Patents by Inventor Theodore F. Emerson

Theodore F. Emerson 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).

  • Publication number: 20240111862
    Abstract: A process incudes generating, by a canary circuit of a semiconductor package, an output value. The semiconductor package includes a hardware root-of-trust engine for an electronic system. The process includes comparing, by the canary circuit, the output value to an expected value. The process incudes, responsive to a result of the comparison, regulating, by the semiconductor package, a response of the electronic system to a reset request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Theodore F. Emerson, Christopher M. Wesneski, Daniel J. Zink
  • Publication number: 20240111639
    Abstract: A process includes, responsive to a primary power source being enabled, receiving, from a real time clock (RTC) device of a computer platform, an indication of a first time. Responsive to the primary power source being enabled, the process includes storing first data in a first non-volatile storage of the computer platform representing a snapshot of the first time and repeatedly updating the snapshot to cause the snapshot to track the first time. Responsive to the primary power source being disabled to begin a power outage, the process includes providing, by a timer of the computer platform powered by a secondary power source, a timer output that represents an accumulated time that corresponds to the power outage. The process includes restoring a state of the RTC device responsive to the primary power source being reenabled to end the power outage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher M. Wesneski, Theodore F. Emerson
  • Publication number: 20240111909
    Abstract: A process includes receiving a given reset indication to reset a semiconductor package. The given reset indication is one of a time sequence of recent indications received by the semiconductor package. The semiconductor package includes a hardware root-of-trust. The process includes detecting an activity that is associated with the semiconductor package consistent with a tampering activity. The process includes governing a response of the semiconductor package to the given reset indication responsive to the detection of the activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Theodore F. Emerson, Christopher M. Wesneski, Daniel J. Zink
  • Publication number: 20240111912
    Abstract: A process includes performing actions responsive to secondary power when primary power for a computer platform is unavailable. The actions include providing, by a timer of a computer platform, a timer output that is associated with a first time domain and corresponds to an accumulated time that primary power is unavailable. Moreover, these actions include using secondary power to detect tampering with the computer platform, and responsive to detecting the tampering, reading the timer output to provide a first timestamp that represents a time of detection of the tampering. The process further includes actions which are performed responsive to primary power being subsequently available. These actions include reading data from a non-volatile storage of the computer platform. The data represents a snapshot of a real time clock (RTC) device time that is provided by an RTC device that is powered by the primary power and corresponds to a second time domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher M. Wesneski, Theodore F. Emerson
  • Publication number: 20230134324
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a host and a baseboard management controller. The baseboard management controller includes a semiconductor package; and the semiconductor package includes a memory, a security hardware processor; and a main hardware processor. The main hardware processor causes the baseboard management controller to serve as an agent that, independently from the host, responds to communications with a remote management entity to manage the host. The security hardware processor manages the storage of a secret of the host in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Theodore F. Emerson, Shiva R. Dasari, Luis E. Luciani, JR., Kevin E. Boyum, Naysen J. Robertson, Robert L. Noonan, Christopher M. Wesneski, David F. Heinrich
  • Patent number: 11551635
    Abstract: A process includes controlling a current source to cause the current source to provide a plurality of different currents at different times to an output communication line of a video display interface; and acquiring a plurality of voltages corresponding to the plurality of different currents. Acquiring the plurality of voltages includes sampling a voltage of the output communication line. The process includes comparing the plurality of voltages to a plurality of voltage thresholds; and based on a result of the comparison, determining whether the video display interface is coupled to a cable-based far end termination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Christopher M. Wesneski, Sze Hau Loh, Theodore F. Emerson
  • Publication number: 20220342978
    Abstract: A method for assembling a computing device including initiating a board management controller of the computing device, the board management controller having at least one fuse, forming data to control a video display operatively connected to the computing device to show an image of a watermark, and modifying the computing device. The method also includes blowing the at least one fuse in response to modifying the computing device and adjusting the watermark in response to blowing the at least one fuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Theodore F. Emerson, Luis E. Luciani, JR., Kevin E. Boyum, Christopher M. Wesneski
  • Patent number: 11442767
    Abstract: In some examples, a storage medium to stores information indicating address locations of virtual serial ports, where the virtual serial ports are associated with respective virtual machines (VMs). A controller that is separate from a hypervisor is to detect, based on the information, an access of a first virtual serial port associated with a first VM of the plurality of VMs, and communicate data between the first VM and another entity through the first virtual serial port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Robert C. Elliott, Theodore F. Emerson
  • Patent number: 11409859
    Abstract: A method for assembling a computing device including initiating a board management controller of the computing device, the board management controller having at least one fuse, forming data to control a video display operatively connected to the computing device to show an image of a watermark, and modifying the computing device. The method also includes blowing the at least one fuse in response to modifying the computing device and adjusting the watermark in response to blowing the at least one fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Theodore F. Emerson, Luis E. Luciani, Jr., Kevin E. Boyum, Christopher M. Wesneski
  • Patent number: 11360782
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a subsystem, a first processor, a memory, a circuit and a second processor. The first processor is to execute bootstrap instructions, and the memory is to store second instructions. The circuit is to hold the first processor in reset in response to the apparatus being powered on; and the second processor is to, while the first processor is held in reset, execute the second instructions to initialize the subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Naysen Robertson, Kenneth T. Chin, Theodore F. Emerson
  • Publication number: 20220036852
    Abstract: A process includes controlling a current source to cause the current source to provide a plurality of different currents at different times to an output communication line of a video display interface; and acquiring a plurality of voltages corresponding to the plurality of different currents. Acquiring the plurality of voltages includes sampling a voltage of the output communication line. The process includes comparing the plurality of voltages to a plurality of voltage thresholds; and based on a result of the comparison, determining whether the video display interface is coupled to a cable-based far end termination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher M. Wesneski, Sze Hau Loh, Theodore F. Emerson
  • Publication number: 20210382832
    Abstract: Some examples described relate to securing a memory device of a computing system. For instance, a method may comprise comparing a command for the memory device to each command in a list of commands. The command is accepted when the command matches an authorized command in the list of commands. The accepted command is issued to the memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: David F. HEINRICH, Theodore F. EMERSON, Don A. DYKES, Sukhamoy SOM
  • Publication number: 20210342169
    Abstract: A technique includes a baseboard management controller receiving, from a requestor, a request for a security function to be performed, where the request is directed to a physical security device other than the baseboard management controller. The technique includes, the baseboard management controller responding to the request to emulate a response to the security device to the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: David F. Heinrich, Luis E. Luciani, JR., Theodore F. Emerson, Sze Hau Loh
  • Patent number: 11138140
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of subsystems, including a first subsystem and a second subsystem. The apparatus includes a master processor to, in response to a power on of the apparatus, execute first instructions to configure the first subsystem and provide second instructions. The apparatus further includes a slave processor to, prior to the boot of the apparatus, receive the second instructions from the master processor and execute the second instructions to configure the second subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Naysen Robertson, Kenneth T. Chin, Theodore F. Emerson
  • Publication number: 20210271500
    Abstract: In some examples, a storage medium to stores information indicating address locations of virtual serial ports, where the virtual serial ports are associated with respective virtual machines (VMs). A controller that is separate from a hypervisor is to detect, based on the information, an access of a first virtual serial port associated with a first VM of the plurality of VMs, and communicate data between the first VM and another entity through the first virtual serial port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Robert C. Elliott, Theodore F. Emerson
  • Publication number: 20210240485
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a subsystem, a first processor, a memory, a circuit and a second processor. The first processor is to execute bootstrap instructions, and the memory is to store second instructions. The circuit is to hold the first processor in reset in response to the apparatus being powered on; and the second processor is to, while the first processor is held in reset, execute the second instructions to initialize the subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Naysen Robertson, Kenneth T. Chin, Theodore F. Emerson
  • Publication number: 20210240646
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of subsystems, including a first subsystem and a second subsystem. The apparatus includes a master processor to, in response to a power on of the apparatus, execute first instructions to configure the first subsystem and provide second instructions. The apparatus further includes a slave processor to, prior to the boot of the apparatus, receive the second instructions from the master processor and execute the second instructions to configure the second subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Naysen Robertson, Kenneth T. Chin, Theodore F. Emerson
  • Patent number: 11074199
    Abstract: Some examples described relate to securing a memory device of a computing system. For instance, a method may comprise comparing a command for the memory device to each command in a list of commands. The command is accepted when the command matches an authorized command in the list of commands. The accepted command is issued to the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: David F. Heinrich, Theodore F. Emerson, Don A. Dykes, Sukhamoy Som
  • Publication number: 20210056191
    Abstract: A method for assembling a computing device including initiating a board management controller of the computing device, the board management controller having at least one fuse, forming data to control a video display operatively connected to the computing device to show an image of a watermark, and modifying the computing device. The method also includes blowing the at least one fuse in response to modifying the computing device and adjusting the watermark in response to blowing the at least one fuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Theodore F. Emerson, Luis Luciani, Kevin Boyum, Christopher Wesneski
  • Patent number: 10866747
    Abstract: An arrangement for securing a memory device of a computing system in which a memory access command is compared to each command in a list of commands. The command, with specified attributes, is authenticated when the command and its attributes match an entry in the list of commands. Following authentication, the command is evaluated according to usage and behavior metrics in order to identify and prevent unauthorized or malicious access of the memory device. If no violation of usage or behavior metrics is detected, the command may be issued to the memory device for execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Sukhamoy Som, David F. Heinrich, Theodore F. Emerson