Steven L Howe

US Patent:

7380113, May 27, 2008

Filed:

May 5, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/430607

Inventors:

David S. Ebsen - Chaska MN, US
Todd R. Burkey - Savage MN, US
Steven M. Howe - Rochester MN, US
Randal S. Rysavy - Kasson MN, US

Assignee:

Xiotech Corporation - Eden Prairie MN

International Classification:

G06F 9/24

US Classification:

713 1, 713100

Abstract:

A method of upgrading firmware during background operation in a storage area network (SAN) including at least one storage controller having programmable memory and RAM, where the at least one storage controller for controls data access between at least one host server and at least one storage device. The method includes temporarily suspending data access commands from the at least one host server, upgrading firmware stored in programmable memory, and copying a current version of firmware in a first memory address of RAM to a second memory address in the RAM. The current version of firmware in the first memory address in RAM is overwritten with the upgraded version of firmware. The controller is reinitialized, and data access commands from the at least one host server to the at least one storage device are provided by the at least one storage controller.

US Patent:

50134280, May 7, 1991

Filed:

Apr 5, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/504937

Inventors:

Ben A. Christolini - Yorba Linda CA
Kimanh T. Le - Corona CA
Mitchell J. Berndt - Placentia CA
Steven E. Howe - Chino CA

Assignee:

Union Oil Company of California - Los Angeles CA

International Classification:

C10G 100

US Classification:

208415

Abstract:

Enhanced recovery of oil from an oil-containing particulate shale sludge is achieved by contacting the sludge with a light hydrocarbon solvent fraction, obtained from the processing of oil derived from the shale, in the presence of water to form an oil-solvent liquid phase which is separated from an aqueous phase containing oil-depleted shale. The oil-solvent liquid phase when introduced into a slurry of product oil and particulate contained within a shale retort provides several advantages, including lowering the viscosity of the product oil and enhanced separation of the product oil from the particulate shale.