Patents by Inventor Douglas W. Oliver

Douglas W. Oliver 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: 20150235156
    Abstract: Enabling capacity on demand in a computing system using a calendar, including: receiving, by a resource management module, a request to purchase capacity on demand, the request including a cumulative amount of time for capacity on demand; receiving, by the resource management module, one or more calendar entries identifying requested periods of time for capacity on demand; and allocating, by the resource management module, capacity on demand in dependence upon the cumulative amount of time for capacity on demand and the requested periods of time for capacity on demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Shiva R. Dasari, Douglas W. Oliver, Mehul M. Shah, Wingcheung Tam
  • Patent number: 9098644
    Abstract: A compute node includes a motherboard having a trusted platform module, and also includes a port for selectively coupling a hot pluggable device into communication with the motherboard. The compute node further includes a circuit coupled to the port for detecting a change in the physical connection of the hot pluggable device to the port and for asserting a physical presence signal to the trusted platform module in response to detecting a change in the physical connection of the hot pluggable device to the port. The change in the physical connection of the hot pluggable device to the port may include either physically connecting the hot pluggable device to the port, physically disconnecting the hot pluggable device from the port, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Newton P. Liu, Douglas W. Oliver, Nicholas A. Ramirez, Mehul M. Shah, Wingcheung Tam
  • Patent number: 9075927
    Abstract: A method includes asserting a physical presence signal to a trusted platform module of a compute node in response to detecting a change in the physical connection of a hot pluggable device to a port of the compute node. The change in the physical connection of the hot pluggable device to the port is selected from physically connecting the hot pluggable device to the port, physically disconnecting the hot pluggable device from the port, and combinations thereof. Optionally, the compute node has a USB port and the hot pluggable device has a USB connector that is selectively physically connectable to the USB port. In one example, detecting a change in the physical connection of the hot pluggable device to the compute node includes detecting a voltage change on the USB port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Newton P. Liu, Douglas W. Oliver, Nicholas A. Ramirez, Mehul M. Shah, Wingcheung Tam
  • Publication number: 20150154082
    Abstract: Provisioning memory in a memory system for mirroring includes: gathering, by a memory controller, margin data for memory in the memory system, the margin data representing susceptibility for error; identifying, by the memory controller in dependence upon provisioning criteria and the margin data, mirroring candidates within the memory system; and mirroring, by the memory controller, memory of the memory system utilizing the mirroring candidates as a mirrored backup of other memory in the memory system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: SHIVA R. DASARI, RAGHUSWAMYREDDY GUNDAM, NEWTON P. LIU, DOUGLAS W. OLIVER, MEHUL M. SHAH, WINGCHEUNG TAM
  • Patent number: 9043932
    Abstract: A method uses a firmware interface setup program for a selected compute node (“node”) to cause a firmware interface to enable a trusted platform module (TPM) on the selected node to receive a physical presence (PP) signal. The selected node is selected from a plurality of nodes within a multi-node chassis, wherein each node includes a firmware interface and a TPM. A device within the multi-node chassis is manually actuated to transmit a PP signal to each of the plurality of nodes, such that each node receives the PP signal. The PP signal is asserted to the TPM of the selected node in response to both enabling the TPM of the selected node to be able to receive the PP signal and receiving the PP signal. Still further, the method allows modification of a security setting of the selected node in response to the TPM receiving the PP signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shiva R. Dasari, Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Karthik Kolavasi, Newton P. Liu, Douglas W. Oliver, Nicholas A. Ramirez, Mehul M. Shah, Wingcheung Tam
  • Patent number: 9003172
    Abstract: Intelligently loading legacy option ROMs in a computing system, including: generating, by a legacy option ROM manager, an inventory for the computing system, wherein the inventory for the computing system identifies one or more devices in the computing system; determining, by the legacy option ROM manager for each option ROM available for loading, whether a device supported by the option ROM is included in the inventory for the computing system; responsive to determining that the device supported by the option ROM is not included in the inventory for the computing system, preventing the option ROM from being loaded into an option ROM address space; and responsive to determining that the device supported by the option ROM is included in the inventory for the computing system, enabling the option ROM to be loaded into the option ROM address space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shiva R. Dasari, Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Newton P. Liu, Douglas W. Oliver, Terence Rodrigues, Mehul M. Shah, Wingcheung Tam
  • Publication number: 20150088319
    Abstract: A method and/or computer program product automatically adjusts room temperature in a data center room. A processor in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system receives a throttle threshold temperature for each of multiple computing devices that are within a data center room, which is climate-controlled by the HVAC system. The processor in the HVAC system monitors a real-time temperature of at least one of the multiple computing devices. In response to the real-time temperature of said at least one of the multiple computing devices exceeding the throttle threshold temperature, an ambient air temperature in the data center room is decreased by adjusting a hardware thermostat in the HVAC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: SHIVA R. DASARI, RAGHUSWAMYREDDY GUNDAM, NEWTON P. LIU, DOUGLAS W. OLIVER, WINGCHEUNG TAM
  • Publication number: 20150088314
    Abstract: A method and/or computer program product automatically adjusts room temperature in a data center room. A processor in a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system receives a throttle threshold temperature for each of multiple computing devices that are within a data center room, which is climate-controlled by the HVAC system. The processor in the HVAC system monitors a real-time temperature of at least one of the multiple computing devices. In response to the real-time temperature of said at least one of the multiple computing devices exceeding the throttle threshold temperature, an ambient air temperature in the data center room is decreased by adjusting a hardware thermostat in the HVAC system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: SHIVA R. DASARI, RAGHUSWAMYREDDY GUNDAM, NEWTON P. LIU, DOUGLAS W. OLIVER, WINGCHEUNG TAM
  • Publication number: 20150067896
    Abstract: A method includes asserting a physical presence signal to a trusted platform module of a compute node in response to detecting a change in the physical connection of a hot pluggable device to a port of the compute node. The change in the physical connection of the hot pluggable device to the port is selected from physically connecting the hot pluggable device to the port, physically disconnecting the hot pluggable device from the port, and combinations thereof. Optionally, the compute node has a USB port and the hot pluggable device has a USB connector that is selectively physically connectable to the USB port. In one example, detecting a change in the physical connection of the hot pluggable device to the compute node includes detecting a voltage change on the USB port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Newton P. Liu, Douglas W. Oliver, Nicholas A. Ramirez, Mehul M. Shah, Wingcheung Tam
  • Publication number: 20150067222
    Abstract: A compute node includes a motherboard having a trusted platform module, and also includes a port for selectively coupling a hot pluggable device into communication with the motherboard. The compute node further includes a circuit coupled to the port for detecting a change in the physical connection of the hot pluggable device to the port and for asserting a physical presence signal to the trusted platform module in response to detecting a change in the physical connection of the hot pluggable device to the port. The change in the physical connection of the hot pluggable device to the port may include either physically connecting the hot pluggable device to the port, physically disconnecting the hot pluggable device from the port, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Newton P. Liu, Douglas W. Oliver, Nicholas A. Ramirez, Mehul M. Shah, Wingcheung Tam
  • Publication number: 20150067309
    Abstract: A method uses a firmware interface setup program for a selected compute node (“node”) to cause a firmware interface to enable a trusted platform module (TPM) on the selected node to receive a physical presence (PP) signal. The selected node is selected from a plurality of nodes within a multi-node chassis, wherein each node includes a firmware interface and a TPM. A device within the multi-node chassis is manually actuated to transmit a PP signal to each of the plurality of nodes, such that each node receives the PP signal. The PP signal is asserted to the TPM of the selected node in response to both enabling the TPM of the selected node to be able to receive the PP signal and receiving the PP signal. Still further, the method allows modification of a security setting of the selected node in response to the TPM receiving the PP signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shiva R. Dasari, Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Karthik Kolavasi, Newton P. Liu, Douglas W. Oliver, Nicholas A. Ramirez, Mehul M. Shah, Wingcheung Tam
  • Publication number: 20150067308
    Abstract: A system includes a multi-node chassis including a chassis management module, a plurality of compute nodes, and a physical presence manual actuator for transmitting a physical presence signal to each compute node in response to manual actuation. Each server has a firmware interface, a trusted platform module, and an AND gate. The firmware interface has a general purpose input output pin for providing an enabling signal in response to a user instruction to a firmware interface setup program that communicates with the firmware interface. The AND gate has a first input receiving the enabling signal, a second input receiving the physical presence signal, and an output coupled to the trusted platform module, wherein the AND gate for a selected compute node asserts physical presence to the trusted platform module of the selected compute node in response to receiving both the enabling signal and the physical presence signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shiva R. Dasari, Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Karthik Kolavasi, Newton P. Liu, Douglas W. Oliver, Nicholas A. Ramirez, Mehul M. Shah, Wingcheung Tam
  • Publication number: 20140245445
    Abstract: Preventing propagation of hardware viruses in a computing system, including: determining, by a hardware virus detection module, whether an empty connector in the computing system is damaged, wherein the empty connector is blocked from receiving an attachable computing device by a bumper; determining, by the hardware virus detection module, whether a connector for the attachable computing device is damaged; and responsive to determining that the empty connector is not damaged and that the connector for the attachable computing device is not damaged, moving the bumper such that the empty connector is not blocked from receiving the attachable computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiva R. Dasari, Sudhir Dhawan, Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Joshua H. Israel, Karthik Kolavasi, Newton P. Liu, Douglas W. Oliver, Mehul M. Shah, Wingcheung Tam
  • Publication number: 20140181684
    Abstract: Modifying a user profile, including: receiving, by a content presentation module, a request for one or more elements in a user profile, wherein each element in the user profile includes information identifying attributes associated with a user; presenting, by the content presentation module, content provided by a content provider; receiving, by the content presentation module, a user request to alter the presentation of the content; receiving, by the content presentation module, updated values for the requested one or more elements in the user profile; and updating, by the content presentation module, the user profile in dependence upon the updated values for the requested one or more elements in the user profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: SHIVA R. DASARI, RAGHUSWAMYREDDY GUNDAM, JOSHUA H. ISRAEL, NEWTON P. LIU, DOUGLAS W. OLIVER, WINGCHEUNG TAM
  • Publication number: 20140047226
    Abstract: A method and computer program product for configuring the hardware devices of a computer node are disclosed. The method comprises the computer node receiving a user identification, and identifying a hardware configuration of the computer node that is stored in association with the user identification, wherein the hardware configuration identifies a subset of the hardware devices within the computer node that are not to receive power. The hardware configuration may be stored in associated with the user identification, for example by an administrator during setup. In one option, the computer node receives the user identification during user logon to the computer node. The method further comprises controlling power to the hardware devices of the computer node to implement the identified hardware configuration without physically removing the subset of hardware devices. Power is provided to the computer node except for the subset of the hardware devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiva R. Dasari, Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Newton P. Liu, Douglas W. Oliver, Terence Rodrigues, Mehul M. Shah, Wingcheung Tam
  • Publication number: 20130311761
    Abstract: Intelligently loading legacy option ROMs in a computing system, including: generating, by a legacy option ROM manager, an inventory for the computing system, wherein the inventory for the computing system identifies one or more devices in the computing system; determining, by the legacy option ROM manager for each option ROM available for loading, whether a device supported by the option ROM is included in the inventory for the computing system; responsive to determining that the device supported by the option ROM is not included in the inventory for the computing system, preventing the option ROM from being loaded into an option ROM address space; and responsive to determining that the device supported by the option ROM is included in the inventory for the computing system, enabling the option ROM to be loaded into the option ROM address space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiva R. Dasari, Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Newton P. Liu, Douglas W. Oliver, Terence Rodrigues, Mehul M. Shah, Wingcheung Tam
  • Publication number: 20130262912
    Abstract: A computer node includes an integrated management module, a field-programmable gate array, and a plurality of individual hardware devices. The integrated management module receives a user identification and identifies an associated hardware configuration, wherein the hardware configuration identifies hardware devices to be powered off. The integrated management module may instruct the field-programmable gate array to use switches to power off the identified hardware devices without powering off other hardware devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiva R. Dasari, Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Newton P. Liu, Douglas W. Oliver, Terence Rodrigues, Mehul M. Shah, Wingcheung Tam
  • Publication number: 20130253935
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for indicating a page number of an active document page within a document are provided. Embodiments include detecting, by a presentation controller, activation of a document page on a presentation device; in response to detecting the activation of the document page on the presentation device, tracking, by the presentation controller, an amount of time that the document page is consecutively active on the presentation device; determining, by the presentation controller, that the amount of time that the document page is consecutively active on the presentation device exceeds a predetermined threshold; and in response to determining that the predetermined threshold has been exceeded, providing to a target source, by the presentation controller, an output indicating a page number of the document page while the document page is active on the presentation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Newton P. Liu, Douglas W. Oliver, Terence Rodrigues, Wingcheung Tam
  • Publication number: 20130086571
    Abstract: Dynamically updating firmware in a computing system, including: receiving, by a firmware update module, a request to update firmware in the computing system; receiving, by the firmware update module, a firmware update; storing, by the firmware update module, the firmware update into computer memory of the computing system; and initiating, by the firmware update module, a system management interrupt with the address in computer memory of the computing system at which the firmware update is stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shiva R. Dasari, Raghuswamyreddy Gundam, Newton P. Liu, Douglas W. Oliver, Terence Rodrigues, Mehul M. Shah, Robert K. Sloan, Wingcheung Tam
  • Patent number: 5369644
    Abstract: A system is tested by providing a canned speed signal (a signal containing known speech) from a diagnostic controller to an encoder of the communication system. The canned signal is encoded forming an encoded canned speech signal. The encoded signal is transmitted to an where it is then decoded. The decoded signal is compared with the original canned speech signal in the diagnostic controller. A report of the comparison is then provided to a maintenance facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas W. Oliver