Patents by Inventor Walter W. Alexander, III

Walter W. Alexander, III 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).

  • Selectively operating a host's device controller in a first mode or a second mode
    Patent number: 6701402
    Abstract: The present invention includes an integrated circuit that is operable to connect a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) or other peripheral device to a disk controller, such as a small computer system interface (SCSI) controller in a host device. The integrated circuit provides the peripheral device with sole access to the disk controller when operating in a straight mode. In straight mode, the peripheral device may communicate with the disk controller through a PCI bus to perform operations, such as retrieving or writing data to the peripheral device. Also, when in straight mode, other controllers, including the host's CPU, may be prevented from using the disk controller to avoid data collisions, data loss and possible system failure. The integrated circuit may also function in standard mode, such that other controllers connected to the host may access the disk controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Walter W. Alexander, III, Wesley H. Stelter, Robert G. Campbell