Joseph B Maxwell

US Patent:

7690927, Apr 6, 2010

Filed:

Mar 19, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/407206

Inventors:

Brian M. Kerrigan - Cary NC, US
Justin P. Bandholz - Cary NC, US
Martin J. Crippen - Apex NC, US
Andrew S. Heinzmann - Apex NC, US
Joseph E. Maxwell - Cary NC, US
Edward J. McNulty - Raleigh NC, US
Pravin Patal - Cary NC, US
Tony C. Sass - Fuquay Varina NC, US
Phillip L. Weinstein - Apex NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H01R 12/00

US Classification:

439 74, 439 61, 439248, 439511, 361735

Abstract:

A scalability card for use with a plurality of computer blades. The computer blades are releasably securable in a parallel configuration, wherein each blade includes a circuit board and a processor operatively coupled to the circuit board. Each processor is in electronic communication with a scalability connector on a floating plate that is loosely secured to the computer blade. Furthermore, each scalability connector is preferably disposed in a common plane extending perpendicular to the plurality of parallel computer blades. The scalability card includes a plurality of electronically interconnected scalability connectors arranged for rough alignment with the scalability connectors of each computer blade. In addition, the scalability card preferably includes at least one alignment feature for engaging each floating plate and, therefore, providing fine alignment of the scalability connector on each floating plate to one of the scalability connectors of the scalability card.

US Patent:

7696890, Apr 13, 2010

Filed:

Aug 13, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/837982

Inventors:

Justin Potok Bandholz - Cary NC, US
Zachary Benson Durham - Asheboro NC, US
Clifton Ehrich Kerr - Durham NC, US
Joseph Eric Maxwell - Cary NC, US
Kevin Michael Reinberg - Durham NC, US
Kevin S. Vernon - Durham NC, US
Philip Louis Weinstein - Apex NC, US
Christopher Collier West - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G08B 21/00
G01R 27/26

US Classification:

340627, 340617, 340620, 624686

Abstract:

A system and method are used for electronically detecting the accumulation of dust within a computer system using a capacitive dust sensor. The dust detection system may be implemented on a smaller computer, such as an individual PC, or in a more expansive system, such as a rack-based server system (“rack system”) having multiple servers and other hardware devices. In one embodiment, each server in a rack system includes a capacitive sensor responsive to the accumulation of dust. The capacitive sensor may include one or more capacitive plates integral with a heatsink. As dust collects on the capacitive plates, the capacitance increases. When a capacitance setpoint is reached, indicating the dust has reached a critical level, an alert is generated. The alerts may be received by a management console for the attention of a system administrator. Each alert may contain the identity of the server generating the alert, so that the system administrator knows which server(s) are to be removed for cleaning.

US Patent:

7710976, May 4, 2010

Filed:

Jul 8, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/169266

Inventors:

Justin P. Bandholz - Cary NC, US
Clifton E. Kerr - Durham NC, US
Joseph E. Maxwell - Cary NC, US
Philip L. Weinstein - Apex NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H04L 12/28
H04L 12/56

US Classification:

3703954, 37039542

Abstract:

Methods, systems and computer program products for packet prioritization based on delivery time expectation. Exemplary embodiments include receiving a packet for routing, estimating a TimeToDestination for the packet, the estimating performed by a Internet Control Message Protocol, reading a TimeToDeliver field from each the Internet Protocol Header of the packet to extract data on when the packet needs to be at the destination, determining a MaxQueueDelay for the packet, the MaxQueueDelay calculated by subtracting the TimeToDeliver from the TimeToDestination, passing a lower priority packet if the lower priority packet has a lower MaxQueueDelay, and decrementing the TimeToDeliver by an amount of time the network router has had the packet in the queue before passing the packet to a next router, thereby communicating to the next router how much time is left before the packet must be delivered.

US Patent:

7937537, May 3, 2011

Filed:

Sep 24, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/859835

Inventors:

Justin P. Bandholz - Cary NC, US
Zachary B. Durham - Asheboro NC, US
Clifton E. Kerr - Durham NC, US
Joseph E. Maxwell - Cary NC, US
Kevin M. Reinberg - Chapel Hill NC, US
Kevin S. D. Vernon - Durham NC, US
Philip L. Weinstein - Apex NC, US
Christopher C. West - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 12/00
G06F 13/00
G06F 13/28

US Classification:

711148, 711170, 711171, 711172, 710316

Abstract:

A memory switching data processing system including one or more central processing units (‘CPUs’); random access memory organized in at least two banks of memory modules; one or more memory buses providing communications paths for data among the CPUs and the memory modules; and a flexibly configurable memory bus switch comprising a first configuration adapting the first CPU to a first bank of memory modules and a second CPU to a second bank of memory modules and a second configuration adapting the first CPU to both the first bank of memory modules and the second bank of memory modules.

US Patent:

7945740, May 17, 2011

Filed:

May 5, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/114992

Inventors:

Justin P. Bandholz - Cary NC, US
Zachary B. Durham - Asheboro NC, US
Clifton E. Kerr - Durham NC, US
Joseph E. Maxwell - Cary NC, US
Kevin M. Reinberg - Chapel Hill NC, US
Kevin S. D. Vernon - Durham NC, US
Philip L. Weinstein - Apex NC, US
Christopher C. West - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 12/00
G06F 13/00
G06F 13/28

US Classification:

711148, 711170, 711171, 711172, 710316

Abstract:

A design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for designing, manufacturing, and/or testing a memory switching data processing system is provided. The memory switching data processing system includes one or more central processing units (‘CPUs’); random access memory organized in at least two banks of memory modules; one or more memory buses providing communications paths for data among the CPUs and the memory modules; and a flexibly configurable memory bus switch comprising a first configuration adapting the first CPU to a first bank of memory modules and a second CPU to a second bank of memory modules and a second configuration adapting the first CPU to both the first bank of memory modules and the second bank of memory modules.

US Patent:

7962306, Jun 14, 2011

Filed:

May 9, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/118158

Inventors:

Justin P. Bandholz - Cary NC, US
Zachary B. Durham - Asheboro NC, US
Clifton E. Kerr - Durham NC, US
Joseph E. Maxwell - Cary NC, US
Kevin M. Reinberg - Chapel Hill NC, US
Kevin S. D. Vernon - Durham NC, US
Philip L. Weinstein - Apex NC, US
Christopher C. West - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G01K 1/02

US Classification:

702132, 165247, 340584, 374 45, 374166

Abstract:

Methods, apparatus, and products for detecting an increase in thermal resistance of a heat sink in a computer system, the heat sink dissipating heat for a component of the computer system, the computer system including a fan controlling airflow across the heat sink, the computer system also including a temperature monitoring device, including: measuring, by a monitoring module through use of the temperature monitoring device during operation of the computer system, thermal resistance of the heat sink; determining whether the measured thermal resistance of the heat sink is greater than a threshold thermal resistance, the threshold thermal resistance stored in a thermal profile in non-volatile memory, and if the measured thermal resistance of the heat sink is greater than the threshold thermal resistance, notifying a system administrator.

US Patent:

8213334, Jul 3, 2012

Filed:

Feb 29, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/040316

Inventors:

Justin P. Bandholz - Cary NC, US
Zachary B. Durham - Asheboro NC, US
Clifton E. Kerr - Durham NC, US
Joseph E. Maxwell - Cary NC, US
Kevin M. Reinberg - Chapel Hill NC, US
Kevin S. Vernon - Durham NC, US
Philip L. Weinstein - Apex NC, US
Christopher C. West - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H04L 12/28
H04L 1/00
G01R 31/08
G06F 11/00
G06F 15/173
G08C 15/00
H04J 1/16
H04J 3/14

US Classification:

370254, 370229, 370235, 709238, 709240, 709241, 709242

Abstract:

Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for optimizing a physical data communications topology between a plurality of computing nodes, the physical data communications topology including physical links configured to connect the plurality of nodes for data communications, that include carrying out repeatedly at a predetermined pace: detecting network packets transmitted through the links between each pair of nodes in the physical data communications topology, each network packet characterized by one or more packet attributes; assigning, to each network packet, a packet weight in dependence upon the packet attributes for that network packet; determining, for each pair of nodes in the physical data communications topology, a node pair traffic weight in dependence upon the packet weights assigned to the network packets transferred between that pair of nodes; and reconfiguring the physical links between each pair of nodes in dependence upon the node pair traffic weights.

US Patent:

8630207, Jan 14, 2014

Filed:

May 1, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/461309

Inventors:

Justin P. Bandholz - Cary NC, US
Zachary B. Durham - Durham NC, US
Clifton E. Kerr - Durham NC, US
Joseph E. Maxwell - Cary NC, US
Kevin M. Reinberg - Chapel Hill NC, US
Kevin S. Vernon - Durham NC, US
Philip L Weinstein - Apex NC, US
Christopher C. West - Raleigh NC, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H04L 12/28
G01R 31/08
G06F 11/00
G08C 15/00
H04J 1/16
H04J 3/14
H04L 1/00
G06F 15/173
H04L 12/24

US Classification:

370254, 370229, 370235, 709238, 709240, 709241, 709242

Abstract:

Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for optimizing a physical data communications topology between a plurality of computing nodes, the physical data communications topology including physical links configured to connect the plurality of nodes for data communications, that include carrying out repeatedly at a predetermined pace: detecting network packets transmitted through the links between each pair of nodes in the physical data communications topology, each network packet characterized by one or more packet attributes; assigning, to each network packet, a packet weight in dependence upon the packet attributes for that network packet; determining, for each pair of nodes in the physical data communications topology, a node pair traffic weight in dependence upon the packet weights assigned to the network packets transferred between that pair of nodes; and reconfiguring the physical links between each pair of nodes in dependence upon the node pair traffic weights.