Patents by Inventor Donald W. Gerhart

Donald W. Gerhart 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: 12295126
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may heat them when their temperatures fall outside of thermal operating ranges. To mitigate some risk associated with heating, the data processing system may proactively calibrate temperature sensors used to guide the heating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Curtis Ray Genz, Yu-Hung Wang, Nicole Mutesi, Randy Alton Frazier, Donald W. Gerhart
  • Patent number: 12277046
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may implement a framework for improving the likelihood that the management components have access to consistent state information. The framework may include use of multiple management components that conserve and/or distribute information regarding the states of and events impacting the operation of hardware components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Donald W. Gerhart, Balamurugan Gnanasambandam, Randy Alton Frazier, Curtis Ray Genz
  • Patent number: 12267981
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may heat them when their temperatures fall outside of thermal operating ranges. To mitigate some risk associated with heating, the data processing system may proactively validate the operation of hardware and/or software used to manage the components that provide the heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Donald W. Gerhart, Randy Alton Frazier, Curtis Ray Genz
  • Patent number: 12248302
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may heat them when their temperatures fall outside of thermal operating ranges. The data processing system may implement a distributed management framework for managing the operation of a thermal management subsystem tasked with maintaining the temperatures of the hardware components through heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Donald W. Gerhart, Alaric Joaquim Narcissius Silveira, Eric Michael Tunks, Balamurugan Gnanasambandam, Curtis Ray Genz, Randy Alton Frazier, Jeffrey Leighton Kennedy
  • Patent number: 12242316
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may heat them when their temperatures fall outside of thermal operating ranges. To heat the hardware components, the data processing system may implement a dual device detection framework to identify and characterize various devices that may be usable to heat its hardware components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Curtis Ray Genz, Donald W. Gerhart, Jeffrey Leighton Kennedy, Randy Alton Frazier, Nicole Mutesi
  • Publication number: 20240237306
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may heat them when their temperatures fall outside of thermal operating ranges. To mitigate some risk associated with heating, the data processing system may proactively calibrate temperature sensors used to guide the heating process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: CURTIS RAY GENZ, YU-HUNG WANG, NICOLE MUTESI, RANDY ALTON FRAZIER, DONALD W. GERHART
  • Publication number: 20240237265
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may heat them when their temperatures fall outside of thermal operating ranges. To mitigate some risk associated with heating, the data processing system may proactively validate the operation of hardware and/or software used to manage the components that provide the heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: DONALD W. GERHART, RANDY ALTON FRAZIER, CURTIS RAY GENZ
  • Publication number: 20240231452
    Abstract: Methods and systems for thermal management of data processing systems are disclosed. To improve the likelihood of computer implemented services being provided, the systems may thermally manage the temperatures of various components of the data processing system under a variety of operating conditions. To warm the components, the system may include fans usable to generate a circulation airflow and heaters to generate heat to warm the airflow. To cool the components, the system may include fans usable to generate a through enclosure airflow to bring in cool air and expel warm air. The fans may be managed via a control system that includes multiple management entities that may operate under different ranges of thermal conditions and may be capable of performing various analysis for ascertaining how to operate the fans and heaters to thermally manage the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: DONALD W. GERHART, TIMOTHY M. LAMBERT, JEFFREY LEIGHTON KENNEDY
  • Publication number: 20240231319
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may heat them when their temperatures fall outside of thermal operating ranges. The data processing system may implement a distributed management framework for managing the operation of a thermal management subsystem tasked with maintaining the temperatures of the hardware components through heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: DONALD W. GERHART, ALARIC JOAQUIM NARCISSIUS SILVEIRA, ERIC MICHAEL TUNKS, BALAMURUGAN GNANASAMBANDAM, CURTIS RAY GENZ, RANDY ALTON FRAZIER, JEFFREY LEIGHTON KENNEDY
  • Publication number: 20240232036
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may implement a framework for improving the likelihood that the management components have access to consistent state information. The framework may include use of multiple management components that conserve and/or distribute information regarding the states of and events impacting the operation of hardware components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: DONALD W. GERHART, BALAMURUGAN GNANASAMBANDAM, RANDY ALTON FRAZIER, CURTIS RAY GENZ
  • Publication number: 20240231453
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may heat them when their temperatures fall outside of thermal operating ranges. To heat the hardware components, the data processing system may implement a dual device detection framework to identify and characterize various devices that may be usable to heat its hardware components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: CURTIS RAY GENZ, DONALD W. GERHART, JEFFREY LEIGHTON KENNEDY, RANDY ALTON FRAZIER, NICOLE MUTESI
  • Publication number: 20240231297
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may heat them when their temperatures fall outside of thermal operating ranges. To manage the hardware components when heating is unavailable, the data processing system may proactively heat them to elevated goal temperature ahead of periods of time when heating is unavailable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: DEEPAGANESH PAULRAJ, AKKIAH CHOUDARY MADDUKURI, DONALD W. GERHART, BALAMURUGAN GNANASAMBANDAM
  • Publication number: 20240138096
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may heat them when their temperatures fall outside of thermal operating ranges. To mitigate some risk associated with heating, the data processing system may proactively validate the operation of hardware and/or software used to manage the components that provide the heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: DONALD W. GERHART, RANDY ALTON FRAZIER, CURTIS RAY GENZ
  • Publication number: 20240134767
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may implement a framework for improving the likelihood that the management components have access to consistent state information. The framework may include use of multiple management components that conserve and/or distribute information regarding the states of and events impacting the operation of hardware components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: DONALD W. GERHART, BALAMURUGAN GNANASAMBANDAM, RANDY ALTON FRAZIER, CURTIS RAY GENZ
  • Publication number: 20240134350
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may heat them when their temperatures fall outside of thermal operating ranges. The data processing system may implement a distributed management framework for managing the operation of a thermal management subsystem tasked with maintaining the temperatures of the hardware components through heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: DONALD W. GERHART, ALARIC JOAQUIM NARCISSIUS SILVEIRA, ERIC MICHAEL TUNKS, BALAMURUGAN GNANASAMBANDAM, CURTIS RAY GENZ, RANDY ALTON FRAZIER, JEFFREY LEIGHTON KENNEDY
  • Publication number: 20240134430
    Abstract: Methods and systems for thermal management of data processing systems are disclosed. To improve the likelihood of computer implemented services being provided, the systems may thermally manage the temperatures of various components of the data processing system under a variety of operating conditions. To warm the components, the system may include fans usable to generate a circulation airflow and heaters to generate heat to warm the airflow. To cool the components, the system may include fans usable to generate a through enclosure airflow to bring in cool air and expel warm air. The fans may be managed via a control system that includes multiple management entities that may operate under different ranges of thermal conditions and may be capable of performing various analysis for ascertaining how to operate the fans and heaters to thermally manage the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: DONALD W. GERHART, TIMOTHY M. LAMBERT, JEFFREY LEIGHTON KENNEDY
  • Publication number: 20240134332
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may heat them when their temperatures fall outside of thermal operating ranges. To manage the hardware components when heating is unavailable, the data processing system may proactively heat them to elevated goal temperature ahead of periods of time when heating is unavailable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: DEEPAGANESH PAULRAJ, AKKIAH CHOUDARY MADDUKURI, DONALD W. GERHART, BALAMURUGAN GNANASAMBANDAM
  • Publication number: 20240134431
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may heat them when their temperatures fall outside of thermal operating ranges. To heat the hardware components, the data processing system may implement a dual device detection framework to identify and characterize various devices that may be usable to heat its hardware components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: CURTIS RAY GENZ, DONALD W. GERHART, JEFFREY LEIGHTON KENNEDY, RANDY ALTON FRAZIER, NICOLE MUTESI
  • Publication number: 20240138127
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing the operation of data processing systems are disclosed. A data processing system may include a computing device that may provide computer implemented services. To provide the computer implemented services, hardware components of the data processing system may need to operate in predetermined manners. To manage the operation of the hardware components, the data processing system may heat them when their temperatures fall outside of thermal operating ranges. To mitigate some risk associated with heating, the data processing system may proactively calibrate temperature sensors used to guide the heating process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: CURTIS RAY GENZ, YU-HUNG WANG, NICOLE MUTESI, RANDY ALTON FRAZIER, DONALD W. GERHART
  • Patent number: 11836502
    Abstract: An Information Handling System (IHS) includes multiple hardware devices, and a baseboard Management Controller (BMC) in communication with the plurality of hardware devices. The BMC includes executable instructions for beginning execution of a first BMC firmware stack, and during execution of the first BMC firmware stack, halt execution of the first BMC firmware stack, and begin execution of a second BMC firmware stack. At least a portion of the executable instructions used to generate the first BMC firmware stack are different than the executable instructions used to generate the second BMC firmware stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Akkiah Choudary Maddukuri, Chandrasekhar Mugunda, Prashanth Giri, Eugene David Cho, Donald W. Gerhart, Yogesh Prabhakar Kulkarni