Patents by Inventor Richard Albert Welp

Richard Albert Welp 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: 11262934
    Abstract: A method of storing and deleting data maintains a record of backups of the stored data, the record defining an entry for each backup comprising details of the data that has been backed up and the location of the data that has been backed up. The record of backups of the stored data is updated with a new entry every time at least part of the stored data is stored at a new location different from the first location. Once an instruction is received to delete the stored data, the maintained record of backups of the stored data is accessed, and an instruction is transmitted for each respective entry in the record of backups, the instruction comprising an instruction to delete the stored data at the respective location for the respective entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Henry Ainscow, Richard Albert Welp
  • Publication number: 20200272353
    Abstract: A method of storing and deleting data maintains a record of backups of the stored data, the record defining an entry for each backup comprising details of the data that has been backed up and the location of the data that has been backed up. The record of backups of the stored data is updated with a new entry every time at least part of the stored data is stored at a new location different from the first location. Once an instruction is received to delete the stored data, the maintained record of backups of the stored data is accessed, and an instruction is transmitted for each respective entry in the record of backups, the instruction comprising an instruction to delete the stored data at the respective location for the respective entry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Alexander Henry Ainscow, Richard Albert Welp
  • Patent number: 8639598
    Abstract: A method for providing technical support for a computing device is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes detecting a problem associated with a computing device. The method then determines a support level assigned to the computing device. A set of problems is associated with the support level. If the problem belongs to the set of problems associated with the support level, the method automatically sends a message to a support provider so that the support provider can address the problem. A corresponding system and computer program product are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Compton, Nikhil Khandelwal, Michael R. Maletich, Richard Albert Welp
  • Patent number: 8559129
    Abstract: A pass-through accessor comprising a fixturing apparatus that can store a plurality of portable data storage cassettes. The pass-through accessor comprises a moveable gripper assembly comprising a plurality of gripping members. The gripper assembly releaseably attaches to a portable data storage cassette disposed in a storage slot, pulls that portable data storage cassette outwardly from the storage slot, and releaseably attaches that portable data storage cassette to one of a plurality of fixturing assemblies disposed on the fixturing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Compton, Louis Daniel Echevarria, Stefan Lehmann, Richard Albert Welp
  • Patent number: 8527378
    Abstract: A method for providing technical support for a computing device is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes detecting a problem associated with a computing device. The method then determines a support level assigned to the computing device. A set of problems is associated with the support level. If the problem belongs to the set of problems associated with the support level, the method automatically sends a message to a support provider so that the support provider can address the problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Compton, Nikhil Khandelwal, Michael R. Maletich, Richard Albert Welp
  • Patent number: 8458486
    Abstract: A method to provide problem-based access to a computing device is disclosed herein. In one embodiment of the invention, such a method includes detecting a problem on a computing device. The method automatically generates a user account on the computing device in response to detecting the problem. The problem is then tied to the user account. A support provider is then notified of the problem and the user account associated with the problem. This user account may be assigned to a service technician to enable access to the computing device. The service technician may then log into the computing device using the user account and address the problem. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Samuel Terris, Richard Albert Welp, Robin Daniel Roberts
  • Publication number: 20120316670
    Abstract: A method is provided to handle portable cassettes removeably disposed in a data storage library, wherein the method supplies a data storage library comprising a plurality of storage slots, and a plurality of portable cassettes removeably disposed a designated storage slot in a first alignment order, and a pass-through accessor comprising a moveable fixturing apparatus to store portable cassettes, wherein the pass-through accessor is moveably disposed in the data storage library. The method positions the pass-through accessor adjacent an open end of a designated storage slot, and sequentially removes and attaches to the fixturing apparatus a plurality of portable cassettes from the designated storage slot. The method then transports the plurality of portable cassettes to a designated location within the data storage library.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Compton, Louis Daniel Echevarria, Stefan Lehmann, Richard Albert Welp
  • Patent number: 8295005
    Abstract: A method is provided to handle portable cassettes removeably disposed in a data storage library, wherein the method supplies a data storage library comprising a plurality of storage slots, and a plurality of portable cassettes removeably disposed a designated storage slot in a first alignment order, and a pass-through accessor comprising a moveable fixturing apparatus to store portable cassettes, wherein the pass-through accessor is moveably disposed in the data storage library. The method positions the pass-through accessor adjacent an open end of a designated storage slot, and sequentially removes and attaches to the fixturing apparatus a plurality of portable cassettes from the designated storage slot. The method then transports the plurality of portable cassettes to a designated location within the data storage library.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Compton, Louis Daniel Echevarria, Stefan Lehmann, Richard Albert Welp
  • Publication number: 20120213616
    Abstract: A method to audit portable cassettes removeably disposed in a data storage library comprising a plurality of storage slots, a plurality of portable cassettes removeably disposed in one or more of said plurality of storage slots, and a pass-through accessor comprising a moveable fixturing apparatus, wherein the pass-through accessor is moveably disposed in said data storage library. The method disposes the pass-through accessor adjacent a first one of said plurality of storage slots, removes a first portable cassette from the first storage slot, and attaches the first portable cassette to a first fixturing assembly disposed on the fixturing apparatus. The method then removes a second portable cassette from the first storage slot, and attaches the second portable cassette to a second fixturing assembly disposed on the fixturing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Compton, Louis Daniel Echevarria, Stefan Lehmann, Richard Albert Welp
  • Patent number: 8175745
    Abstract: A method to audit portable cassettes removeably disposed in a data storage library comprising a plurality of storage slots, a plurality of portable cassettes removeably disposed in one or more of said plurality of storage slots, and a pass-through accessor comprising a moveable fixturing apparatus, wherein the pass-through accessor is moveably disposed in said data storage library. The method disposes the pass-through accessor adjacent a first one of said plurality of storage slots, removes a first portable cassette from the first storage slot, and attaches the first portable cassette to a first fixturing assembly disposed on the fixturing apparatus. The method then removes a second portable cassette from the first storage slot, and attaches the second portable cassette to a second fixturing assembly disposed on the fixturing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Compton, Louis Daniel Echevarria, Stefan Lehmann, Richard Albert Welp
  • Patent number: 8055945
    Abstract: A method for reporting error resolution information according to one embodiment includes identifying an error; tracking information output to a user when attempting to resolve the error; and sending error resolution data to a remote system, the error resolution data comprising at least a representation of the error and at least a representation of some of the information output to the user. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Compton, Louis Daniel Echevarria, Alain Asong Taku, Richard Albert Welp
  • Patent number: 7962791
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for automated data determination propagation. A data package source collects data and compiles the data into data packages. A local data package prioritization module determines a prioritized order of the data packages based on a local priority matrix. The local data package prioritization module sends the data packages in the prioritized order over a temporary data connection to a central data package prioritization module. The local data package prioritization module updates the local priority matrix over the temporary data connection based on a central priority matrix. The central data package prioritization module receives the data packages and makes one or more updates to the central priority matrix based on the data packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Compton, Louis Daniel Echevarria, Richard Albert Welp
  • Publication number: 20110038075
    Abstract: A method is provided to handle portable cassettes removeably disposed in a data storage library, wherein the method supplies a data storage library comprising a plurality of storage slots, and a plurality of portable cassettes removeably disposed a designated storage slot in a first alignment order, and a pass-through accessor comprising a moveable fixturing apparatus to store portable cassettes, wherein the pass-through accessor is moveably disposed in the data storage library. The method positions the pass-through accessor adjacent an open end of a designated storage slot, and sequentially removes and attaches to the fixturing apparatus a plurality of portable cassettes from the designated storage slot. The method then transports the plurality of portable cassettes to a designated location within the data storage library.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: MATTHEW CHARLES COMPTON, LOUIS DANIEL ECHEVARRIA, STEFAN LEHMANN, RICHARD ALBERT WELP
  • Patent number: 7882402
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for data priority determination. A receiving module receives a data package. A parsing module parses out priority indicators from the data package. A comparison module compares the priority indicators to entries in a priority matrix, determining whether the data package is of a defined data package type. In response to a determination that the data package is of the defined data package type, a priority determination module determines a data package priority of the data package based on a data package priority of the defined data package type. In response to a determination that the data package is not of the defined data package type, a type definition module defines a new data package type having a data package priority based on the priority indicators. A priority update module updates the data package priority of the defined data package type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Compton, Louis Daniel Echevarria, Christine Lynette Telford, Richard Albert Welp
  • Patent number: 7865783
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for logging and identifying microcode errors in a computing environment is provided. Each of a plurality of errors in the microcode is logged using a plurality of error logging commands. Each of the plurality of errors is indexed to generate a plurality of indexed errors. A plurality of unique keys is associated to each of the plurality of indexed errors. A master index of the plurality of unique keys is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Compton, Louis Daniel Echevarria, Ricardo Sedillos Padilla, Richard Albert Welp
  • Publication number: 20100292832
    Abstract: A method to audit portable cassettes removeably disposed in a data storage library comprising a plurality of storage slots, a plurality of portable cassettes removeably disposed in one or more of said plurality of storage slots, and a pass-through accessor comprising a moveable fixturing apparatus, wherein the pass-through accessor is moveably disposed in said data storage library. The method disposes the pass-through accessor adjacent a first one of said plurality of storage slots, removes a first portable cassette from the first storage slot, and attaches the first portable cassette to a first fixturing assembly disposed on the fixturing apparatus. The method then removes a second portable cassette from the first storage slot, and attaches the second portable cassette to a second fixturing assembly disposed on the fixturing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: MATTHEW CHARLES COMPTON, LOUIS DANIEL ECHEVARRIA, STEFAN LEHMANN, RICHARD ALBERT WELP
  • Publication number: 20100199132
    Abstract: A method for reporting error resolution information according to one embodiment includes identifying an error; tracking information output to a user when attempting to resolve the error; and sending error resolution data to a remote system, the error resolution data comprising at least a representation of the error and at least a representation of some of the information output to the user. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Compton, Louis Daniel Echevarria, Alain Asong Taku, Richard Albert Welp
  • Publication number: 20100080091
    Abstract: A pass-through accessor comprising a fixturing apparatus that can store a plurality of portable data storage cassettes. The pass-through accessor comprises a moveable gripper assembly comprising a plurality of gripping members. The gripper assembly releaseably attaches to a portable data storage cassette disposed in a storage slot, pulls that portable data storage cassette outwardly from the storage slot, and releaseably attaches that portable data storage cassette to one of a plurality of fixturing assemblies disposed on the fixturing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: MATTHEW CHARLES COMPTON, LOUIS DANIEL ECHEVARRIA, STEFAN LEHMANN, RICHARD ALBERT WELP
  • Publication number: 20100058117
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for automated data determination propagation. A data package source collects data and compiles the data into data packages. A local data package prioritization module determines a prioritized order of the data packages based on a local priority matrix. The local data package prioritization module sends the data packages in the prioritized order over a temporary data connection to a central data package prioritization module. The local data package prioritization module updates the local priority matrix over the temporary data connection based on a central priority matrix. The central data package prioritization module receives the data packages and makes one or more updates to the central priority matrix based on the data packages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Compton, Louis Daniel Echevarria, Richard Albert Welp
  • Publication number: 20100058122
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for data priority determination. A receiving module receives a data package. A parsing module parses out priority indicators from the data package. A comparison module compares the priority indicators to entries in a priority matrix, determining whether the data package is of a defined data package type. In response to a determination that the data package is of the defined data package type, a priority determination module determines a data package priority of the data package based on a data package priority of the defined data package type. In response to a determination that the data package is not of the defined data package type, a type definition module defines a new data package type having a data package priority based on the priority indicators. A priority update module updates the data package priority of the defined data package type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Matthew Charles Compton, Louis Daniel Echevarria, Christine Lynette Telford, Richard Albert Welp