Patents by Inventor Michael Richardson

Michael Richardson 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: 20140193203
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a unique, elongated sandbag for use as the bottom layer(s) in a sandbag barrier wall and a kit containing such an elongated sandbag as well as a sufficient number of other, shorter, sandbags for forming a barrier wall for an opening, such as a doorway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: MICHAEL RICHARDSON
  • Patent number: 8689190
    Abstract: A data processing system for processing instructions is shown. Instructions are received at a processor in the data processing system. If a selected indicator is associated with the instruction, counting of each event associated with the execution of the instruction is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jimmie Earl DeWitt, Jr., Frank Eliot Levine, Enio Manuel Pineda, Christopher Michael Richardson, Robert John Urquhart
  • Patent number: 8615619
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for qualifying events by types of interrupt when interrupt occurs in the processor of a data processing system. A programmable performance monitoring unit (PMU) is used to program hardware counters that collect events associated with a type of interrupt, including nested interrupts. The performance monitoring unit may also count events that occur while servicing interrupt requests based upon the state of interrupt processing. Events that are known to the performance monitoring unit such as instruction retired, TLB misses, may be counted at the same time using a number of performance monitoring counters in the performance monitoring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jimmie Earl DeWitt, Jr., Frank Eliot Levine, Christopher Michael Richardson, Robert John Urquhart
  • Publication number: 20130316860
    Abstract: This invention relates to a grip for a cricket bat handle. The grip may include a first raised portion for locating the top hand of a batter. The grip may also include a second raised portion for engaging with the palm of the bottom hand of the batter to prevent over gripping of the cricket bat handle by the batter. The grip may also include a third raised portion for engaging with the fleshy part of the bottom hand of the batter, between the thumb and index finger, in order to locate the bottom hand of the batter on the cricket bat handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: David John Richardson, David Michael Richardson
  • Patent number: 8381037
    Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product in a data processing system are presented for using hardware assistance for gathering performance information that significantly reduces the overhead in gathering such information. Performance indicators are associated with instructions or memory locations, and processing of the performance indicators enables counting of events associated with execution of those instructions or events associated with accesses to those memory locations. The performance information that has been dynamically gathered from the assisting hardware is available to the software application during runtime in order to autonomically affect the behavior of the software application, particularly to enhance its performance. For example, the counted events may be used to autonomically control an execution-path selection within the software application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jimmie Earl DeWitt, Jr., Frank Eliot Levine, Christopher Michael Richardson, Robert John Urquhart
  • Publication number: 20120322336
    Abstract: A flying disc includes a hub composed of polymeric material, a ring composed of polymeric material and coupled to the hub. The hub and the ring may have different specific gravities by being composed of different materials or by having a weighting product embedded therein, or a weighting product may be carried between the hub and the ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: MVP DISC SPORTS, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Charles Richardson, Chad Michael Richardson
  • Patent number: 8255880
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments cover a data processing system for processing instructions and monitoring accesses to memory location ranges. An instruction for execution is identified. A determination is made as to whether the instruction is within a contiguous range of instructions. Execution information relating to the instruction is identified if the instruction is within the contiguous range of instructions. With memory location accesses, an access to a memory location is identified. A determination of whether the memory location is within a contiguous range of memory locations is made. Access information is identified if the memory location is within the contiguous range of memory locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jimmie Earl DeWitt, Jr., Frank Eliot Levine, Christopher Michael Richardson, Robert John Urquhart
  • Publication number: 20120151465
    Abstract: Hardware assist to autonomically patch code. The present invention provides hardware microcode to a new type of metadata to selectively identify instructions to be patched for specific performance optimization functions. The present invention also provides a new flag in the machine status register (MSR) to enable or disable a performance monitoring application or process to perform code-patching functions. If the code patching function is enabled, the application or process may patch code at run time by associating the metadata with the selected instructions. The metadata includes pointers pointing to the patch code block code. The program code may be patched autonomically without modifying original code.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jimmie Earl DeWitt, JR., Frank Eliot Levine, Christopher Michael Richardson, Robert John Urquhart
  • Patent number: 8191049
    Abstract: A method and apparatus in a data processing system for measuring events associated with the execution of instructions are provided. Instructions are received at a processor in the data processing system. If a selected indicator is associated with the instruction, counting of each event associated with the execution of the instruction is enabled. In some embodiments, the performance indicators, counters, thresholds, and other performance monitoring structures may be stored in a page table that is used to translate virtual addresses into physical storage addresses. A standard page table is augmented with additional fields for storing the performance monitoring structures. These structures may be set by the performance monitoring application and may be queried and modified as events occur that require access to physical storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Eliot Levine, Christopher Michael Richardson, Edward John Silha
  • Patent number: 8141099
    Abstract: Hardware assist to autonomically patch code. The present invention provides hardware microcode to a new type of metadata to selectively identify instructions to be patched for specific performance optimization functions. The present invention also provides a new flag in the machine status register (MSR) to enable or disable a performance monitoring application or process to perform code-patching functions. If the code patching function is enabled, the application or process may patch code at run time by associating the metadata with the selected instructions. The metadata includes pointers pointing to the patch code block code. The program code may be patched autonomically without modifying original code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jimmie Earl DeWitt, Jr., Frank Eliot Levine, Christopher Michael Richardson, Robert John Urquhart
  • Patent number: 8080770
    Abstract: The present invention describes an apparatus used in conjunction with a metallic container adapted for processing, storing and heating foodstuffs in a microwave oven, and more specifically, a substantially metallic stackable container with a microwavable transparent portion, metallic reinforcing member, and a selectively removable lid, wherein the same container can be used to store, ship, heat, and serve a foodstuff to a consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Richardson, Jason Kaanta, Vincent Hirsch
  • Publication number: 20110236467
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for male erectile function potentiating by means of toxin Tx2-6 from the spider Phoneufria nigriventer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Maria Elena de Lima Perez Garcia, Rubén Dario Sinisterra Millán, Kênia Pedrosa Nunes, Rômulo Leite, Luciana Franco Lanza, Marcelo Ribeiro Vasconcelos Diniz, Marta do Nascimento Cordeiro, Michael Richardson, Ana do Carmo Valentim, Adriano Monteiro de Castro Pimenta
  • Patent number: 7987453
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for determining computer flows autonomically using hardware assisted thread stack and cataloged symbolic data. When a new thread is spawned during execution of a computer program, new thread work area is allocated by the operating system in memory for storage of call stack information for the new thread. Hardware registers are set with values corresponding to the new thread work area. Upon context switch, values of the registers are saved in a context save area for future restoration. When call stack data is post-processed, the operating system or a device driver copies call stack data from the thread work areas to a consolidated buffer and each thread is mapped to a process. Symbolic data may be obtained based on the process identifier and address of the method/routine that was called/returned in the thread. Corresponding program flow is determined using retrieved symbolic data and call stack data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jimmie Earl DeWitt, Jr., Frank Eliot Levine, Christopher Michael Richardson, Robert John Urquhart
  • Publication number: 20110106994
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for qualifying events by types of interrupt when interrupt occurs in the processor of a data processing system. A programmable performance monitoring unit (PMU) is used to program hardware counters that collect events associated with a type of interrupt, including nested interrupts. The performance monitoring unit may also count events that occur while servicing interrupt requests based upon the state of interrupt processing. Events that are known to the performance monitoring unit such as instruction retired, TLB misses, may be counted at the same time using a number of performance monitoring counters in the performance monitoring unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jimmie Earl DeWitt, JR., Frank Eliot Levine, Christopher Michael Richardson, Robert John Urquhart
  • Patent number: 7937691
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions in a data processing system for monitoring the execution of instructions and accesses to memory locations. If an instruction is associated with a indicator, a counter associated with the instruction is incremented in response to detecting execution of the instruction. The indicator may be associated with a memory location with a counter associated with the memory location being incremented in response to an access of the memory location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jimmie Earl DeWitt, Jr., Frank Eliot Levine, Enio Manuel Pineda, Christopher Michael Richardson, Robert John Urquhart
  • Patent number: 7895382
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for qualifying events by types of interrupt when interrupt occurs in the processor of a data processing system. A programmable performance monitoring unit (PMU) is used to program hardware counters that collect events associated with a type of interrupt, including nested interrupts. The performance monitoring unit may also count events that occur while servicing interrupt requests based upon the state of interrupt processing. Events that are known to the performance monitoring unit such as instruction retired, TLB misses, may be counted at the same time using a number of performance monitoring counters in the performance monitoring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jimmie Earl DeWitt, Jr., Frank Eliot Levine, Christopher Michael Richardson, Robert John Urquhart
  • Patent number: 7812292
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for processing, storing and heating foodstuffs in a partially metal microwavable bowl, and more specifically, a substantially metallic stackable container with a microwavable transparent portion and a selectively removable lid, wherein the same container can be used to store, ship, heat, and serve a foodstuff to a consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Ball Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Richardson, Jason Kaanta, Vincent Hirsch
  • Patent number: 7574587
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions in a data processing system for processing instructions are provided. Instructions are received at a processor in the data processing system. If a selected indicator is associated with the instruction, counting of each event associated with the execution of the instruction is enabled. Functionality may be provided in the performance monitoring application for initiating the measurement of secondary metrics with regard to identified instructions, data addresses, ranges of identified instructions, or ranges of identified data addresses, based on counter values for primary metrics. Thus, for example, when a primary metric counter, or a combination of primary metric counters, meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold value, an interrupt may be generated. In response to receiving the interrupt, counters associated with the measuring of secondary metrics of a range of instructions/data addresses may be initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jimmie Earl DeWitt, Jr., Frank Eliot Levine, Christopher Michael Richardson, Robert John Urquhart
  • Patent number: 7548989
    Abstract: A method, a system, an apparatus, and a computer program product are presented for loading LDIF ((Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) Data Interchange Format) data into a directory. A single reader thread reads entries from an LDIF file; each entry is associated with a priority value, e.g., the priority value for an entry may be based on the number of delimiters in the distinguished name within the entry. Multiple loading threads concurrently add the entries into an LDAP directory in accordance with their associated priority values. The entries are added to the LDAP directory in an order of highest indicated priority to lowest indicated priority; entries that are associated with priority values that indicate equal priority are considered to be equivalent for the purposes of ordering the entries, so entries that have equal priority may be added to the LDAP directory in any order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William Preston Alexander, III, Kean G Kuiper, Christopher Michael Richardson
  • Patent number: 7526757
    Abstract: A method and apparatus in a data processing system for measuring events associated with the execution of instructions are provided. Instructions are received at a processor in the data processing system. If a selected indicator is associated with the instruction, counting of each event associated with the execution of the instruction is enabled. In some embodiments, the performance indicators, counters, thresholds, and other performance monitoring structures may be stored in a page table that is used to translate virtual addresses into physical storage addresses. A standard page table is augmented with additional fields for storing the performance monitoring structures. These structures may be set by the performance monitoring application and may be queried and modified as events occur that require access to physical storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Eliot Levine, Christopher Michael Richardson, Edward John Silha