Patents by Inventor Michael A. Blake

Michael A. Blake 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: 8688880
    Abstract: Serializing instructions in a multiprocessor system includes receiving a plurality of processor requests at a central point in the multiprocessor system. Each of the plurality of processor requests includes a needs register having a requestor needs switch and a resource needs switch. The method also includes establishing a tail switch indicating the presence of the plurality of processor requests at the central point, establishing a sequential order of the plurality of processor requests, and processing the plurality of processor requests at the central point in the sequential order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Garrett M. Drapala, Michael A. Blake, Timothy C. Bronson, Lawrence D. Curley
  • Publication number: 20140082289
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to storing data to a system memory. An aspect includes accessing successive entries of a cache directory having a plurality of directory entries by a stepper engine, where access to the cache directory is given a lower priority than other cache operations. It is determined that a specific directory entry in the cache directory has a change line state that indicates it is modified. A store operation is performed to send a copy of the specific corresponding cache entry to the system memory as part of a cache management function. The specific directory entry is updated to indicate that the change line state is unmodified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael A. Blake, Timothy C. Bronson, Hieu T. Huynh, Kenneth D. Klapproth, Pak-Kin Mak, Vesselina K. Papazova
  • Patent number: 8645642
    Abstract: Tracking dynamic memory de-allocation using a single configuration table having a first register and a second register includes setting the first register as an active register, initiating a de-allocation of desired storage increments from a memory partition, setting the storage increments in the second register as invalid, purging all caches associated with the single configuration table, setting the second register as the active register and the first register as an inactive register, setting the desired storage increments in the first register as invalid, switching the active register from the second register to the first register to complete memory de-allocation using the single configuration table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Blake, Pak-kin Mak, Michael F. Fee, Mark S. Farrell
  • Publication number: 20130339609
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to accessing a cache line on a multi-level cache system having a system memory. Based on a request for exclusive ownership of a specific cache line at the local node, requests are concurrently sent to the system memory and remote nodes of the plurality of nodes for the specific cache line by the local node. The specific cache line is found in a specific remote node. The specific remote node is one of the remote nodes. The specific cache line is removed from the specific remote node for exclusive ownership by another node. Based on the specified node having the specified cache line in ghost state, any subsequent fetch request is initiated for the specific cache line from the specific node encounters the ghost state. When the ghost state is encountered, the subsequent fetch request is directed only to nodes of the plurality of nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy C. Bronson, Garrett M. Drapala, Michael A. Blake, Craig R. Walters, Pak-Kin Mak
  • Publication number: 20130339623
    Abstract: A technique for cache coherency is provided. A cache controller selects a first set from multiple sets in a congruence class based on a cache miss for a first transaction, and places a lock on the entire congruence class in which the lock prevents other transactions from accessing the congruence class. The cache controller designates in a cache directory the first set with a marked bit indicating that the first transaction is working on the first set, and the marked bit for the first set prevents the other transactions from accessing the first set within the congruence class. The cache controller removes the lock on the congruence class based on the marked bit being designated for the first set, and resets the marked bit for the first set to an unmarked bit based on the first transaction completing work on the first set in the congruence class.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ekaterina M. Ambroladze, Michael A. Blake, Timothy C. Bronson, Garrett M. Drapala, Pak-kin Mak, Arthur J. O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20130339808
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method including detecting a first error when reading a first cache line, recording a first address of the first error, detecting a second error when reading a second cache line and recording a second address of the second error. Embodiments also include comparing the first and second bitline address, comparing the first and second wordline address, activating a bitline delete mode based on matching first and second bitline addresses and not matching the first and second wordline addresses, detecting a third error when reading a third cache line, recording a third bitline address of the third error, comparing the second bitline address to a third bitline address and deleting a location corresponding to the third cache line from available cache locations based on the activated bitline delete mode and the third bitline address matching the second bitline address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ekaterina M. Ambroladze, Michael A. Blake, Michael Fee, Hieu T. Huynh, Patrick J. Meaney, Arthur J. O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20130339608
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to accessing a cache line on a multi-level cache system having a system memory. Based on a request for exclusive ownership of a specific cache line at the local node, requests are concurrently sent to the system memory and remote nodes of the plurality of nodes for the specific cache line by the local node. The specific cache line is found in a specific remote node. The specific remote node is one of the remote nodes. The specific cache line is removed from the specific remote node for exclusive ownership by another node. Based on the specified node having the specified cache line in ghost state, any subsequent fetch request is initiated for the specific cache line from the specific node encounters the ghost state. When the ghost state is encountered, the subsequent fetch request is directed only to nodes of the plurality of nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy C. Bronson, Garrett M. Drapala, Michael A. Blake, Craig R. Walters, Pak-Kin Mak
  • Publication number: 20130339785
    Abstract: A technique is provided for a cache. A cache controller accesses a set in a congruence class and determines that the set contains corrupted data based on an error being found. The cache controller determines that a delete parameter for taking the set offline is met and determines that a number of currently offline sets in the congruence class is higher than an allowable offline number threshold. The cache controller determines not to take the set in which the error was found offline based on determining that the number of currently offline sets in the congruence class is higher than the allowable offline number threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ekaterina M. Ambroladze, Michael A. Blake, Timothy C. Bronson, Hieu T. Huynh
  • Publication number: 20130339809
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a computer system for bitline deletion, the system including a cache controller and cache. The system is configured to perform a method including detecting a first error when reading a first cache line, recording a first address of the first error, detecting a second error when reading a second cache line, recording a second address of the second error, comparing first and second bitline addresses, comparing the first and second wordline address, activating a bitline delete mode based on matching first and second bitline addresses and not matching first and second wordline addresses, detecting a third error when reading a third cache line, recording a third bitline address of the third error, comparing the second bitline address to the third bitline address and deleting a location corresponding to the third cache line based on the activated bitline delete mode and matching third and second bitline addresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ekaterina M. Ambroladze, Michael A. Blake, Michael Fee, Hieu T. Huynh, Patrick J. Meaney, Arthur J. O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20130339622
    Abstract: A technique for cache coherency is provided. A cache controller selects a first set from multiple sets in a congruence class based on a cache miss for a first transaction, and places a lock on the entire congruence class in which the lock prevents other transactions from accessing the congruence class. The cache controller designates in a cache directory the first set with a marked bit indicating that the first transaction is working on the first set, and the marked bit for the first set prevents the other transactions from accessing the first set within the congruence class. The cache controller removes the lock on the congruence class based on the marked bit being designated for the first set, and resets the marked bit for the first set to an unmarked bit based on the first transaction completing work on the first set in the congruence class.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ekaterina M. Ambroladze, Michael Blake, Tim Bronson, Garrett Drapala, Pak-kin Mak, Arthur J. O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20130339613
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to storing data to a system memory. An aspect includes accessing successive entries of a cache directory having a plurality of directory entries by a stepper engine, where access to the cache directory is given a lower priority than other cache operations. It is determined that a specific directory entry in the cache directory has a change line state that indicates it is modified. A store operation is performed to send a copy of the specific corresponding cache entry to the system memory as part of a cache management function. The specific directory entry is updated to indicate that the change line state is unmodified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael A. Blake, Pak-Kin Mak, Timothy C. Bronson, Hieu T. Huynh, Kenneth D. Klapproth, Vesselina K. Papazova
  • Publication number: 20130313395
    Abstract: The vehicle seat latch (16) disclosed includes an elongate pivot plate (32) pivotally mounted by a first pivotal connection (36) on a seat frame (28) by a mounting plate (26). A second pivotal connection (42) mounts a latch assembly (40) on the pivot plate (32). The latch assembly (40) includes a throat plate (46) having a throat (48) for receiving a vehicle body mounted striker (24), and the latch assembly (40) also includes at least one latch member (50, 52) movable between latched and unlatched positions for securing the latch to the striker (24). Pivoting of the pivot plate (32) about the first pivotal connection (36) and pivoting of the throat plate (46) about the second pivotal connection (42) provide the latch assembly with compliance that accommodates for striker position variation along transverse directions, which are vertical and horizontal when the seat is latched to the vehicle floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: PORTER GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Blake, Sobieslaw W. Derbis
  • Patent number: 8560891
    Abstract: A computer implemented method of embedded dynamic random access memory (EDRAM) macro disablement. The method includes isolating an EDRAM macro of a cache memory bank, the cache memory bank being divided into at least three rows of a plurality of EDRAM macros, the EDRAM macro being associated with one of the at least three rows. Each line of the EDRAM macro is iteratively tested, the testing including attempting at least one write operation at each line of the EDRAM macro. It is determined that an error occurred during the testing. Write perations for an entire row of EDRAM macros associated with the EDRAM macro are disabled based on the determining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Blake, Timothy C. Bronson, Hieu T. Huynh, Pak-kin Mak
  • Patent number: 8523262
    Abstract: A vehicle seat rear floor latch and positioner assembly (22) for a vehicle seat (10) movable between a seating position, a generally horizontal nonuse position, and a generally vertical storage position as well as being removable from the vehicle to increase cargo capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Porter Group, LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Haeske, Michael A. Blake, Brent C. Everett
  • Patent number: 8423736
    Abstract: Maintaining cache coherence in a multi-node, symmetric multiprocessing computer, the computer composed of a plurality of compute nodes, including, broadcasting upon a cache miss by a first compute node a request for a cache line; transmitting from each of the other compute nodes to all other nodes the state of the cache line on that node, including transmitting from any compute node having a correct copy to the first node the correct copy of the cache line; and updating by each node the state of the cache line in each node, in dependence upon one or more of the states of the cache line in all the nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Blake, Garrett M. Drapala, Pak-Kin Mak, Vesselina K. Papazova, Craig R. Walters
  • Patent number: 8381019
    Abstract: Embedded dynamic random access memory (EDRAM) macro disablement in a cache memory includes isolating an EDRAM macro of a cache memory bank, the cache memory bank being divided into at least three rows of a plurality of EDRAM macros, the EDRAM macro being associated with one of the at least three rows, iteratively testing each line of the EDRAM macro, the testing including attempting at least one write operation at each line of the EDRAM macro, determining if an error occurred during the testing, and disabling write operations for an entire row of EDRAM macros associated with the EDRAM macro based on the determining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Blake, Timothy C. Bronson, Hieu T. Huynh, Pak-kin Mak
  • Patent number: 8364904
    Abstract: Horizontal cache persistence in a multi-compute node, SMP computer, including, responsive to a determination to evict a cache line on a first one of the compute nodes, broadcasting by a first compute node an eviction notice for the cache line; transmitting the state of the cache line receiving compute nodes, including, if the cache line is missing from a compute node, an indication whether that compute node has cache storage space available for the cache line; determining by the first compute node, according to the states of the cache line and space available, whether the first compute node can evict the cache line without writing the cache line to main memory; and updating by each compute node the state of the cache line in each compute node, in dependence upon one or more of the states of the cache line in all the compute nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Blake, Lawrence D. Curley, Garrett M. Drapala, Edward J. Kaminski, Craig R. Walters
  • Patent number: 8333421
    Abstract: A vehicle seat front floor latch and positioner assembly (26) for a rear vehicle seat (10) movable between a seating position, a generally horizontal nonuse position, and a generally vertical storage position as well as being removable from the vehicle to increase cargo capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Porter Group, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Blake, Robert L. Haeske, Brent C. Everett
  • Publication number: 20120242105
    Abstract: A vehicle seat rear floor latch and positioner assembly (22) for a vehicle seat (10) movable between a seating position, a generally horizontal nonuse position, and a generally vertical storage position as well as being removable from the vehicle to increase cargo capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: PORTER GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Haeske, Michael A. Blake, Brent C. Everett
  • Publication number: 20120242106
    Abstract: A vehicle seat front floor latch and positioner assembly (26) for a rear vehicle seat (10) movable between a seating position, a generally horizontal nonuse position, and a generally vertical storage position as well as being removable from the vehicle to increase cargo capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: PORTER GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Blake, Robert L. Haeske, Brent C. Everett