Patents by Inventor Carlos Francisco Fuente

Carlos Francisco Fuente 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: 9461944
    Abstract: An apparatus and computer program in a distributed cluster storage network comprises storage control nodes to write data to storage on request from a host; a forwarding layer at a first node to forward data to a second node; a buffer controller at each node to allocate buffers for data to be written; and a communication link between the buffer controller and the forwarding layer at each node to communicate a constrained or unconstrained status indicator of the buffer resource to the forwarding layer. A mode selector selects a constrained mode of operation requiring allocation of buffer resource at the second node and communication of the allocation before the first node can allocate buffers and forward data, or an unconstrained mode of operation granting use of a predetermined resource credit provided by the second to the first node and permitting forwarding of a write request with data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carlos Francisco Fuente, John Earle Lindley, William James Scales
  • Patent number: 9432311
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program in a distributed cluster storage network comprises storage control nodes to write data to storage on request from a host; a forwarding layer at a first node to forward data to a second node; a buffer controller at each node to allocate buffers for data to be written; and a communication link between the buffer controller and the forwarding layer at each node to communicate a constrained or unconstrained status indicator of the buffer resource to the forwarding layer. A mode selector selects a constrained mode of operation requiring allocation of buffer resource at the second node and communication of the allocation before the first node can allocate buffers and forward data, or an unconstrained mode of operation granting use of a predetermined resource credit provided by the second to the first node and permitting forwarding of a write request with data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carlos Francisco Fuente, John Earle Lindley, William James Scales
  • Patent number: 9256367
    Abstract: A data storage system comprises a controller, a first lower performance storage medium and a second higher performance storage medium. The controller is connected to the storage mediums and is arranged to control Input/Output (IO) access to the storage mediums. In operation, the controller is arranged to store an image on the first storage medium, initiate a copy function from the first storage medium to the second storage medium, direct all IO access for the image to the second storage medium, and periodically age data from the second storage medium to the first storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Carlos Francisco Fuente, William James Scales, Barry Douglas Whyte
  • Patent number: 8862848
    Abstract: A data storage system comprises a controller, a first lower performance storage medium and a second higher performance storage medium. The controller is connected to the storage mediums and is arranged to control I/O access to the storage mediums. The controller is further arranged to store an image on the first storage medium, initiate a copy function from the first storage medium to the second storage medium, direct all I/O access for the image to the second storage medium, periodically age data from the second storage medium to the first storage medium, create a new empty bitmap for each period, and in response to an I/O access for data in the image, update the latest bitmap to indicate that the data has been accessed and update the previous bitmaps to indicate that the data has not been accessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Carlos Francisco Fuente, William James Scales, Barry Douglas Whyte
  • Patent number: 8843721
    Abstract: A data storage system comprises a controller, a first lower performance storage medium and a second higher performance storage medium. The controller is connected to the storage mediums and is arranged to control I/O access to the storage mediums. The controller is further arranged to store an image on the first storage medium, initiate a copy function from the first storage medium to the second storage medium, direct all I/O access for the image to the second storage medium, periodically age data from the second storage medium to the first storage medium, create a new empty bitmap for each period, and in response to an I/O access for data in the image, update the latest bitmap to indicate that the data has been accessed and update the previous bitmaps to indicate that the data has not been accessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Carlos Francisco Fuente, William James Scales, Barry Douglas Whyte
  • Patent number: 8645635
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and preemptively ameliorating potential logic unit thrashing in a storage system having multiple I/O requesters is disclosed. In response to detecting that each of two requesters has usable access to both of the active-passive pair of controllers, one of the active-passive pair of controllers is selected to be designated as an active resource controller. In response to detecting that one of the two requesters has usable access to only one of the active-passive pair of controllers, only one of the active-passive pair of controllers is selected to be designated as an active resource controller. In response to detecting that each of the two requesters has usable access only to different ones of the active-passive pair of controllers, one of the active-passive pair of controllers is selected to be designated as an active resource controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric John Bartlett, Carlos Francisco Fuente, Nicholas Michael O'Rourke, William James Scales
  • Publication number: 20130275698
    Abstract: A data storage system comprises a controller, a first lower performance storage medium and a second higher performance storage medium. The controller is connected to the storage mediums and is arranged to control I/O access to the storage mediums. The controller is further arranged to store an image on the first storage medium, initiate a copy function from the first storage medium to the second storage medium, direct all I/O access for the image to the second storage medium, periodically age data from the second storage medium to the first storage medium, create a new empty bitmap for each period, and in response to an I/O access for data in the image, update the latest bitmap to indicate that the data has been accessed and update the previous bitmaps to indicate that the data has not been accessed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Carlos Francisco Fuente, William James Scales, Barry Douglas Whyte
  • Patent number: 8434083
    Abstract: A storage control system comprising: one or more I/O processors for receiving requests to write data; a batch controller for selecting one or more write requests to be placed in a first batch; a first server for transmitting the first batch to a second server in a remote copy pair system; one or more I/O handlers for writing the first batch to completion on a data storage medium, in response to receiving permission from the second server; and one or more clients for communicating with the I/O processors and the I/O handlers, wherein the permission is granted when the second server is notified by the I/O handlers that previous write requests have been completed, wherein the first server is responsive to the completion of the first batch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dale Burr, Carlos Francisco Fuente, William James Scales
  • Publication number: 20120233364
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program in a distributed cluster storage network comprises storage control nodes to write data to storage on request from a host; a forwarding layer at a first node to forward data to a second node; a buffer controller at each node to allocate buffers for data to be written; and a communication link between the buffer controller and the forwarding layer at each node to communicate a constrained or unconstrained status indicator of the buffer resource to the forwarding layer. A mode selector selects a constrained mode of operation requiring allocation of buffer resource at the second node and communication of the allocation before the first node can allocate buffers and forward data, or an unconstrained mode of operation granting use of a predetermined resource credit provided by the second to the first node and permitting forwarding of a write request with data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carlos Francisco FUENTE, John Earle LINDLEY, William James SCALES
  • Publication number: 20120221824
    Abstract: A data storage system comprises a controller, a first lower performance storage medium and a second higher performance storage medium. The controller is connected to the storage mediums and is arranged to control I/O access to the storage mediums. The controller is further arranged to store an image on the first storage medium, initiate a copy function from the first storage medium to the second storage medium, direct all I/O access for the image to the second storage medium, periodically age data from the second storage medium to the first storage medium, create a new empty bitmap for each period, and in response to an I/O access for data in the image, update the latest bitmap to indicate that the data has been accessed and update the previous bitmaps to indicate that the data has not been accessed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carlos Francisco Fuente, William James Scales, Barry Douglas Whyte
  • Patent number: 8250329
    Abstract: Write requests from host computers are processed in relation to a thin provisioning storage subsystem. A write request is received from a host computer. The write request identifies a first virtual disk that has been previously assigned to the host computer. It is determined whether the first virtual disk has to be allocated additional physical storage locations of the thin provisioning storage subsystem for storing data associated with the write request. In response to determining that the virtual disk has to be allocated additional physical storage locations, the following is performed. First, a quantity of free space remaining unallocated within physical storage locations of the thin provisioning storage subsystem is determined. Second, where the quantity of free space remaining unallocated within the physical storage locations satisfies a policy threshold associated with a second virtual disk, the second virtual disk is write-inhibited. The first and second virtual disks can be different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert B. Nicholson, William James Scales, Stephen P. Legg, Carlos Francisco Fuente
  • Publication number: 20120198153
    Abstract: A data storage system comprises a controller, a first lower performance storage medium and a second higher performance storage medium. The controller is connected to the storage mediums and is arranged to control Input/Output (IO) access to the storage mediums. In operation, the controller is arranged to store an image on the first storage medium, initiate a copy function from the first storage medium to the second storage medium, direct all IO access for the image to the second storage medium, and periodically age data from the second storage medium to the first storage medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carlos Francisco Fuente, William James Scales, Barry Douglas Whyte
  • Publication number: 20120131239
    Abstract: Various embodiments for operating a distributed cluster storage network having a host computer system and a storage subsystem are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, at a first of a plurality of storage control nodes a request is received to write data to storage from the host computer system. The data is forwarded by a forwarding layer at the first of the plurality of storage control nodes to a second of the plurality of storage control nodes. Buffer resource are allocated for the data to be written to the storage by a buffer control component at each of the plurality of storage control nodes. The constrained status indicator of the buffer resource is communicated to the forwarding layer. Additional system and computer program product embodiments are disclosed and provide related advantages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carlos Francisco FUENTE, John Earle LINDLEY, William James SCALES
  • Patent number: 7930505
    Abstract: A storage network control apparatus is operable to present virtualized storage to a host system and includes a monitoring component, an analysis component, a detection component, and a migration component. The monitoring component is for monitoring input/output (I/O) activity for virtual storage logical units over time. The analysis component is for identifying a repeating instance of peak I/O activity for a virtual storage logical unit over time and for generating a predictive signature therefrom. The detecting component is for identifying an instance of such a predictive signature. The migration component is responsive to the detecting component, and is for migrating data mapped by the virtual storage logical unit across additional real storage units to improve the I/O performance of the virtual storage logical unit prior to a recurrence of the repeating instance of peak I/O activity. A corresponding logic arrangement may be incorporated in hardware, software or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert B. Nicholson, Carlos Francisco Fuente, Stephen P. Legg
  • Patent number: 7890715
    Abstract: This invention relates to an asynchronous remote copying (ARC) system adapted to operate as a remote copy pair by communicating between primary storage and remote storage of a remote copy pair. The system comprises a primary controller for receiving a write command and writing data to primary storage; a remote controller for receiving a write command and writing data to remote storage; an ARC controller for suppressing the release of the write command to the remote controller if a delay between receiving the write command and the time when the remote storage may accept the data is more than a threshold delay, and the primary controller suppresses recording the data in primary storage until release of the write command to the remote storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dale Burr, Robert Bruce Nicholson, Carlos Francisco Fuente, William James Scales
  • Patent number: 7873804
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program for facilitating disaster recovery of a first computer system, wherein first data residing on a first storage device associated with the first computer system is recoverable from second data residing on a second storage device associated with a second computer system and wherein the second storage device is operable to have an associated state of powered up or powered down. A receiver receives an update operation for updating the second storage device. A processor updates a non-volatile storage means with the update operation, prior to update of the second storage device, wherein the non-volatile storage means is associated with the second computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John Paul Agombar, Christopher Barry Beeken, Carlos Francisco Fuente, Stephanie Machleidt, Simon Walsh
  • Patent number: 7873613
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing storage control in a network of storage controllers is disclosed. The apparatus includes an owner storage controller; an I/O performing component, an ownership assignment component, a lock manager and a messaging component. The ownership assignment component assigns ownership of metadata for data to an owner storage controller. The lock manager controls the locking of metadata during I/O. The messaging component passes messages among storage controllers to request metadata state, to grant locks, to request release of locks, and to signal lock release. The I/O is performed on data whose metadata is owned by an owner storage controller, subject to compliance with metadata lock protocols controlled by the owner storage controller, and any copy of the data held from time to time is maintained in a coherency relation with the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Carlos Francisco Fuente, William James Scales
  • Patent number: 7865486
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing storage control in a network of storage controllers is disclosed. The apparatus includes an owner storage controller; an I/O performing component, an ownership assignment component, a lock manager and a messaging component. The ownership assignment component assigns ownership of metadata for data to an owner storage controller. The lock manager controls the locking of metadata during I/O. The messaging component passes messages among storage controllers to request metadata state, to grant locks, to request release of locks, and to signal lock release. The I/O is performed on data whose metadata is owned by an owner storage controller, subject to compliance with metadata lock protocols controlled by the owner storage controller, and any copy of the data held from time to time is maintained in a coherency relation with the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Carlos Francisco Fuente, William James Scales
  • Patent number: 7836215
    Abstract: The exemplary embodiments of this invention provide in one non-limiting aspect thereof a control device operable to execute a filter layer, and includes a first interface for coupling to a first storage device and a second interface for coupling to a second storage device. The filter layer receives communications and, in a first mode, synchronously transmits the communications to the first storage device and asynchronously transmits the communications to the second storage device, and, in a second mode, synchronously transmits the communications to the second storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Carlos Francisco Fuente
  • Patent number: 7823008
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to operate as a primary for a remote copy pair is provided. The apparatus comprises a journal component at said primary for generating journal entries for one or more uncompleted sequenced batches; a configurator responsive to an error indication from a secondary for enumeration of said one or more uncompleted sequenced batches; and a primary server responsive to said enumeration of said one or more uncompleted sequenced batches to reissue to said secondary one or more write requests for said one or more uncompleted sequenced batches, during recovery processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dale Burr, Henry Esmond Butterworth, Carlos Francisco Fuente, William James Scales