Patents by Inventor Don H. Walker

Don H. Walker 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: 9798682
    Abstract: A method for providing notification of completion of a computing task includes providing access to an information handling resource for a first information handling system, registering the first information handling system with a first completion queue, submitting commands from the first information handling system to a first submission queue, providing access to the information handling resource for second first information handling system, registering the second information handling system with the first completion queue, and submitting commands from the second information handling system to a second submission queue. Upon execution of commands in the first submission queue and the second submission queue, an entry in is created a first completion queue. Upon the creation of an entry in the first completion queue, an interrupt is selectively sent to the first information handling resource and to the second information handling resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Don H. Walker, William Lynn
  • Patent number: 9736012
    Abstract: A network includes a management module with a first root complex, a first server with a first endpoint coupled to the first root complex, and a second server with a second root complex, a second endpoint coupled to the second root complex, a third endpoint coupled to the first root complex, and a bridge coupled to the second endpoint and to the third endpoint. A method includes discovering a PCIe host bridge adapter (PHBA) and a storage resource coupled to multiple storage extents in a PCIe domain, creating a first virtual function on the storage resource and sending a first identifier for the first virtual function to the PHBA. A network interface device includes a PCIe endpoint that is coupleable to a PCIe root complex, another PCIe endpoint that is coupleable to another PCIe root complex, and a bridge that couples the first PCIe endpoint with the second PCIe endpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Jacob Cherian, Don H. Walker
  • Publication number: 20150278130
    Abstract: A method for providing notification of completion of a computing task includes providing access to an information handling resource for a first information handling system, registering the first information handling system with a first completion queue, submitting commands from the first information handling system to a first submission queue, providing access to the information handling resource for second first information handling system, registering the second information handling system with the first completion queue, and submitting commands from the second information handling system to a second submission queue. Upon execution of commands in the first submission queue and the second submission queue, an entry in is created a first completion queue. Upon the creation of an entry in the first completion queue, an interrupt is selectively sent to the first information handling resource and to the second information handling resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Don H. Walker, William Lynn
  • Patent number: 9122515
    Abstract: A method for providing notification of completion of a computing task includes providing access to an information handling resource for a first information handling system, registering the first information handling system with a first completion queue, submitting commands from the first information handling system to a first submission queue, providing access to the information handling resource for second first information handling system, registering the second information handling system with the first completion queue, and submitting commands from the second information handling system to a second submission queue. Upon execution of commands in the first submission queue and the second submission queue, an entry in is created a first completion queue. Upon the creation of an entry in the first completion queue, an interrupt is selectively sent to the first information handling resource and to the second information handling resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Don H. Walker, William Lynn
  • Patent number: 8811619
    Abstract: During execution of BIOS at an information handling system, a processor communicates with the storage controller via a command line protocol (CLP) communications channel. Via the channel, the processor obtains identification information for storage devices associated with the storage controller. The processor communicates the identification information to a key management client, which obtains encryption keys based on the identification information from a key management server. The processor receives the encryption keys, and communicates them to the storage controller via the CLP communications channel. The CLP communications channel thus provides a convenient and flexible interface for communication of security information prior to execution of an operating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Mukund P. Khatri, Kevin T. Marks, Don H. Walker
  • Publication number: 20140173149
    Abstract: A method for providing notification of completion of a computing task includes providing access to an information handling resource for a first information handling system, registering the first information handling system with a first completion queue, submitting commands from the first information handling system to a first submission queue, providing access to the information handling resource for second first information handling system, registering the second information handling system with the first completion queue, and submitting commands from the second information handling system to a second submission queue. Upon execution of commands in the first submission queue and the second submission queue, an entry in is created a first completion queue. Upon the creation of an entry in the first completion queue, an interrupt is selectively sent to the first information handling resource and to the second information handling resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: DON H. WALKER, WILLIAM LYNN
  • Publication number: 20140075006
    Abstract: A network includes a management module with a first root complex, a first server with a first endpoint coupled to the first root complex, and a second server with a second root complex, a second endpoint coupled to the second root complex, a third endpoint coupled to the first root complex, and a bridge coupled to the second endpoint and to the third endpoint. A method includes discovering a PCIe host bridge adapter (PHBA) and a storage resource coupled to multiple storage extents in a PCIe domain, creating a first virtual function on the storage resource and sending a first identifier for the first virtual function to the PHBA. A network interface device includes a PCIe endpoint that is coupleable to a PCIe root complex, another PCIe endpoint that is coupleable to another PCIe root complex, and a bridge that couples the first PCIe endpoint with the second PCIe endpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Jacob Cherian, Don H. Walker
  • Patent number: 8595343
    Abstract: A network includes a management module with a first root complex, a first server with a first endpoint coupled to the first root complex, and a second server with a second root complex, a second endpoint coupled to the second root complex, a third endpoint coupled to the first root complex, and a bridge coupled to the second endpoint and to the third endpoint. A method includes discovering a PCIe host bridge adapter (PHBA) and a storage resource coupled to multiple storage extents in a PCIe domain, creating a first virtual function on the storage resource and sending a first identifier for the first virtual function to the PHBA. A network interface device includes a PCIe endpoint that is coupleable to a PCIe root complex, another PCIe endpoint that is coupleable to another PCIe root complex, and a bridge that couples the first PCIe endpoint with the second PCIe endpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Jacob Cherian, Don H. Walker
  • Patent number: 8332560
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for encoding a set of configuration data for a given expander and at some later point comparing the configuration data to a discovered configuration derived from an attempt to discover the operability of each phy or connection point of the storage system. The configuration identifies the phys or connection points that are operable and the mapping of operable connection points to wide ports communicatively of an expander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin T. Marks, Don H. Walker
  • Patent number: 8271968
    Abstract: Information handling system hard disk drive firmware updates are initiated on a hard disk drive without disrupting operations of the information handling system. A firmware update is copied in executable form to the hard disk drive's buffer and executed by the hard disk drive's controller without aborting queued tasks or losing system synchronization. The controller then copies the firmware update to flash memory in parallel with execution of the firmware update so that the hard disk drive operates with minimal degradation in performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Russell Woodbury, Don H. Walker, Frank Widjaja Yu
  • Publication number: 20100125653
    Abstract: A network includes a management module with a first root complex, a first server with a first endpoint coupled to the first root complex, and a second server with a second root complex, a second endpoint coupled to the second root complex, a third endpoint coupled to the first root complex, and a bridge coupled to the second endpoint and to the third endpoint. A method includes discovering a PCIe host bridge adapter (PHBA) and a storage resource coupled to multiple storage extents in a PCIe domain, creating a first virtual function on the storage resource and sending a first identifier for the first virtual function to the PHBA. A network interface device includes a PCIe endpoint that is coupleable to a PCIe root complex, another PCIe endpoint that is coupleable to another PCIe root complex, and a bridge that couples the first PCIe endpoint with the second PCIe endpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS, LP
    Inventors: Jacob Cherian, Don H. Walker
  • Publication number: 20100111309
    Abstract: During execution of BIOS at an information handling system, a processor communicates with the storage controller via a command line protocol (CLP) communications channel. Via the channel, the processor obtains identification information for storage devices associated with the storage controller. The processor communicates the identification information to a key management client, which obtains encryption keys based on the identification information from a key management server. The processor receives the encryption keys, and communicates them to the storage controller via the CLP communications channel. The CLP communications channel thus provides a convenient and flexible interface for communication of security information prior to execution of an operating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS, LP
    Inventors: Mukund P. Khatri, Kevin T. Marks, Don H. Walker
  • Patent number: 7543190
    Abstract: False positive error warnings associated with hot insertion or removal of a device with an SAS link are filtered by comparing the timing of error warnings with the timing of hot insertion or removal of the device. An SCSI Enclosure Processor monitors physical device presence events through a side band bus, such as an I2C bus interfaced with physical devices. Upon detection of an error associated with the SAS link, an error filter module retrieves time stamped physical device presence events from the SCSI Enclosure Processor, compares the time stamp of the physical device presence event and suppresses the warning if the time stamp falls within a predetermined time of the error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Inventor: Don H. Walker
  • Publication number: 20080141235
    Abstract: Information handling system hard disk drive firmware updates are initiated on a hard disk drive without disrupting operations of the information handling system. A firmware update is copied in executable form to the hard disk drive's buffer and executed by the hard disk drive's controller without aborting queued tasks or losing system synchronization. The controller then copies the firmware update to flash memory in parallel with execution of the firmware update so that the hard disk drive operates with minimal degradation in performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Russell Woodbury, Don H. Walker, Frank Widjaja Yu
  • Publication number: 20080005620
    Abstract: False positive error warnings associated with hot insertion or removal of a device with an SAS link are filtered by comparing the timing of error warnings with the timing of hot insertion or removal of the device. An SCSI Enclosure Processor monitors physical device presence events through a side band bus, such as an I2C bus interfaced with physical devices. Upon detection of an error associated with the SAS link, an error filter module retrieves time stamped physical device presence events from the SCSI Enclosure Processor, compares the time stamp of the physical device presence event and suppresses the warning if the time stamp falls within a predetermined time of the error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventor: Don H. Walker