Michael Keith Allison

US Patent:

6360268, Mar 19, 2002

Filed:

Sep 1, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/655620

Inventors:

Stephen Silva - Fort Collins CO
Michael Allison - Fort Collins CO
Fred Sprague - Portland OR
John R. Metzner - Fort Collins CO
Thomas W. Yip - Fort Collins CO
Richard W. Gillespie - Fort Collins CO

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Company - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G06F 1100

US Classification:

709227, 709221, 379 15

Abstract:

A distributed automated testing system is provided which is capable of being distributed over a network, such as the Internet, for testing hardware and software. A plurality of users operating computers interface to the automated testing system via user interfaces, which preferably are graphical user interfaces. Each user interface displays test parameter choices to the user from which the user may select test parameters relating to a test to be performed. The user interfaces generate data packets in response to selections by the users and output the data packets onto the network. The data packets output from the user interfaces comprise information relating to test parameters selected by the user, commands indicating that performance of a test is being requested, and an address of the location to which the packet is being sent. The data packets are routed to one or more dispatcher machines located on the network which are designated by the addresses contained in the data packets. Each of the dispatcher machines maintains a list of tests to be performed.

US Patent:

6883091, Apr 19, 2005

Filed:

May 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/871329

Inventors:

John A. Morrison - Ft. Collins CO, US
Michael S Allison - Fort Collins CO, US
Leo J Embry - Fort Collins CO, US
Stephen Silva - Fort Collins CO, US

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F009/445

US Classification:

713 2, 713 1, 713100, 340541, 379 44, 348152, 361635, 361636, 361637, 361640

Abstract:

The time required to boot a computer is reduced by reducing or eliminating the need to discover many or all devices within the computer and the machine topology. Access panels are monitored so that it is detected when they are opened. For the access panels that have not been opened, it is assumed that the system configuration, topology, devices, etc. have not changed since the last boot process and there is no need to spend time discovering these devices and machine topology. Stored, instead of discovered, configuration information is then used to configure these devices. This reduces the time required to boot since discovery of devices is not performed. A service processor or other logic may be used to detect which access panels are opened. Also, only those elements of the configuration that may be affected by the particular access panels that were opened need to be re-discovered.

US Patent:

6910142, Jun 21, 2005

Filed:

Jul 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/917413

Inventors:

Edward A Cross - Fort Collins CO, US
Michael S Allison - Fort Collins CO, US
Christopher S Kroeger - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F001/32
G06F013/00
H05K007/10

US Classification:

713324, 713300, 713320, 713323, 710301, 710302, 710304

Abstract:

A system for providing notification, to the associated operating system, of removal and replacement of I/O devices during operation of a multiprocessor computer system running multiple operating systems. The system includes a plurality of cells, each containing multiple RISC processors, low-level I/O firmware, a local service processor, scratch RAM, external registers, a memory and I/O manager, and interfacing hardware. Each partition comprises one or more cells and runs its own operating system (OS). Each cell is connected to a peripheral backplane containing a plurality of peripheral I/O card slots via a switch on the system backplane, which also connects the cell to a supervisory processor, which sends card slot status information to the appropriate cell. Each I/O (typically PCI) card slot has an associated latch which provides an indication, to the supervisory processor, that a platform event has occurred. Platform events include inserting or removing an I/O (peripheral device interface) card to/from a card slot, and opening an access panel that provides access to the I/O cards.

US Patent:

7036035, Apr 25, 2006

Filed:

Aug 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/219744

Inventors:

Michael Allison - Fort Collins CO, US
Bradley D. Winick - Fort Collins CO, US
Daniel V. Zilavy - Fort Collins CO, US
Edward A. Cross - Fort Collins CO, US
Phillip David Langley - Granite Bay CA, US
James E. Mankovich - Boulder CO, US

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F 1/30

US Classification:

713340, 713330

Abstract:

A system and method for power management in a computer system having multiple power grids is disclosed. The system includes a service structure operable in conjunction with an operating system (OS) instance executed on the computer system. At least one uninterrupted power supply (UPS) and at least one alternative source of power provide power to the multiple power grids. Where an UPS sends a loss of power notification to the service structure, the service structure is operable to maintain power supply to the grids from an available alternative source of power.

US Patent:

7055035, May 30, 2006

Filed:

Jul 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/918974

Inventors:

Michael S Allison - Fort Collins CO, US
Stephen Silva - Fort Collins CO, US
Stephen Patrick Hack - Fort Collins CO, US

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

H04L 9/00

US Classification:

713176, 713 1, 711102

Abstract:

A system and method generate a read only memory (ROM) image for a ROM. The ROM image generator operates with a data image builder. The ROM image generator processes an input file to identify data images for a build. The image identifier generates tokens for building each data image. A data image builder uses the tokens as an input to build each data image. A ROM image builder builds the ROM image using each data image build and generates a data image build validating signature for each data image build, such as a checksum. Once each data image build and associated validating signature is written to the ROM image, the ROM image is completed with a checksum of the entire ROM image.

US Patent:

7065560, Jun 20, 2006

Filed:

Mar 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/094617

Inventors:

Michael J. Erickson - Loveland CO, US
Michael S. Allison - Fort Collins CO, US
Leo J. Embry - Fort Collins CO, US

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F 15/16
G06F 15/173
G06F 9/44

US Classification:

709219, 709223, 709221, 717168

Abstract:

A computer program version checking system checks at least one version of software running on a computing device including a plurality of programmable devices. A version of software running on the computing device is identified and compared to a version of the software in a recipe that is previously determined to be a correct version of the software. A determination is made as to whether the versions match.

US Patent:

7200845, Apr 3, 2007

Filed:

Dec 3, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/998629

Inventors:

John A. Morrison - Fort Collins CO, US
Michael S. Allison - Fort Collins CO, US
Stephen J. Silva - Fort Collins CO, US

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F 9/44
G06F 13/10
G06F 11/00
G06F 15/177

US Classification:

717172, 709221, 710104, 714 10

Abstract:

A system and method updating firmware of cells in cellular, high availability, computing systems. One or more cells having missing, obsolete, corrupt, or otherwise errored firmware when compared to other cells in the partition are identified as mismatched cells. An update cell having desired firmware transmits an update message to each mismatched cell via a manageability system slow speed interconnect. In response to the update message, each mismatched cell enables a high speed interconnect over which they can receive the desired firmware. The update cell transmits the update firmware to each mismatched cell via the high speed interconnect.

US Patent:

7350088, Mar 25, 2008

Filed:

Mar 8, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/075409

Inventors:

Michael S. Allison - Fort Collins CO, US
Edward A. Cross - Fort Collins CO, US
John W. Hover - Fort Collins CO, US
Bradley D. Winick - Fort Collins CO, US

Assignee:

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F 1/00
G06F 11/00

US Classification:

713300, 714 14, 714 24

Abstract:

Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with power management are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) manager logic configured to determine a power status of one or more UPS devices attached to one or more external peripheral devices. The UPS manager logic can be configured to notify an appropriate operating system of a power loss to a selected external device.