Patents by Inventor Hillery C. Hunter

Hillery C. Hunter 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: 8838901
    Abstract: A data processing system includes a processor core and a cache memory hierarchy coupled to the processor core. The cache memory hierarchy includes at least one upper level cache and a lowest level cache. A memory controller is coupled to the lowest level cache and to a system memory and includes a physical write queue from which the memory controller writes data to the system memory. The memory controller initiates accesses to the lowest level cache to place into the physical write queue selected cachelines having spatial locality with data present in the physical write queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Daly, Benjiman L. Goodman, Hillery C. Hunter, William J. Starke, Jeffrey A. Stuecheli
  • Publication number: 20140223120
    Abstract: A memory device may be equipped with quick erase capability to secure the contents of the memory device. The quick erase capability may effectively permanently disable access to data stored in the memory device instantaneously upon a command being issued, making all previous data written to the memory device unreadable. The quick erase capability may allow use of the memory device for new write operations and for reading the newly written data immediately once the erase command is received and executed. The quick erase capability may begin a physical erase process of data not newly written without altering other aspects of the quick erase. Aspects may be accomplished with one or more bits per row in a memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michele M. Franceschini, Hillery C. Hunter, Ashish Jagmohan, Charles A. Kilmer, Kyu-hyoun Kim, Luis A. Lastras-Montano, Warren E. Maule
  • Publication number: 20140223117
    Abstract: A memory device may be equipped with quick erase capability to secure the contents of the memory device. The quick erase capability may effectively permanently disable access to data stored in the memory device instantaneously upon a command being issued, making all previous data written to the memory device unreadable. The quick erase capability may allow use of the memory device for new write operations and for reading the newly written data immediately once the erase command is received and executed. The quick erase capability may begin a physical erase process of data not newly written without altering other aspects of the quick erase. Aspects may be accomplished with one or more bits per row in a memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michele M. Franceschini, Hillery C. Hunter, Ashish Jagmohan, Charles A. Kilmer, Kyu-hyoun Kim, Luis A. Lastras-Montano, Warren E. Maule
  • Publication number: 20140185398
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing memory in an electronic system is described. The method includes determining a failure in an element of the memory array that is repairable by a redundant element. The method may further include using a latch to identify the redundant element. The method may also include that upon an event, using a value in the latch in an eFuse which subsequently selects the redundant element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michele M. Franceschini, Hillery C. Hunter, Charles A. Kilmer, Kyu-hyoun Kim, Luis A. Lastras-Montano
  • Publication number: 20140185397
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing memory in an electronic system is described. The method includes determining a failure in an element of the memory array that is repairable by a redundant element. The method may further include using a latch to identify the redundant element. The method may also include that upon an event, using a value in the latch in an eFuse which subsequently selects the redundant element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michele M. Franceschini, Hillery C. Hunter, Charles A. Kilmer, Kyu-hyoun Kim, Luis A. Lastras-Montano
  • Publication number: 20140164820
    Abstract: This disclosure includes a method for preventing errors in a DRAM (dynamic random access memory) due to weak cells that includes determining the location of a weak cell in a DRAM row, receiving data to write to the DRAM, and encoding the data into a bit vector to be written to memory. For each weak cell location, the corresponding bit from the bit vector is equal to the reliable logic state of the weak cell and the bit vector is longer than the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michele M. Franceschini, Hillery C. Hunter, Ashish Jagmohan, Charles A. Kilmer, Kyu-hyoun Kim, Luis A. Lastras-Montano, Moinuddin K. Qureshi
  • Publication number: 20140164692
    Abstract: This disclosure includes a method for preventing errors in a DRAM (dynamic random access memory) due to weak cells that includes determining the location of a weak cell in a DRAM row, receiving data to write to the DRAM, and encoding the data into a bit vector to be written to memory. For each weak cell location, the corresponding bit from the bit vector is equal to the reliable logic state of the weak cell and the bit vector is longer than the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michele M. Franceschini, Hillery C. Hunter, Ashish Jagmohan, Charles A. Kilmer, Kyu-hyoun Kim, Luis A. Lastras-Montano, Moinuddin K. Qureshi
  • Publication number: 20140164874
    Abstract: This disclosure includes a method for correcting errors on a DRAM having an ECC which includes writing data to a DRAM row, reading data from the DRAM row, detecting errors in the data that cannot be corrected by the DRAM's ECC, determining erasure information for the row, evaluating the errors using the erasure information, and correcting the errors in the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michele M. Franceschini, Hillery C. Hunter, Ashish Jagmohan, Charles A. Kilmer, Kyu-hyoun Kim, Luis A. Lastras-Montano, Moinuddin K. Qureshi
  • Publication number: 20140164871
    Abstract: This disclosure includes a method for correcting errors on a DRAM having an ECC which includes writing data to a DRAM row, reading data from the DRAM row, detecting errors in the data that cannot be corrected by the DRAM's ECC, determining erasure information for the row, evaluating the errors using the erasure information, and correcting the errors in the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michele M. Franceschini, Hillery C. Hunter, Ashish Jagmohan, Charles A. Kilmer, Kyu-hyoun Kim, Luis A. Lastras-Montano, Moinuddin K. Qureshi
  • Publication number: 20140115281
    Abstract: According to one embodiment a memory system includes a circuit card and a separable area array connector on the circuit card. The system also includes a memory device positioned on the circuit card, wherein the memory device is configured to communicate with a main processor of a computer system via the area array connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul W. Coteus, Shawn A. Hall, Hillery C. Hunter, Douglas J. Joseph, Charles A. Kilmer, Kyu-hyoun Kim, Warren E. Maule, Todd E. Takken
  • Patent number: 8705307
    Abstract: An embodiment provided is a memory system with dynamic refreshing that includes a memory device with memory cells. The system also includes a refresh module in communication with the memory device and with a memory controller, the refresh module configured for receiving a refresh command from the memory controller and for refreshing a number of the memory cells in the memory device in response to receiving the refresh command. The number of memory cells refreshed in response to receiving the refresh command is responsive to at least one of a desired bandwidth characteristic and a desired latency characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joab D. Henderson, Hillery C. Hunter, Warren E. Maule, Jeffrey A. Stuecheli
  • Patent number: 8683128
    Abstract: A data processing system includes a multi-level cache hierarchy including a lowest level cache, a processor core coupled to the multi-level cache hierarchy, and a memory controller coupled to the lowest level cache and to a memory bus of a system memory. The memory controller includes a physical read queue that buffers data read from the system memory via the memory bus and a physical write queue that buffers data to be written to the system memory via the memory bus. The memory controller grants priority to write operations over read operations on the memory bus based upon a number of dirty cachelines in the lowest level cache memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Daly, Benjiman L. Goodman, Hillery C. Hunter, William J. Starke, Jeffrey A. Stuecheli
  • Patent number: 8659959
    Abstract: An advanced memory having improved performance, reduced power and increased reliability. A memory device includes a memory array, a receiver for receiving a command and associated data, error control coding circuitry for performing error control checking on the received command, and data masking circuitry for preventing the associated data from being written to the memory array in response to the error control coding circuitry detecting an error in the received command. Another memory device includes a programmable preamble. Another memory device includes a fast exit self-refresh mode. Another memory device includes auto refresh function that is controlled by the characteristic device. Another memory device includes an auto refresh function that is controlled by a characteristic of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kyu-Hyoun Kim, George L. Chiu, Paul W. Coteus, Daniel M. Dreps, Kevin C. Gower, Hillery C. Hunter, Charles A. Kilmer, Warren E. Maule
  • Patent number: 8645627
    Abstract: A data processing system includes a multi-level cache hierarchy including a lowest level cache, a processor core coupled to the multi-level cache hierarchy, and a memory controller coupled to the lowest level cache and to a memory bus of a system memory. The memory controller includes a physical read queue that buffers data read from the system memory via the memory bus and a physical write queue that buffers data to be written to the system memory via the memory bus. The memory controller grants priority to write operations over read operations on the memory bus based upon a number of dirty cachelines in the lowest level cache memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Daly, Benjiman L. Goodman, Hillery C. Hunter, William J. Starke, Jeffrey A. Stuecheli
  • Patent number: 8635401
    Abstract: A method for performing refresh operations is disclosed. In response to a completion of a memory operation, a determination is made whether or not a refresh backlog count is greater than a first predetermined value. In a determination that the refresh backlog count is greater than the first predetermined value, a refresh operation is performed as soon as possible. In a determination that the refresh backlog count is not greater than the first predetermined value, a refresh operation is performed after a delay of an idle count value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Dodson, Benjiman L. Goodman, Hillery C. Hunter, Steven Powell, Jeffrey A. Stuecheli
  • Patent number: 8615634
    Abstract: A data processing system includes a processor core and a cache memory hierarchy coupled to the processor core. The cache memory hierarchy includes at least one upper level cache and a lowest level cache. A memory controller is coupled to the lowest level cache and to a system memory and includes a physical write queue from which the memory controller writes data to the system memory. The memory controller initiates accesses to the lowest level cache to place into the physical write queue selected cachelines having spatial locality with data present in the physical write queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Daly, Benjiman L. Goodman, Hillery C. Hunter, William J. Starke, Jeffrey A. Stuecheli
  • Patent number: 8549268
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing processing resources of a computerized system having at least a first processor and a second processor, each of the processors operatively interconnected to a memory storing a set of data to be processed by a processor, the method comprising: monitoring data accessed by the first processor while executing; and if the second processor is at a shorter distance than the first processor from the monitored data, instructing to interrupt execution at the first processor and resume the execution at the second processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hillery C Hunter, Ronald P Luijten, Phillip Stanley-Marbell
  • Patent number: 8489807
    Abstract: Techniques for performing refresh operations is disclosed. In response to a completion of a memory operation, a determination is made whether or not a refresh backlog count is greater than a first predetermined value. In a determination that the refresh backlog count is greater than the first predetermined value, a refresh operation is performed as soon as possible. In a determination that the refresh backlog count is not greater than the first predetermined value, a refresh operation is performed after a delay of an idle count value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John S. Dodson, Benjiman L. Goodman, Hillery C. Hunter, Stephen Powell, Jeffrey A. Stuecheli
  • Patent number: 8473723
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for a computerized system having at least a first processor and a second processor, where each of the processors are operatively interconnected to a memory storing a set of data to be processed by a processor. The method includes monitoring data accessed by the first processor while executing, and if the second processor is at a shorter distance than the first processor from the monitored data, instructing to interrupt execution at the first processor and resume the execution at the second processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hillery C Hunter, Ronald P Luijten, Phillip Stanley-Marbell
  • Patent number: 8452919
    Abstract: An advanced memory having improved performance, reduced power and increased reliability. A memory device includes a memory array, a receiver for receiving a command and associated data, error control coding circuitry for performing error control checking on the received command, and data masking circuitry for preventing the associated data from being written to the memory array in response to the error control coding circuitry detecting an error in the received command. Another memory device includes a programmable preamble. Another memory device includes a fast exit self-refresh mode. Another memory device includes auto refresh function that is controlled by the characteristic device. Another memory device includes an auto refresh function that is controlled by a characteristic of the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kyu-Hyoun Kim, George L. Chiu, Paul W. Coteus, Daniel M. Dreps, Kevin C. Gower, Hillery C. Hunter, Charles A. Kilmer, Warren E. Maule