Patents by Inventor Brian Dow Clark

Brian Dow Clark has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8448013
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for handling a failure condition in a storage controller is disclosed. In certain embodiments, a method may include initially detecting a failure condition in a storage controller. The failure condition may be associated with a specific host and a specific storage device connected to the storage controller. The method may further include determining a failure ID associated with the failure condition. Using the failure ID, en entry may be located in a data collection and recovery table. This entry may indicate one or more data collection and/or recovery processes to execute in response to the failure condition. The method may then execute the data collection and/or recovery processes indicated in the entry. While executing the data collection and/or recovery processes, connectivity may be maintained between hosts and storage devices not associated with the failure condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Dow Clark, Juan Alonso Coronado, Christina Ann Lara, Lisa R. Martinez, Phu Nguyen, Beth Ann Peterson, Jayson Elliott Tsingine
  • Patent number: 7856521
    Abstract: A method is disclosed to control access to stored information. The method supplies a control unit in communication with a computing device and in communication with stored information. If the computing device requests access to that stored information, the method determines if access to the stored information is available. When access to the stored information becomes available, then the method reserves a communication pathway interconnecting the control unit and the requesting computing device, thereby disallowing the sending of non-MPLF unsolicited status via that reserved communication pathway, and provides a message to the computing device, using that reserved communication pathway, granting access to the stored information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Dow Clark, Juan Alonso Coronado, Beth Ann Peterson
  • Patent number: 7797292
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for an alternate lock facility connection path. A request module receives a connection request to establish redundant connection paths between a control unit and a host. A primary connection module establishes a first connection path between the control unit and the host through a first communication channel. An alternate connection module establishes a second connection path between the control unit and the host through a second communication channel. A detection module detects a failure of the first connection path. A redirection module redirects communication between the control unit and the host through the second connection path upon detection of a failure of the first connection path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Dow Clark, Juan Alonso Coronado, Beth Ann Peterson
  • Patent number: 7770054
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to prevent queue stalling. The apparatus to prevent queue stalling is provided with a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps of detecting a connection failure on a first logical path, wherein the first logical path is associated with a first entry in a queue, and wherein the first logical path is configured to define a communication path between an entity associated with a first entry in the queue and a queue manager, scanning the queue to identify a second entry associated with a second logical path in response to the connection failure, and advancing the second entry to a position within the queue that is ahead of the first entry. These modules in the described embodiments include a detection module, a scanning module, and an advancing module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Dow Clark, Juan Alonso Coronado, Dinh Hai Le, Beth Ann Peterson, Clarisa Valencia
  • Patent number: 7743180
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for managing path groups to an Input/Output (I/O) device. Indication is made of a connection path on which a processing system initially communicated an establish request to establish a connection with an I/O device, wherein attention that the processing system may own a lock for the I/O device is transmitted down the indicated connection path. A request is received from the processing system to add a path to a path group with respect to the I/O device, wherein the added path is capable of comprising the connection path the processing system used to establish the connection with the I/O device. The received path is added to the path group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Beth Ann Peterson, Juan Alonso Coronado, Brian Dow Clark
  • Publication number: 20100106877
    Abstract: A method is disclosed to control access to stored information. The method supplies a control unit in communication with a computing device and in communication with stored information. If the computing device requests access to that stored information, the method determines if access to the stored information is available. When access to the stored information becomes available, then the method reserves a communication pathway interconnecting the control unit and the requesting computing device, thereby disallowing the sending of non-MPLF unsolicited status via that reserved communication pathway, and provides a message to the computing device, using that reserved communication pathway, granting access to the stored information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: BRIAN DOW CLARK, JUAN ALONSO CORONADO, BETH ANN PETERSON
  • Patent number: 7673086
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for retrieving lock attention data. A group of attention connection paths configured to transmit lock attention interrupts and lock attention data between the host and the control unit are identified. A lock attention interrupt is received from the control unit. In response to receiving the lock attention interrupt, a connection path from the group of attention connection paths is selected and lock attention data is retrieved from the control unit using the selected connection path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Dow Clark, Juan Alonso Coronado, Beth Ann Peterson
  • Patent number: 7660927
    Abstract: A method is disclosed to control access to stored information. The method supplies a control unit in communication with a computing device and in communication with stored information. If the computing device requests access to that stored information, the method determines if access to the stored information is available. When access to the stored information becomes available, then the method reserves a communication pathway interconnecting the control unit and the requesting computing device, thereby disallowing the sending of non-MPLF unsolicited status via that reserved communication pathway, and provides a message to the computing device, using that reserved communication pathway, granting access to the stored information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Dow Clark, Juan Alonso Coronado, Beth Ann Peterson
  • Patent number: 7617345
    Abstract: A storage controller receives an interrupt control directive from a host. The storage controller generates a first plurality of interrupts, in response to access requests received from the host for at least one storage device coupled to the storage controller, wherein the first plurality of interrupts indicates whether access to the at least one storage device is allowed to the host. The storage controller generates a second plurality of interrupts, wherein the second plurality of interrupts comprises unsolicited interrupts for the host that are different from the first plurality of interrupts. The storage controller controls how many of the first plurality of interrupts and how many of the second plurality interrupts to send to the host, based on the received interrupt control directive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Dow Clark, Juan Alonso Coronado, Beth Ann Peterson
  • Patent number: 7613860
    Abstract: A storage controller receives an interrupt control directive from a host. The storage controller generates a first plurality of interrupts, in response to access requests received from the host for at least one storage device coupled to the storage controller, wherein the first plurality of interrupts indicates whether access to the at least one storage device is allowed to the host. The storage controller generates a second plurality of interrupts, wherein the second plurality of interrupts comprises unsolicited interrupts for the host that are different from the first plurality of interrupts. The storage controller controls how many of the first plurality of interrupts and how many of the second plurality interrupts to send to the host, based on the received interrupt control directive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Dow Clark, Juan Alonso Coronado, Beth Ann Peterson
  • Publication number: 20090177911
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to prevent queue stalling. The apparatus to prevent queue stalling is provided with a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps of detecting a connection failure on a first logical path, wherein the first logical path is associated with a first entry in a queue, and wherein the first logical path is configured to define a communication path between an entity associated with a first entry in the queue and a queue manager, scanning the queue to identify a second entry associated with a second logical path in response to the connection failure, and advancing the second entry to a position within the queue that is ahead of the first entry. These modules in the described embodiments include a detection module, a scanning module, and an advancing module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Brian Dow Clark, Juan Alonso Coronado, Dinh Hai Le, Beth Ann Peterson, Clarisa Valencia
  • Publication number: 20090049218
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for retrieving lock attention data. A group of attention connection paths configured to transmit lock attention interrupts and lock attention data between the host and the control unit are identified. A lock attention interrupt is received from the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Dow Clark, Juan Alonso Coronado, Beth Ann Peterson
  • Patent number: 7487269
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for grouping connection paths for lock attention data. A grouping request module is included to receive a request to establish a group of connection paths. Each connection path is configured to communicate lock attention data between a host and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control a storage device containing data accessible to a plurality of processes. A connection path selection module is included to select a plurality of connection paths between the host and the control unit and a grouping assignment module configured to assign the plurality of connection paths to a group. In one embodiment, an attention selection module is included to select an attention connection path for communicating lock attention data from any of the connection paths in the group. The attention selection module may select an attention connection path using a load balancing function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Dow Clark, Juan Alonso Coronado, Beth Ann Peterson
  • Publication number: 20090013118
    Abstract: A storage controller receives an interrupt control directive from a host. The storage controller generates a first plurality of interrupts, in response to access requests received from the host for at least one storage device coupled to the storage controller, wherein the first plurality of interrupts indicates whether access to the at least one storage device is allowed to the host. The storage controller generates a second plurality of interrupts, wherein the second plurality of interrupts comprises unsolicited interrupts for the host that are different from the first plurality of interrupts. The storage controller controls how many of the first plurality of interrupts and how many of the second plurality interrupts to send to the host, based on the received interrupt control directive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Dow Clark, Juan Alonso Coronado, Beth Ann Peterson
  • Publication number: 20090013119
    Abstract: A storage controller receives an interrupt control directive from a host. The storage controller generates a first plurality of interrupts, in response to access requests received from the host for at least one storage device coupled to the storage controller, wherein the first plurality of interrupts indicates whether access to the at least one storage device is allowed to the host. The storage controller generates a second plurality of interrupts, wherein the second plurality of interrupts comprises unsolicited interrupts for the host that are different from the first plurality of interrupts. The storage controller controls how many of the first plurality of interrupts and how many of the second plurality interrupts to send to the host, based on the received interrupt control directive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Dow Clark, Juan Alonso Coronado, Beth Ann Peterson
  • Publication number: 20080294826
    Abstract: A method is disclosed to control access to stored information. The method supplies a control unit in communication with a computing device and in communication with stored information. If the computing device requests access to that stored information, the method determines if access to the stored information is available. When access to the stored information becomes available, then the method reserves a communication pathway interconnecting the control unit and the requesting computing device, thereby disallowing the sending of non-MPLF unsolicited status via that reserved communication pathway, and provides a message to the computing device, using that reserved communication pathway, granting access to the stored information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: BRIAN DOW CLARK, JUAN ALONSO CORONADO, BETH ANN PETERSON
  • Publication number: 20080147869
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for an alternate lock facility connection path. A request module receives a connection request to establish redundant connection paths between a control unit and a host. A primary connection module establishes a first connection path between the control unit and the host through a first communication channel. An alternate connection module establishes a second connection path between the control unit and the host through a second communication channel. A detection module detects a failure of the first connection path. A redirection module redirects communication between the control unit and the host through the second connection path upon detection of a failure of the first connection path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Brian Dow Clark, Juan Alonso Coronado, Beth Ann Peterson
  • Patent number: 7349903
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for an alternate lock facility connection path. A request module receives a connection request to establish redundant connection paths between a control unit and a host. A primary connection module establishes a first connection path between the control unit and the host through a first communication channel. An alternate connection module establishes a second connection path between the control unit and the host through a second communication channel. A detection module detects a failure of the first connection path. A redirection module redirects communication between the control unit and the host through the second connection path upon detection of a failure of the first connection path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Dow Clark, Juan Alonso Coronado, Beth Ann Peterson
  • Patent number: 6487645
    Abstract: When a primary data storage subsystem receives updates for local storage and mirroring at a counterpart secondary storage subsystem, the primary subsystem institutes device-specific, fairness-driven update blocking to avoid overrunning the primary subsystem's update buffer with updates destined for any one device. Broadly, the primary subsystem first receives update requests, then logs the updates in an update buffer, then stores the logged updates in primary storage, and finally copies the updates to the secondary storage subsystem. Each update request includes update data and also identifies a targeted logical device, physical device, or other subpart of primary storage. The primary subsystem maintains a counter or other update activity indicator that represents update activity for each storage subpart, such as the number of updates stored in the buffer. For each update request, the primary subsystem determines whether target subpart's update activity exceeds a prescribed level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Dow Clark, William Frank Micka, Warren Keith Stanley