Patents by Inventor John W. Blackledge, Jr.
John W. Blackledge, Jr. 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).
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Patent number: 5495611Abstract: A personal computer system is disclosed which is compatible with application programs and operating system software. The personal computer system includes a microprocessor electrically coupled to a data bus, non-volatile memory electrically coupled to the data bus, volatile memory electrically responsive to the data bus, a memory controller electrically coupled to the microprocessor, the volatile memory and the non-volatile memory, and a direct access storage device electrically responsive to the data bus. The non-volatile memory stores a first portion of operating system microcode and the volatile memory includes a volatile operating system portion intended for use by the first portion of the operating system microcode. The memory controller regulates communications between the volatile memory, the non-volatile memory and the high speed microprocessor. The direct access storage device stores a second portion of operating system microcode which is accessed by the microprocessor as needed.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1992Date of Patent: February 27, 1996Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Richard Bealkowski, John W. Blackledge, Jr., Douglas R. Geisler, Michael R. Turner
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Patent number: 5432939Abstract: This invention relates to personal computer systems and, more particularly, to such a system having security features enabling control over access to data retained in such a system.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1992Date of Patent: July 11, 1995Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.Inventors: John W. Blackledge, Jr., Richard A. Dayan, Dennis L. Moeller, Palmer E. Newman, Kenneth J. P. Zubay
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Patent number: 5410699Abstract: An apparatus and method for loading BIOS from a diskette drive into a personal computer system normally connected to a hardfile, such as a fixed disk. The personal computer system further includes a system processor, a random access main memory, a read only memory and a switching means. The switching means generates a signal to indicate a mode for whether BIOS loads from either diskette or disk. In a priority mode, BIOS loads immediately from diskette. In a recovery mode, BIOS loads from diskette after testing the disk subsystem.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 1990Date of Patent: April 25, 1995Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.Inventors: Richard Bealkowski, John W. Blackledge, Jr., Doyle S. Cronk, Richard A. Dayan, Scott G. Kinnear, George D. Kovach, Matthew S. Palka, Jr., Robert Sachsenmaier, Kevin M. Zyvoloski
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Patent number: 5388156Abstract: This invention relates to personal computer systems and, more particularly, to such a system having security features enabling control over access to data retained in such a system.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 1992Date of Patent: February 7, 1995Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.Inventors: John W. Blackledge, Jr., Grant L. Clarke, Jr., Richard A. Dayan, Kimthanh D. Le, Patrick E. McCourt, Matthew T. Mittelstedt, Dennis L. Moeller, Palmer E. Newman, David L. Randall, JoAnna B. Yoder
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Patent number: 5355489Abstract: An apparatus for loading BIOS stored on a direct access storage device in a personal computer system, the system comprising direct access storage device, and a processor card removably mounted to a planar board. The processor card comprises a system processor and ROM memory, while the planar board includes a main memory. A master boot record is stored on the direct access storage device. The master boot record contains a data segment and an executable code segment, the data segment representing the hardware configuration of the personal computer system. A first portion of BIOS included in the ROM memory initializes the system and causes loading of the master boot record into main memory. This first portion of BIOS further compares the hardware configuration data of the master boot record with the hardware configuration data in the ROM memory to verify compatibility with the system processor.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1991Date of Patent: October 11, 1994Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.Inventors: Richard Bealkowski, John W. Blackledge, Jr., Doyle S. Cronk, Richard A. Dayan, Scott G. Kinnear, George D. Kovach, Jay H. Neer, Matthew S. Palka, Jr., Robert Sachsenmaier, Kevin M. Zyvoloski
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Patent number: 5341422Abstract: This invention relates to personal computer systems and, more particularly, to such a system having security features enabling control over access to data retained in such a system. This invention contemplates protecting a personal computer system which has the capability of becoming a secure system from being placed into that condition by an attack on an unsecured machine. Additionally, in a network environment, it is important to maintaining network security that any given particular system be uniquely identified to the network, in order to guard against the substitution of an insecure "alternate" which would open the network to attack through an insecure system. This invention contemplates provision for such identification in a secure manner.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1992Date of Patent: August 23, 1994Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.Inventors: John W. Blackledge, Jr., Richard A. Dayan, Dennis L. Moeller, Palmer E. Newman, Kenneth J. P. Zubay
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Patent number: 5214695Abstract: A personal computer system according to the present invention comprises a system processor, a random access memory, a read only memory, and at least one direct access storage device. A direct access storage device controller coupled between the system processor and direct access storage device includes a protection mechanism for protecting a region of the storage device. The protected region of the storage device includes a master boot record, a BIOS image and a system reference diskette image. The BIOS image includes a section known as Power on Self Test (POST). POST is used to test and initialize a system. Upon detecting any configuration error, system utilities from the system reference diskette image, such as set configuration programs, diagnostic programs and utility programs can be automatically activated from the direct access storage device.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1991Date of Patent: May 25, 1993Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Lisa R. Arnold, Richard Bealkowski, John W. Blackledge, Jr., Doyle S. Cronk, Richard A. Dayan, Douglas R. Geisler, Matthew T. Mittelstedt, Matthew S. Palka, Jr., John D. Paul, Robert Sachsenmaier, Kenneth D. Smeltzer, Peter A. Woytovech, Kevin M. Zyvoloski
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Patent number: 5210875Abstract: An apparatus and method for loading BIOS stored on a direct access storage device into a personal computer system. The personal computer system comprises a system processor, a system planar, a random access main memory, a read only memory, and at least one direct access storage device. The first portion of BIOS initializes the system and the direct access storage device to read in a master boot record into the system from the direct access storage device. The master boot record includes a data segment and an executable code segment. The first BIOS portion vectors the system processor to execute the executable code segment of the master boot record. The executable code segment loads in the remaining BIOS portion from the direct access storage device into random access memory.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1989Date of Patent: May 11, 1993Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Richard Bealkowski, John W. Blackledge, Jr., Doyle S. Cronk, Richard A. Dayan, Scott G. Kinnear, George D. Kovach, Matthew S. Palka, Jr., Robert Sachsenmaier, Kevin M. Zyvoloski
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Patent number: 5136713Abstract: An apparatus and method for decreasing the memory requirements of BIOS in a personal computer system includes storing a first portion of BIOS in memory and a second portion on a direct storage access device. The personal computer system comprises a system processor, a random access main memory, a read only memory, and at least one direct access storage device. The first portion of BIOS only includes routines for initializing the system and the direct access storage device to read in a master boot record into the system from the direct access storage device. The master boot record includes a data segment and an executable code segment. The first BIOS portion vectors the system processor to execute the executable code segment of the master boot record. The executable code segment loads in the remaining BIOS portion from the direct access storage device into random access memory superseding the first BIOS portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1989Date of Patent: August 4, 1992Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Richard Bealkowski, John W. Blackledge, Jr., Doyle S. Cronk, Richard A. Dayan, Scott G. Kinnear, George D. Kovach, Matthew S. Palka, Jr., Robert Sachsenmaier, Kevin M. Zyvoloski
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Patent number: 5128995Abstract: A personal computer system according to the present invention comprises a system processor, a random access memory, a read only memory, and at least one direct access storage device. A direct access storage device controller coupled between the system processor and direct access storage device includes a protection mechanism for protecting a region of the storage device. The protected region of the storage device includes a master boot record, a BIOS image and a system reference diskette image. The BIOS image includes a section known as Power on Self Test (POST). POST is used to test and initialize a system. Upon detecting any configuration error, system utilities from the system reference diskette image, such as set configuration programs, diagnostic programs and utility programs can be automatically activated from the direct access storage device.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1990Date of Patent: July 7, 1992Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.Inventors: Lisa R. Arnold, Richard Bealkowski, John W. Blackledge, Jr., Doyle S. Cronk, Richard A. Dayan, Douglas R. Geisler, Matthew T. Mittelstedt, Matthew S. Palka, Jr., John D. Paul, Robert Sachsenmaier, Kenneth D. Smeltzer, Peter A. Woytovech, Kevin M. Zyvoloski
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Patent number: 5022077Abstract: An apparatus and method for protecting BIOS stored on a direct access storage device into a personnal computer system. The personal computer system comprises a system processor, a system planar, a random access main memory, a read only memory, a protection means and at least one direct access storage device. The read only memory includes a first portion of BIOS and data representing the type of system processor and system planar I/O configuration. The first portion of BIOS initializes the system and the direct access storage device, and resets the protection means in order to read in a master boot record into the random access memory from a protectable partition on the direct access storage device.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1989Date of Patent: June 4, 1991Assignee: International Business Machines Corp.Inventors: Richard Bealkowski, John W. Blackledge, Jr., Doyle S. Cronk, Richard A. Dayan, Jerry D. Dixon, Scott G. Kinnear, George D. Kovach, Andrew B. McNeill, Matthew S. Palka, Jr., Robert Sachsenmaier, Edward I. Wachtel, Kevin M. Zyvoloski