Patents by Inventor Muhammad Ashfaq AHMED
Muhammad Ashfaq AHMED 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: 11989548Abstract: A host computing device includes a host processor, host memory in electronic communication with the host processor, and an auxiliary service controller. The host computing device also includes a communication interface and a messaging interface between the host processor and the auxiliary service controller. A message handler is stored in the host memory. The message handler is executable by the host processor in response to detecting a messaging interface signal on the messaging interface. Execution of the message handler by the host processor causes a firmware update patch to be read from a shared memory region in the auxiliary service controller via the communication interface.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2023Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Neeraj Ladkani, Daini Xie, Mallik Bulusu, Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed
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Patent number: 11983111Abstract: A computing system that enables data stored in a persistent memory region to be preserved when a processor fails can include volatile memory comprising the persistent memory region, non-volatile memory, and a system on a chip (SoC). The SoC can include a main processor that is communicatively coupled to both the volatile memory and the non-volatile memory. The SoC can also include an auxiliary processor that is communicatively coupled to both the volatile memory and the non-volatile memory. The SoC can also include instructions that are executable by the auxiliary processor to cause the data in the persistent memory region of the volatile memory to be transferred to the non-volatile memory in response to a failure of the main processor.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2021Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Ravi Mysore Shantamurthy, Mallik Bulusu, Tom Long Nguyen, Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed, Madhav Himanshubhai Pandya
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Publication number: 20230229423Abstract: A host computing device includes a host processor, host memory in electronic communication with the host processor, and an auxiliary service controller. The host computing device also includes a communication interface and a messaging interface between the host processor and the auxiliary service controller. A message handler is stored in the host memory. The message handler is executable by the host processor in response to detecting a messaging interface signal on the messaging interface. Execution of the message handler by the host processor causes a firmware update patch to be read from a shared memory region in the auxiliary service controller via the communication interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2023Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Neeraj LADKANI, Daini XIE, Mallik BULUSU, Muhammad Ashfaq AHMED
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Patent number: 11640290Abstract: A host computing device includes a host processor, host memory in electronic communication with the host processor, and an auxiliary service controller. The host computing device also includes a communication interface and a messaging interface between the host processor and the auxiliary service controller. A message handler is stored in the host memory. The message handler is executable by the host processor in response to detecting a messaging interface signal on the messaging interface. Execution of the message handler by the host processor causes a firmware update patch to be read from a shared memory region in the auxiliary service controller via the communication interface.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2020Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Inventors: Neeraj Ladkani, Daini Xie, Mallik Bulusu, Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed
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Patent number: 11593209Abstract: A method for targeted repair of a hardware component in a computing device that is part of a cloud computing system includes monitoring a plurality of hardware components in the computing device. At some point, a defective sub-component within the hardware component of the computing device is identified. In addition to the defective sub-component, the hardware component also includes at least one sub-component that is functioning properly and a spare component that can be used in place of the defective sub-component. The method also includes initiating a targeted repair action while the computing device is connected to the cloud computing system. The targeted repair action prevents the defective sub-component from being used by the computing device without preventing sub-components that are functioning properly from being used by the computing device. The targeted repair action causes the spare component to be used in place of the defective sub-component.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Mallik Bulusu, Tom Long Nguyen, Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed
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Publication number: 20230055136Abstract: A computing system that enables data stored in a persistent memory region to be preserved when a processor fails can include volatile memory comprising the persistent memory region, non-volatile memory, and a system on a chip (SoC). The SoC can include a main processor that is communicatively coupled to both the volatile memory and the non-volatile memory. The SoC can also include an auxiliary processor that is communicatively coupled to both the volatile memory and the non-volatile memory. The SoC can also include instructions that are executable by the auxiliary processor to cause the data in the persistent memory region of the volatile memory to be transferred to the non-volatile memory in response to a failure of the main processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2021Publication date: February 23, 2023Inventors: Ravi MYSORE SHANTAMURTHY, Mallik BULUSU, Tom Long NGUYEN, Muhammad Ashfaq AHMED, Madhav Himanshubhai PANDYA
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Patent number: 11544148Abstract: To preserve error context during a reboot of a computing device, firmware within the computing device can be configured to implement a method that includes determining where the error context is stored in volatile memory. The method can also include identifying a plurality of recorder regions in non-volatile memory that have been assigned to store the error context. The plurality of recorder regions can be disaggregated across a plurality of distinct non-volatile memory regions. The method can also include flushing the error context from a plurality of different volatile memory locations to the plurality of recorder regions in response to detecting a trigger. The flushing can occur prior to the reboot of the computing device. The method can also include restoring at least some of the error context to the volatile memory after the computing device has been rebooted.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Mallik Bulusu, Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed, Tom Long Nguyen, Neeraj Ladkani, Ravi Mysore Shantamurthy
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Publication number: 20220318093Abstract: To preserve error context during a reboot of a computing device, firmware within the computing device can be configured to implement a method that includes determining where the error context is stored in volatile memory. The method can also include identifying a plurality of recorder regions in non-volatile memory that have been assigned to store the error context. The plurality of recorder regions can be disaggregated across a plurality of distinct non-volatile memory regions. The method can also include flushing the error context from a plurality of different volatile memory locations to the plurality of recorder regions in response to detecting a trigger. The flushing can occur prior to the reboot of the computing device. The method can also include restoring at least some of the error context to the volatile memory after the computing device has been rebooted.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2021Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: Mallik BULUSU, Muhammad Ashfaq AHMED, Tom Long NGUYEN, Neeraj LADKANI, Ravi MYSORE SHANTAMURTHY
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Patent number: 11385903Abstract: A computing system is provided, including a processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to store a firmware update patch in a runtime buffer included in the memory. The runtime buffer may be accessible by firmware and an operating system of the computing system. The processor may perform a first verification check on the firmware update patch. When the firmware update patch passes the first verification check, the processor may copy the firmware update patch to a system management random access memory (SMRAM) buffer included in the memory. The SMRAM buffer may be accessible by the firmware and inaccessible by the operating system. The processor may perform a second verification check on the copy of the firmware update patch. When the copy of the firmware update patch passes the second verification check, the processor may execute the copy of the firmware update patch.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Daini Xie, Thirupathaiah Annapureddy, Mallik Bulusu, Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed
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Patent number: 11379212Abstract: While booting a host computing device on a cloud computing system, system firmware (such as Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)) sends a query to a management subsystem (such as a baseboard management controller (BMC)) for updated configuration data used during a boot of the host computing device. The management subsystem sends the updated configuration data to the system firmware, and boot instructions in the system firmware compare the updated configuration data with configuration data stored on the host computing device. If the respective configuration data match, the boot instructions continue with booting the host computing device. If the configuration data do not match, then the boot instructions update the stored configuration data with the updated configuration data and then proceed to boot the host computing device.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2020Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Ravi Mysore Shantamurthy, Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed, Mallik Bulusu, Neeraj Ladkani, Sagar Dharia
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Publication number: 20220129258Abstract: A host computing device includes a host processor, host memory in electronic communication with the host processor, and an auxiliary service controller. The host computing device also includes a communication interface and a messaging interface between the host processor and the auxiliary service controller. A message handler is stored in the host memory. The message handler is executable by the host processor in response to detecting a messaging interface signal on the messaging interface. Execution of the message handler by the host processor causes a firmware update patch to be read from a shared memory region in the auxiliary service controller via the communication interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2020Publication date: April 28, 2022Inventors: Neeraj LADKANI, Daini XIE, Mallik BULUSU, Muhammad Ashfaq AHMED
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Patent number: 11269729Abstract: A computing device, such as a server in a cloud computing system, can be configured to enable error mitigation actions to be performed when the computing device experiences a failure. The computing device includes firmware that can be configured to detect an error indication during a boot sequence of the server, determine at least one desired error mitigation action based at least in part on the error indication, and create a boot error record that identifies the at least one desired error mitigation action. The computing device also includes an operating system that can be configured to obtain the boot error record during the boot sequence and cause the at least one desired error mitigation action that is identified in the boot error record to be performed.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLCInventors: Mallik Bulusu, Ravi Mysore Shantamurthy, Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed
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Publication number: 20220066766Abstract: While booting a host computing device on a cloud computing system, system firmware (such as Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)) sends a query to a management subsystem (such as a baseboard management controller (BMC)) for updated configuration data used during a boot of the host computing device. The management subsystem sends the updated configuration data to the system firmware, and boot instructions in the system firmware compare the updated configuration data with configuration data stored on the host computing device. If the respective configuration data match, the boot instructions continue with booting the host computing device. If the configuration data do not match, then the boot instructions update the stored configuration data with the updated configuration data and then proceed to boot the host computing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2020Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Ravi MYSORE SHANTAMURTHY, Muhammad Ashfaq AHMED, Mallik BULUSU, Neeraj LADKANI, Sagar DHARIA
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Patent number: 11144487Abstract: A computer system includes a host processor including a hardware interrupt pin. The computer system also includes host firmware including an interrupt handler. The interrupt handler includes a plurality of sets of instructions that are executable by the host processor. The computer system also includes a baseboard management controller (BMC) that is connected to the hardware interrupt pin. The BMC is configured to generate an interrupt signal on the hardware interrupt pin in response to occurrence of a triggering event. The BMC is also configured to provide the host processor with context information that identifies a set of instructions in the host firmware that should be executed in response to the interrupt signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Neeraj Ladkani, Mallik Bulusu, Sagar Dharia, Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed
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Publication number: 20210311833Abstract: A method for targeted repair of a hardware component in a computing device that is part of a cloud computing system includes monitoring a plurality of hardware components in the computing device. At some point, a defective sub-component within the hardware component of the computing device is identified. In addition to the defective sub-component, the hardware component also includes at least one sub-component that is functioning properly and a spare component that can be used in place of the defective sub-component. The method also includes initiating a targeted repair action while the computing device is connected to the cloud computing system. The targeted repair action prevents the defective sub-component from being used by the computing device without preventing sub-components that are functioning properly from being used by the computing device. The targeted repair action causes the spare component to be used in place of the defective sub-component.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2020Publication date: October 7, 2021Inventors: Mallik BULUSU, Tom Long NGUYEN, Muhammad Ashfaq AHMED
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Publication number: 20210294763Abstract: A computer system includes a host processor including a hardware interrupt pin. The computer system also includes host firmware including an interrupt handler. The interrupt handler includes a plurality of sets of instructions that are executable by the host processor. The computer system also includes a baseboard management controller (BMC) that is connected to the hardware interrupt pin. The BMC is configured to generate an interrupt signal on the hardware interrupt pin in response to occurrence of a triggering event. The BMC is also configured to provide the host processor with context information that identifies a set of instructions in the host firmware that should be executed in response to the interrupt signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2020Publication date: September 23, 2021Inventors: Neeraj LADKANI, Mallik BULUSU, Sagar DHARIA, Muhammad Ashfaq AHMED
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Publication number: 20210240489Abstract: A computing system is provided, including a processor and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to store a firmware update patch in a runtime buffer included in the memory. The runtime buffer may be accessible by firmware and an operating system of the computing system. The processor may perform a first verification check on the firmware update patch. When the firmware update patch passes the first verification check, the processor may copy the firmware update patch to a system management random access memory (SMRAM) buffer included in the memory. The SMRAM buffer may be accessible by the firmware and inaccessible by the operating system. The processor may perform a second verification check on the copy of the firmware update patch. When the copy of the firmware update patch passes the second verification check, the processor may execute the copy of the firmware update patch.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2020Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Daini XIE, Thirupathaiah ANNAPUREDDY, Mallik BULUSU, Muhammad Ashfaq AHMED