Patents by Inventor Robert E. Medlin

Robert E. Medlin 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: 8495321
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for firehose dumping modified data in a static random access memory of a hard disk drive to non-volatile memory of the hard disk drive during a power event. Responsive an indication of a power event in the hard disk drive, hard disk drive command processing is suspended. A token is set in the non-volatile storage indicating that flash memory in the non-volatile memory contains modified data. A portion of a static random access memory cache table containing information on the modified data in the static random access memory is copied to the flash memory. The modified data from the static random access memory is then copied to the flash memory. Responsive to a determination that the power event that initiated the copy of the modified data in the static random access memory to the flash memory is still present, the hard disk drive is shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. Harper, Craig A. Klein, Gregg S. Lucas, Mary A. J. Marquez, Robert E. Medlin
  • Publication number: 20120215971
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for firehose dumping modified data in a static random access memory of a hard disk drive to non-volatile memory of the hard disk drive during a power event. Responsive an indication of a power event in the hard disk drive, hard disk drive command processing is suspended. A token is set in the non-volatile storage indicating that flash memory in the non-volatile memory contains modified data. A portion of a static random access memory cache table containing information on the modified data in the static random access memory is copied to the flash memory. The modified data from the static random access memory is then copied to the flash memory. Responsive to a determination that the power event that initiated the copy of the modified data in the static random access memory to the flash memory is still present, the hard disk drive is shut down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. Harper, Craig A. Klein, Gregg S. Lucas, Mary A. J. Marquez, Robert E. Medlin
  • Patent number: 8195901
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for firehose dumping modified data in a static random access memory of a hard disk drive to non-volatile memory of the hard disk drive during a power event. Responsive an indication of a power event in the hard disk drive, hard disk drive command processing is suspended. A token is set in the non-volatile storage indicating that flash memory in the non-volatile memory contains modified data. A portion of a static random access memory cache table containing information on the modified data in the static random access memory is copied to the flash memory. The modified data from the static random access memory is then copied to the flash memory. Responsive to a determination that the power event that initiated the copy of the modified data in the static random access memory to the flash memory is still present, the hard disk drive is shut down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. Harper, Craig A. Klein, Gregg S. Lucas, Mary A. J. Marquez, Robert E. Medlin
  • Patent number: 7936767
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring high-speed network traffic via sequentially multiplexed data streams. Exemplary embodiments include a switch module system, including a first switch module configured to be coupled to a first server chassis, a first data port disposed on the first switch module and a set of first port data links configured to be coupled to a set of data port data links, each data link configurable to channel at least one of a normal data stream and a monitored data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Katherine T. Blinick, John C. Elliott, Gregg S Lucas, Robert E. Medlin, Gordon L. Washburn
  • Patent number: 7900096
    Abstract: A method for automatically detecting and correcting one or more hang conditions within one or more of a master device and target device of a serial bus interface when one or more signals are held in an invalid state. A hang timer monitors one or more operations of the serial bus when the serial bus is participating in a serial bus transfer. If the transfer does not end before the bus timeout value has been exceeded, the hang timer will issue a reset to the state machine forcing the state machine back to an idle state. The hang timer will also disable the serial bus drivers of the state machine, whereby the hang condition is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan N. Cardwell, Michael L. Harper, Craig A. Klein, Gregg S. Lucas, Mary Anne J. Marquez, Robert E. Medlin
  • Publication number: 20100199021
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for firehose dumping modified data in a static random access memory of a hard disk drive to non-volatile memory of the hard disk drive during a power event. Responsive an indication of a power event in the hard disk drive, hard disk drive command processing is suspended. A token is set in the non-volatile storage indicating that flash memory in the non-volatile memory contains modified data. A portion of a static random access memory cache table containing information on the modified data in the static random access memory is copied to the flash memory. The modified data from the static random access memory is then copied to the flash memory. Responsive to a determination that the power event that initiated the copy of the modified data in the static random access memory to the flash memory is still present, the hard disk drive is shut down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. Harper, Craig A. Klein, Gregg S. Lucas, Mary A. J. Marquez, Robert E. Medlin
  • Publication number: 20100180162
    Abstract: A method for automatically detecting and correcting one or more hang conditions within one or more of a master device and target device of a serial bus interface when one or more signals are held in an invalid state. A hang timer monitors one or more operations of the serial bus when the serial bus is participating in a serial bus transfer. If the transfer does not end before the bus timeout value has been exceeded, the hang timer will issue a reset to the state machine forcing the state machine back to an idle state. The hang timer will also disable the serial bus drivers of the state machine, whereby the hang condition is corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bryan N. Cardwell, Michael L. Harper, Craig A. Klein, Gregg S. Lucas, Mary Anne J. Marquez, Robert E. Medlin
  • Publication number: 20100046590
    Abstract: A data transmission system for transmitting data from a first location to a second location includes a transmitting device configured to transmit the data and located at the first location. The transmitting device includes a serial attached SCSI (SAS) enabled controller. The system also includes an I/O port coupled to the transmitting device and having multiple lanes and a repeater powered by one of the lanes. The system also includes a receiving device coupled to the second end of the cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael L. Harper, Craig A. Klein, Gregg S. Lucas, Mary Anne Marquez, Robert E. Medlin
  • Publication number: 20090307563
    Abstract: A method of a method of replacing bad sectors in a Hard Disk Drive comprises detecting bad sectors on the Hard Disk Drive; remapping the bad sectors to an auxiliary data storage device comprising an Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory connected to the Hard Disk Drive; and storing data on the auxiliary storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: IBM Corporation (Almaden Research Center)
    Inventors: Mary A. Marquez, Gregg S. Lucas, Craig A. Klein, Michael L. Harper, Robert E. Medlin
  • Patent number: 7624203
    Abstract: Because cable length affects signal quality, amplifying signals differently to account for cable length (“tuning”) becomes especially important when high speed signals are used. Cable length information may be stored in a non-volatile memory which may be integrated into a cable assembly or may be a discrete component between the cable and an interface. Rather than using a dedicated data line to the memory component a ground line may be connected to the memory component and multiplexed. During normal operation the selected line is grounded through a switching device. When a cable is detected, a management controller changes the state of the switching device to decouple the selected line from ground to allow the management controller access to the data stored in the memory component, including cable length information. The selected line is then re-coupled to ground and interface circuits may be tuned for the cable length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Katherine T Blinick, Yutaka Kawai, Gregg S Lucas, Robert E Medlin, Kenneth R Schneebeli, Michael Stamps
  • Publication number: 20090279439
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products for controlling high-speed network traffic in server blade environments. Exemplary embodiments include a method for controlling high-speed network traffic in a server blade network, the method including identifying a port under test, identifying a debug port, identifying a code state of interest from the port under test and generating a modified IDLE word in response to an identification of a code state of interest from the port under test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John C. Elliott, Gregg S. Lucas, Robert E. Medlin
  • Patent number: 7542302
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided and includes a label layer, disposed in a user visible interface of a front bezel, in which an icon is etched, a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB), abutting a rear surface of the label layer and being configured to form a light source housing that positionally corresponds to that of the icon, a light source assembly, including a substrate, which is fixedly recessed in a rear portion of the light source housing, and a light emitting portion, supported by the substrate, from which light is emitted toward at least the icon, and solder plating to reflect light emitted by the light source away from the preselected icon toward the preselected icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Curnalia, Michael L. Harper, Craig A. Klein, Gregg S. Lucas, Mary Anne J. Marquez, Robert E. Medlin
  • Publication number: 20080270638
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring high-speed network traffic via simultaneously multiplexed data streams. Exemplary embodiments include a switch module system, including a first switch module coupled to a first server chassis, a first data port disposed on the first switch module and a set of data links disposed on the first data port, each data link configurable to receive a normal data stream and a monitored data stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katherine T. Blinick, Gregg S. Lucas, Robert E. Medlin, Gordon L. Washburn
  • Publication number: 20080267192
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring high-speed network traffic via sequentially multiplexed data streams. Exemplary embodiments include a switch module system, including a first switch module configured to be coupled to a first, server chassis, a first data port disposed on the first switch module and a set of first port data links configured to be coupled to a set of data port data links, each data link configurable to channel at least one of a normal data stream and a monitored data stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katherine T. Blinick, John C. Elliott, Gregg S. Lucas, Robert E. Medlin, Gordon L. Washburn
  • Publication number: 20080267060
    Abstract: Providing high speed fault tracing within a blade center system by using a high speed transmitter port of a switch to implement a first snoop port and using a high speed receiver port of the switch to implement a second snoop port, thus permitting snooping of the blade center system from a single blade slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katherine T. Blinick, Gregg S. Lucas, Robert E. Medlin, Gordon L. Washburn
  • Publication number: 20080168374
    Abstract: By use of a GUI (Graphical User Interface) or CLI (Command Line Interface) a user can issue a command to configure an external SAS Port as table routing mode or subtractive mode. The SAS switch receives and decodes the command. Subsequently, the SM asserts the appropriate indicator behavior for the port being addressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katherine T. Blinick, Michael A. Curnalia, Yutaka Kawai, Gregg S. Lucas, Robert E. Medlin