Patents by Inventor Richmond L. Armstrong

Richmond L. Armstrong 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).

  • System and method for detecting and using a replacement boot block during initialization by an original boot block
    Patent number: 6859876
    Abstract: A unique method and system to update or modify the original boot block of a computer system without endangering the integrity of the system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system that allows for a secondary boot block to be substituted for the original boot block. This is accomplished by having the original boot block check for a replacement secondary boot block as early in the startup code as is feasible. If a valid secondary boot block is found, the startup process is passed to the secondary boot block. The original boot block is maintained, however, so the system can always be recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Don A. Dykes, Richmond L. Armstrong
  • Secondary boot block
    Publication number: 20020087855
    Abstract: A unique method and system to update or modify the original boot block of a computer system without endangering the integrity of the system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system that allows for a secondary boot block to be substituted for the original boot block. This is accomplished by having the original boot block check for a replacement secondary boot block as early in the startup code as is feasible. If a valid secondary boot block is found, the startup process is passed to the secondary boot block. The original boot block is maintained, however, so the system can always be recovered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Don A. Dykes, Richmond L. Armstrong