Hot Insertion Patents (Class 710/302)
  • Publication number: 20110145655
    Abstract: Example apparatus and methods virtualize a circuit disposed between an input/output (I/O) hub and an I/O device. The I/O hub is configured to communicate PCIe slot control and status signals with an I/O device via an interface. The example apparatus and methods selectively intercept and transform signals passing between the I/O hub and the I/O device. The example apparatus and methods may also provide intercepted signals to a sideband monitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Mike ERICKSON, David MACIOROWSKI
  • Publication number: 20110145474
    Abstract: A data storage device having non-volatile solid state memory permits efficient access by permitting multiple pending commands from a host device. A controller in the data storage device stores information about each command from the host device, and determines which stored command, if any, is presently able to be performed based on the portion of the non-volatile memory and the type of access of the command. The data storage device provides reduced access delays, improves read/write throughput, and avoids the cost of additional memory in the data storage device, by allowing accesses to idle portions of memory to proceed, and by signaling the host device when the data storage device is able to accept data to be written to portions of the non-volatile memory already active due to a previous command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: SYMWAVE, INC.
    Inventor: Gideon David Intrater
  • Patent number: 7962680
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an operating unit, a controller, and a transmission line that connects the operating unit to the controller. The operating unit includes a USB device that transmits data to the controller and receives data from the controller via the transmission line, and the controller includes a USB host that transmits data to the operating unit and receives data from the operating unit via the transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 7958290
    Abstract: The quantity of input and output signal lines that must be directly supported by a bus logic to transmit signals to and receive signals from bus devices is minimized by serializing the states to be driven onto the output signal lines and serially transmitting those states to one or more external shift registers having parallel outputs to drive output signal lines, by receiving states of input signal lines at parallel inputs to one or more other external shift registers to be serialized and serially transmitted to the bus logic, wherein the order in which the states to be driven onto the output signal lines is such that those states corresponding to actual output signal lines are the last states to be serially transmitted, and wherein the order in which the states received from the input signal lines are transmitted to the bus logic is such that those states corresponding to actual input signal lines are transmitted first to the bus logic, thereby also minimizing the quantity of shift registers required extern
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jaishankar Thayyoor, Peter Martin
  • Patent number: 7953912
    Abstract: A method of guided attachment of hardware accelerators to slots of a computing system includes dividing a first group of hardware accelerators into a plurality of priority classes, dividing a first group of slots of the computing system into a plurality of hierarchical tiers, and attaching each hardware accelerator of the first group of hardware accelerators to a slot matched to the hardware accelerators based on comparison of a priority class of the hardware accelerator and a hierarchical tier of the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rajaram B. Krishnamurthy, Hong Deng, Tjomas A. Gregg, John P. Rankin
  • Patent number: 7949814
    Abstract: Method for ‘Cool-Swap’, ‘Warm-Swap’ and ‘Hot-Swap’ of ‘Fixed’ ‘System’ hard disk(s) in and out of the computer and for re-cycling the computer between ‘diskly’ state to ‘diskless’ state by combining the following features in one way or the other: separating the power supply of the ‘Fixed’ ‘System’ hard disk(s) from the internal power supply that is supplying power to other components of the computer, in particular the motherboard; taking the operating system, capable of being taken to run as ramdisk-based operating system, in control of the computer to run as ramdisk-based operating system; putting the computer into different power management states; and issuing commands or instructions for logical disconnection and/or re-connection of hard disk(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Inventor: Kam Fu Chan
  • Publication number: 20110119423
    Abstract: An Input/Output (IO) Virtualization (IOV) system provides a mechanism for sharing computer peripheral devices or resources between multiple host computers by presenting a single resource multiple times to numerous host systems. The IOV system provides IO virtualization and host-to-host communication services to the host computers. The system comprises device interfaces coupled to the IO devices. Each IO device comprises at least one endpoint function (EPF). Host interfaces are each coupled to one of a number of host computers. Each host interface includes a proxy, and each proxy comprises configuration data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Karagada R. Kishore, Kiron Malwankar, Peter E. Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 7937515
    Abstract: A computer software system is disclosed for facilitating a user's replacement or insertion of devices in a computer server network system. The system allows a user to swap or add peripheral devices while the system is running, or in a “hot” condition, with little or no user knowledge of how the system carries out the “hot swap” or “hot add” functions. The system, which consists of a graphical user interface (GUI) and associated computer software modules, allows the user to select a desired peripheral device location within a server, and then provides the modular software structure to automatically execute a series of steps in the hot swap or hot add process. Each step is prompted by the user from the GUI, to invoke commands to instruct a network server through its operating system and hardware to suspend the appropriate device adapters, if necessary, power down the desired device slot or canister, allow the user to replace or insert a new device, and finally restart the adapters and the slot power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventors: Srikumar N. Chari, Kenny L. Bright
  • Publication number: 20110099315
    Abstract: A multimedia system includes a portable device, a multimedia expansion apparatus and a second display. The portable device further includes a main body and a first display coupling with the main body, in which the main body has a first multimedia module and a switch module. The multimedia further includes an expansion port for coupling the portable device, a multimedia switch circuit, a plurality of signal output ports and a power control circuit for energizing the expansion port, the multimedia switch circuit and the signal output ports. The second display is coupled with one of the signal output ports. The switch module forwards a multimedia signal of the main body to one of the first multimedia module and the multimedia switch circuit, and the power control circuit is to terminate power output to while the portable device is separated from the expansion port of the multimedia expansion apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mou-Ming MA, Li-Chih HSIEH, Min-Yu CHOU, Yih-Neng LIN, Chun-Kun LAN, Cheng-Hao HUANG
  • Patent number: 7934042
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a system comprising a peripheral component interface (PCI) host bridge. The PCI host bridge is configured to be coupled to a PCI bus, and to receive a system reset signal, to generate a PCI bus reset signal based on the received system reset signal, to detect a PCI operational mode of the PCI bus, and to generate a voltage indicator signal based on the detected PCI operational mode. A voltage regulator is coupled to the PCI host bridge and configured to receive the voltage indicator signal and to regulate a signaling voltage for the PCI bus based on the voltage indicator signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Parag Birmiwal, Bernard Charles Drerup
  • Publication number: 20110093655
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an external interface port to connect to an external electronic device, where the external interface port is to communicate over a communications path with the external electronic device according to a serial communication protocol. The apparatus has a control device to hide details of the storage subsystem from the external electronic device. The control device is configured to perform at least one of (1) expanding a storage capacity of at least one logical storage volume of the storage subsystem, and (2) migrating a portion of data stored in the storage subsystem to a new physical storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventor: Paul A. Boerger
  • Publication number: 20110087825
    Abstract: A USB flash drive for removable connection to another device such as a cell phone, camera, computer, gaming system and photo printer, for example. In one embodiment, a cell phone having a USB port is provided wherein the USB flash drive configured to connect into a slot in the cell phone housing. A user may then quickly transfer data downloaded to the USB flash drive when connected to the cell phone, and another device such as a photo printer, for example. One or more optional additional functionality is incorporated into the USB flash drive such as, for example, a camera, internet card and MP3 player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Scott W. Cialini, Miguel Rodriquez
  • Patent number: 7925812
    Abstract: A card-type peripheral device having a plurality of specifications of external interfaces includes a connector configured to connect the card-type peripheral device to a connectable device connectable to the card-type peripheral device, the connector including a dedicated terminal in which an interface to be used is set; an electronic component configured to be accessed via the set interface; a plurality of interface function units each configured to control an interface compliant with one of the plurality of specifications; and a communication function unit configured to perform communication with the electronic component using one of the interface function units having a specification corresponding to a setting of the dedicated terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tamaki Konno, Yoshitaka Aoki, Keiichi Tsutsui, Naohiro Adachi
  • Patent number: 7917662
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to a Universal Graphics Adapter (UGA) that is a hardware-independent design that encapsulates and abstracts low-level graphics hardware in a standard manner through firmware. UGA is a firmware standard, intended to wrap existing or planned hardware, including VGA. UGA does not require the use of real-mode assembly language, direct hardware register, or frame buffer access to program, thus providing advantages over conventional systems. UGA supports basic drawing operations, continuous display modes, and power management. As a firmware-based standard, UGA facilitates updating a system to support both evolving and new hardware features. UGA includes the capability to determine ranges of output display capabilities for multiple devices and determine an overlap in capabilities of the multiple devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Maciej Maciesowicz
  • Patent number: 7917675
    Abstract: An industrial process control apparatus and method that includes a number of processors and a number of input/output modules. Each processor is connected to a plurality of the input/output modules by a unidirectional command line. Each input/output module is connected to a plurality of the processors by a unidirectional response line. The processors are arranged to issue an identifier request to all of the connected input/output modules and each input/output module is arranged to respond to the identifier request via the respective response line with a response that includes a unique identifier. Such a configuration allows each processor to identify the physical location of each respective input/output module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth John Murphy, Linda Murphy, legal representative, Thomas Bruce Meagher, Philip John Agar, Ian David Wynne Jones, Gerald Robert Creech
  • Patent number: 7917678
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for dynamic virtual frame buffer management. At least one embodiment of the present invention dynamically enables or disables the use of a virtual frame buffer, which is not under control of graphics hardware of a data processing system, without restarting the graphical user interface system (e.g., the window system) of the data processing system. For example, in response to the addition or removing of a frame buffer that is under control of a graphics controller (e.g., due to the activation or deactivation of the graphics controller, or the hot plug-in or hot disconnection of the graphics controller), the virtual frame buffer is disabled or enabled respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James Paquette, Simon Douglas
  • Publication number: 20110072182
    Abstract: In execution of hot-plug processing consisting of a plurality of processing steps for connecting an I/O to a host, the hot-plug processing is temporarily stopped upon completion of predetermined processing steps in the hot-plug processing, and the hot-plug processing is resumed once it is detected that connection between the host and the I/O has been established and the host has been enabled to access the I/O.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventor: Jun Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7913019
    Abstract: In a server composed of a server module having a processor in it, an I/O module having an I/O extension slot for accommodating an I/O extension adapter to expand the server's I/O capability, and a management module managing the entire server, the server module and the I/O extension slot (and through it, ultimately the I/O extension adapter) are interconnected using a PCI Express interface and the I/O module and the management module are interconnected using a special interface carrying detection information indicating whether an I/O extension adapter is actually mounted on the I/O extension slot. In the event of a link failure on the PCI Express interface, link recovery is attempted by grasping the status of the link based on the detection information obtained through the special interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Inagawa, Satoru Uemura, Takeshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7908418
    Abstract: Provided is a storage system including a host device and a storage device connected to the host device through multiple paths and configured to perform hot-swap of firmware. The host device generates and sends an inquiry command to inquire about whether to allow firmware exchange. In response to the command, the storage device generates information about whether to allow firmware exchange in a control unit connected to a path where the command is received, as response information to the inquiry command and sends the generated information to the host device. The host device determines whether to allow firmware exchange in accordance with the received response information, and if firmware exchange is enabled, generates information about multiple paths with the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Hironori Kai
  • Patent number: 7904627
    Abstract: A client-host detection device for detecting connecting a connected peripheral is disclosed herein. The device comprises a peripheral sensor connected to a terminal, a terminal sensor connected to or for connection to a peripheral and a terminal electrical connector connected to the terminal for electrical connection with a peripheral electrical connector connected to a peripheral. The peripheral sensor is positioned to sense the terminal sensor upon connection of the terminal electrical connector with the peripheral electrical connector. The device allows for an electrical connector to be maintained in an unpowered state unless a peripheral is connected thereby reducing or preventing de-plating of the contacts of the electrical connector caused by conductive solution across the contacts as a result of the voltage on the connections. The device also allows for the use of an unpowered peripheral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Psion Teklogix Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas John James
  • Patent number: 7904411
    Abstract: A system for managing a knowledge model defining a plurality of entities is provided. The system includes an extraction tool for extracting data items from disparate data sources that determines if the data item has been previously integrated into the knowledge model. The system also includes an integration tool for integrating the data item into the knowledge model that integrates the data item into the knowledge model only if the data item has not been previously integrated into the knowledge model. Additionally, a relationship tool for identifying, automatically, a plurality of relationships between the plurality of entities may also be provided. The system may also include a data visualization tool for presenting the plurality of entities and the plurality of relationships.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Michael E. Bechtel, Sanjay Mathur, Jordi Arago
  • Patent number: 7904610
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a memory unit, a microcontroller, a first communication port providing a first communication path between the apparatus and a computer system, and a second communication port providing a second communication path between the apparatus and a peripheral device. The peripheral device is also communicatively linked with the computer system via a third communication path that bypasses the apparatus. Control of the peripheral device is subject to the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Kaushik R. Narayanan, Robert J. Martin, Jerry Gibson
  • Patent number: 7890687
    Abstract: The invention provides a motherboard and an interface control method of a memory slot thereof. The motherboard includes a plurality of slot groups, a bus, and an interface controller. Each of the slot groups includes a first memory slot and a second memory slot connected with the bus. The first memory slot and the second memory slot form two different access addresses. The interface controller transmits a plurality of pin control signals to the corresponding slot groups to make the two access addresses of the first memory slot and the second memory slot of a using slot group of the slot groups different from the two access addresses of the first memory slot and the second memory slot of each of the other slot groups. Then, the interface controller accesses the using slot group via the bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Ming-Jen Lee, Tung-Chang Wu
  • Patent number: 7882382
    Abstract: Systems and methods for maintaining and servicing a data processing system or “computer system,” including rack enclosures housing multiple servers, desktop computers, and controllers for industrial automation. According to one aspect, touch-activated circuitry is configured with a computer system to control power and data flow to a component port and facilitate hot-swapping of components, such as PCI cards, fans, and hard drives. The component port, such as a PCI slot, electronically interfaces with a removable electronic component, such as a PCI card. A user activates the touch-activated circuitry by touching one or more contact points. Touching the contact points thereby initiate a shut-down sequence of a component driver or other software and then powers down the electronic port so that the electronic component may be safely removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Slavek Peter Aksamit, Cristian Medina
  • Patent number: 7877521
    Abstract: A virtual PCI Express device 1600 indicates the presence of a pseudo I/O device in a PCI Express initial configuration cycle to reserve a resource space for a device anticipated to be installed in the future, and when an I/O device 1400 is inserted into an unoccupied slot 1605, a virtual PCI Express device control logic 1602 notifies a downstream PCI-PCI bridge 1504 via a hot-plugging control line 1601, and the downstream PCI-PCI bridge 1504 generates an interrupt to a CPU 1100 to notify it of insertion of the I/O device 1400 in conformance with the procedure for hot plugging defined by the PCI-SIG Standards, and configuration software 1000 invoked configures the inserted I/O device 1400.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Suzuki, Youichi Hidaka, Junichi Higuchi, Atsushi Iwata
  • Publication number: 20110010478
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for providing resources from a plurality of on-board device nodes to a hot-plugged device node in a computer is provided. The apparatus comprises a resource manager configured to receive a resource request over a bus system indicative of a set of desired resources from the hot-plugged device node. The resource manager is further configured to probe a parent device and at least one upper level device node positioned above the parent device node for the set of desired resources. The resource manager is further configured to provide the set of desired resources from the parent device node and one or more nodes of the at least one upper level device node over the bus system for transmission to the hot-plugged device node to enable the hot-plugged device node to operate in the intended manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Yong Colin Zou, Wesley W. Shao, Govinda Tatti
  • Patent number: 7869079
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for submitting an electronic document to a printing system that includes a print controller having an input port and a print queue. Methods in accordance with this invention include coupling a portable media device to the input port, the portable media device including an electronic document and automatically copying the electronic document to the print queue. Apparatus in accordance with this invention include a portable media device that includes an electronic document. The portable media device is adapted to be coupled to the input port of the print controller, and the print controller is adapted to automatically copy the electronic document to the print queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Electronics for Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: David Riesel, Fumiaki Okushi, Amit Jain
  • Patent number: 7868656
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a hot plug bus slot on a bus has an input for receiving a set of float signals (i.e., the set may have one or more float signals), and a driver having an output electrically couplable with the bus. The apparatus also has float logic operatively coupled with the input. The float logic is responsive to the set of float signals to cause the output to float at a high impedance in response to receipt of the set of float signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: SGI International, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Strangfeld, Thomas E. McGee
  • Patent number: 7865659
    Abstract: In an embodiment, when a removable storage device is removably coupled to a host, the removable storage device indicates that it is non-removable to the host. The removable storage device may include a user-created secure storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahuja Gurmukhsingh Ramesh, Senthil Kumar Chellamuthu
  • Publication number: 20100325330
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multimedia multifunctional photo kiosk combination device, in which a multimedia device is structured from a display interface and an access device. The access device is structured from a housing and a connector module, and the housing is configured with a first connector and an embedding slot that enables the connector module to be disposed and clamped therein. An insertion hole is defined in the connector module, and the insertion hole enables a key to be inserted therein to enable the connector module to be pulled out. Accordingly, the key need only be inserted into the insertion hole of the connector module to enable the connector module to be pulled out and separated from the housing, thereby achieving the objectives of convenient exchange and reduction in time cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventor: Hsien-Rong LIANG
  • Publication number: 20100325331
    Abstract: A control system for data storage includes an electronic device, and a swap device. The electronic device includes a swap device detection module, first and second swap modules, and a storage device detection module. If the swap device is inserted in the electronic device, the swap device detection module outputs a first interrupt signal, the first swap module transfers data to be written to a first storage device to the swap device instead. If the first storage device is removed and a second storage device is inserted in the electronic device, the storage device detection module sends a second interrupt signal, the second swap module transfers data written and to be written to the swap device to the second storage device instead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: MING-CHIH HSIEH
  • Patent number: 7849234
    Abstract: A system for detecting a peripheral device is used to detect whether the peripheral device is completely inserted into a peripheral interface slot of a mother board before booting. When the peripheral device is inserted into the peripheral interface slot, the system judges whether the peripheral device is completely inserted into the peripheral interface slot according to a potential of fins of the peripheral interface slot. If the system detects that the peripheral device has not been completely inserted into the peripheral interface slot before booting, a booting procedure of the mother board is interrupted and an alarm signal is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Giga-Byte Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hou-Yuan Lin, Chen-Shun Chen
  • Patent number: 7849249
    Abstract: A mother-board includes a chipset, a switch, and first and second PCI Express X16 graphics interfaces. The switch has first and second switch circuits. The switch selectively turns on one of the first and second switch circuits according to a control signal. The first PCI Express X16 graphics interface has former eight lanes electrically connected to the chipset, and latter eight lanes selectively electrically connected to the chipset through the first switch circuit. The second PCI Express X16 graphics interface has former eight lanes selectively electrically connected to the chipset through the second switch circuit. When the first switch circuit is turned on, 16 lanes of the first PCI Express X16 graphics interface are electrically connected to the chipset. When the second switch circuit is turned on, the former eight lanes of the second PCI Express X16 graphics interface are electrically connected to the chipset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: ASUSTek Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng-Lai Shen, Hung-Hsiang Chou, Chuan-Te Chang
  • Patent number: 7844768
    Abstract: Each chassis includes a back plane having a plurality of slots and a CPU blade server and CMMs which are inserted in the slots, respectively. The back plane has a storage unit storing a housing number for identifying the housing, in-housing chassis numbers for identifying the chassis in the housing, and in-chassis slot IDs for identifying the slots. When the blade server is inserted into the corresponding slot, the blade server acquires the in-chassis slot ID from the back plane. When the CMMs are inserted into the corresponding slots, the CMMs acquire housing numbers and in-housing chassis numbers from the back plane, holds the housing number and the in-housing chassis numbers, and manages the configuration of the blade server through the back plane. One of the CMMs manages the other CMMs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20100299463
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a player device enabling fast deletion and access, in which a player device includes a digital billboard and a storage device. A transmission interface, provided with a USB slot at one end, extends from one side of the digital billboard, and one end of the storage device is equipped with a USB connector. Moreover, a circuit board, disposed within the storage device, is equipped with a control unit able to automatically delete and store multimedia files within the digital billboard and a database unit able to store multimedia files. Accordingly, when the user needs to replace the advertisement contents within the digital billboard, then, the storage device of the present invention need only be inserted into the transmission interface of the digital billboard equipped with an updating program compatible with the storage device, and after a preset time the updating process is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventor: Chun-Te HAO
  • Patent number: 7840738
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for providing a connector system are disclosed. The exemplary device may have system and device flow contacts on the system and device connectors, respectively. A first set contacts and a second set of contacts may be electrically connected to each other to verify that system and device contacts are properly mated to each other. A controller linked to a contact circuit may regulate the power and/or signals provided to an end device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney P. Boer, Kevin P. Bonner, Kevin M. Palamar
  • Patent number: 7840733
    Abstract: A method, device, system, and computer readable medium are disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes dynamically associating a newly active port in a computer system with a first host controller. The first association happens when a total number of currently active ports in the computer system is less than a maximum capacity number of ports for the first host controller. The method also includes dynamically associating the newly active port in the computer system with a second host controller. The second association happens when the total number of currently active ports in the computer system is greater than or equal to the maximum capacity number of ports for the first host controller. In this method, each port, the first host controller, and second host controller all utilize the same protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Choon Gun Por, Soon Seng Seh
  • Patent number: 7840739
    Abstract: Provided is a technique for preventing a loss by storing a universal plug and play (UPnP) control request and delaying handling of the UPnP control request. A method of handling a UPnP control request in a UPnP control point includes storing a UPnP control request that is not handled in the UPnP control point, receiving a message informing that a UPnP control device has participated in a network from the UPnP control device, receiving information about capability of the UPnP control device from the UPnP control device, determining whether the UPnP control device can perform the UPnP control request that is not handled based on the information about capability of the UPnP control device, and transmitting the UPnP control request to the UPnP control device that is determined to be able to perform the UPnP control request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-shin Jung, Kiran Bharadwaj Vedula, Subramanian Krishnamoorthy
  • Publication number: 20100289950
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for displaying enabling the transmission, formatting, and display of multimedia data after a hot plug event during a start-up dead period. In particular, approaches for transmission, formatting, and display of multimedia data in the absence or non-operation of a hot plug detect system or signal, so that multimedia information can be displayed in a proper format even during the dead period when no hot plug detect signal is received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Osamu Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20100289949
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for transmitting and displaying video data after a hot plug event during a start-up dead period. In particular, hot plug events occurring when a toggleable hot plug detection mechanism is use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Osamu Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20100293366
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for displaying video data after a hot plug event during a start-up dead period. In particular, approaches for receiving data, determining whether link training can be performed and, if not, self-configuring a receiver to display the information in a proper format even during the dead period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicants: STMicroelectronics, Inc., ST Microelectronics
    Inventor: Osamu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7836238
    Abstract: Mechanisms for hot-plug/remove of a new component in a running communication fabric, such as a PCIe fabric, are provided. With these mechanisms, the addition of a new component in the fabric is detected and an event is sent to a multiple root fabric configuration manager. The multiple root fabric configuration manager gathers information about the new component and updates its I/O component tree structure in its configuration data structure to include the new component. The new component may then be utilized via the updated configuration data structure. When a component is to be removed, the multiple root fabric configuration manager receives an event indicating the component to be removed, determines which branches of the tree structure are affected by the removal, and updates its configuration data structure accordingly to remove the component and its associated components from the virtual plane of the removed component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas M. Freimuth, Renato J. Recio, Claudia A. Salzberg, Steven M. Thurber, Jacobo A. Vargas
  • Patent number: 7827333
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique to determine a bus address for an add-in card on a System Management bus (SMbus) that includes a hybrid microcontroller (hEC) and discrete graphics processing unit (dGPU). A graphics driver requests the System Basic Input/Output System (SBIOS) for a list of available slave addresses. The graphics driver receives the list and selects an available slave address to be assigned to the hEC. The graphics driver assigns the selected address to the hEC through an Inter-Integrated Circuit bus backdoor. The graphics driver then passes the selected address back to the SBIOS and the selected address is removed from the list of available addresses. Advantageously, this approach to dynamically assigning bus addresses provides compatibility with different types of hECs as well as with different motherboard configurations and other SMbus devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: David Wyatt, Hon Fei Chong, Rambod Jacoby
  • Patent number: 7822882
    Abstract: A computing device having a unique form factor and adapted for connecting to an external device is described. The computing device includes external connector(s), computing node(s), a power unit, and a flexible enclosure structure encasing them. The enclosure structure is made of flexible materials so that the computing device forms a physically integrated unit free of a rigid frame and can be mechanically supported by its external connectors without a chassis. At least one computing node has a computing state machine and programs that controls the behavior of the computing nodes at least during a connection event and a disconnection event. The computing device can be hot-swapped and function properly between these events. Also described is a reconfigurable computing system that includes one or more computing devices described above and one or more host computers, as well as programming techniques for accomplishing hot swapping of the computing devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: Lawrence John Dickson
  • Patent number: 7822900
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for enumeration of processors during hot-plug of a compute node are described. The method includes the enumeration, in response to a hot-plug reset, of one or more processors. The enumeration is provided to a system architecture operating system in which a compute node is hot-plugged. Once enumeration is complete, the compute node is started in response to an operating system activation request. Accordingly, once device enumeration, as well as resource enumeration are complete, the one or more processors of the processor memory node are activated, such that the operating system may begin utilizing the processors of the hot-plugged compute node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Shivnandan D. Kaushik, James B. Crossland, Mohan J. Kumar, Linda J. Rankin, David J. O'Shea
  • Publication number: 20100262744
    Abstract: A device includes a connector having first and second signal pins adapted to, when the connector is being connected to a mating connector of another device, make a first connection using the first signal pin prior to making a second connection using the second signal pin, a first circuit operatively coupled to the first signal pin and configured to identify at least three pre-determined signal patterns receivable from the another device using the first connection, wherein each of the at least three pre-determined signal patterns corresponds to one of at least three pre-determined interface protocols, and a second circuit operatively coupled to the first circuit and the second signal pin, wherein the second circuit is configured, responsive to the first circuit identifying a pre-determined signal pattern of the at least three pre-determined signal patterns, to interface with the another device using at least the second signal pin, wherein to interface with the another device is according to a pre-determined in
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Shailendra Deva, Richard A. Raffel, Wenjun Chen, Martin S. Mok
  • Patent number: 7814255
    Abstract: A device includes a connector having first and second signal pins adapted to, when the connector is being connected to a mating connector of another device, make a first connection using the first signal pin prior to making a second connection using the second signal pin, a first circuit operatively coupled to the first signal pin and configured to identify at least three pre-determined signal patterns receivable from the another device using the first connection, wherein each of the at least three pre-determined signal patterns corresponds to one of at least three pre-determined interface protocols, and a second circuit operatively coupled to the first circuit and the second signal pin, wherein the second circuit is configured, responsive to the first circuit identifying a pre-determined signal pattern of the at least three pre-determined signal patterns, to interface with the another device using at least the second signal pin, wherein to interface with the another device is according to a pre-determined in
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shailendra Deva, Richard A. Raffel, Wenjun Chen, Martin S. Mok
  • Patent number: 7814254
    Abstract: The invention is to provide a mode setting method and a system including a PCI bus in the hot plug of a PCI device which is capable of supporting a platform unique function for a PCI device that is hot-added. Therefore, in a system including a PCI bus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a south bridge directly notifies firmware that a PCI device is hot-added and thus, it is possible to support the platform unique function for the hot-added PCI device without modifying an OS or an open hot plug driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Computertechno, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Abumi
  • Publication number: 20100250810
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, a tangible computer readable medium, and a data processing system intelligently propagate link status information received by a blade server to the various ports of an embedded multi-port switch. The link status of a switch port in an external switch module can be communicated to the operating systems of individual blade servers that are affected by that link status. When an external switch module is unplugged from a server blade chassis, the bus controller broadcasts a link down event, such as a link down interrupt, to the individual server blades where it is received by the embedded multi-port switch for those server blades. The embedded multi-port switch translates the link down interrupt into a hardware link down event, and forwards the hardware link down event to the other elements connected to the embedded multi-port switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anis M. Abdul, Nikhil Hegde, Ajay Kumar Mahajan, Rashmi Narasimhan
  • Publication number: 20100250814
    Abstract: A circuit for controlling a peripheral device interface is to enable a central processing unit to detect a peripheral device. The circuit includes a control chip and first to sixth capacitors. The control chip includes a power supply input pin, first to second differential signal output pins, first to second differential signal input pins, and an expansion pin. The power supply input pin is connected to a power supply and grounded via the first and second capacitors in parallel. The first and second differential signal output pins are connected to the peripheral device interface via the third and fourth capacitors respectively. The first and second differential signal input pins are connected to the peripheral device interface via the fifth and sixth capacitors respectively. The expansion pin is grounded via a resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: KE-YOU HU