Patents by Inventor Tracy D. Harmer
Tracy D. Harmer 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: 8838948Abstract: In an information handling system (IHS), remote management of basic input/output system (BIOS) settings and configuration includes maintaining a BIOS setting/configuration database, providing an application to communicate a BIOS setting/configuration from the database to a BIOS system, determining whether the BIOS setting/configuration communicated from the database to the BIOS system is a special BIOS configuration capsule packet, and validating BIOS setting/configuration.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventor: Tracy D. Harmer
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Patent number: 8423756Abstract: In an information handling system (IHS), remote management of basic input/output system (BIOS) settings and configuration includes maintaining a BIOS setting/configuration database, providing an application to communicate a BIOS setting/configuration from the database to a BIOS system, determining whether the BIOS setting/configuration communicated from the database to the BIOS system is a special BIOS configuration capsule packet, and validating BIOS setting/configuration.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventor: Tracy D. Harmer
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Patent number: 8086838Abstract: Methods and systems are described for managing manufacturing modes in a unified extensible firmware interface (UEFI) basic input output system (BIOS). The UEFI BIOS can include a PEI (pre-EFI) manufacturing mode driver, a PEI interface, PEI drivers, a DXE (driver execution environment) manufacturing mode driver, a DXE interface, DXE drivers, a SMM (system management mode) manufacturing mode driver, a SMM interface, and SMM drivers. Manufacturing mode data is stored and accessed through a PEI manufacturing mode driver, a DXE manufacturing mode driver, or a SMM manufacturing mode driver, and/or any combination thereof. The PEI interface is used to communicate manufacturing mode data between PEI drivers and the PEI manufacturing mode driver. The DXE interface is used to communicate manufacturing mode data between DXE drivers and the DXE manufacturing mode driver. And the SMM interface is used to communicate manufacturing mode data between SMM drivers and the SMM manufacturing mode driver.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2008Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventor: Tracy D. Harmer
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Publication number: 20110154009Abstract: In an information handling system (IHS), remote management of basic input/output system (BIOS) settings and configuration includes maintaining a BIOS setting/configuration database, providing an application to communicate a BIOS setting/configuration from the database to a BIOS system, determining whether the BIOS setting/configuration communicated from the database to the BIOS system is a special BIOS configuration capsule packet, and validating BIOS setting/configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2011Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.Inventor: Tracy D. Harmer
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Patent number: 7904708Abstract: In an information handling system (IHS), remote management of basic input/output system (BIOS) settings and configuration includes maintaining a BIOS setting/configuration database, providing an application to communicate a BIOS setting/configuration from the database to a BIOS system, determining whether the BIOS setting/configuration communicated from the database to the BIOS system is a special BIOS configuration capsule packet, and validating BIOS setting/configuration.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2008Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventor: Tracy D. Harmer
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Publication number: 20100042821Abstract: Methods and systems are described for managing manufacturing modes in a unified extensible firmware interface (UEFI) basic input output system (BIOS). The UEFI BIOS can include a PEI (pre-EFI) manufacturing mode driver, a PEI interface, PEI drivers, a DXE (driver execution environment) manufacturing mode driver, a DXE interface, DXE drivers, a SMM (system management mode) manufacturing mode driver, a SMM interface, and SMM drivers. Manufacturing mode data is stored and accessed through a PEI manufacturing mode driver, a DXE manufacturing mode driver, or a SMM manufacturing mode driver, and/or any combination thereof. The PEI interface is used to communicate manufacturing mode data between PEI drivers and the PEI manufacturing mode driver. The DXE interface is used to communicate manufacturing mode data between DXE drivers and the DXE manufacturing mode driver. And the SMM interface is used to communicate manufacturing mode data between SMM drivers and the SMM manufacturing mode driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2008Publication date: February 18, 2010Inventor: Tracy D. Harmer
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Publication number: 20090210689Abstract: In an information handling system (IHS), remote management of basic input/output system (BIOS) settings and configuration includes maintaining a BIOS setting/configuration database, providing an application to communicate a BIOS setting/configuration from the database to a BIOS system, determining whether the BIOS setting/configuration communicated from the database to the BIOS system is a special BIOS configuration capsule packet, and validating BIOS setting/configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2008Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.Inventor: Tracy D. Harmer
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Patent number: 7389466Abstract: A computer system (10) and method are presented for performing ECC corrections on data contained in a mass data storage device (20). The computer system (10) has a host computer (12) having a CPU (14) and an associated mass data storage device (20). At least some ECC hardware is associated with the mass data storage device (25). A device driver (18) is associated with the host computer (12), which includes software instructions for execution by the CPU (14) for performing at least some ECC functions or instructions on data read from the mass data storage device (20).Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 1999Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Tracy D. Harmer, Curtis H. Bruner
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Publication number: 20040085873Abstract: A mass memory storage device for reading data stored on a mass memory storage medium on which the data is stored at a substantially uniform density including a support arrangement configured to receive and support the medium. A drive arrangement is operatively connected to the support arrangement such that the drive arrangement rotates the medium at a substantially constant rotational speed when the device is operated in its intended way. A read head for reading the data stored on the medium is positioned adjacent to the medium with the read head being movable relative to the medium. A read channel arrangement for processing the data read by the read head is operatively connected to the read head. The read channel arrangement has a substantially continuously variable read channel data processing rate which varies according to the rate at which the read head reads the data from the medium. In a preferred embodiment, the device is a CD drive.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventors: Jeffrey G. Reh, Tracy D. Harmer, Curtis H. Bruner
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Patent number: 6567887Abstract: A computer system for storing data includes a host computer having system RAM associated with the computer system, and a file directory peripheral bus connected to the host computer. A mass memory storage peripheral computer device is connected to said peripheral bus, the mass memory storage peripheral computer device having access to the file directory to locate data on the mass memory storage peripheral computer device.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2001Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Tracy D. Harmer
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Publication number: 20020152354Abstract: A computer system for storing data includes a host computer having system RAM associated with the computer system, and a file directory peripheral bus connected to the host computer. A mass memory storage peripheral computer device is connected to said peripheral bus, the mass memory storage peripheral computer device having access to the file directory to locate data on the mass memory storage peripheral computer device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2000Publication date: October 17, 2002Inventor: TRACY D. HARMER
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Patent number: 6401198Abstract: An arrangement and method are disclosed herein for operating a computer system including a host computer having system RAM. The host computer uses a BIOS to control the operation of the system. The operation of the system requires the host computer to obtain the BIOS device and store the BIOS within the system RAM. The arrangement and method of the invention allows at least a portion of the BIOS to be stored within the mass memory storage of a mass memory storage peripheral computer device rather than being stored within ROM. The BIOS may be expansion BIOS associated with a particular peripheral computer device or system BIOS associated with the host computer.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1999Date of Patent: June 4, 2002Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Tracy D. Harmer, Curtis H. Bruner
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Patent number: 6393492Abstract: An arrangement and method are disclosed herein for operating a mass memory storage peripheral computer device connected to a host computer. The host computer has system RAM associated with the host computer and is operated using an operating system and a system BIOS. The mass memory storage peripheral computer device is connected to the host computer using a peripheral bus in which relocatable expansion BIOS location addresses are allowed. The arrangement and method include a loadable device driver for controlling the operation of the mass memory storage peripheral computer device during the operation of the computer system. During the start-up of the computer system, the loadable device driver is loaded into the system RAM for use during the operation of the system.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1995Date of Patent: May 21, 2002Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Stephen R. Cornaby, Tracy D. Harmer
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Publication number: 20020055293Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a peripheral device to a host computer including an assembly for mounting the peripheral device, a connection device for connecting the assembly to said host computer, and a shock-absorbing material to be positioned between the host computer and the assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 1999Publication date: May 9, 2002Inventors: TRACY D. HARMER, CURTIS H. BRUNER
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Patent number: 6286057Abstract: A computer controlled system includes a data storage device connected to a host computer using a bus which allows device-initiated bus-mastering. The system has system RAM which is associated with the host computer and which is not part of the data storage device. The data storage device requires certain device operating data/code in the form of device control means and device operating data to be used to control the operation of the device. An arrangement and method for operating the data storage device includes storing at least a portion of the device operating data/code in the system RAM. The arrangement and method further include allowing the host computer and/or the data storage device access to the device operating data/code stored in the system RAM such that the host computer and/or the data storage device may use the device operating data/code to control the operation of the data storage device.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1999Date of Patent: September 4, 2001Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Stephen R. Cornaby, Tracy D. Harmer
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Patent number: 6212588Abstract: An integrated circuit for use in a computer system having a host computer and at least one mass storage peripheral device has a controller circuit for the mass storage peripheral device for receiving information from the device and an interface circuit to interface the information from the device to the host computer via a bus mastering bus, such as a PCI bus, a 1394 bus, or the like, in the host computer. The integrated circuit is adapted to be located within the host computer and to interface to the peripheral device. The integrated circuit may include a portion of a read channel circuit, which is connected to receive information from the peripheral device. The integrated circuit may also contain other circuitry for the control and operation of the peripheral device, such as a digital signal processor, a buffer manager, a speed matching buffer, servo logic to control servo circuits to spin a motor of the peripheral device, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1998Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Curtis H. Bruner, Tracy D. Harmer
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Patent number: 6195216Abstract: A mass storage peripheral device for use with a host computer has a rotating data medium with a motor arranged to rotate it. A sensor reads information from the medium, and a data preamplifier for amplifies the read information. An interface is connected between the mass storage peripheral device and the associated computer. The interface includes a data transmission path to conduct data signals from the data amplifier to a controller circuit for the peripheral device in the host computer. The mass storage peripheral device may also include a circuit path to receive motor control and drive signals from the host computer for operating the motor. The peripheral device may be adapted to receive motor control signals from a servo circuit, which is preferably located in the host computer and connected to the interface for operating the motor. A read channel circuit is connected to receive the amplified data signal, also may be located in the host computer.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1998Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Curtis H. Bruner, Tracy D. Harmer
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Patent number: 6061751Abstract: A computer system has a host computer and a mass storage peripheral device. The peripheral device is of the type having a computer readable medium, a sensor for detecting information on the medium, and a data amplifier for amplifying the information detected on the medium to produce an amplified data signal. An interface is provided between the mass storage peripheral device and the host computer. The computer system electronics is located wherein at least a controller circuit for the mass storage peripheral device is located in the host computer for receiving the information detected on the medium. The peripheral device may be, for example, a disk drive assembly, a hard disk drive assembly, a CD-ROM disk drive assembly, a DVD disk drive assembly, a floppy disk drive assembly, a high capacity floppy disk drive assembly, a miniature storage device, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1998Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Curtis H. Bruner, Tracy D. Harmer
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Patent number: 6029209Abstract: A computer controlled system includes a data storage device connected to a host computer using a bus which allows device-initiated bus-mastering. The system has system RAM which is associated with the host computer and which is not part of the data storage device. The data storage device requires certain device operating data/code in the form of device control means and device operating data to be used to control the operation of the device. An arrangement and method for operating the data storage device includes storing at least a portion of the device operating data/code in the system RAM. The arrangement and method further include allowing the host computer and/or the data storage device access to the device operating data/code stored in the system RAM such that the host computer and/or the data storage device may use the device operating data/code to control the operation of the data storage device.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1998Date of Patent: February 22, 2000Assignee: Intersect Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Stephen R. Cornaby, Tracy D. Harmer
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Patent number: 5875349Abstract: A computer controlled system includes a data storage device connected to a host computer using a bus which allows device-initiated bus-mastering. The system has system RAM which is associated with the host computer and which is not part of the data storage device. The data storage device requires certain device operating data/code in the form of device control means and device operating data to be used to control the operation of the device. An arrangement and method for operating the data storage device includes storing at least a portion of the device operating data/code in the system RAM. The arrangement and method further include allowing the host computer and/or the data storage device access to the device operating data/code stored in the system RAM such that the host computer and/or the data storage device may use the device operating data/code to control the operation of the data storage device.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1996Date of Patent: February 23, 1999Assignee: Intersect Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Stephen R. Cornaby, Tracy D. Harmer