Patents by Inventor Steven George Skinner

Steven George Skinner 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: 7120821
    Abstract: The method of the present invention is useful in detecting the lack of majority cluster nodes within a cluster, and reorganizes the cluster membership to allow for running with less than a majority of nodes connected. As nodes become alive, they are added to the cluster until the original majority is reached, which then allows for the cluster to return to normal operation. Thus, the method of the present invention allows for the revival and reconstitution of a majority node set of clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: Steven George Skinner, Matthew Ky Phuong, Mark Lynn Preston
  • Patent number: 6990602
    Abstract: The method of the present invention is useful in a computer system including at least two server nodes, each of which can execute clustered server software. The program executes a method for providing data to restore clustering when clustering services fail. The method includes the step of comparing current configuration data to previous configuration data. Next, the method compares the current configuration data to a standard configuration data. Finally, the method compares a set of operations to a standard clustering functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: Steven George Skinner, Donna Lynn Goodman
  • Patent number: 6167563
    Abstract: The method and system of the present invention solves the problems of the prior art by creating several components to detect and correct an out of date component. A component is considered out of date if one of the constituent files is newer than the components. At that point a build of the component is in order. A component dependent on another is considered out of date if the public interfaces to the component change. The interfaces of the dependent component do not necessarily have to be used by the component in question to affect the build situation. A component is considered up to date if all constituent files have a time stamp earlier than the component and no dependent components have changed their interfaces. Each of the components involved will act upon one of the situations to determine if a build should be done.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Unisys Corporation
    Inventors: James Albert Fontana, Anthony Reginald Pitchford, Steven George Skinner, Joseph Peter Stefaniak