Patents by Inventor Colin I. Holyoake

Colin I. Holyoake 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: 10883279
    Abstract: A flooring element is provided for a raised floor including removable flooring panels and a supporting structure with a load bearing surface. The flooring element includes a warning element operable for moving between an inactive position in which the warning element is substantially concealed by the surface and an active position in which the warning element projects beyond the surface to form a visual hazard warning indicator. The flooring element may be for example a flooring panel, a stringer, a pedestal, an insert for a pedestal or an insert for inserting between a sub-floor void and a flooring panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sarah M. Drewery, Colin I. Holyoake, David J. Tolley, Julian D. Williams
  • Patent number: 10771311
    Abstract: A method and system. A first computer device sends to a second computer device, via a broadcast or multicast communication, an event notification of a notifiable management event, The first computer device may connect to a management network via only a first network switch, wherein the first computer device is unable to notify a management device of the notifiable management event via the management network because the first computer device is unable to connect to the management network via the first network switch. The first computer device receives, from the second computer device via a first unicast communication, an acknowledgment of the event notification, wherein the second computer device is able to connect to the management network via the second network switch. The broadcast or multicast communication and the first unicast communication each use a short-range wireless communications technology comprising visible light communication or data-over-audio communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew S. Feltham, Colin I. Holyoake, Elizabeth J. Maple
  • Publication number: 20200232228
    Abstract: A flooring element is provided for a raised floor including removable flooring panels and a supporting structure with a load bearing surface. The flooring element includes a warning element operable for moving between an inactive position in which the warning element is substantially concealed by the surface and an active position in which the warning element projects beyond the surface to form a visual hazard warning indicator. The flooring element may be for example a flooring panel, a stringer, a pedestal, an insert for a pedestal or an insert for inserting between a sub-floor void and a flooring panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Sarah M. Drewery, Colin I. Holyoake, David J. Tolley, Julian D. Williams
  • Patent number: 10689861
    Abstract: A flooring element is provided for a raised floor including removable flooring panels and a supporting structure with a load bearing surface. The flooring element includes a warning element operable for moving between an inactive position in which the warning element is substantially concealed by the surface and an active position in which the warning element projects beyond the surface to form a visual hazard warning indicator. The flooring element may be for example a flooring panel, a stringer, a pedestal, an insert for a pedestal or an insert for inserting between a sub-floor void and a flooring panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sarah M. Drewery, Colin I. Holyoake, David J. Tolley, Julian D. Williams
  • Patent number: 10601187
    Abstract: An electrical power distribution unit for overload prevention is provided. The power distribution unit has a plurality of electrical power outlet sockets each for receiving a power plug and a power distribution system for supplying electrical power to each of the sockets. The power distribution unit includes an excess power detector for detecting an aggregate power drawn from the plurality of sockets and for actuating a disabling mechanism for disabling power supply for a subset of the sockets in response to the detected aggregate power exceeding a predetermined first threshold, wherein the subset of the sockets are sockets that are detected as currently not drawing power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Hewitt, Colin I. Holyoake, Richard Postlethwaite, Caroline J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10582772
    Abstract: A safety apparatus for an electrical equipment rack includes a retractable safety device for preventing, when in an operational position, the extending of an extendable rail and an electrical equipment unit mounted thereon from a position internal to the rack to a position external to the rack, and for allowing the same when in a non-operational position. The position of the retractable safety device is linked to the position of a retractable rack support such that when the retractable rack support is lowered in its operative position the retractable safety device is in a non-operational position, and when it is raised in a raised inoperative position the retractable safety device is in an operational position preventing the extending of the extendable rail and an electrical equipment unit mounted thereon to a position external to the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Hewitt, Colin I. Holyoake, Richard Postlethwaite, Caroline J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10587117
    Abstract: An electrical power distribution unit for overload prevention and a method for preventing overload of the electrical power distribution unit. The power distribution unit includes: (i) a plurality of sockets, each socket being an electrical power outlet socket, each socket having a plurality of receptacles for receiving corresponding pins of a power plug; (ii) a mechanical disabling mechanism configured to disable each socket that is unoccupied by a respective power plug; and (iii) an excess power detector configured to detect an aggregate power drawn from the sockets. The method includes: monitoring, by the excess power detector, a first aggregate power drawn from the sockets; and determining that the first aggregate power exceeds a predetermined first threshold and in response, actuating the mechanical disabling mechanism to disable each socket that is unoccupied by a respective power plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Hewitt, Colin I. Holyoake, Richard Postlethwaite, Caroline J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10579782
    Abstract: A method and related electronic apparatus for providing a user access to a computer system, the method comprising: determining at least one object in contact with a surface; generating at least one pulse sequence; actuating the surface based on the at least one pulse sequence; determining an absence of the at least one object from the surface; determining at least one character of a password input based on the at least one pulse sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Colin I. Holyoake, James S. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20190328137
    Abstract: A safety apparatus for an electrical equipment rack includes a retractable safety device for preventing, when in an operational position, the extending of an extendable rail and an electrical equipment unit mounted thereon from a position internal to the rack to a position external to the rack, and for allowing the same when in a non-operational position. The position of the retractable safety device is linked to the position of a retractable rack support such that when the retractable rack support is lowered in its operative position the retractable safety device is in a non-operational position, and when it is raised in a raised inoperative position the retractable safety device is in an operational position preventing the extending of the extendable rail and an electrical equipment unit mounted thereon to a position external to the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: James Hewitt, Colin I. Holyoake, Richard Postlethwaite, Caroline J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10390619
    Abstract: A safety apparatus for an electrical equipment rack includes a retractable safety device for preventing, when in an operational position, the extending of an extendable rail and an electrical equipment unit mounted thereon from a position internal to the rack to a position external to the rack, and for allowing the same when in a non-operational position. The position of the retractable safety device is linked to the position of a retractable rack support such that when the retractable rack support is lowered in its operative position the retractable safety device is in a non-operational position, and when it is raised in a raised inoperative position the retractable safety device is in an operational position preventing the extending of the extendable rail and an electrical equipment unit mounted thereon to a position external to the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Hewitt, Colin I. Holyoake, Richard Postlethwaite, Caroline J. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20190147146
    Abstract: A method and related electronic apparatus for providing a user access to a computer system, the method comprising: determining at least one object in contact with a surface; generating at least one pulse sequence; actuating the surface based on the at least one pulse sequence; determining an absence of the at least one object from the surface; determining at least one character of a password input based on the at least one pulse sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Colin I. Holyoake, James S. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20190149395
    Abstract: A method and system. A first computer device sends to a second computer device, via a broadcast or multicast communication, an event notification of a notifiable management event. The first computer device may connect to a management network via only a first network switch, wherein the first computer device is unable to notify a management device of the notifiable management event via the management network because the first computer device is unable to connect to the management network via the first network switch. The first computer device receives, from the second computer device via a first unicast communication, an acknowledgment of the event notification, wherein the second computer device is able to connect to the management network via the second network switch. The broadcast or multicast communication and the first unicast communication each use a short-range wireless communications technology comprising visible light communication or data-over-audio communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew S. Feltham, Colin I. Holyoake, Elizabeth J. Maple
  • Patent number: 10263831
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product. A first computer device identifies a notifiable management event relating to the first computer device, wherein the first computer device is unable to notify a management device of the notifiable management event via a management network because the first computer device is unable to connect to the management network. The first computer device sends, to a second computer device via a broadcast or multicast communication, an event notification of the notifiable management event. The first computer device receives, from the second computer device via a first unicast communication, an acknowledgement of the event notification, wherein the second computer device is able to connect to the management network. The broadcast or multicast communication and the first unicast communication each use a short-range wireless communications technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew S. Feltham, Colin I. Holyoake, Elizabeth J. Maple
  • Publication number: 20190090637
    Abstract: A safety apparatus for an electrical equipment rack includes a retractable safety device for preventing, when in an operational position, the extending of an extendable rail and an electrical equipment unit mounted thereon from a position internal to the rack to a position external to the rack, and for allowing the same when in a non-operational position. The position of the retractable safety device is linked to the position of a retractable rack support such that when the retractable rack support is lowered in its operative position the retractable safety device is in a non-operational position, and when it is raised in a raised inoperative position the retractable safety device is in an operational position preventing the extending of the extendable rail and an electrical equipment unit mounted thereon to a position external to the rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: James Hewitt, Colin I. Holyoake, Richard Postlethwaite, Caroline J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10229254
    Abstract: A method and related electronic apparatus for providing a user access to a computer system, the method comprising: determining at least one object in contact with a surface; generating at least one pulse sequence; actuating the surface based on the at least one pulse sequence; determining an absence of the at least one object from the surface; determining at least one character of a password input based on the at least one pulse sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Colin I. Holyoake, James S. Taylor
  • Patent number: 10178911
    Abstract: A safety apparatus for an electrical equipment rack includes a retractable safety device for preventing, when in an operational position, the extending of an extendable rail and an electrical equipment unit mounted thereon from a position internal to the rack to a position external to the rack, and for allowing the same when in a non-operational position. The position of the retractable safety device is linked to the position of a retractable rack support such that when the retractable rack support is lowered in its operative position the retractable safety device is in a non-operational position, and when it is raised in a raised inoperative position the retractable safety device is in an operational position preventing the extending of the extendable rail and an electrical equipment unit mounted thereon to a position external to the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Hewitt, Colin I. Holyoake, Richard Postlethwaite, Caroline J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 10170879
    Abstract: A power distribution unit (PDU) having a connector to connect to an input power supply and a plurality of power outlet sockets for receiving plugs having a number of pins. Each power outlet socket has a mechanical locking mechanism movable between a locked position and an unlocked position when a plug is inserted into the power outlet socket to lock and unlock a plug pin in the power outlet socket. Absent actuation the locked position is adopted. Each power outlet socket includes an externally, manually actuatable, first release element, and an internally, electrically actuatable, second release element. A power sensor detects whether or not power is being drawn and, for power outlet sockets which currently host a plug and are not drawing power, the second release element is actuated by the PDU so as to unlock the mechanical locking mechanism, thereby freeing up the associated plugs for removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Hewitt, Colin I. Holyoake, Mark J. Lawrence, Caroline J. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20180366885
    Abstract: An electrical power distribution unit for overload prevention is provided. The power distribution unit has a plurality of electrical power outlet sockets each for receiving a power plug and a power distribution system for supplying electrical power to each of the sockets. The power distribution unit includes an excess power detector for detecting an aggregate power drawn from the plurality of sockets and for actuating a disabling mechanism for disabling power supply for a subset of the sockets in response to the detected aggregate power exceeding a predetermined first threshold, wherein the subset of the sockets are sockets that are detected as currently not drawing power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: James Hewitt, Colin I. Holyoake, Richard Postlethwaite, Caroline J. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20180320387
    Abstract: A flooring element is provided for a raised floor including removable flooring panels and a supporting structure with a load bearing surface. The flooring element includes a warning element operable for moving between an inactive position in which the warning element is substantially concealed by the surface and an active position in which the warning element projects beyond the surface to form a visual hazard warning indicator. The flooring element may be for example a flooring panel, a stringer, a pedestal, an insert for a pedestal or an insert for inserting between a sub-floor void and a flooring panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Sarah M. Drewery, Colin I. Holyoake, David J. Tolley, Julian D. Williams
  • Patent number: 10106990
    Abstract: A flooring element is provided for a raised floor including removable flooring panels and a supporting structure with a load bearing surface. The flooring element includes a warning element operable for moving between an inactive position in which the warning element is substantially concealed by the surface and an active position in which the warning element projects beyond the surface to form a visual hazard warning indicator. The flooring element may be for example a flooring panel, a stringer, a pedestal, an insert for a pedestal or an insert for inserting between a sub-floor void and a flooring panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sarah M. Drewery, Colin I. Holyoake, David J. Tolley, Julian D. Williams