Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Dell

Timothy J. Dell 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: 20150270018
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the disclosure, methods, systems, and computer program products for memory module testing are disclosed. The method may include accessing, with a first stress test, a plurality of memory modules, the plurality of memory modules coupled in a computer system, the plurality of memory modules including a first module having a first memory characteristic and a second module having a second memory characteristic. The method may include determining for the first module, a first traffic-to-temperature parameter, and determining that the first module was sufficiently stressed in response to determining that the first traffic-to-temperature parameter is within a first traffic-to-temperature range. The method may also include determining, for the second module, a second traffic-to-temperature parameter, and determining that the second module was sufficiently stressed in response to determining that the second traffic-to-temperature parameter is within a second traffic-to-temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Diyanesh B. Chinnakkonda Vidyapoornachary, Timothy J. Dell, Joab D. Henderson, Anil B. Lingambudi, Michael D. Pardeik
  • Publication number: 20150205730
    Abstract: A method, system and memory controller for implementing enhanced security in a memory subsystem including DRAM in a computer system. A memory includes a register to hold scrambling information transmitted from a memory controller; and scrambling circuitry on the memory to scramble at least one of bank select bits and data bits responsive to the scrambling information in the register.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Dell, Prasanna Jayaraman, Girisankar Paulraj, Diyanesh Babu C. Vidyapoornachary
  • Publication number: 20150205731
    Abstract: A method, system and memory controller for implementing enhanced security in a memory subsystem including DRAM in a computer system. A memory includes a register to hold scrambling information transmitted from a memory controller; and scrambling circuitry on the memory to scramble at least one of bank select bits and data bits responsive to the scrambling information in the register.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Timothy J. Dell, Prasanna Jayaraman, Girisankar Paulraj, Diyanesh Babu C. Vidyapoornachary
  • Patent number: 9087615
    Abstract: A method for testing and correcting a memory system is described. The method includes selecting a target memory unit of the memory system having a timing margin in response to a trigger to start a timing margin measurement. The stored data in the target memory unit is moved to a spare memory unit. The memory system performs reads and writes of user data from the spare memory unit while measuring the target memory unit. The timing margins of the target memory unit are measured. The reliability of the measured timing margins of the target memory unit based on a timing margin profile is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edgar R. Cordero, Timothy J. Dell, Anil B. Lingambudi, Diyanesh B. Vidyapoornachary
  • Publication number: 20150178147
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and system for monitoring a first Error Correcting Code (ECC) device for failure and replacing the first ECC device with a second ECC device if the first ECC device begins to fail or fails. In a step, an exemplary embodiment performs a loopback test on an ECC device if a specified number of correctable errors is exceeded or if an uncorrectable error occurs. In another step, an exemplary embodiment replaces an ECC device that fails the loopback test with an ECC device that passes a loopback test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Edgar R. Cordero, Timothy J. Dell, Joab D. Henderson, Jeffrey A. Sabrowski, Anuwat Saetow, Saravanan Sethuraman
  • Publication number: 20150169445
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes identifying, in a memory system, a capacity for each of a plurality of memory modules for a first memory channel having a first amount of memory and a second memory channel having a second amount of memory; determining a memory segment size from the capacities of the memory modules; identifying a first memory segment of the memory segment size for the first memory channel and a second memory segment of the memory segment size for the second memory channel; and creating a virtual group that includes the first memory segment and the second memory segment and that uses less than the entire first amount of memory from the first memory channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. Dell, Prasanna Jayaraman, Anil B. Lingambudi, Girisankar Paulraj
  • Publication number: 20150169446
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes identifying, in a memory system, a capacity for each of a plurality of memory modules for a first memory channel having a first amount of memory and a second memory channel having a second amount of memory; determining a memory segment size from the capacities of the memory modules; identifying a first memory segment of the memory segment size for the first memory channel and a second memory segment of the memory segment size for the second memory channel; and creating a virtual group that includes the first memory segment and the second memory segment and that uses less than the entire first amount of memory from the first memory channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Dell, Prasanna Jayaraman, Anil B. Lingambudi, Girisankar Paulraj
  • Patent number: 9043569
    Abstract: A method and computer-readable storage media are provided for rearranging data in physical memory units. In one embodiment, a method may include monitoring utilization counters. The method may further include, comparing the utilization counters for a match with an instance in a first table containing one or more instances when data may be rearranged in the physical memory units. The table may further include where the data should be relocated by a rearrangement. The method may also include, continuing to monitor the utilization counters if a match is not found with an instance in the first table. The method may further include, rearranging the data in the physical memory units if a match between the utilization counters and an instance in the first table is found.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Dell, Manoj Dusanapudi, Prasanna Jayaraman, Anil B. Lingambudi
  • Patent number: 9015522
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing dynamic random access memory (DRAM) failure scenarios mitigation using buffer techniques delaying usage of RAS features in computer systems. A buffer is provided with a memory controller. Physical address data read/write failures are analyzed. Responsive to identifying predefined failure types for physical address data read/write failures, the buffer is used to selectively store and retrieve data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Dell, Manoj Dusanapudi, Prasanna Jayaraman, Anil B. Lingambudi
  • Patent number: 8996953
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and system for monitoring a first Error Correcting Code (ECC) device for failure and replacing the first ECC device with a second ECC device if the first ECC device begins to fail or fails. In a step, an exemplary embodiment detects that a specified number of correctable errors is exceeded. In another step, an exemplary embodiment detects the occurrence of an uncorrectable error. In another step, an exemplary embodiment performs a loopback test on an ECC device if a specified number of correctable errors is exceeded or if an uncorrectable error occurs. In another step, an exemplary embodiment replaces an ECC device that fails the loopback test with an ECC device that passes a loopback test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edgar R. Cordero, Timothy J. Dell, Joab D. Henderson, Jeffrey A. Sabrowski, Anuwat Saetow, Saravanan Sethuraman
  • Patent number: 8996935
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operation of a memory module for storage of a data word is provided. The apparatus includes a memory module having a set of paired memory devices including a first memory device to store a first section of a data word and a second memory device to store a second section of the data word when used in failure free operation. The apparatus may further include a first logic module to perform a write operation by writing the first and second sections of the data word to both the first memory device and the second memory device upon the determination of certain types of failure. The determination may include that a failure exists in the word section storage of either the first or second memory devices but that no failures exist in equivalent locations of word section storage in the two memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edgar R. Cordero, Timothy J. Dell, Girisankar Paulraj, Saravanan Sethuraman
  • Patent number: 8964495
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continued operation of a memory module, including a first and second memory device, when one of memory devices has failed. The method includes receiving a write operation request to write a data word, having first and second sections, by a first memory module. The memory module may have a first memory device and a second memory device, for respectively storing the first and second sections of the data word. A determination if one of the first and second memory devices is inoperable is made. If one of the first and second memory devices is inoperable, a write operation is performed by writing the first and second sections of the data word to the operable one of the first and second memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edgar R. Cordero, Timothy J. Dell, Girisankar Paulraj, Saravanan Sethuraman
  • Publication number: 20140355369
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continued operation of a memory module, including a first and second memory device, when one of memory devices has failed. The method includes receiving a write operation request to write a data word, having first and second sections, by a first memory module. The memory module may have a first memory device and a second memory device, for respectively storing the first and second sections of the data word. A determination if one of the first and second memory devices is inoperable is made. If one of the first and second memory devices is inoperable, a write operation is performed by writing the first and second sections of the data word to the operable one of the first and second memory devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Edgar R. Cordero, Timothy J. Dell, Girisankar Paulraj, Saravanan Sethuraman
  • Publication number: 20140359241
    Abstract: A method and computer-readable storage media are provided for rearranging data in physical memory units. In one embodiment, a method may include monitoring utilization counters. The method may further include, comparing the utilization counters for a match with an instance in a first table containing one or more instances when data may be rearranged in the physical memory units. The table may further include where the data should be relocated by a rearrangement. The method may also include, continuing to monitor the utilization counters if a match is not found with an instance in the first table. The method may further include, rearranging the data in the physical memory units if a match between the utilization counters and an instance in the first table is found.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Timothy J. Dell, Manoj Dusanapudi, Prasanna Jayaraman, Anil B. Lingambudi
  • Publication number: 20140317473
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing ECC (Error Correction Codes) redundancy using reconfigurable logic blocks in a computer system. When a fail is detected when reading from memory, it is determined if the incorrect data is in the data or the ECC component of the data. When incorrect data is found in the ECC component of the data, and an actionable threshold is not reached, a predetermined Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability (RAS) action is taken. When the actionable threshold is reached with incorrect data identified in the ECC component of the data, an analysis process is performed to determine if the ECC logic is faulty. When a fail in the ECC logic is detected, the identified ECC failed logic is replaced with a spare block of logic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edgar R. Cordero, Timothy J. Dell, Joab D. Henderson, Jeffrey A. Sabrowski, Anuwat Saetow, Saravanan Sethuraman
  • Patent number: 8848470
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continued operation of a memory module, including a first and second memory device, when one of memory devices has failed. The method includes receiving a write operation request to write a data word, having first and second sections, by a first memory module. The memory module may have a first memory device and a second memory device, for respectively storing the first and second sections of the data word. A determination if one of the first and second memory devices is inoperable is made. If one of the first and second memory devices is inoperable, a write operation is performed by writing the first and second sections of the data word to the operable one of the first and second memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edgar R. Cordero, Timothy J. Dell, Girisankar Paulraj, Saravanan Sethuraman
  • Publication number: 20140250340
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and system for monitoring a first Error Correcting Code (ECC) device for failure and replacing the first ECC device with a second ECC device if the first ECC device begins to fail or fails. In a step, an exemplary embodiment detects that a specified number of correctable errors is exceeded. In another step, an exemplary embodiment detects the occurrence of an uncorrectable error. In another step, an exemplary embodiment performs a loopback test on an ECC device if a specified number of correctable errors is exceeded or if an uncorrectable error occurs. In another step, an exemplary embodiment replaces an ECC device that fails the loopback test with an ECC device that passes a loopback test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edgar R. Cordero, Timothy J. Dell, Joab D. Henderson, Jeffrey A. Sabrowski, Anuwat Saetow, Saravanan Sethuraman
  • Publication number: 20140157044
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing dynamic random access memory (DRAM) failure scenarios mitigation using buffer techniques delaying usage of RAS features in computer systems. A buffer is provided with a memory controller. Physical address data read/write failures are analyzed. Responsive to identifying predefined failure types for physical address data read/write failures, the buffer is used to selectively store and retrieve data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy J. Dell, Manoj Dusanapudi, Prasanna Jayaraman, Anil B. Lingambudi
  • Publication number: 20140063987
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for continued operation of a memory module, including a first and second memory device, when one of memory devices has failed. The method includes receiving a write operation request to write a data word, having first and second sections, by a first memory module. The memory module may have a first memory device and a second memory device, for respectively storing the first and second sections of the data word. A determination if one of the first and second memory devices is inoperable is made. If one of the first and second memory devices is inoperable, a write operation is performed by writing the first and second sections of the data word to the operable one of the first and second memory devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines
    Inventors: Edgar R. Cordero, Timothy J. Dell, Girisankar Paulraj, Saravanan Sethuraman
  • Publication number: 20140025223
    Abstract: An approach is provided in which a subsystem cooling manager detects an increased workload indicator corresponding to a computer subsystem's forthcoming workload requirement. The forthcoming workload requirement corresponds to future computing resources required by the subsystem to support one or more software programs executing on the computer system. The subsystem cooling manager determines that the forthcoming workload requirement exceeds a utilization threshold and in turn, directs one or more cooling systems towards the corresponding subsystem according.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Diyanesh Babu Vidyapoornachary Chinnakkonda, Edgar Rolando Cordero, Timothy J. Dell, Joab D. Henderson, Anil B. Lingambudi, Girisankar Paulraj