Patents by Inventor Richard David Ball

Richard David Ball 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).

  • Method and apparatus for preventing unauthorized access to peripheral devices
    Patent number: 5687379
    Abstract: This invention relates to a system for providing programmable configuration protection of a programmable Input/Output device. By configuration protection, it is meant that the programming options of an I/O controller can be set in accordance to a given environment, and then by use of a programming controlled signal, prevent the changing of the programmed environment or remove those programmed options considered unsafe in the now secured environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Packard Bell NEC
    Inventors: Jimmy Dean Smith, Mark D. Nicol, Brian K. Straup, Terence Paul O'Brien, Michael P. Krau, Richard David Ball