Patents by Inventor Michael E. Brown

Michael E. Brown 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: 11726879
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a first memory and a baseboard management controller. The first memory stores a first firmware partition and a second firmware partition. The baseboard management controller includes a second memory. The baseboard management controller begins execution of a DM-Verity daemon, and performs periodic patrol reads of the first firmware partition. The baseboard management controller detects one or more block failures in the first firmware partition, and stores information associated with the one or more block failures in a message box of the second memory. In response to the entire first firmware partition being scanned, the baseboard management controller switches a boot partition from the first firmware partition to the second firmware partition, and initiates a reboot of the information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Prashanth Giri, Senthil Kumar V, Nagendra Varma Totakura, Vasanth Venkataramanappa
  • Patent number: 11683862
    Abstract: A concrete heating system for electrically melting snow and ice. The concrete heating system generally includes a heating device for embedding in conductive concrete, the device having a spacing member and a plurality of electrically isolated conductors extending outward at an angle from the spacing member along its length. The device also includes a first electrode near the first end of the spacing member, and a second electrode extending outward from the spacing member at the second end. The plurality of conductors conduct an electrical current between the first electrode and the second electrode when the concrete heating device is embedded in conductive concrete and the power source applies a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Michael E. Brown
  • Patent number: 11658845
    Abstract: An information handling system includes multiple data ports, a memory, and a processor. Each of the data ports enables a separate communication link of a plurality of communication links for the information handling system. The memory stores data to indicate whether the information handling system supports bridge assurance on each of the communication links. In response to the bridge assurance being supported in the information handling system, the processor provides a message across a first link of the communication links. The message indicates that bridge assurance is supported in the information handling system. The processor also determines whether an acknowledgement message has been received. In response to the acknowledgement message being received, the processor enables the bridge assurance on the first link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Dipinder Singh Chhabra, Jitendra Gul Jagasia, Charles B. Claggett
  • Publication number: 20230117273
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a host processor that instantiates a hosted environment. A baseboard management controller executes core firmware code to provide a first plurality of functions of the baseboard management controller. The first functions include a container management system. The container management system provides a plurality of extension slots. Each extension slot provides one of a second plurality of functions of the baseboard management controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Prashanth Giri, Michael E. Brown, Ching-Jye Chang, Antonio Ramos, Santosh Bidaralli
  • Publication number: 20230068310
    Abstract: A management controller may monitor an information handling system to detect an event associated with a change to a configuration setting by subscribing with an internal event bus to receive the event associated with the change in the configuration setting, and evaluate whether there is a discrepancy between a current configuration setting of the information handling system and a baseline configuration setting. If a configuration drift exists based on the discrepancy, then the configuration drift may be sent to a management console.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Heidi S. Maeder
  • Patent number: 11588694
    Abstract: A management controller may monitor an information handling system to detect an event associated with a change to a configuration setting by subscribing with an internal event bus to receive the event associated with the change in the configuration setting, and evaluate whether there is a discrepancy between a current configuration setting of the information handling system and a baseline configuration setting. If a configuration drift exists based on the discrepancy, then the configuration drift may be sent to a management console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Heidi S. Maeder
  • Publication number: 20230026147
    Abstract: An information handling system includes multiple data ports, a memory, and a processor. Each of the data ports enables a separate communication link of a plurality of communication links for the information handling system. The memory stores data to indicate whether the information handling system supports bridge assurance on each of the communication links. In response to the bridge assurance being supported in the information handling system, the processor provides a message across a first link of the communication links. The message indicates that bridge assurance is supported in the information handling system. The processor also determines whether an acknowledgement message has been received. In response to the acknowledgement message being received, the processor enables the bridge assurance on the first link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Dipinder Singh Chhabra, Jitendra Gul Jagasia, Charles B. Claggett
  • Publication number: 20230008412
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a first memory and a baseboard management controller. The first memory stores a first firmware partition and a second firmware partition. The baseboard management controller includes a second memory. The baseboard management controller begins execution of a DM-Verity daemon, and performs periodic patrol reads of the first firmware partition. The baseboard management controller detects one or more block failures in the first firmware partition, and stores information associated with the one or more block failures in a message box of the second memory. In response to the entire first firmware partition being scanned, the baseboard management controller switches a boot partition from the first firmware partition to the second firmware partition, and initiates a reboot of the information handling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Prashanth Giri, Senthil Kumar V, Nagendra Varma Totakura, Vasanth Venkataramanappa
  • Publication number: 20230009088
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a first memory that stores a firmware image associated with the baseboard management controller. The baseboard management controller begins execution of a kernel, which in turn performs a boot operation of the information handling system. The baseboard management controller begins a file system initialization program. During the boot operation, the baseboard management controller performs a full read and cryptographic verification of the firmware image via a DM-Verity daemon of the file system initialization program. In response to the full read of the firmware image being completed, the baseboard management controller provides a flush command to the kernel via the DM-Verity daemon. The baseboard management controller flushes a cache buffer associated with the baseboard management controller via the kernel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Nagendra Varma Totakura, Vasanth Venkataramanappa, Jack E. Fewx
  • Publication number: 20220342726
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a console bid manager that may intercept an event from a managed node, transmit notification to eligible management consoles for bids on the event, process the bids to determine one or more interrelated actions in response to the event, and coordinate performance of the one or more interrelated actions in handling the event. The performance of the one or more interrelated actions may be delegated to the eligible management consoles to resolve the event from the managed node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Rishi Mukherjee, Muniswamy Setty KS, Smruti Ranjan Debata
  • Patent number: 11341008
    Abstract: While the management module of an information handling system is set as a standby module, an enclosure controller provides first requests for attribute data of the information handling system, and receives and stores first response data for attribute data associated with a first subset of the first requests in a local memory of the enclosure controller. The enclosure controller receives request failure responses associated with a second subset of the first requests directed to a subset of the attributes data for the information handling system stored in a shared memory. While the management module is set as an active module, the management module is granted access to the shared memory. The enclosure controller provides retry requests for attributes associated with the request failure responses, and receives and stores second response data associated with the retry requests in the local memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Joshua M. Pennell, Henry Pang
  • Patent number: 11314866
    Abstract: A management system for an information handling system includes a memory device and a management controller. The memory device includes a primary firmware image and a backup firmware image. The management controller boots the management system. The boot of the management system includes a read of a first block at an offset within the primary firmware image. The management controller further determines that the read of the first block had a first read error, and reboots the management system in response to determining that the read of the first block had the first read error. The reboot of the management system includes a read of a second block at the offset within the backup firmware image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Nagendra Varma Totakura, Vasanth Venkataramanappa, Senthil Kumar, V, Prashanth Giri
  • Patent number: 11258665
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a network interface device and a service processor coupled to an internal network interface. The service processor receives a network connection request from a mobile device connected to the network interface device via the internal network interface, and in response to receiving the network connection request assigns an internet protocol address to the mobile device. The service processor redirects an outbound hypertext transfer protocol request from the mobile device, intercepts the outbound hypertext transfer protocol request from the mobile device, and serves a management application interface page associated with the service processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Deepa Hegde
  • Publication number: 20220046764
    Abstract: A concrete heating system for electrically melting snow and ice. The concrete heating system generally includes a heating device for embedding in conductive concrete, the device having a spacing member and a plurality of electrically isolated conductors extending outward at an angle from the spacing member along its length. The device also includes a first electrode near the first end of the spacing member, and a second electrode extending outward from the spacing member at the second end. The plurality of conductors conduct an electrical current between the first electrode and the second electrode when the concrete heating device is embedded in conductive concrete and the power source applies a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventor: Michael E. Brown
  • Patent number: 11157060
    Abstract: A method may include, in a chassis configured to provide a common hardware infrastructure to one or more modular information handling systems inserted into the chassis: determining if a save operation is occurring at a time when one or more power supply units are capable of delivering power to the chassis; and delaying power sequencing of the one or more power supply units until the save operation has completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Marshal F. Savage, Aaron M. Rhinehart, Kyle E. Cross, Michael W. Daniele, Jitendra G. Jagasia
  • Patent number: 11142396
    Abstract: A container includes a base and a wall disposed about and attached to the base. The wall defines a rim spaced from the base, as well as a compartment extending between the base and the wall. A lid having an inner surface and an outer surface is coupled to the wall for covering the compartment. The container has a diverter bar for separating the compartment into at least two sections in a first position. The diverter bar has a body that extends between body ends, with the body releasably engaging the wall in the first position. A retainer attaches to the lid for receiving the diverter bar and securing the diverter bar to the lid to define a storage position. A lip extends outwardly from the body whereby the lip engages the retainer in response to the diverter bar being in the storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: HMS Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Janet M. Sofy, Michael E. Brown, Todd M. Lajewski
  • Publication number: 20210208985
    Abstract: While the management module of an information handling system is set as a standby module, an enclosure controller provides first requests for attribute data of the information handling system, and receives and stores first response data for attribute data associated with a first subset of the first requests in a local memory of the enclosure controller. The enclosure controller receives request failure responses associated with a second subset of the first requests directed to a subset of the attributes data for the information handling system stored in a shared memory. While the management module is set as an active module, the management module is granted access to the shared memory. The enclosure controller provides retry requests for attributes associated with the request failure responses, and receives and stores second response data associated with the retry requests in the local memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Joshua M. Pennell, Henry Pang
  • Publication number: 20210184929
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a network interface device and a service processor coupled to an internal network interface. The service processor receives a network connection request from a mobile device connected to the network interface device via the internal network interface, and in response to receiving the network connection request assigns an interne protocol address to the mobile device. The service processor redirects an outbound hypertext transfer protocol request from the mobile device, intercepts the outbound hypertext transfer protocol request from the mobile device, and serves a management application interface page associated with the service processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Deepa Hegde
  • Publication number: 20210157921
    Abstract: A management system for an information handling system includes a memory device and a management controller. The memory device includes a primary firmware image and a backup firmware image. The management controller boots the management system. The boot of the management system includes a read of a first block at an offset within the primary firmware image. The management controller further determines that the read of the first block had a first read error, and reboots the management system in response to determining that the read of the first block had the first read error. The reboot of the management system includes a read of a second block at the offset within the backup firmware image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Nagendra Varma Totakura, Vasanth Venkataramanappa, Senthil Kumar V, Prashanth Giri
  • Patent number: 10990488
    Abstract: While the management module of an information handling system is set as a standby module, an enclosure controller provides first requests for attribute data of the information handling system, and receives and stores first response data for attribute data associated with a first subset of the first requests in a local memory of the enclosure controller. The enclosure controller receives request failure responses associated with a second subset of the first requests directed to a subset of the attributes data for the information handling system stored in a shared memory. While the management module is set as an active module, the management module is granted access to the shared memory. The enclosure controller provides retry requests for attributes associated with the request failure responses, and receives and stores second response data associated with the retry requests in the local memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Michael E. Brown, Joshua M. Pennell, Henry Pang