James K Macdonald

US Patent:

57906637, Aug 4, 1998

Filed:

Mar 28, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/623021

Inventors:

Sherman Lee - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
James R. MacDonald - Buda TX
Michael T. Wisor - Austin TX

Assignee:

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

H04L 900
H04L 932

US Classification:

380 4

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for software to access a microprocessor serial number. Provision of the serial number allows the manufacturer better control over its product and also permits software vendors to register their products. The serial number is encrypted using a pair of encryption keys to prevent unauthorized changes. At least one of the encryption keys is itself encoded to prevent unauthorized access, while permitting software to access the serial number.

US Patent:

59336200, Aug 3, 1999

Filed:

Mar 28, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/623022

Inventors:

Sherman Lee - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
James R. MacDonald - Buda TX
Michael T. Wisor - Austin TX

Assignee:

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G06F 1214

US Classification:

395500

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for providing a microprocessor serial number. A small, nonvolatile random access memory is packaged with the CPU die to provide a storage space for a CPU serial number which can be programmed before leaving the factory. Both the CPU die and the nonvolatile RAM die reside within the cavity of the package. Connection between the two die is provided by conventional wire bonding.

US Patent:

57992037, Aug 25, 1998

Filed:

May 17, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/649537

Inventors:

Sherman Lee - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
James R. MacDonald - Buda TX
Michael T. Wisor - Austin TX

Assignee:

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

395828

Abstract:

A system and method for providing information regarding system support capabilities to a processor. A computer system includes a processing unit, a main memory and a first plurality of peripherals coupled to a first bus. A bus bridge couples the first bus to a second bus and a second plurality of support peripherals are coupled to the second bus. The processing unit is capable of providing requests for system support information to the bus bridge and the first and second plurality support peripherals. The peripherals are configured to provide responses to the request. The processing unit stores the responses and uses the information received to enable and disable its functional units or the peripheral's functional units accordingly. In one embodiment, the requests and information are provided along a dedicated serial interface. In another, the requests and information are provided as specialized bus cycles along the CPU bus.

US Patent:

57745447, Jun 30, 1998

Filed:

Mar 28, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/623024

Inventors:

Sherman Lee - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
James R. MacDonald - Buda TX
Michael T. Wisor - Austin TX

Assignee:

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

H04L 900

US Classification:

380 4

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for encrypting and decrypting a microprocessor serial number. First and second encryption keys and a serial number are provided in microprocessor machine specific registers. The serial number is encrypted using the first key. The encrypted serial number is encrypted using the second key. The first encryption key may be encrypted along with the serial number using the second key. The double encrypted serial number is then stored in memory provided for that purpose.

US Patent:

59464976, Aug 31, 1999

Filed:

May 17, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/649538

Inventors:

Sherman Lee - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
James R. MacDonald - Buda TX
Michael T. Wisor - Austin TX

Assignee:

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G06F 924

US Classification:

39580037

Abstract:

A system and method for providing a microprocessor with a software accessible serial number. A plurality of programmable fuses on the processor are encoded with a value representative of a serial number. Circuitry is provided on the processor for transferring the value encoded on the programmable fuses to a machine specific or general purpose register or storage device. The machine specific or general purpose register or storage unit is software accessible.

US Patent:

41314727, Dec 26, 1978

Filed:

Sep 15, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/723333

Inventors:

James L. MacDonald - Sherman Oaks CA
Richard A. Mink - Northridge CA

Assignee:

Align-Rite Corporation - Burbank CA

International Classification:

G03C 500
G03C 504

US Classification:

96 383

Abstract:

An improvement in the process of manufacturing integrated circuits to enhance the yield, including the steps of tracking which of the individual dies on a photomask or related series of photomasks has produced a predominance of defective chips on the semiconductor wafer, then correcting the die images on the master photomasks and then producing new working masks. This procedure may be repeated several times, each time reducing the number of defect-bearing die images on the photomask and thereby providing a means by which a semiconductor device manufacturer can obtain better yields.

US Patent:

20180330756, Nov 15, 2018

Filed:

Nov 20, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/818453

Inventors:

James MacDonald - Los Angeles CA, US

International Classification:

G11B 27/036
G06F 17/30

Abstract:

The present invention relates to a method of allowing users to insert themselves into movie clips, full movies, animations, music videos, commercials, sporting events and other videos. The method and computer apparatus, made up of one or more computer devices interconnected through the internet or network, allows the editing of existing videos by the creation of machine software code instruction templates to automate the editing of those videos, the method of allowing of users to record and edit their takes on those scenes and then insert their takes into the existing video using the automated template instructions that then automate the rendering of the new video composition. The present invention allows for the mass production of the new compositions to be streamed or shared as a custom video. The present invention also allows for the digital rights management of the original video and the newly created video, through the database structure and through metadata tags inserted into the new composite videos with the incorporation of a hierarchical database structure into a communications network of data processing devices so that metadata can be communicated between them.