Patents by Inventor Dan E. Poff

Dan E. Poff 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: 10572356
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage controller coupled to at least one multi-region storage device. The at least one multi-region storage device comprises two or more storage regions, the two or more storage regions comprising a first storage region associated with a first set of failure characteristics and at least a second storage region associated with a second set of failure characteristics different than the first set of failure characteristics. The storage controller is configured to replicate in the second storage region at least a portion of data that is stored in the first storage region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bulent Abali, Mohammad Banikazemi, Timothy J. Chainer, James L. Hafner, Dan E. Poff, Krishankumar Rao Surugucchi
  • Publication number: 20180052751
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage controller coupled to at least one multi-region storage device. The at least one multi-region storage device comprises two or more storage regions, the two or more storage regions comprising a first storage region associated with a first set of failure characteristics and at least a second storage region associated with a second set of failure characteristics different than the first set of failure characteristics. The storage controller is configured to replicate in the second storage region at least a portion of data that is stored in the first storage region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: BULENT ABALI, MOHAMMAD BANIKAZEMI, TIMOTHY J. CHAINER, JAMES L. HAFNER, DAN E. POFF, KRISHANKUMAR RAO SURUGUCCHI
  • Patent number: 9880913
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage controller coupled to at least one multi-region storage device. The at least one multi-region storage device comprises two or more storage regions, the two or more storage regions comprising a first storage region associated with a first set of failure characteristics and at least a second storage region associated with a second set of failure characteristics different than the first set of failure characteristics. The storage controller is configured to replicate in the second storage region at least a portion of data that is stored in the first storage region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bulent Abali, Mohammad Banikazemi, Timothy J. Chainer, James L. Hafner, Dan E. Poff, Krishnakumar Rao Surugucchi
  • Publication number: 20170168908
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage controller coupled to at least one multi-region storage device. The at least one multi-region storage device comprises two or more storage regions, the two or more storage regions comprising a first storage region associated with a first set of failure characteristics and at least a second storage region associated with a second set of failure characteristics different than the first set of failure characteristics. The storage controller is configured to replicate in the second storage region at least a portion of data that is stored in the first storage region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Bulent Abali, Mohammad Banikazemi, Timothy J. Chainer, James L. Hafner, Dan E. Poff, Krishnakumar Rao Surugucchi
  • Patent number: 9195614
    Abstract: A computer implemented method creates a snapshot of a logical volume of a computer. The computer stores a system state of the computer in persistent memory. The computer flushes a cache of the computer. The computer identifies a preceding snapshot. In response to identifying the preceding snapshot, the computer hardens changes occurring after the preceding snapshot. The computer then switches from a first indirection table to a second indirection table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bulent Abali, Mohammad Banikazemi, John A. Bivens, Michael R. Hines, Dan E. Poff
  • Patent number: 9158712
    Abstract: A computer implemented method creates a snapshot of a logical volume of a computer. The computer stores a system state of the computer in persistent memory. The computer flushes a cache of the computer. The computer identifies a preceding snapshot. In response to identifying the preceding snapshot, the computer hardens changes occurring after the preceding snapshot. The computer then switches from a first indirection table to a second indirection table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bulent Abali, Mohammad Banikazemi, John A. Bivens, Michael R. Hines, Dan E. Poff
  • Publication number: 20140195721
    Abstract: A computer implemented method creates a snapshot of a logical volume of a computer. The computer stores a system state of the computer in persistent memory. The computer flushes a cash of the computer. The computer identifies a preceding snapshot. Responsive to identifying the preceding snapshot, the computer hardens changes occurring after the preceding snapshot. The computer then switches from a first indirection table to a second indirection table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bulent Abali, Mohammad Banikazemi, John A. Bivens, Michael R. Hines, Dan E. Poff
  • Publication number: 20140195719
    Abstract: A computer implemented method creates a snapshot of a logical volume of a computer. The computer stores a system state of the computer in persistent memory. The computer flushes a cash of the computer. The computer identifies a preceding snapshot. Responsive to identifying the preceding snapshot, the computer hardens changes occurring after the preceding snapshot. The computer then switches from a first indirection table to a second indirection table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bulent Abali, Mohammad Banikazemi, John A. Bivens, Michael R. Hines, Dan E. Poff
  • Patent number: 8495267
    Abstract: Systems and methods to manage memory are provided. A particular method may include initiating a memory compression operation. The method may further include initiating a first interrupt configured to affect a first process executing on a processor in response to a first detected memory level. A second initiated interrupt may be configured to affect the first process executing on the processor in response to a second detected memory level, and a third interrupt may be initiated to affect the first process executing on the processor in response to a third detected memory level. At least of the first, the second, and the third detected memory levels are affected by the memory compression operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bulent Abali, John M. Borkenhagen, Dan E. Poff
  • Publication number: 20120131248
    Abstract: Systems and methods to manage memory are provided. A particular method may include initiating a memory compression operation. The method may further include initiating a first interrupt configured to affect a first process executing on a processor in response to a first detected memory level. A second initiated interrupt may be configured to affect the first process executing on the processor in response to a second detected memory level, and a third interrupt may be initiated to affect the first process executing on the processor in response to a third detected memory level. At least of the first, the second, and the third detected memory levels are affected by the memory compression operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bulent Abali, John M. Borkenhagen, Dan E. Poff
  • Patent number: 7982636
    Abstract: The present invention describes lossless data compression/decompression methods and systems. A random access memory (RAM) operates as a static dictionary and includes commonly used strings/symbols/phrases/words. An input buffer operates as a dynamic dictionary and includes input strings/phrases/symbols/words. A set-associative cache memory operates as a hash table, and includes pointers pointing to the commonly used strings/symbols/phrases/words in the static dictionary and/or pointing to one or more of the input strings/phrases/symbols/words in the dynamic dictionary. Alternatively, the set-associative cache memory combines the dynamic dictionary, the static dictionary and the hash table. When encountering a symbol/phrase/string/word in the static or dynamic dictionary in an input stream, a compressor logic or module places a pointer pointing to the symbol/phrase/string/word at a current location on the output stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bulent Abali, Mohammad Banikazemi, Peter Franaszek, Luis A. Lastras, Dan E. Poff
  • Patent number: 7944375
    Abstract: The present invention reduces the number of writes to a main memory to increase useful life of the main memory. To reduce the number of writes to the main memory, data to be written is written to a cache line in a lowest-level cache memory and in a higher-level cache memory(s). If the cache line in the lowest-level cache memory is full, the number of used cache lines in the lowest-level cache reaches a threshold, or there is a need for an empty entry in the lowest-level cache, a processor or a hardware unit compresses content of the cache line and stores the compressed content in the main memory. The present invention also provides LZB algorithm allowing decompression of data from an arbitrary location in compressed data stream with a bound on the number of characters which needs to be processed before a character or string of interest is processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bulent Abali, Mohammad Banikazemi, Dan E. Poff
  • Publication number: 20110043387
    Abstract: The present invention describes lossless data compression/decompression methods and systems. A random access memory (RAM) operates as a static dictionary and includes commonly used strings/symbols/phrases/words. An input buffer operates as a dynamic dictionary and includes input strings/phrases/symbols/words. A set-associative cache memory operates as a hash table, and includes pointers pointing to the commonly used strings/symbols/phrases/words in the static dictionary and/or pointing to one or more of the input strings/phrases/symbols/words in the dynamic dictionary. Alternatively, the set-associative cache memory combines the dynamic dictionary, the static dictionary and the hash table. When encountering a symbol/phrase/string/word in the static or dynamic dictionary in an input stream, a compressor logic or module places a pointer pointing to the symbol/phrase/string/word at a current location on the output stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bulent Abali, Mohammad Banikazemi, Peter Franaszek, Luis A. Lastras, Dan E. Poff
  • Publication number: 20100302077
    Abstract: The present invention reduces the number of writes to a main memory to increase useful life of the main memory. To reduce the number of writes to the main memory, data to be written is written to a cache line in a lowest-level cache memory and in a higher-level cache memory(s). If the cache line in the lowest-level cache memory is full, the number of used cache lines in the lowest-level cache reaches a threshold, or there is a need for an empty entry in the lowest-level cache, a processor or a hardware unit compresses content of the cache line and stores the compressed content in the main memory. The present invention also provides LZB algorithm allowing decompression of data from an arbitrary location in compressed data stream with a bound on the number of characters which needs to be processed before a character or string of interest is processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bulent Abali, Mohammad Banikazemi, Dan E. Poff
  • Patent number: 7844793
    Abstract: In a computer system having an operating system and a compressed main memory defining a physical memory and a real memory characterized as an amount of main memory as seen by a processor, and including a compressed memory hardware controller device for controlling processor access to the compressed main memory, there is provided a system and method for managing real memory usage comprising: a compressed memory device driver for receiving real memory usage information from the compressed memory hardware controller, the information including a characterization of the real memory usage state: and, a compression management subsystem for monitoring the memory usage and initiating memory allocation and memory recovery in accordance with the memory usage state, the subsystem including mechanism for adjusting memory usage thresholds for controlling memory state changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lorraine M. Herger, Mary McHugh, Dan E. Poff, Robert A. Saccone, Jr., Charles O. Schulz, T. Basil Smith, III
  • Patent number: 7698704
    Abstract: Two methods (native and clone) are used for installing software, such as an operating system, on client system(s) booting from shared storage. The native installation method configures an interconnection network to create an exclusive communication zone between the client system and the shared storage system and installs the operating system on the client system using the exclusive communication zone. After the software is installed, the method terminates the exclusive communication zone. The clone installation method utilizes a point-in-time copy feature of the shared storage system to clone an operating system drive instantaneously. After the drive is cloned, it is logically attached to a new client and the operating system is customized for that client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bulent Abali, James W. Arendt, Mohammad Banikazemi, D. Scott Guthridge, Dan E. Poff, Ziv Rafalovich, Linda A. Riedle, Gary Valentin, Nancy M. Wei
  • Publication number: 20090070762
    Abstract: A computer system includes N multi-threaded processors and an operating system. The N multi-threaded processors each have O hardware threads forming a pool of P hardware threads, where N, O, and P are positive integers and P is equal to N times O. The operating system includes a scheduler which receives events for one or more computing jobs. The scheduler receives one of the events and allocates R hardware threads of the pool of P hardware threads to one of the computing jobs by optimizing a sum of priorities of the computing jobs, where each priority is based in part on the number of logical processors requested by a corresponding computing job and R is an integer that is greater than or equal to 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Inventors: Peter A. Franaszek, Dan E. Poff
  • Publication number: 20080307188
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for managing compression memory in a computer system. This system includes a hypervisor having means for identifying a operating system having a plurality of memory pages allocated, means for counting the number of a plurality of memory pages allocated, and means for counting a number of free space pages in the compressed memory. The hypervisor further includes means for determining if the number of free space pages is less than a predetermined threshold, and means for increasing the number of free space pages if less than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter A. Franaszek, Dan E. Poff
  • Publication number: 20080263292
    Abstract: In a computer system having an operating system and a compressed main memory defining a physical memory and a real memory characterized as an amount of main memory as seen by a processor, and including a compressed memory hardware controller device for controlling processor access to the compressed main memory, there is provided a system and method for managing real memory usage comprising: a compressed memory device driver for receiving real memory usage information from the compressed memory hardware controller, the information including a characterization of the real memory usage state: and, a compression management subsystem for monitoring the memory usage and initiating memory allocation and memory recovery in accordance with the memory usage state, the subsystem including mechanism for adjusting memory usage thresholds for controlling memory state changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lorraine M. Herger, Mary McHugh, Dan E. Poff, Robert A. Saccone, Charles O. Schulz, T. Basil Smith
  • Patent number: 7380089
    Abstract: In a computer system having an operating system and a compressed main memory defining a physical memory and a real memory characterized as an amount of main memory as seen by a processor, and including a compressed memory hardware controller device for controlling processor access to the compressed main memory, there is provided a system and method for managing real memory usage comprising: a compressed memory device driver for receiving real memory usage information from the compressed memory hardware controller, the information including a characterization of the real memory usage state: and, a compression management subsystem for monitoring the memory usage and initiating memory allocation and memory recovery in accordance with the memory usage state, the subsystem including mechanism for adjusting memory usage thresholds for controlling memory state changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lorraine M. Herger, Mary McHugh, Dan E Poff, Robert A. Saccone, Jr., Charles O. Schulz, T. Basil Smith, III