Marc Jay Alexander

US Patent:

6393559, May 21, 2002

Filed:

Apr 30, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/303036

Inventors:

Marc D. Alexander - Austin TX

Assignee:

Dell USA, L.P. - Round Rock TX

International Classification:

G06F 9445

US Classification:

713 2

Abstract:

BIOS boot initialization progress is recorded and, when BIOS boot initialization code fails, the failed boot initialization code is corrected by the BIOS. Intelligence is added to the BIOS which allows failed boot initialization code to be corrected by the BIOS transparently to the user. When the BIOS cannot correct the failed boot initialization code, however, other action is taken which allows the BIOS to continue to boot or to successfully reboot.

US Patent:

6408397, Jun 18, 2002

Filed:

May 24, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/317309

Inventors:

Marc D. Alexander - Austin TX
Peter A. Woytovech - Austin TX

Assignee:

Dell USA, L.P. - Round Rock TX

International Classification:

G06F 130

US Classification:

713340

Abstract:

A method and apparatus enables a computer system to recover from power failures, and includes a computer system having a UPS connected to a computer, the computer having an RTC, a driver, and a program stored in the computers memory. The program has instructions for performing the following steps: a) when a source of AC power fails, the UPS supplying AC power to the computer; b) the UPS notifying the computer to shut down; and c) just before the computer shuts down, the driver setting the RTC for a wake-up time at a prescribed time in the future.

US Patent:

6510512, Jan 21, 2003

Filed:

Jan 20, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/234435

Inventors:

Marc D. Alexander - Austin TX

Assignee:

Dell Products L.P. - Round Rock TX

International Classification:

G06F 9445

US Classification:

713 2

Abstract:

A computer system for executing BIOS code on a secure operating system, the computer system including a processor, memory coupled to the processor, at least one nonvolatile storage device, such as a hard disk drive, a BIOS file stored on the nonvolatile storage device, and a computer program executable by the processor wherein the computer program is capable of locating BIOS code within the BIOS file and copying the BIOS code to an executable program file stored on the nonvolatile storage device which is executed by the processor. Also, a method of executing BIOS code on a secure operating system that locates the BIOS code within at least one BIOS file, copies the BIOS code to an executable file, and executes the resulting executable file on a processor.

US Patent:

6550007, Apr 15, 2003

Filed:

Jan 25, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/490940

Inventors:

Jay Ryan Baxter - Austin TX
Marc David Alexander - Austin TX

Assignee:

Dell USA, L.P. - Round Rock TX

International Classification:

G06F 900

US Classification:

713 2

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for implementing a BIOS-level floppy boot-sector virus prevention system. A floppy boot protection system installed on a computer system queries a user to indicate whether or not the computer system is to be booted from a floppy disk inserted in a floppy disk drive of the computer system prior to booting from the floppy disk. If the user responds in the affirmative, the computer system is booted from the floppy disk and operation proceeds as usual. If the user responds in the negative, the floppy disk boot is skipped, the user is advised of this fact, and the computer system attempts to boot from the next device listed in its boot table. In one aspect, during setup of the computer system, the user is able to enable or disable the floppy boot protection system as desired. If the user fails to respond to the query within a predetermined amount of time, the boot protection system defaults to skipping the floppy disk boot and proceeding as described above.

US Patent:

6751569, Jun 15, 2004

Filed:

Jan 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/771051

Inventors:

Cynthia M. Merkin - Georgetown TX
Marc D. Alexander - Cedar Park TX

Assignee:

Dell Products L.P. - Round Rock TX

International Classification:

G06F 1900

US Classification:

702120, 702119, 714 27, 714 36, 714799, 717106, 717149, 713 1, 713 2

Abstract:

A system that includes a computer system configured to boot using a system firmware is provided. The system firmware includes instructions for causing the computer system to provide a control code to a test apparatus configured to perform a functional test on the computer system and receive information provided by the test apparatus in response to the control code.

US Patent:

6813730, Nov 2, 2004

Filed:

Jul 11, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/903126

Inventors:

Marc D. Alexander - Cedar Park TX
Ricardo Luis Martinez - Austin TX

Assignee:

Dell Products L.P. - Round Rock TX

International Classification:

G06F 1130

US Classification:

714 43, 710 9, 710 15, 710 17, 710 19, 713 1, 714 48

Abstract:

A method, computer program product, and system are provided that include reading a first indicator from a memory location, checking a first port associated with the first indicator for the presence of a peripheral device, and, in response to the peripheral device not being present on the first port, storing a second indicator associated with a second port in the memory location.

US Patent:

6842855, Jan 11, 2005

Filed:

Jan 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/770593

Inventors:

Marc D. Alexander - Cedar Park TX, US
Jay Baxter - Austin TX, US
Lois D. Mermelstein - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

Dell Products L.P. - Round Rock TX

International Classification:

G06F 15177

US Classification:

713 1, 713100, 702119

Abstract:

A method is provided that includes booting a computer system using a first system firmware stored on a circuit coupled to the computer system and, in response to detecting a test apparatus coupled to the computer system, causing the first system firmware to be stored onto a device in the computer system.

US Patent:

6877057, Apr 5, 2005

Filed:

Jan 25, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/056637

Inventors:

Marc D. Alexander - Cedar Park TX, US
Matthew B. Mendelow - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

Dell Products L.P. - Round Rock TX

International Classification:

G06F013/24

US Classification:

710263, 710264, 710118, 710113, 710123, 710125

Abstract:

An information handling system is provided which includes a dynamic interrupt router for balancing interrupt assignments among a plurality of devices requesting interrupt assignments. The system balances interrupt assignments among both fixed devices mounted on the processor board and interrupt assignments to devices situated in expansion slots. When the system is populated with a large number of devices relative to the number of available interrupts, improved interrupt sharing is desirably achieved by causing a device which generates a large number of interrupt requests to share a common interrupt with a device which generates a lower number of interrupts.