Patents by Inventor Ian Davis

Ian Davis 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: 20070054921
    Abstract: The instant invention is directed to novel compounds of Formulae (I) and (II), as wells a process for preparing compounds of Formula (II). The process comprises a palladium-catalyzed reductive cyclization of a compound of Formula (I) to produce a compound of Formula (II).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventor: Ian Davies
  • Publication number: 20060280050
    Abstract: A copy-protected compact disc includes, within a single session, a table of contents (TOC) and a Video CD index (VI). Each track (T) is prefaced by unrecoverable data (UD) at a track start position (ATOC) indicated by the table of contents (TOC). However, the Video CD index (VI) indicates the actual position (AP) of the tracks. DVD players use the Video CD index (VI) to locate the tracks, while CD-ROM drives use the table of contents (TOC) and read the unrecoverable data (UD), which prevents them from reading the subsequent track (T). The unrecoverable data (UD) may be prefaced by data pointers (DP) which cause the CD-ROM drive to load a player program in response to the error condition. The player program can be used to play the tracks (T), but restricts copying. Subchannel data (P; DX) causes audio CD players to ignore the Video CD index (VI) and the unrecoverable data (UD), and to play the tracks (T) at their actual start positions (AP).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Anthony Miles, Iain Benson, Ceri Coburn, Ian Davies
  • Publication number: 20060282701
    Abstract: A method for adopting an orphaned I/O port of a storage controller is disclosed. The storage controller has first and second redundant field-replaceable units (FRU) for processing I/O requests and a third FRU having at least one I/O port for receiving the I/O requests from host computers coupled to it. Initially the first FRU processes the I/O requests received by the I/O port and the third FRU routes to the first FRU interrupt requests generated by the I/O port in response to receiving the I/O requests. Subsequently, the second FRU determines that the first FRU has failed and is no longer processing I/O requests received by the I/O port, and configures the third FRU to route the interrupt requests from the I/O port to the second FRU rather than the first FRU, in response to the determining that the first FRU has failed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: DOT HILL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ian Davies, Victor Pecone
  • Publication number: 20060277347
    Abstract: A bus bridge on a primary RAID controller receives user write data from a host and writes the data to its write cache and also broadcasts the data over a high speed link (e.g., PCI-Express) to a secondary RAID controller's bus bridge, which writes the data to its mirroring write cache. However, before writing the data, the second bus bridge automatically invalidates the cache buffers to which the data is to be written, which alleviates the primary controller's CPU from sending a message to the secondary controller's CPU to instruct it to invalidate the cache buffers. The secondary controller CPU programs its bus bridge at boot time with the base address of its mirrored write cache to enable it to detect that the cache buffer needs invalidating in response to the broadcast write, and with the base address of its directory that includes the cache buffer valid bits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: December 7, 2006
    Applicant: Dot Hill Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Ashmore, Ian Davies, Gene Maine
  • Patent number: 7112972
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a gauge in particular for the measurement of film thickness, uses a calibration variable to compensate for short term changes in probe tip condition, instead of a constant value. A calibration constant is based only on the dielectric constant for a coating such as lacquer, and is independent of the probe tip variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Ian Davies
  • Publication number: 20060161709
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant mass storage system includes two RAID controllers that communicate via a PCI-Express link. Each controller has a bus bridge coupled to the link, a cache memory that caches user data for storage on disk drives controlled by the controllers, and a CPU. The CPU fetches and executes program instructions from a CPU memory coupled to it. The CPU programs the bus bridge with window information defining a window of locations within the CPU memory, which is less than an entirety of the CPU memory. The bus bridge receives data on the link from the other controller and if the header of a packet containing the data indicates it is destined for the CPU memory, the bus bridge translates the address of the data so as to write the data safely to the CPU memory, but only within the window and nowhere else within the CPU memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Applicant: Dot Hill Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Ian Davies
  • Publication number: 20060161707
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant RAID system is disclosed. The system includes redundant RAID controllers coupled by a PCI-Express link. When a PCI-Express controller of one of the RAID controllers receives a PCI-Express memory write request transaction layer packet (TLP), it interprets a predetermined bit in the header as an interrupt request flag, rather than as its standard function specified by the PCI-Express specification. If the flag is set, the PCI-Express controller interrupts the processor after storing the message in the payload at the specified memory location. In one embodiment, an unused upper address bit in the header is used as the interrupt request flag. Additionally, unused predetermined bits in the TLP header are used as a message tag to indicate one of a plurality of message buffers on the receiving RAID controller into which the message has been written. The PCI-Express controller sets a corresponding bit in a register to indicate which message buffer was written.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Applicant: Dot Hill Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Davies, Gene Maine, Rex Vedder
  • Publication number: 20060106982
    Abstract: A system for performing an efficient mirrored posted-write operation having first and second RAID controllers in communication via a PCI-Express link is disclosed. The first bus bridge transmits a PCI-Express memory write request TLP to the second bus bridge. The TLP header includes an indication of whether the first CPU requests a certification that certifies the payload data has been written to the second write cache memory. If the indication requests the certification, the second bus bridge automatically transmits the certification to the first bus bridge independent of the second CPU, after writing the payload data to the second write cache memory. The first bus bridge generates an interrupt to the first CPU in response to receiving the certification. The certified transfer may be used to validate and/or invalidate mirrored copies of a write cache directory on the RAID controllers, among other uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicant: Dot Hill Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Ashmore, Ian Davies, Gene Maine, Rex Vedder
  • Publication number: 20060040718
    Abstract: Featured is a game applications programs, software, systems and methods that are such as to provide an interactive gaming experience for one or more game players by using speech recognition techniques in combination with interactive techniques and functionalities thereby as creating an interface that allows spoken words and/or phrases of a game player to initiate any one of a number of functionalities, actions or informational outputs in connection with the conduct of the game. Such methods, programs, and systems can further include creating an interface that allows a game player to initiate a function or action to be performed by the game player's character, to initiate a dialog or interaction between a player's character and a non-player character appearing in a game or to request information from a non-player character or about a phase of the game in general as part of the play of the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Applicant: Mad Doc Software, LLC
    Inventor: Ian Davis
  • Publication number: 20060034970
    Abstract: A set of injection mold sections are supported and secured to parallel spaced platens of an injection molding press by quick-change locking couplers including a plurality of projecting knobs or studs on each mold section. The studs are received within corresponding cylinders each having a tapered seat which engages a mating surface on the stud. Each cylinder also supports circumferentially spaced balls movable between locked positions engaging enlarged head portions of the studs and retracted released positions in response to axial movement of a spring biased piston within a housing. The pistons are moved to released positions in response to pressurized air supplied simultaneously to the housings. The locking couplers may be recessed within an adapter plate disposed between a mold section and the supporting platen, and the adapter plate has a pattern of threaded holes for mounting a conventional mold section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Vernon Lowe, Ian Davies
  • Publication number: 20050246568
    Abstract: An apparatus for deterministically killing one of redundant servers integrated into a network storage appliance chassis along with at least one storage controller is disclosed. Each server can generate a kill signal on a backplane of the chassis to the other server in response to a stopped heartbeat of the other server in order to disable the I/O ports of the other server on a network so the live server can reliably take over the identity of the other server on the network. Unlike conventional kill paths, such as an Ethernet cable connecting the two servers in separate chassis, the present invention does not require the failed server to be operational since the kill path is substantially a direct reset to the I/O ports of the failed server. One server raises a shield before killing the other server to avoid both servers killing each other simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Applicant: Dot Hill Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Ian Davies
  • Publication number: 20050215059
    Abstract: A process of producing a clean substrate for use in semi-conductor processing in which the substrate is roughened to produce microfissures therein and then treated with a high concentration of a strong acid followed by coating with a material containing at least one metal oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Ian Davis, David Laube
  • Publication number: 20050207105
    Abstract: An apparatus for deterministically performing active-active failover of redundant server blades hot-pluggable into a backplane of a network storage appliance chassis is disclosed. Each server monitors the other's heartbeat on a respective path in the backplane. Other paths between the two servers on the backplane enable one server to reliably kill the other server and take over its identity on the network in response to detecting a stopped heartbeat of the other server. The apparatus is superior to a conventional heartbeat link between servers in separate chassis, such as an Ethernet cable, because it is not prone to user removal or damage since the backplane cannot be removed by a user while the appliance is operational and enables each server to know a true heartbeat failure has occurred, as opposed to failure of a conventional external heartbeat link causing each server to each think the other has failed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Applicant: Dot Hill Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Ian Davies
  • Publication number: 20050102557
    Abstract: A storage controller configured to adopt orphaned I/O ports is disclosed. The controller includes multiple field-replaceable units (FRUs) that plug into a backplane having local buses. At least two of the FRUs have microprocessors and memory for processing I/O requests received from host computers for accessing storage devices controlled by the controller. Other of the FRUs include I/O ports for receiving the requests from the hosts and bus bridges for bridging the I/O ports to the backplane local buses in such a manner that if one of the processing FRUs fails, the surviving processing FRU detects the failure and responsively adopts the I/O ports previously serviced by the failed FRU to service the subsequently received I/O requests on the adopted I/O ports. The I/O port FRUs also include I/O ports for transferring data with the storage devices that are also adopted by the surviving processing FRU.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Applicant: Dot Hill Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Davies, Gene Maine, Victor Pecone
  • Publication number: 20050102549
    Abstract: A network storage appliance including one or more integrated switching devices is disclosed. The appliance includes redundant storage controllers that transfer frames of data between storage devices and host computers. The integrated switching devices include a plurality of I/O ports and a data transfer path between each of the I/O ports for providing simultaneous data transfers between multiple pairs thereof. The switches enable the appliance to simultaneously transfer frames between its I/O ports and storage device I/O ports and/or host I/O ports, thereby providing increased data transfer bandwidth over arbitrated loop configurations. Additionally, the switches are intelligent and may be programmed to achieve improved fault isolation. The appliance may also include servers that include I/O ports coupled to the switches for simultaneously transferring data with the storage controllers and/or I/O ports of devices external to the appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Applicant: Dot Hill Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Davies, George Kalwitz, Victor Pecone
  • Publication number: 20050097271
    Abstract: A storage controller that provides controlled access to storage devices by host computers is disclosed. The storage controller includes a host interface adapter that interfaces the storage controller to the hosts, a device interface adapter that interfaces the storage controller to the storage devices, and a microprocessor that processes requests by the hosts to access the storage devices. An access control table is created in response to user input in a memory accessible by the host interface adapter. When the host interface adapter receives a request, it determines from the access control table whether the requesting host has permission to access the specified storage device. If so, the host interface adapter forwards the request to the microprocessor. Otherwise, the host interface adapter transmits a response to the host denying access in one embodiment, or in another embodiment, provides an indication to the microprocessor that access should be denied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Applicant: Chaparral Network Storage, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Davies, Thomas Wicklund
  • Publication number: 20050041161
    Abstract: Entertainment-based methods and apparatus involving a video display facility and a lighting facility. In one example, lighting effects generated by the lighting facility are automatically coordinated with the video display facility. In another example, the lighting effects generated by the lighting facility are automatically coordinated with a video signal provided to the video display facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Applicant: Color Kinetics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin Dowling, Ian Davis, George Mueller, Ihor Lys
  • Publication number: 20050039774
    Abstract: A method for removing a metallic layer from the surface of a ceramic substrate, the method including the steps of immersing the metallic coated ceramic substrate in a solution of up to 31% hydrochloric acid for a sufficient time to at least substantially dissolve or remove the metallic layer therefrom, removing the ceramic substrate from the acid solution, rinsing the ceramic substrate in a rinse solution, and annealing the ceramic substrate at a predetermined temperature for a sufficient time to at least reduce damage or defects in the surface of the ceramic substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Ronald Burgess, Ian Davis
  • Publication number: 20050027751
    Abstract: A network storage appliance is disclosed. The storage appliance includes a port combiner that provides data communication between at least first, second, and third I/O ports; a storage controller that controls storage devices and includes the first I/O port; a server having the second I/O port; and an I/O connector for networking the third I/O port to the port combiner. A single chassis encloses the port combiner, storage controller, and server, and the I/O connector is affixed on the storage appliance. The third I/O port is external to the chassis and is not enclosed therein. In various embodiments, the port combiner comprises a FibreChannel hub comprising a series of loop resiliency circuits, or a FibreChannel, Ethernet, or Infiniband switch. In one embodiment, the port combiner, I/O ports, and server are all comprised in a single blade module for plugging into a backplane of the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Applicant: Dot Hill Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Davies, George Kalwitz, Victor Pecone
  • Publication number: 20050021605
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for deterministically killing one of redundant servers on a common network is disclosed. The apparatus includes a chassis that encloses the servers and a storage controller, status indicators generated by the servers to the storage controller, and kill controls, generated by the storage controller to respective ones of the servers, each for killing a respective one of the servers. The status indicators and kill controls are wholly enclosed in the chassis. The kill controls deterministically disable the killed server on the network independently of the state of the server to be killed. That is, the server does not need to be able to respond to a command to be disabled on the network. In one embodiment, the kill controls comprise reset signals. After the storage controller deterministically kills one of the servers, the other server takes over the identity of the killed server on the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Applicant: Dot Hill Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Davies, George Kalwitz, Victor Pecone