Patents by Inventor Ronald L. Gebhardt
Ronald L. Gebhardt 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).
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Patent number: 7082135Abstract: A method of expandable network slot addressing to provide topological information for a network. The method includes providing a platform having addressable slots for data communication. A first tier device is located in one of the slots in the platform. At least one second tier device is connected to the first tier device. An extendable address is assigned to each of the first and second tier devices, with each address including a slot address segment which indicates which slot each of the devices resides in or is connected to at the modular platform, a depth segment which indicates a layer in the topology at which the device is located and a number of address bytes that are present, and an address byte segment which indicates where in the topology the device is located and provides each of the devices with a unique address so that each of the devices attached to the platform can be addressed and its topological position can be inferred from the address.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2002Date of Patent: July 25, 2006Assignee: General Instrument CorporationInventors: Ronald L. Gebhardt, Jr., Craig G. Martin, Mark M. Morehouse
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Patent number: 6963911Abstract: A network of managed elements, in which code necessary for the integration of the elements into the network is contained in the elements themselves. A network proxy polls the elements to determine the presence of a new element or a revision to the code of an existing element. When found, code is copied from the element to the proxy, which serves as an interface between the elements and a network management system.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2001Date of Patent: November 8, 2005Assignee: General Instrument CorporationInventors: Ronald L. Gebhardt Jr., Mark M. Morehouse, Marlin McGregor, Daniel C. Fiorella III
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Patent number: 6834384Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for upgrading firmware in an embedded system, without impacting the system. More specifically, the present invention enables an embedded system to be upgraded without any system downtime, by providing two application areas in non-volatile programmable read only memory. A processor can boot up and run from either application area. A fixed vector table is provided, which, in cooperation with a software vector table, enables the processor to maintain proper interrupt vector addresses while being able to run from either application area. Upgraded firmware can be loaded into one application area while the system is running from the other application area. Resetting the processor allows the system to run the upgraded version of firmware.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2001Date of Patent: December 21, 2004Assignee: General Instrument CorporationInventors: Daniel Charles Fiorella, III, Ronald L. Gebhardt, Jr., Marlin F. McGregor, Jr.
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Patent number: 6711022Abstract: A modular electronic chassis system with nested electronic plug-in modules including at least one circuit board providing a first-module-receiving-location and a second-module-receiving-location such that the system is capable of supporting modules in a nested configuration having increased packaging density. A first plug-in module detachably engaged with the first-module-receiving-location. A second plug-in module detachably engaged with the second-module-receiving-location so that the first plug-in module and the second plug-in module are nested.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2002Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: General Instrument CorporationInventors: Steven F. Frederick, Kimberly A. Smedley, Ronald L. Gebhardt, Jr., Douglas A. Tenney
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Patent number: 6700797Abstract: A modular electronic chassis system with nested electronic plug-in modules including at least one circuit board providing a first-module-receiving-location and a second-module-receiving-location such that the system is capable of supporting modules in a nested configuration having increased packaging density. A first plug-in module detachably engaged with the first-module-receiving-location. A second plug-in module detachably engaged with the second-module-receiving-location so that the first plug-in module and the second plug-in module are nested.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2001Date of Patent: March 2, 2004Assignee: General Instrument CorporationInventors: Steven F. Frederick, Kimberley A. Smedley, Ronald L. Gebhardt, Jr., Douglas A. Tenney
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Publication number: 20030147354Abstract: A method of expandable network slot addressing to provide topological information for a network. The method includes providing a platform having addressable slots for data communication. A first tier device is located in one of the slots in the platform. At least one second tier device is connected to the first tier device. An extendable address is assigned to each of the first and second tier devices, with each address including a slot address segment which indicates which slot each of the devices resides in or is connected to at the modular platform, a depth segment which indicates a layer in the topology at which the device is located and a number of address bytes that are present, and an address byte segment which indicates where in the topology the device is located and provides each of the devices with a unique address so that each of the devices attached to the platform can be addressed and its topological position can be inferred from the address.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2002Publication date: August 7, 2003Applicant: General Instrument CorporationInventors: Ronald L. Gebhardt, Craig G. Martin, Mark M. Morehouse
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Publication number: 20030018768Abstract: A network of managed elements, in which code necessary for the integration of the elements into the network is contained in the elements themselves. A network proxy polls the elements to determine the presence of a new element or a revision to the code of an existing element. When found, code is copied from the element to the proxy, which serves as an interface between the elements and a network management system.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2001Publication date: January 23, 2003Inventors: Ronald L. Gebhardt, Mark M. Morehouse, Marlin McGregor, Daniel C. Fiorella
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Publication number: 20020170050Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for upgrading firmware in an embedded system, without impacting the system. More specifically, the present invention enables an embedded system to be upgraded without any system downtime, by providing two application areas in non-volatile programmable read only memory. A processor can boot up and run from either application area. A fixed vector table is provided, which, in cooperation with a software vector table, enables the processor to maintain proper interrupt vector addresses while being able to run from either application area. Upgraded firmware can be loaded into one application area while the system is running from the other application area. Resetting the processor allows the system to run the upgraded version of firmware.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2001Publication date: November 14, 2002Applicant: General instrument CorporationInventors: Daniel Charles Fiorella, Ronald L. Gebhardt, Marlin F. McGregor
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Publication number: 20020131249Abstract: A modular electronic chassis system with nested electronic plug-in modules including at least one circuit board providing a first-module-receiving-location and a second-module-receiving-location such that the system is capable of supporting modules in a nested configuration having increased packaging density. A first plug-in module detachably engaged with the first-module-receiving-location. A second plug-in module detachably engaged with the second-module-receiving-location so that the first plug-in module and the second plug-in module are nested.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2002Publication date: September 19, 2002Applicant: General Instrument CorporationInventors: Steven F. Frederick, Kimberley A. Smedley, Ronald L. Gebhardt, Douglas A. Tenney
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Publication number: 20020064034Abstract: A modular electronic chassis system with nested electronic plug-in modules including at least one circuit board providing a first-module-receiving-location and a second-module-receiving-location such that the system is capable of supporting modules in a nested configuration having increased packaging density. A first plug-in module detachably engaged with the first-module-receiving-location. A second plug-in module detachably engaged with the second-module-receiving-location so that the first plug-in module and the second plug-in module are nested.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2001Publication date: May 30, 2002Applicant: General Instrument CorporationInventors: Steven F. Frederick, Kimberley A. Smedley, Ronald L. Gebhardt, Douglas A. Tenney