Patents by Inventor Robert J. Volentine

Robert J. Volentine 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: 10949286
    Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a system for handling memory errors includes a memory module having volatile components and non-volatile components. The system includes a BIOS chip having BIOS code and a BIOS non-volatile (NV) memory. The BIOS NV memory stores error data associated with the memory module that was stored prior to a power-on or reset of the system. The system includes a processor to execute the BIOS code to, after the power-on or reset of the system end before an operating system is loaded; (1) read, from the BIOS NV memory, the error data; and (2) determine, based on the error data, whether to take a corrective action with respect to the memory module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Robert J. Volentine, Frank L. Wu
  • Patent number: 10620859
    Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a device comprising a host computing device further comprises a processor, a non-volatile dual inline memory module (NVDIMM) comprising metadata indicating system configuration information associated with the NVDIMM, and a basic input output system (BIOS) comprising system configuration information associated with the host computing device. The BIOS may: determine whether there is a mismatch between the system configuration information of the host computing device and the system configuration information indicated by the metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT LP
    Inventors: Viratkumar Maganlal Manvar, Frank Wu, Robert C Elliott, Robert J Volentine
  • Publication number: 20180095691
    Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a device comprising a host computing device further comprises a processor, a non-volatile dual inline memory module (NVDIMM) comprising metadata indicating system configuration information associated with the NVDIMM, and a basic input output system (BIOS) comprising system configuration information associated with the host computing device. The BIOS may: determine whether there is a mismatch between the system configuration information of the host computing device and the system configuration information indicated by the metadata.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Virat MANVAR, Frank Wu, Robert C. ELLIOTT, Robert J. VOLENTINE
  • Publication number: 20180004591
    Abstract: In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a system for handling memory errors includes a memory module having volatile components and non-volatile components. The system includes a BIOS chip having BIOS code and a BIOS non-volatile (NV) memory. The BIOS NV memory stores error data associated with the memory module that was stored prior to a power-on or reset of the system. The system includes a processor to execute the BIOS code to, after the power-on or reset of the system end before an operating system is loaded; (1) read, from the BIOS NV memory, the error data; and (2) determine, based on the error data, whether to take a corrective action with respect to the memory module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Robert J. VOLENTINE, Frank L. WU
  • Patent number: 9471231
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that may be employed to dynamically and intelligently allocate fault resistant memory (FRM) by calculating the currently required size of a protected reliable memory region for the FRM on an as-needed basis, rather than on a static basis. In one example, an operating system, or hypervisor or other virtualization layer may be employed to calculate the required size for the protected reliable memory region of the FRM based on current memory requirements of the virtualization layer kernel and running instances of other critical processes, and then to interact in real time with the system BIOS to cause an adjustment in the reserved protected reliable memory region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Jagadeesha Bollandoor, Kiran Kumar Devarapalli, Krishnaprasad Koladi, Robert J. Volentine
  • Publication number: 20150268874
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that may be employed to dynamically and intelligently allocate fault resistant memory (FRM) by calculating the currently required size of a protected reliable memory region for the FRM on an as-needed basis, rather than on a static basis. In one example, an operating system, or hypervisor or other virtualization layer may be employed to calculate the required size for the protected reliable memory region of the FRM based on current memory requirements of the virtualization layer kernel and running instances of other critical processes, and then to interact in real time with the system BIOS to cause an adjustment in the reserved protected reliable memory region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Jagadeesha Bollandoor, Kiran Kumar Devarapalli, Krishnaprasad Koladi, Robert J. Volentine
  • Patent number: 7895472
    Abstract: A system and method of a basic input output system (BIOS) test system are disclosed. According to an aspect, a basic input output system (BIOS) test system can include a BIOS test manager configured to enable BIOS testing of multiple information handling systems within a test environment. The BIOS test system can also include a local test harness driver operable to be coupled to the remote BIOS test manager to receive test routines, and a test buffer configured to receive a test routine from the BIOS test manager. The test routine can further be executed using a test engine integrated as a part of a BIOS of a particular information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Natalie N. Quach, Mark W. Shutt, Peter Cloney, Robert J. Volentine
  • Patent number: 7681023
    Abstract: A method according to the invention ensures optimal memory configuration in a computer: A determination is made whether performance can be improved by rearranging the DIMMs that are installed in the computer. If so, then a user of the computer is notified that the DIMMs can be rearranged to improve performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert J. Volentine, Mark A. Piwonka, Patrick L. Gibbons
  • Publication number: 20090292949
    Abstract: A system and method of a basic input output system (BIOS) test system are disclosed. According to an aspect, a basic input output system (BIOS) test system can include a BIOS test manager configured to enable BIOS testing of multiple information handling systems within a test environment. The BIOS test system can also include a local test harness driver operable to be coupled to the remote BIOS test manager to receive test routines, and a test buffer configured to receive a test routine from the BIOS test manager. The test routine can further be executed using a test engine integrated as a part of a BIOS of a particular information handling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS, LP
    Inventors: Natalie N. Quach, Mark W. Shutt, Peter Cloney, Robert J. Volentine
  • Patent number: 7130950
    Abstract: Client software stores an identifier corresponding to memory configuration data of interest and causes a software interrupt that requests a memory configuration read function. An interrupt read function handler then reads the data of interest responsive to the identifier and returns the data of interest. The client software may include, for example, BIOS firmware or application software executing in real or protected mode. The memory configuration information may be stored in a hidden I/O or MMIO register device. In such an embodiment, the interrupt handler may enable access to the hidden I/O or MMIO register device prior to reading the data of interest and disable access to the hidden I/O or MMIO register device afterwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, LP.
    Inventor: Robert J. Volentine
  • Patent number: 6363473
    Abstract: A computer system that simulates a memory stack in a non-general purpose register set in the computer's CPU. The computer system can use the simulated memory stack to store a return address before jumping to a subroutine or use the simulated stack to store a data value for subsequent retrieval and use. The non-general purpose register set may include memory type range registers (MTRRs). One of the MTRRs is designated as the stack pointer register and is used to store a pointer index value which identifies which of the other MTRR registers is associated with the top of the simulated memory stack. The computer system preferably includes a non-volatile memory, such as a ROM, which contains executable instructions for implementing the simulated memory stack. The instructions provide for incrementing and decrementing the pointer index value and writing to and reading from the MTRR registers identified by the pointer index as associated with the top of simulated stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Compaq Information Technologies Group, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert J. Volentine, Rahul G. Patel