Patents by Inventor Mark Charles Davis

Mark Charles 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: 20080154985
    Abstract: A system and method for hybrid virtual machine monitor system is provided. A first operating system uses a file system to manage data storage and retrieval within a data storage area. A second operating system, which is not compatible with the first operating system's file system, executes a management application backup utility. The first operating system includes a filter driver that sends logical block addresses, which correspond to data reads/writes, to the management application backup utility. In turn, the management application backup utility uses the logical block addresses to perform operations on the data storage locations. In one embodiment, the management application backup utility performs actions on the data storage area, such as a disk defragmentation, and subsequently sends data location changes to the filter driver. In this embodiment, the filter driver instructs the first operating system's file system to update its translation tables based upon the data location changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Philip Lee Childs, Mark Charles Davis, Ke Ke, Rod David Waltermann
  • Publication number: 20080140575
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for securely authorizing changes to a transaction restriction. A security module securely stores encryption keys for a payment instrument. The payment instrument electronically transacts payments and includes a transaction restriction. An authentication module receives an authentication from a user of the payment instrument. The security module validates the authentication with a first encryption key. In addition, the security module authorizes a change to the transaction restriction using a second encryption key if the authentication is valid. The security module resides on a computer that the user designates as authorized to validate the authentication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Stacy John Cannady, David Carroll Challener, Daryl Cromer, Mark Charles Davis, David Rivera, Randall Scott Springfield, Rod D. Waltermann
  • Publication number: 20080140946
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for protecting hard disk data in multiple operating system environments. The present invention restricts access of a hard file to a range of logical addresses using a controller module configured to access a hard file in response to a request for a logical address, a set zero module configured to add an offset value to each request for a logical address on a hard file, and a set max module configured to set a maximum logical address accessible on a hard file. The invention limits access to a lower protected area with logical addresses below the range of logical address and a host protected area with logical address above the range of logical addresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Mark Charles Davis, Joseph Wayne Freeman, Steven D. Goodman, Howard Locker, Randall Scott Springfield, Rod D. Waltermann
  • Patent number: 7366887
    Abstract: A method for booting into computer memory a non-operating system (O.S.) program from a hard disk drive (HDD) prior to booting into memory an O.S. from the HDD. The method includes establishing a table of contents (TOC) on the HDD that contains entries for special O.S. programs. A pointer to the TOC is placed in non-volatile memory of the computer that is associated with the HDD, and when BIOS of the computer is prompted to load into memory one of the special O.S. programs, the pointer is accessed and used to locate the TOC, which in turn is accessed to load the special O.S. program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Rod David Waltermann, Nathan J. Peterson, Joseph Wayne Freeman, Randall Scott Springfield, Mark Charles Davis, Steven Dale Goodman, Isaac Karpel, Scott Edwards Kelso
  • Patent number: 7353428
    Abstract: A client computer is connected via a network to an anti-virus server and polls the server for indication that an anti-virus needs to be immediately downloaded from the anti-virus server. The client computer disengages from the network, and re-establishes a link with only the trusted anti-virus server. The anti-virus fix is installed, the client computer re-booted, and the client computer is then allowed to reconnect to the full network. If the client's primary operating system (OS) is infected, a secondary OS in the client computer performs the anti-virus download and execution. The disengagement from the network is performed by applying a filter in a network interface card (NIC) driver by the primary OS, the secondary OS, a service processor (SP), or by a virtual machine manager (VMM), depending on which is available at the client computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte. Ltd
    Inventors: Richard W. Cheston, Philip Lee Childs, Daryl Carvis Cromer, Mark Charles Davis, Howard Jeffrey Locker, Paul Douglas Plaskonos
  • Publication number: 20080022393
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for method or system which is able to control access to a new computer user password reset. The system is preloaded with a random password that does not needed to be known by anyone. There are two main situations in which this method will be used. The first situation involves a locally managed password and account where the user does not log in to a domain. The second situation involves remote management, where the user logs in to a domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Rod D. Waltermann, Mark Charles Davis, Scott Edward Kelso, John Carl Mese, Nathan J. Peterson, Arnold S. Weksler
  • Patent number: 7296116
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing high-density storage is disclosed. A plurality of storage devices is aggregated in a package. A package-level controller is coupled to a carrier housing holding a plurality of storage devices, wherein the package-level controller provides a RAID logical configuration at a package-level for the storage devices held in the carrier housing. A controller may also be provided for virtualizing the logical addresses as at least one aggregate volume to provide a layer of abstraction to the storage devices. The package may be inserted into a storage system designed to manage multiple packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Charles Davis, Richard Victor Kisley
  • Patent number: 7296117
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for aggregating storage devices is disclosed. A package for providing high density storage uses a carrier housing for holding multiple storage devices proximate to one another and aligned in a row, and an access device, coupled to the carrier housing, aggregates the physical addresses of the storage devices into logical addresses and making the logical addresses available over a connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Charles Davis, Richard Victor Kisley
  • Publication number: 20070192581
    Abstract: A computer determines whether it has been booted from a hard disk drive or from an alternate source (e.g., a floppy drive or portable memory) that entails a higher risk of importing a virus into the computer, and if it is determined that a non-HDD source was booted from, corrective action such as a virus scan can be preemptively taken.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: David Challener, Daryl Cromer, Mark Charles Davis, Jerry Dishman, Howard Locker, Randall Springfield
  • Patent number: 7210166
    Abstract: A method, system, and program product for enabling administrative recovery of a user's lost/forgotten boot-up passwords without compromising the administrative/master password(s). A restricted-use password is dynamically generated from a first hash of a random number generated on a client system and a secret retrieved from a secure device associated with the client system. The restricted-use password operates as a master password but is not the administrative password of the client system. Once the password is generated, it is provided to the user/client system to enable user access to said client system and hardfile and reset of the user passwords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Charles Davis, Randall Scott Springfield
  • Patent number: 6959390
    Abstract: A data processing system and method are disclosed for maintaining secure user private keys in a non-secure storage device. A master key pair is established for the system. The master key pair includes a master private key and a master public key. The master key pair is stored in a protected storage device. A unique user key pair is established for each user. The user key pair includes a user private key and a user public key. The user private key is encrypted utilizing the master public key. The encrypted user private key is stored in the non-secure storage device, wherein the encrypted user private key is secure while stored in the non-secure storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Carroll Challener, Daryl Carvis Cromer, Mark Charles Davis, Scott Thomas Elliott, Howard Jeffrey Locker, Andy Lloyd Trotter, James Peter Ward
  • Patent number: 6785811
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products are provided which provide cryptographic services to an application by incorporating in the application an indication of at least one authorized cryptographic function for the application. The indication of at least one authorized cryptographic function for the application is communicated to a cryptographic library that supports a plurality of cryptographic functions. The at least one authorized cryptographic function corresponding to the indication of at least one authorized cryptographic function is then identified as a valid cryptographic function for the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Charles Bihlmeyer, Mark Charles Davis, John Michael Garrison, David Gerard Kuehr-McLaren, Reid L. Sayre
  • Patent number: 6687825
    Abstract: A data processing system and method are disclosed for protecting data within a hard disk drive included within a data processing system. Data is generated. A signature value is provided which is stored in a signature device. The signature device is capable of being inserted into and removed from a computer system. A textual description of the data is created. The data is encrypted utilizing both the signature value stored on the device and the textual description. The encrypted data is then stored on the hard disk drive. The data processing system does not permanently store encryption keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Carroll Challener, Daryl Carvis Cromer, Mark Charles Davis, Dhruv Manmohandas Desai, Charles William Kaufman, Hernando Ovies, James Peter Ward
  • Patent number: 6367009
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable code for delegating authority and authentication from a client to a server in order that the server can establish a secure connection (using SSL or an analogous security protocol) to a back-end application on behalf of the client. This enables the true client's identity to be known to the application on the end-tier server. The proposed solution provides several alternative techniques, whereby the client establishes a secure session with a middle-tier server (MTS), and then delegates authority and authentication to the MTS in order that the MTS can establish a second SSL session to the ETS on behalf of this client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Charles Davis, David G. Kuehr-McLaren, Timothy Glenn Shoriak
  • Patent number: 6088805
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products authenticate client requests to access server resources. A server receives a certificate containing multiple data fields associated with the client making a request. The server selects data from at least one of the certificate data fields and filters the selected data using at least one predefined filter rule associated with the requested server resources to authenticate the client request. Combinations of filter rules may be utilized and the server may select data from various combinations of data fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Charles Davis, Steve D. Gray, David Gerard Kuehr-McLaren, Ian A. Morrison, Timothy G. Shoriak
  • Patent number: 6064736
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for two-party key authentication provide additional security against intruders that might gain access to the password database of a server. The client verifies his clear password over an encrypted channel, rather than merely verifying the encrypted password, prior to receiving secure traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Charles Davis, David Gerard Kuehr-McLaren, Calvin Stacy Powers