Patents by Inventor William W. Buchanan
William W. Buchanan 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: 7415519Abstract: This invention is useful in a networked system with densely packaged servers or server blades. The servers are connected to a system management network, a communication network and an image server. A management module attached to the system management network and a network switch monitors and controls network booting from an image server on the communication network to prevent over commitment of network and image server resources in order to avoid a boot storm. The management module collects system information and calculates the number of servers or clients the networked system can boot at any one instant of time without burdening the system. The management module logic controls booting via the system management network and service processor elements, which can block server booting and release servers to boot when other servers have completed their boot process.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2002Date of Patent: August 19, 2008Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Antonio Abbondanzio, William W. Buchanan, Jr., Simon Chu, Gregory William Dake, Stephen Woodrow Murphrey, William Joseph Piazza, Gregory Brian Pruett, David Benson Rhoades
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Patent number: 7213102Abstract: Secondary or augmented control of a storage array in a cost effective manner is accomplished by connecting a host to the storage array via a storage adapter independent of a RAID controller. The RAID controller provides primary control for services standard to the RAID controller. Augmented or enhanced services as well as backup control are provided by a control module executing on the host, communicating to one or more selected storage devices within the storage array via the storage adapter. In one embodiment, the control module detects faults or failures in the RAID controller, selectably directs storage commands to the RAID controller, emulates a storage controller including a RAID controller, and provides enhanced or augmented services such as conducting diagnostic, firmware update, or disaster recovery operations.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2003Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William W. Buchanan, Jr., Simon Chu, Linda A. Rledle, Paul B. Tippett
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Patent number: 7194659Abstract: Aspects for detection and correction of entrance into an improper master boot record (MBR) state in a computer system are described. The aspects include providing a proxy MBR at a predetermined location on a storage device of a computer system to provide a proxy MBR. The proxy MBR is then utilized during a restart operation. An original MBR maintained at an original location on the storage device is then utilized during a reboot operation when the utilization of the proxy MBR is unsuccessful.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2002Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William W. Buchanan, Jr., Simon C. Chu, Peter Thomas Donovan, Benjamin Russell Grimes, Gregory Brian Pruett, David B. Rhoades, Paul Brian Tippet
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Patent number: 7171479Abstract: A network and method for servicing simultaneously pending boot image download requests in a multi-client, networked environment. A boot image server on the network is configured to satisfy boot image sessions initiated by one or more client systems on the network. The image server is configured to prioritize requests from different clients to minimize or reduce the network's average download time, which represents the amount of time required to boot a theoretical average client. In one embodiment, the image server is configured to minimize the average download time by prioritizing client requests according to the amount of time required to complete a each client's download such that requests from clients with short remaining download times are given higher priority and, conversely, request from clients with long remaining download times are given lower priority.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2002Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William W. Buchanan, Simon C. Chu, William J. Piazza, David B. Rhoades, Linda A. Riedle
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Patent number: 6993583Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for dynamically sharing a limited supply of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses among a larger number of servers. A manager coupled between the Internet and a plurality of servers may receive a request for an IP address associated with a domain name from a client coupled to the Internet. The manager may be configured to map the domain name into an IP address assigned to the server hosting the web site of the domain name. Each assigned IP address may be valid only for a limited time. Once the time the assigned IP address is valid has expired, the assigned IP address may be returned to the pool of available IP addresses thereby allowing a smaller number of IP addresses to be dynamically shared among a larger number of servers.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2002Date of Patent: January 31, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Wayne Anderson, Travis Daren Appleman, William W. Buchanan, Simon Chu, David Michael Green, William Joseph Piazza, Karl Ross Shultz, Paul Brian Tippett
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Patent number: 6898705Abstract: Disclosed is a method for automatically re-provisioning an appliance server without significant user-interaction. The disk drive of a server to be utilized as an appliance server is partitioned into at least three partitions, including a systems partition, a network operating system partition, and an images partition. A re-provisioning utility is provided, which, when activated by a user, removes the present application from the server and forwards it to a storage location on the network or in a fourth storage partition and installs another application on the server. The system is re-booted and re-configured to provide full operation of the new application.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2001Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Akram Abboud, John Michael Brantly, William W. Buchanan, Jr., Peter Gerard Chin, Simon Chu, Richard Alan Dayan, Peter Thomas Donovan, David Michael Green, Timothy J. Green, Thomas William Lange, Gregory Brian Pruett, Karl Ross Shultz, Paul Brian Tippett, Andrew Hamilton Wray, William Paul Zeggert
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Publication number: 20040268037Abstract: Secondary or augmented control of a storage array in a cost effective manner is accomplished by connecting a host to the storage array via a storage adapter independent of a RAID controller. The RAID controller provides primary control for services standard to the RAID controller. Augmented or enhanced services as well as backup control are provided by a control module executing on the host, communicating to one or more selected storage devices within the storage array via the storage adapter. In one embodiment, the control module detects faults or failures in the RAID controller, selectably directs storage commands to the RAID controller, emulates a storage controller including a RAID controller, and provides enhanced or augmented services such as conducting diagnostic, firmware update, or disaster recovery operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2003Publication date: December 30, 2004Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: William W. Buchanan, Simon Chu, Linda A. Rledle, Paul B. Tippett
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Publication number: 20040153840Abstract: Aspects for detection and correction of entrance into an improper master boot record (MBR) state in a computer system are described. The aspects include providing a proxy MBR at a predetermined location on a storage device of a computer system to provide a proxy MBR. The proxy MBR is then utilized during a restart operation. An original MBR maintained at an original location on the storage device is then utilized during a reboot operation when the utilization of the proxy MBR is unsuccessful.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2002Publication date: August 5, 2004Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William W. Buchanan, Simon C. Chu, Peter Thomas Donovan, Benjamin Russell Grimes, Gregory Brian Pruett, David B. Rhoades, Paul Brian Tippet
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Publication number: 20040003082Abstract: This invention is useful in a networked system with densely packaged servers or server blades. The servers are connected to a system management network, a communication network and an image server. A management module attached to the system management network and a network switch monitors and controls network booting from an image server on the communication network to prevent over commitment of network and image server resources in order to avoid a boot storm. The management module collects system information and calculates the number of servers or clients the networked system can boot at any one instant of time without burdening the system. The management module logic controls booting via the system management network and service processor elements, which can block server booting and release servers to boot when other servers have completed their boot process.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2002Publication date: January 1, 2004Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Antonio Abbondanzio, William W. Buchanan, Simon Chu, Gregory William Dake, Stephen Woodrow Murphrey, William Jospeh Piazza, Gregory Brian Pruett, David Benson Rhoades
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Publication number: 20030204603Abstract: A network and method for servicing simultaneously pending boot image download requests in a multi-client, networked environment. A boot image server on the network is configured to satisfy boot image sessions initiated by one or more client systems on the network. The image server is configured to prioritize requests from different clients to minimize or reduce the network's average download time, which represents the amount of time required to boot a theoretical average client. In one embodiment, the image server is configured to minimize the average download time by prioritizing client requests according to the amount of time required to complete a each client's download such that requests from clients with short remaining download times are given higher priority and, conversely, request from clients with long remaining download times are given lower priority.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2002Publication date: October 30, 2003Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: William W. Buchanan, Simon C. Chu, William J. Piazza, David B. Rhoades, Linda A. Riedle
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Patent number: 6636958Abstract: Disclosed is a method and hard disk configuration for accommodating different sizes of applications during an automatic re-provisioning of an appliance server. The disk drive of the appliance server is partitioned with a system partition, a network operating system (NOS) partition, a float partition, and an images partition. The float partition is utilized to provide additional space to the NOS partition and the images partition, when required. A re-provisioning utility is provided, which initiates both a create image utility and an apply image utility, whereby an image file of a current application and associated operating system is created and a stored image file of a second application is installed on the appliance server. When the apply image utility is initiated, the NOS partition is dynamically extended into the float partition server if the second application requires more space than is provided in the NOS partition.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2001Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Akram Abboud, John Michael Brantly, William W. Buchanan, Jr., Peter Gerard Chin, Simon Chu, Richard Alan Dayan, Peter Thomas Donovan, David Michael Green, Timothy J. Green, Frank C. Harwood, Thomas William Lange, Karl Ross Shultz, Paul Brian Tippett, William Paul Zeggert
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Publication number: 20030163584Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for dynamically sharing a limited supply of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses among a larger number of servers. A manager coupled between the Internet and a plurality of servers may receive a request for an IP address associated with a domain name from a client coupled to the Internet. The manager may be configured to map the domain name into an IP address assigned to the server hosting the web site of the domain name. Each assigned IP address may be valid only for a limited time. Once the time the assigned IP address is valid has expired, the assigned IP address may be returned to the pool of available IP addresses thereby allowing a smaller number of IP addresses to be dynamically shared among a larger number of servers.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2002Publication date: August 28, 2003Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Wayne Anderson, Travis Daren Appleman, William W. Buchanan, Simon Chu, David Michael Green, William Joseph Piazza, Karl Ross Shultz, Paul Brian Tippett
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Publication number: 20030018870Abstract: Disclosed is a method and hard disk configuration for accommodating different sizes of applications during an automatic re-provisioning of an appliance server. The disk drive of the appliance server is partitioned with a system partition, a network operating system (NOS) partition, a float partition, and an images partition. The float partition is utilized to provide additional space to the NOS partition and the images partition, when required. A re-provisioning utility is provided, which initiates both a create image utility and an apply image utility, whereby an image file of a current application and associated operating system is created and a stored image file of a second application is installed on the appliance server. When the apply image utility is initiated, the NOS partition is dynamically extended into the float partition server if the second application requires more space than is provided in the NOS partition.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2001Publication date: January 23, 2003Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Akram Abboud, John Michael Brantly, William W. Buchanan, Peter Gerard Chin, Simon Chu, Richard Alan Dayan, Peter Thomas Donovan, David Michael Green, Timothy J. Green, Frank C. Harwood, Thomas William Lange, Karl Ross Shultz, Paul Brian Tippett, William Paul Zeggert
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Publication number: 20020184484Abstract: Disclosed is a method for automatically re-provisioning an appliance server without significant user-interaction. The disk drive of a server to be utilized as an appliance server is partitioned into at least three partitions, including a systems partition, a network operating system partition, and an images partition. A re-provisioning utility is provided, which, when activated by a user, removes the present application from the server and forwards it to a storage location on the network or in a fourth storage partition and installs another application on the server. The system is re-booted and re-configured to provide full operation of the new application.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2001Publication date: December 5, 2002Inventors: Akram Abboud, John Michael Brantly, William W. Buchanan, Peter Gerard Chin, Simon Chu, Richard Alan Dayan, Peter Thomas Donovan, David Michael Green, Timothy J. Green, Thomas William Lange, Gregory Brian Pruett, Karl Ross Shultz, Paul Brian Tippett, Andrew Hamilton Wray, William Paul Zeggert
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Patent number: 4967354Abstract: A method of constructing written educational tests at the local school district level from validated test questions linked to statements of specific learning objectives in a data base recorded on compact laser discs. A laser disc player operated by the educator who is formulating the test displays and edits the available questions in selected topics on a visual monitor. The questions which are displayed may be selected at the local level to reflect the actual content of the course which is being examined. After all questions have been selected, they can be downloaded (including graphics) to a laser printer which prints professional quality test booklets at the local site. Alternatively, reference to the selected questions (numbers) can be downloaded onto a floppy disc which is transported to a service bureau for printing of the test booklets there. The test results can be scored locally and test reports can be printed locally.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1987Date of Patent: October 30, 1990Assignee: Tescor, Inc.Inventor: William W. Buchanan
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Patent number: 4815766Abstract: A re-usable examination booklet for the administration of written tests includes overlaid question sheets bound together with the unbound edge of each sheet overlapping the underlying sheet. An answer sheet may be inserted in the booklet beneath the question sheets. Answer areas on the answer sheet are arranged in columns extending along the unbound edges of the question sheets to locate the answer areas in close proximity to the corresponding questions on the question sheets. A modified booklet includes question sheets having openings arranged in columns extending along their unbound edges so that the selected answers can be marked through the openings onto the answer areas of the answer sheet.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1987Date of Patent: March 28, 1989Assignee: Tescor, Inc.Inventor: William W. Buchanan
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Patent number: D258467Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 1978Date of Patent: March 3, 1981Inventor: William W. Buchanan