Richard Alan Vrba

Title: Innovations of Richard Alan Vrba

Introduction

Richard Alan Vrba is a notable inventor based in Austin, TX, with a significant contribution to the field of computer systems. He holds a total of four patents, showcasing his expertise in developing fault-tolerant computer technologies. His innovative work has had a lasting impact on the reliability and efficiency of computing systems.

Latest Patents

One of his latest patents is for a high-performance fault-tolerant computer system with clock length. This system employs multiple CPUs executing the same instruction stream under independent clock cycle timing. The CPUs deterministically execute the instructions internally until input or output operations require access to memory or devices that are not synchronous with the local CPU clock. The CPUs are forced to take the same number of CPU clock cycles to complete the I/O operations. When the I/O operation is complete, the internal processing of the instruction stream continues in a manner that is clock-aligned in each of the multiple CPUs, although it may be separate in real time due to oscillator drift. Accumulated drift is periodically removed by a timed interrupt that forces resynchronization of the CPUs in real time.

Another significant patent is for a fault-tolerant computer system with hidden local memory refresh. This system features a plurality of processor modules with independent clocks for processing an instruction stream, global memory accessible by all processor modules, and a local memory configured within each processor module and clocked synchronously. The local memory is periodically refreshed between accesses by the processor. Warning signals indicating a potential access to the local memory are provided to a refresh controller, allowing the local memory to be refreshed or the refresh to be aborted based on the number of clock cycles available before access occurs.

Career Highlights

Richard has worked with prominent companies such as Tandem Computers Incorporated and IBM. His experience in these organizations has contributed to his development of advanced computing technologies.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, Richard has collaborated with notable individuals, including James Stevens Klecka and Kyran Wilfred Fey, Jr. These collaborations have further enriched his work and innovations in the field.

Conclusion

Richard Alan Vrba's contributions to fault-tolerant computer systems demonstrate his innovative spirit and technical expertise. His patents reflect a commitment to enhancing the reliability of computing technologies, making a significant impact in the industry.