Patents by Inventor Donald Eugene Johnson

Donald Eugene Johnson 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: 8140705
    Abstract: A method and system for recovering a server blade, in a multiple server blade computer, that is lost during a flash update operation on a service processor in the server blade. Because of the flash update failure, the lost server blade is unaware of its location on a management pathway, which in an exemplary form may be a midplane or a bus, which connects the server blade and a management module in a server blade chassis. The lost server blade puts a signal on the management pathway indicating that the flash failed. The signal is put on a special channel reserved for such messages. The management module receives the signal, and then determines which of the multiple server blades are lost due to the flash update failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gerhard Nikolaus Buckler, Jeffery Michael Franke, Donald Eugene Johnson, Carl A. Morrell, David Robert Woodham
  • Patent number: 7996706
    Abstract: A system for recovering a server blade, in a multiple server blade computer, that is lost during a flash update operation on a service processor in the server blade. Because of the flash update failure, the lost server blade is unaware of its location on a management pathway, which in an exemplary form may be a midplane or a bus, which connects the server blade and a management module in a server blade chassis. The lost server blade puts a signal on the management pathway indicating that the flash failed. The signal is put on a special channel reserved for such messages. The management module receives the signal, and then determines which of the multiple server blades are lost due to the flash update failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gerhard Nikolaus Buckler, Jeffery Michael Franke, Donald Eugene Johnson, Carl A. Morrell, David Robert Woodham
  • Patent number: 7970880
    Abstract: A computer program product is presented for recovering a server blade, in a multiple server blade computer, that is lost during a flash update operation on a service processor in the server blade. Because of the flash update failure, the lost server blade is unaware of its location on a management pathway, which in an exemplary form may be a midplane or a bus, which connects the server blade and a management module in a server blade chassis. The lost server blade puts a signal on the management pathway indicating that the flash failed. The signal is put on a special channel reserved for such messages. The management module receives the signal, and then determines which of the multiple server blades are lost due to the flash update failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gerhard Nikolaus Buckler, Jeffery Michael Franke, Donald Eugene Johnson, Carl A. Morrell, David Robert Woodham
  • Publication number: 20080140859
    Abstract: A method and system for recovering a server blade, in a multiple server blade computer, that is lost during a flash update operation on a service processor in the server blade. Because of the flash update failure, the lost server blade is unaware of its location on a management pathway, which in an exemplary form may be a midplane or a bus, which connects the server blade and a management module in a server blade chassis. The lost server blade puts a signal on the management pathway indicating that the flash failed. The signal is put on a special channel reserved for such messages. The management module receives the signal, and then determines which of the multiple server blades are lost due to the flash update failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: IBM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gerhard Nikolaus Buckler, Jeffery Michael Franke, Donald Eugene Johnson, Carl A. Morrell, David Robert Woodham
  • Publication number: 20080141236
    Abstract: A system for recovering a server blade, in a multiple server blade computer, that is lost during a flash update operation on a service processor in the server blade. Because of the flash update failure, the lost server blade is unaware of its location on a management pathway, which in an exemplary form may be a midplane or a bus, which connects the server blade and a management module in a server blade chassis. The lost server blade puts a signal on the management pathway indicating that the flash failed. The signal is put on a special channel reserved for such messages. The management module receives the signal, and then determines which of the multiple server blades are lost due to the flash update failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: IBM CORPORATION
    Inventors: GERHARD NIKOLAUS BUCKLER, Jeffery Michael Franke, Donald Eugene Johnson, Carl A. Morrell, David Robert Woodham
  • Patent number: 7383461
    Abstract: A method and system for recovering a server blade, in a multiple server blade computer, that is lost during a flash update operation on a service processor in the server blade. Because of the flash update failure, the lost server blade is unaware of its location on a management pathway, which in an exemplary form may be a midplane or a bus, which connects the server blade and a management module in a server blade chassis. The lost server blade puts a signal on the management pathway indicating that the flash failed. The signal is put on a special channel reserved for such messages. The management module receives the signal, and then determines which of the multiple server blades are lost due to the flash update failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gerhard Nikolaus Buckler, Jeffery Michael Franke, Donald Eugene Johnson, Carl A. Morrell, David Robert Woodham
  • Publication number: 20080126563
    Abstract: A computer program product is presented for recovering a server blade, in a multiple server blade computer, that is lost during a flash update operation on a service processor in the server blade. Because of the flash update failure, the lost server blade is unaware of its location on a management pathway, which in an exemplary form may be a midplane or a bus, which connects the server blade and a management module in a server blade chassis. The lost server blade puts a signal on the management pathway indicating that the flash failed. The signal is put on a special channel reserved for such messages. The management module receives the signal, and then determines which of the multiple server blades are lost due to the flash update failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: IBM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gerhard Nikolaus Buckler, Jeffery Michael Franke, Donald Eugene Johnson, Carl A. Morrell, David Robert Woodham
  • Patent number: 7213163
    Abstract: A data processing network includes a set of servers, at least one switch module to interconnect the servers, and a management module. The management module consults power state information stored in the network following a power transition and restores power to at least some of the servers and switch modules based on the power state information. The power state information prevents the management module from restoring power to servers and switch modules having incompatible communication protocols. In one embodiment, the plurality of servers and the switch modules are hot-swappable modules that are all inserted into a single chassis. In this embodiment, the server modules and at least one switch module share selected resources of the network including system power. The switch modules and servers may employ Ethernet, fiber channel, optical, and serial communication protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory William Dake, Jeffrey Michael Franke, Donald Eugene Johnson, Shane Michael Lardinois, Michael Scott Rollins, David Robert Woodham
  • Patent number: 7137014
    Abstract: In a chassis based server a programmed processor determines the fabric type that allows the maximum numbers of processor modules and switches to be powered on. The processor then allows power to be applied to processor modules and switches whose fabric type is the same as the determined fabric type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory William Dake, Jeffery Michael Franke, Donald Eugene Johnson
  • Patent number: 6976112
    Abstract: When a blade and/or interconnect device is inserted into the chassis of a powered or live server the procedure is known as hot-plugging. Before power is applied to the hot-plugged blade and/or interconnect device the fabric type of already installed blades and/or interconnect devices is correlated with fabric types of newly hot-plugged blade and/or interconnect device. Depending upon results of the correlation, power to the hot-plugged blade and/or interconnect device is allowed or denied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery Michael Franke, Donald Eugene Johnson, Michael Scott Rollins, David Robert Woodham
  • Publication number: 20040268157
    Abstract: A data processing network includes a set of servers, at least one switch module to interconnect the servers, and a management module. The management module consults power state information stored in the network following a power transition and restores power to at least some of the servers and switch modules based on the power state information. The power state information prevents the management module from restoring power to servers and switch modules having incompatible communication protocols. In one embodiment, the plurality of servers and the switch modules are hot-swappable modules that are all inserted into a single chassis. In this embodiment, the server modules and at least one switch module share selected resources of the network including system power. The switch modules and servers may employ Ethernet, fibre channel, optical, and serial communication protocols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory William Dake, Jeffrey Michael Franke, Donald Eugene Johnson, Shane Michael Lardinois, Michael Scott Rollins, David Robert Woodham
  • Publication number: 20040117536
    Abstract: When a blade and/or interconnect device is inserted into the chassis of a powered or live server the procedure is known as hot-plugging. Before power is applied to the hot-plugged blade and/or interconnect device the fabric type of already installed blades and/or interconnect devices is correlated with fabric types of newly hot-plugged blade and/or interconnect device. Depending upon results of the correlation, power to the hot-plugged blade and/or interconnect device is allowed or denied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk , New York
    Inventors: Jeffery Michael Franke, Donald Eugene Johnson, Michael Scott Rollins, David Robert Woodham
  • Publication number: 20040103180
    Abstract: Signals to a management module are generated on an occurrence of an event affecting one of a plurality of server blades housed in a common chassis with the management module and aggregated in the management module. Signaling in accordance with this invention may be originated at a number of levels of operation of information handling systems, and distinction can be drawn between an occurrence requiring prompt attention from an operator—an alert—and occurrences where such prompt action is unnecessary. Occurrences signaled are logged for possible later review, and such a log will, in the contemplation of this invention, contain events related to a number of server blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney Hugh Brown, Gregory William Dake, Jeffery M. Franke, Donald Eugene Johnson, Edward Joseph Klodnicki, Carl Anthony Morrell, Chetan Dhirubhai Patel, Michael Scott Rollins, William Bradley Schwartz, David R. Woodham
  • Publication number: 20040103327
    Abstract: In a chassis based server a programmed processor determines the fabric type that allows the maximum numbers of processor modules and switches to be powered on. The processor then allows power to be applied to processor modules and switches whose fabric type is the same as the determined fabric type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory William Dake, Jeffery Michael Franke, Donald Eugene Johnson
  • Patent number: 6661671
    Abstract: A chassis controller can identify a blade that spans more than one power plane. If power is healthy and available on all power planes then the blade may be granted permission to power on. The chassis controller validates that when a blade spans multiple power planes that the necessary power is available before permitting the blade to go to fully power operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery Michael Franke, Edward Joseph Klodnicki, Donald Eugene Johnson