Patents by Inventor Thomas Vrhel, Jr.

Thomas Vrhel, Jr. 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: 20170286097
    Abstract: A method, an information handling system (IHS), and a computer program product initiates injection verification to determine whether a key injection procedure to support automated system activation within a target IHS was completed successfully. An injection verification module (IVM) compares a copy of a selected and limited character sequence for a unique digital product key (DPK) utilized during key injection to a character sequence reported by an operating system (OS) image on a selected, target IHS. If the selected character sequence matches the reported character sequence, the IVM identifies the selected information handling system as a “passing” system on which the key injection procedure was successfully performed. If the selected character sequence for the unique DPK does not match the reported character sequence, the IVM identifies the selected information handling system as a “failing” system on which the key injection procedure was not successfully performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: THOMAS VRHEL, JR., BENJAMIN BRIAN HARRY
  • Patent number: 8839231
    Abstract: A method for installing software on an information handling system (IHS) is provided, the method including receiving data associated with a plurality of hardware components and a plurality of software components, providing a plurality of software devices corresponding to the data, transferring the plurality of software devices to a virtual hard drive of a virtual machine and capturing an image of the virtual hard drive on an image storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventor: Thomas Vrhel, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090144725
    Abstract: A method for installing software on an information handling system (IHS) is provided, the method including receiving data associated with a plurality of hardware components and a plurality of software components, providing a plurality of software devices corresponding to the data, transferring the plurality of software devices to a virtual hard drive of a virtual machine and capturing an image of the virtual hard drive on an image storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
    Inventor: Thomas Vrhel Jr.
  • Patent number: 7543183
    Abstract: A method and system for automated support in a computer system. The computer system has a service button, and pressing of the service button causes a bit to be set in a register in the chip set. Setting of the bit generates an interrupt signal that is received and processed in a manner dependent on whether the computer system is in a booting state or a non-booting state. If the computer system is in a booting state, the bit is checked at a predetermined point in the booting sequence, and if set, a service application is initiated at that time. If the computer is not in a booting state, a second interrupt is generated, causing the service application to be initiated. A timer is initiated substantially with pressing of the service button, and if the service application reaches a predetermined point before the timer reaches a predetermined value, it will clear the timer. If not, the system will follow a predetermined reboot protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Vrhel, Jr., Gary D. Huber, Roy W. Stedman, James Van Artsdalen, Krishnamurthy Venkatramani
  • Patent number: 7487235
    Abstract: In an information handling system, an application operating on an elements of a the information handling system having one or more RAID systems is used to monitor the number of client devices and other operational aspects of the system. The application is constructed and arranged to determine and implement the best cache policy for the RAID systems in order to maximize the desired operational characteristics of the information handling system. The application can operate on a single server or RAID system device, or the application can operate on a separate device to control the cache policies of one or more servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Carlton A. Andrews, Thomas Vrhel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7360211
    Abstract: A method for automatically generating a software stack in an information handling system. The information handling system includes a software process partition. The method includes generating a manifest identifying software stack contents, creating a target partition within the information handling system, installing the specified software stack components into the target partition, configuring the target partition as active and bootable and the software process partition as hidden, booting into the target partition, setting up and configuring the software components within the target partition, and configuring the software process partition as active and bootable and the target partition as inactive. The generated software stack optionally may be captured for later use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: William P. Hyden, Gaston M. Barajas, Gavin T. Smith, Thomas Vrhel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6606716
    Abstract: A method and system for automated support in a computer system. The computer system has a service button, and pressing of the service button causes a bit to be set in a register in the chip set. Setting of the bit generates an interrupt signal that is received and processed in a manner dependent on whether the computer system is in a booting state or a non-booting state. If the computer system is in a booting state, the bit is checked at a predetermined point in the booting sequence, and if set, a service application is initiated at that time. If the computer is not in a booting state, a second interrupt is generated, causing the service application to be initiated. A timer is initiated substantially with pressing of the service button, and if the service application reaches a predetermined point before the timer reaches a predetermined value, it will clear the timer. If not, the system will follow a predetermined reboot protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Dell USA, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Vrhel, Jr., Gary D. Huber, Roy W. Stedman, James Van Artsdalen, Krishnamurthy Venkatramani
  • Patent number: 6598223
    Abstract: A computer system manufacturing process is disclosed in which a customer may order a computer system having one of several defined or base configurations of hardware and software components. After specifying the base configuration of hardware and software components, the user may identify custom hardware or software components to be added to the system. During the manufacturing process, the computer system accesses a network for retrieving a data record of the customer order and downloading the software of the computer system. The software to be downloaded will include the software of the base configuration and any custom software. Following the installation of the custom hardware and software components, the computer system will be tested to evaluate the function of the system components and the integration of the custom components and the components of the base configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Dell USA, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Vrhel, Jr., Gaston M. Barajas
  • Patent number: 6560726
    Abstract: A method and system for integrated support for solving problems with personal computer systems comprises monitoring operating system functionality to determine if a computer system failure exists, to identify the computer system failure and to provide a solution of the computer system failure. A robust user interface, including a simple-to-use user button interface, supports single touch user input to indicate a computer system problem or question. Watchdog timers compare the time of hardware and operating system functionality, such as boot sequence operation, against predetermined time periods to determine whether or not a computer failure exists. A computer system failure is determined if a watchdog timer expires upon completion of a predetermined time period without being cleared. A hardware problem is identified on initial boot if the watchdog timer is not cleared by an operating system service routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Dell USA, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Vrhel, Jr., Gary D. Huber
  • Patent number: 6543047
    Abstract: A build-to-order manufacturing method for producing a custom configured computer system includes obtaining a customer order. Hardware for the custom configured computer system is assembled in accordance with the customer order. The assembled hardware is then tested using software tools and utilities. Next, software is downloaded to the computer system in accordance with the customer order, the software including an operating system (OS). Lastly, a fully integrated system test is performed, the fully integrated system test including the execution of an OS setup for fully integrating the hardware and software of the custom configured computer system and testing of the fully integrated hardware and software from the OS' perspective prior to shipment to a customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Dell USA, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Vrhel, Jr., Gaston M. Barajas, Paul J. Maia, W. D. Todd Nix
  • Patent number: 6463515
    Abstract: System and methods for recovering memory for computer systems are disclosed. A method for recovering physical memory within a computer system having a memory device is disclosed. The method includes detecting an event associated with the system, allocating memory based upon the detected event, and accessing at least one portion of physical memory in association with the allocated memory. Upon accessing physical memory the method further includes deallocating at least one portion of physical memory, wherein the deallocated physical memory is operable to be used in association with the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Roy W. Stedman, Gary D. Huber, Thomas Vrhel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5024142
    Abstract: Presented is a fluid drive motor that may be attached to a conventional garden hose, for instance, to effect reciprocating motion of a drive shaft that may be connected to a utilitarian device, such as a scrub brush. The fluid drive motor is provided with a piston assembly that responds to the pressure of the fluid to translate the piston assembly from one position to another and in so doing imposes rotational reciprocation on a drive shaft that extends out of the motor block of the fluid drive motor. The reciprocating characteristics of the piston assembly are controlled by the imposition of fluid pressure, and the imposition of fluid pressure is controlled by a valve assembly cooperating with a reciprocable magnetic bar to channel fluid under pressure alternately to opposite ends of the piston assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Inventors: Thomas Vrhel, Sr., Thomas Vrhel, Jr.