E. KERR
  • Patent number: 10484139
    Abstract: Address verification on a bus, the bus connecting a plurality of receiving bus nodes and one or more sending bus nodes, the bus providing communication among the bus nodes, including: receiving, by a receiving bus node over the bus, a parity signal and an address signal, the address signal identifying an address of a target receiving bus node; determining, by the receiving bus node, whether the address of the target receiving bus node matches an address of the receiving bus node; responsive to determining that the address of the target receiving bus node matches the address of the receiving bus node, determining, by the receiving bus node, whether the parity signal is an expected parity signal; and responsive to determining that the parity signal is not the expected parity signal, suppressing, by the receiving bus node, an acknowledgment of receipt of the address signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Alfredo Aldereguia, Jeffrey R. Hamilton, Clifton E. Kerr, Grace A. Richter
  • Patent number: 9356903
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for dynamically managing social networking groups according to embodiments of the present invention are provided. A particular embodiment includes detecting a predetermined number of user devices within a specified physical area; and in response to detecting the predetermined number of user devices within the specified physical area, creating a social networking group corresponding to the specified physical area. Another embodiment includes detecting a predetermined number of user devices exiting a specified physical area, each user device associated with a user belonging to a social networking group corresponding to the specified physical area; and in response to detecting the predetermined number of user devices exiting the specified physical area, destroying the social networking group after a duration following the detection of the predetermined number of users of the social networking group exiting the specified physical area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Alfredo Aldereguia, Jeffrey R. Hamilton, Clifton E. Kerr, Grace A. Richter
  • Publication number: 20160085614
    Abstract: Address verification on a bus, the bus connecting a plurality of receiving bus nodes and one or more sending bus nodes, the bus providing communication among the bus nodes, including: receiving, by a receiving bus node over the bus, a parity signal and an address signal, the address signal identifying an address of a target receiving bus node; determining, by the receiving bus node, whether the address of the target receiving bus node matches an address of the receiving bus node; responsive to determining that the address of the target receiving bus node matches the address of the receiving bus node, determining, by the receiving bus node, whether the parity signal is an expected parity signal; and responsive to determining that the parity signal is not the expected parity signal, suppressing, by the receiving bus node, an acknowledgment of receipt of the address signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: ALFREDO ALDEREGUIA, JEFFREY R. HAMILTON, CLIFTON E. KERR, GRACE A. RICHTER
  • Patent number: 9279844
    Abstract: A method of detecting a cable connected to a first device includes generating a second signal within the first device, and outputting the second signal onto an input-only pin of a cable connector on the first device, wherein the input-only pin is assigned to receive a first signal from a driver on a second device when a cable is connected from the second device to the cable connector, and wherein the second signal has a frequency that is at least four times greater than the frequency of the first signal. The method further comprises determining that a cable is not connected to the cable connector in response to detecting the second signal on a wire coupled to the input-only pin, and determining that the cable is connected to the cable connector in response to detecting a signal other than the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Alfredo Aldereguia, Jeffrey R. Hamilton, Clifton E. Kerr, Grace A. Richter
  • Patent number: 9236687
    Abstract: Embodiments provide for a cable connector for coupling a cable with a device having a mating connector. The cable connector includes a cable connector body having a device end, a cable end, a bottom side, and a pivot point on the bottom side between the device and cable ends. Also, the cable connector includes a strut having a first strut end pivotally coupled with the pivot point and a second strut end. The strut is operable to rotate between a retracted position and an actuated position. The second strut end is adapted to engage the device on a surface of the device below the mating connector in the actuated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Alfredo Aldereguia, Jeffrey R. Hamilton, Clifton E. Kerr, Grace A. Richter
  • Patent number: 9222964
    Abstract: A cable detection apparatus comprises a cable connector, a signal generator, and a detection module. The cable connector is located on a first device and has an input-only pin that is coupled to a receiver and assigned for receiving a first signal from a driver on a second device. The signal generator is located within the first device and has an output driving a second signal onto the input-only pin, wherein the second signal has a frequency that is at least four times greater than the frequency of the first signal. The detection module has a detection input coupled to the input-only pin, wherein the detection module produces a negative cable detection output in response to detecting the second signal, and wherein the detection module produces a positive cable detection output in response to detecting a signal other than the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Alfredo Aldereguia, Jeffrey R. Hamilton, Clifton E. Kerr, Grace A. Richter
  • Patent number: 9175971
    Abstract: Computer readable program instructions perform a method including identifying a starting location and a destination for traveling in a vehicle and identifying multiple available routes. Each route includes roadway segments that have a roadway type selected from multiple roadway types reflecting a set of roadway conditions. The method obtains a fuel price available to the vehicle, obtains a fuel economy value for the vehicle on each roadway type, and calculates a cost of driving each of a plurality of available routes. The cost of driving each available route is the sum of the cost of driving each segment of the route, wherein the cost of driving each roadway segment is the mathematical product of a length of the roadway segment and the available fuel price divided by the fuel economy for the vehicle on the roadway type for the roadway segment. The lowest cost route is then identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Alfredo Aldereguia, Jeffrey R. Hamilton, Clifton E. Kerr, Grace A. Richter
  • Publication number: 20150292898
    Abstract: A method includes identifying a starting location and a destination for traveling in a vehicle and identifying multiple available routes. Each available route includes roadway segments that each have a roadway type selected from multiple roadway types that reflect a unique set of roadway conditions. The method obtains a price of fuel available to the vehicle, obtains a fuel economy value for the vehicle on each roadway type, and calculates a cost of driving each of a plurality of available routes. The cost of driving each available route is the sum of the cost of driving each segment of the route, wherein the cost of driving each roadway segment is the mathematical product of a length of the roadway segment and the available fuel price divided by the fuel economy for the vehicle on the roadway type for the roadway segment. The lowest cost route is then identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alfredo Aldereguia, Jeffrey R. Hamilton, Clifton E. Kerr, Grace A. Richter
  • Publication number: 20150292897
    Abstract: Computer readable program instructions perform a method including identifying a starting location and a destination for traveling in a vehicle and identifying multiple available routes. Each route includes roadway segments that have a roadway type selected from multiple roadway types reflecting a set of roadway conditions. The method obtains a fuel price available to the vehicle, obtains a fuel economy value for the vehicle on each roadway type, and calculates a cost of driving each of a plurality of available routes. The cost of driving each available route is the sum of the cost of driving each segment of the route, wherein the cost of driving each roadway segment is the mathematical product of a length of the roadway segment and the available fuel price divided by the fuel economy for the vehicle on the roadway type for the roadway segment. The lowest cost route is then identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alfredo Aldereguia, Jeffrey R. Hamilton, Clifton E. Kerr, Grace A. Richter
  • Patent number: 9094162
    Abstract: Error detection and correction of a data transmission, including: receiving a block of data, where the block includes a predefined number of words, with each word including a parity bit, where the block of data also an error-correcting code (ECC); determining, for each word in dependence upon the parity bit of the word, whether the word of the block includes a parity error; committing each word that does not include a parity error, if only one word of the block includes a parity error: correcting the one word that includes the parity error through use of the ECC of the block and committing the corrected word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Alfredo Aldereguia, Clifton E. Kerr, Grace A. Richter
  • Patent number: 9054840
    Abstract: Error detection and correction of a data transmission, including: receiving a block of data, where the block includes a predefined number of words, with each word including a parity bit, where the block of data also an error-correcting code (ECC); determining, for each word in dependence upon the parity bit of the word, whether the word of the block includes a parity error; committing each word that does not include a parity error, if only one word of the block includes a parity error: correcting the one word that includes the parity error through use of the ECC of the block and committing the corrected word.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Alfredo Aldereguia, Clifton E. Kerr, Grace A. Richter
  • Publication number: 20150142251
    Abstract: Vehicle control based on colors representative of navigation information are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes receiving an image of an object surface having multiple colors thereon that are representative of data for use in navigating a vehicle along a pathway. Further, the method includes controlling the vehicle to operate to navigate the pathway based on the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alfredo Aldereguia, Jeffrey R. Hamilton, Clifton E. Kerr, Grace A. Richter
  • Publication number: 20150097548
    Abstract: A cable detection apparatus comprises a cable connector, a signal generator, and a detection module. The cable connector is located on a first device and has an input-only pin that is coupled to a receiver and assigned for receiving a first signal from a driver on a second device. The signal generator is located within the first device and has an output driving a second signal onto the input-only pin, wherein the second signal has a frequency that is at least four times greater than the frequency of the first signal. The detection module has a detection input coupled to the input-only pin, wherein the detection module produces a negative cable detection output in response to the detecting the second signal, and wherein the detection module produces a positive cable detection output in response to detecting a signal other than the second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alfredo Aldereguia, Jeffrey R. Hamilton, Clifton E. Kerr, Grace A. Richter
  • Publication number: 20150098860
    Abstract: Systems and methods for odor source release based on odor detection and user preference information are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes receiving user preference information associated with an odor. The method also includes detecting the odor. Further, the method includes releasing one or more odor sources based on the user preference information in response to detecting the odor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Coporation
    Inventors: Alredo Aldereguia, Jeffrey R. Hamilton, Clifton E. Kerr, Grace A. Richter