John T Pate

US Patent:

6578013, Jun 10, 2003

Filed:

Nov 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/441982

Inventors:

Rose King Davis - Austin TX
Robert L. McMahan - Cedar Park TX
John Pate - Austin TX

Assignee:

Dell USA, L.P. - Round Rock TX

International Classification:

G06F 1760

US Classification:

705 26, 705 28

Abstract:

A system includes a computing device for storing criteria under which a customer is authorized to purchase a physical item. The computing device receives a request from the customer. In response to the request satisfying the stored criteria, the computing device outputs a signal for purchasing the physical item. The stored criteria may include a monetary budget for purchasing the physical item. The computing device is for modifying the stored criteria to reduce the monetary budget in response to the signal.

US Patent:

58930485, Apr 6, 1999

Filed:

Jan 13, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/782226

Inventors:

John Pate - Austin TX
Robert L. McMahan - Cedar Park TX

Assignee:

Dell USA, L. P. - Roundrock TX

International Classification:

G01H 1700

US Classification:

702 56

Abstract:

The vibration level of a CD-ROM disc is determined in a computer system by installing the disc onto the disc drive. The disc is spun on the disc drive up to an identification speed. The table of contents on the disc is read to determine by disc serial number that the disc is a data disc. Also, the serial number is compared with a file stored in memory to determine that the data disc has been previously tested. The system memory also provides testing information indicating a speed for operating the identified disc without noticeable vibration. The disc drive then operates the identified disc at the indicated speed.

US Patent:

6029213, Feb 22, 2000

Filed:

Apr 15, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/060735

Inventors:

Steve Belt - Pflugerville TX
John Pate - Austin TX
Greg Hudgins - Austin TX

Assignee:

Dell U.S.A. L.P. - Roundrock TX

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

710 72

Abstract:

An automatic IR port detection device is provided in a portable computer including a first and a second transceiver data port. An external device is adjacent the computer and includes at least one external transceiver data port. An IR port detection and scanning program in the computer is actuated by an initiating key combination. A controller in the computer generates a systems management interrupt in response to the initiating key combination being actuated. An IR scan timer is initiated in response to the systems management interrupt being generated. A system BIOS in the computer actuates the first transceiver data port to scan for an external IR signal and sequentially actuates the second transceiver data port to scan for the external IR signal in response to the absence of the external IR signal received by the first transceiver data port. The IR scan timer is resettable in the absence of the IR signal being received from the external transceiver data port by either of the first and second transceiver data ports.

US Patent:

59448318, Aug 31, 1999

Filed:

Jun 13, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/874493

Inventors:

John C. Pate - Austin TX
John J. Pearce - Del Valle TX

Assignee:

Dell USA, L.P. - Round Rock TX

International Classification:

G06F 100

US Classification:

713324

Abstract:

Communication interface PCCards are commonly attached, both physically and electrically, to a notebook computer whether the communication interface PCCards are connected to a communication channel or disconnected from the communication channel. It has further been discovered that communication interface PCCards consume power when attached to the notebook computer and that power consumption is advantageously reduced and battery life extended by detecting when the communication channel is disconnected from the communication interface PCCard and terminating power supplied to the communication interface PCCard when the communication channel is disconnected. A power management method in a computer system having a PCCard connected to a communication channel includes detecting a disconnection of the communication channel from the PCCard and terminating power supplied to the PCCard in response to the detection of the disconnection of the communication channel.

US Patent:

58322825, Nov 3, 1998

Filed:

Jan 2, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/778408

Inventors:

John Pate - Austin TX
Robert L. McMahan - Cedar Park TX

Assignee:

Dell U.S.A., L.P. - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06F 126

US Classification:

39575001

Abstract:

Apparatus and method for insuring that a computer is in battery swap mode before a battery thereof is hot swapped by a user is described. A switch is located under the battery receptacle cover, which switch is actuated by the removal of the battery receptacle cover in an amount sufficient to expose the switch. Actuation of the switch generates a battery swap mode ("BSM") signal to the CPU, causing the computer to operate in battery swap mode, at which point the battery may be safely removed without risk of losing data stored in DRAM.