John David Allison

Title: Innovations of John David Allison

Introduction

John David Allison is a notable inventor based in Austin, TX. He has made significant contributions to the field of computer systems, particularly in fault-tolerant configurations. With a total of 4 patents to his name, Allison's work has had a lasting impact on technology.

Latest Patents

One of his latest patents is focused on "Interrupts between asynchronously operating CPUs in fault tolerant." This invention describes a computer system that employs three identical CPUs executing the same instruction stream, with two identical, self-checking memory modules storing duplicates of the same data. Memory references by the three CPUs are made by three separate busses connected to three separate ports of each of the two memory modules. The three CPUs are loosely synchronized, detecting events such as memory references and stalling any CPU ahead of others until all execute the function simultaneously. Interrupts can be synchronized by ensuring that all three CPUs implement the interrupt at the same point in their instruction stream. Memory references via the separate CPU-to-memory busses are voted at the three separate ports of each of the memory modules. I/O functions are implemented using two identical I/O busses, each of which is separately coupled to only one of the memory modules. A number of I/O processors are coupled to both I/O busses.

Another significant patent by Allison is titled "Refresh control for dynamic memory in multiple processor system." This invention also employs three identical CPUs executing the same instruction stream, with two identical, self-checking memory modules. The structure and functionality are similar to his previous patent, emphasizing the importance of synchronization and fault tolerance in computer systems.

Career Highlights

John David Allison has worked at Tandem Computers Incorporated, where he has been able to apply his innovative ideas in a collaborative environment. His work has contributed to advancements in computer technology, particularly in enhancing system reliability and performance.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, Allison has collaborated with notable colleagues, including Kenneth C. Debacker and Robert W. Horst. These collaborations have further enriched his work and led to the development of groundbreaking technologies.

Conclusion

John David Allison's contributions to the field of computer systems through his patents and collaborations have significantly advanced technology. His innovative work continues to influence the industry and inspire future inventors.