Patents by Inventor John A. Landis

John A. Landis 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: 20160077858
    Abstract: Methods and systems for managing reset of a physical function of an I/O device in a computing system are disclosed, where the physical function is included in a single-root PCI manager. One method includes maintaining a count of active virtual functions associated with the physical function included in the single-root PCI manager, and, upon determining that no active virtual functions are associated with the physical function, allowing the physical function to be reset within the single-root PCI manager. The method further includes while resetting the physical function, persisting a configuration memory space associated with the physical function, and associating the persisted configuration memory space with the physical function after the physical function is reset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicant: UNISYS CORPORATION
    Inventors: James R. Hunter, Sung V. Huynh, Edward T. Cavanagh, John A. Landis
  • Publication number: 20160077884
    Abstract: Methods and systems for allocating, one or more virtual functions of a plurality of virtual functions associated with physical functions of I/O interface devices of a computing device are described. One method includes managing one or more physical functions of an I/O interface device within an interconnect partition of a multi-partition virtualization system implemented at least in part on the computing device. The method further includes, during a boot process of a second partition on the computing device, parsing a file to determine an assignment of one or more virtual functions to the second partition and associate each of the one or more virtual functions to corresponding physical functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicant: UNISYS CORPORATION
    Inventors: James R. Hunter, Sung V. Huynh, Edward T. Cavanagh, John A. Landis
  • Publication number: 20160077847
    Abstract: Methods and systems for instantiating a virtual function in a partition of a multi-partition virtualization system implemented at least in part on a computing device are disclosed. One method includes initializing a partition on the computing device, including determining a virtual function to be associated with the partition, the virtual function associated with a physical function of an I/O device, and, prior to attaching a processor to the partition, determining if the physical function is in a ready state and capable of being associated with the virtual function. The method further includes, upon determining that the physical function is in the ready state and capable of being associated with the virtual function, attaching the processor to the partition, thereby allowing the partition to begin execution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Applicant: UNISYS CORPORATION
    Inventors: James R. Hunter, Sung V. Huynh, Edward T. Cavanagh, John A. Landis
  • Publication number: 20150261559
    Abstract: A reduced service partition system and method for a host computing device having a host processor and system resources including memory divided into most privileged system memory and less privileged user memory. The system includes a virtualization boot application that operates in the less privileged user memory and divides the host computing device into a resource management partition, at least one virtual service partition and at least one virtual guest partition. The virtual guest partition provides a virtualization environment for at least one guest operating system. The virtual service partition provides a virtualization environment for the basic operations of the virtualization system. The resource management partition maintains a resource database for use in managing the use of the host processor and the system resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: UNISYS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert J. Sliwa, John A. Landis, Michael Didomenico, Brittney Birchett
  • Publication number: 20140358848
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a database in system memory within a virtual partition are described. One system includes one or more host computing systems, each host computing system including at least one execution core and a system memory. The system includes a plurality of virtual partitions executing on the one or more host computing systems and including a first partition having at least a portion of the system memory associated with at least one of the one or more host computing systems and configured to store a database therein. The system also includes an interconnect layer communicatively connecting the plurality of virtual partitions, the interconnect layer providing a programming interface by which direct memory access operations between partitions are coordinated. In response to database commands received at the first partition, the data stored in the database is provided to a requesting partition a direct memory access operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: UNISYS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen Guarrieri, James Hunter, John Landis, Richard Kelble
  • Publication number: 20140358972
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a database in system memory within a virtual partition are described. One system includes one or more host computing systems, each host computing system including at least one execution core and a system memory. The system includes a plurality of virtual partitions executing on the one or more host computing systems and including a first partition having at least a portion of the system memory associated with at least one of the one or more host computing systems and configured to store a database therein. The system also includes an interconnect layer communicatively connecting the plurality of virtual partitions, the interconnect layer providing a programming interface by which direct memory access operations between partitions are coordinated. In response to database commands received at the first partition, the data stored in the database is provided to a requesting partition a direct memory access operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: UNISYS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephen Guarrieri, James Hunter, John Landis, Richard Kelble
  • Publication number: 20120110575
    Abstract: A soft partitioning system for allowing multiple virtual system environments to execute on a single platform may include I/O service partitions (IOSPs). The IOSPs operating in a separate virtual memory space on the platform and service disk and network requests from multiple guests. The IOSPs provide translation from virtual addresses to physical addresses such that from the point of view of the guest the virtual addresses used by the guest appear to be physical addresses. The IOSP may be implemented in a Linux kernel. The address space of the IOSP may be extended to include DMA memory sections such that the Linux kernel does not include all of the guest's memory. The IOSP may operate on hardware that does or does not support virtualization technology for directed I/O.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Unisys Corp.
    Inventors: William L. Weber, III, David A. Kershner, John A. Landis, William P. Jordan
  • Publication number: 20120072638
    Abstract: Trapping and/or processing of read/write accesses to hardware devices represented to the host through a memory mapped space may be performed without knowledge of the processor's instruction set or semantics of the processor's instructions. A single step routine may be executed to recognize page faults occurring from read/write accesses to emulated memory pages and causing the guest to retry the operation on a single step buffer. The hypervisor may perform post-operation processing on the single step buffer after the guest retries and completes the read or write access. For example, on a read request, the single step routine may place the guest value in the single step buffer for reading by the guest on a retry operation. On a write request, the single step routine may direct the guest to retry the write operation into the single step buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Unisys Corp.
    Inventors: J. Alan Grubb, John Landis, Bryan Thompson, James R. Hunter
  • Patent number: 7982124
    Abstract: A wireless guitar synthesizer for creating theremin like sounds on an unmodified electric guitar. The wireless synthesizer generally includes a portable housing adapted to be moved independent of an electric guitar to influence a sound outputted by an audio means connected to the guitar and a circuit supported by the housing for generating an electromagnetic field to be received by the coil pickup of the guitar to influence the outputted sound. The circuit generally includes a signal generator for producing an output signal, at least one user-adjustable modulator electrically coupled to the signal generator for varying the output signal, and an LED antenna array electrically coupled to the signal generator to receive the modulated output signal and output the electromagnetic field. The user-adjustable modulators may include a joystick movable along an X-Y axis, as well as a plurality of switches, each of which independently alter the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventors: John A. Landis, Thomas Prevost
  • Patent number: 7984108
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a virtualization infrastructure that allows multiple guest operating systems to run and communicate amongst each other within a host hardware partition. The host system is divided into distinct logical/virtual partitions and special infrastructure partitions are implemented to control resource management and to control physical I/O device drivers that are, in turn, used by operating systems in other distinct logical/virtual guest partitions. Host hardware resource management runs as a tracking application in a resource management “ultravisor” partition, while host resource management decisions are performed in a higher-level command partition based on policies maintained in a separate operations partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Landis, Terrence V. Powderly, Rajagopalan Subrahmanian, Aravindh Puthiyaparambil, James R. Hunter, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7725559
    Abstract: A virtualization infrastructure that allows multiple guest partitions to run within a host hardware partition. The host system is divided into distinct logical or virtual partitions and special infrastructure partitions are implemented to control resource management and to control physical I/O device drivers that are, in turn, used by operating systems in other distinct logical or virtual guest partitions. Host hardware resource management runs as a tracking application in a resource management “ultravisor” partition, while host resource management decisions are performed in a higher level command partition based on policies maintained in a separate operations partition. Host hardware I/O management is implemented in special redundant I/O partitions. Operating systems in other logical or virtual partitions communicate with the I/O partitions via memory channels established by the ultravisor partion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Landis, Terrence V. Powderly, Rajagopalan Subrahmanian, Aravindh Puthiyaparambil
  • Publication number: 20070111612
    Abstract: An electrical terminal includes a body having a first end, a second end, and a channel having an axis. The channel extends at least through the first end toward the second end, the channel configured and disposed to receive an electrical conductor. A contact gripping element intermediate the first and second ends extends into the channel at an angle from the axis. The contact gripping element is associated with the body. The contact gripping element terminates at an end having a reduced thickness. The contact gripping element is configured to exert a contact gripping contact force on the electrical conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: David Fabian, Timothy Kocher, John Landis, John Wilson, Donald Diemer, Donald Baughn
  • Publication number: 20070099480
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a connector assembly for terminating a plurality of discrete wires and for selective electrical interconnection with a header assembly is provided. The connector assembly includes a front housing defining at least one channel therein; a rear housing selectively operatively connectable to the front housing, the rear housing including at least one passage formed therein and in operative association with a respective channel of the front housing, each passage terminating a respective discrete wire; and at least one contact disposed at least partially within each channel of the front housing and each corresponding passage of the rear housing. Each contact is configured and adapted to define a poke-in connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: David Fabian, John Landis
  • Publication number: 20070067435
    Abstract: A virtualization infrastructure that allows multiple guest partitions to run within a host hardware partition. The host system is divided into distinct logical or virtual partitions and special infrastructure partitions are implemented to control resource management and to control physical I/O device drivers that are, in turn, used by operating systems in other distinct logical or virtual guest partitions. Host hardware resource management runs as a tracking application in a resource management “ultravisor” partition, while host resource management decisions are performed in a higher level command partition based on policies maintained in a separate operations partition. The conventional hypervisor is reduced to a context switching and containment element (monitor) for the respective partitions, while the system resource management functionality is implemented in the ultravisor partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: John Landis, Terrence Powderly, Rajagopalan Subrahmanion, Aravindh Puthiyaparambil
  • Publication number: 20070067366
    Abstract: A virtualization infrastructure that allows multiple guest partitions to run within a host hardware partition. The host system is divided into distinct logical or virtual partitions and special infrastructure partitions are implemented to control resource management and to control physical I/O device drivers that are, in turn, used by operating systems in other distinct logical or virtual guest partitions. Host hardware resource management runs as a tracking application in a resource management “ultravisor” partition, while host resource management decisions are performed in a higher level command partition based on policies maintained in a separate operations partition. The conventional hypervisor is reduced to a context switching and containment element (monitor) for the respective partitions, while the system resource management functionality is implemented in the ultravisor partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventor: John Landis
  • Publication number: 20070059973
    Abstract: An electrical connector and contact includes a contact body having an axial length, a termination section extending from the body, a first primary contact beam extending from the body and spaced from the body by a first axial length, and a sacrificial leading contact beam extending from the body for a second axial length. The second length is greater than the first length, and a distal end of the contact beam is configured to complete or break an energized electrical connection with a mating contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: David Fabian, John Landis, Christopher Daily, Timothy Kocher
  • Publication number: 20070061441
    Abstract: A virtualization infrastructure that allows multiple guest partitions to run within a host hardware partition. The host system is divided into distinct logical or virtual partitions and special infrastructure partitions are implemented to control resource management and to control physical I/O device drivers that are, in turn, used by operating systems in other distinct logical or virtual guest partitions. Host hardware resource management runs as a tracking application in a resource management “ultravisor” partition, while host resource management decisions are performed in a higher level command partition based on policies maintained in a separate operations partition. The conventional hypervisor is reduced to a context switching and containment element (monitor) for the respective partitions, while the system resource management functionality is implemented in the ultravisor partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: John Landis, Terrence Powderly, Rajagopalan Subrahmanian, Aravindh Puthiyaparambil, James Hunter Jr
  • Publication number: 20070028244
    Abstract: A virtualization infrastructure that allows multiple guest partitions to run within a host hardware partition. The host system is divided into distinct logical or virtual partitions and special infrastructure partitions are implemented to control resource management and to control physical I/O device drivers that are, in turn, used by operating systems in other distinct logical or virtual guest partitions. Host hardware resource management runs as a tracking application in a resource management “ultravisor” partition, while host resource management decisions are performed in a higher level command partition based on policies maintained in a separate operations partition. The conventional hypervisor is reduced to a context switching and containment element (monitor) for the respective partitions, while the system resource management functionality is implemented in the ultravisor partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventors: John Landis, Terrence Powderly, Rajagopalan Subrahmanian, Aravindh Puthivaparambil, James Hunter
  • Publication number: 20060249360
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to switches and assemblies configured and adapted to enable “hot plugging” of electrical components and/or elements. According to an embodiment, slide switch assembly includes a body portion configured and adapted to support a first and a second spaced apart contact pin therein; and a plunger slidably supported within the body portion. Each contact pin is electrically connectable to an electrical conduit. The plunger has a first position in electrical contact with one of the first and second contact pins, and a second position in electrical contact with both the first and second contact pins. In use, when the plunger is in the second condition electrical current is transmitted between the first and the second contact pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventors: David Fabian, John Landis
  • Publication number: 20060228947
    Abstract: A poke-in wire contact is provided for a wire having an exposed conductor that includes a body extending along, and defining a plane, and a wire termination portion. The wire termination portion includes a recess extending through the body and a termination beam located within the recess and deflectable from the plane of the body. The termination beam is configured to electrically connect to and retain the conductor of the wire. The poke-in wire contact also includes a connection portion extending from the body, wherein the connection portion is configured to be joined to a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Inventors: John Landis, William Lenker