Patents by Inventor Lawrence Carter Blount

Lawrence Carter Blount 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: 9519549
    Abstract: Control of the discard of data from cache during backup of the data. In a computer-implemented system comprising primary data storage; cache; backup data storage; and at least one processor, the processor is configured to identify data stored in the primary data storage for backup to the backup data storage, where the identified data is placed in the cache in the form of portions of the data, and where the portions of data are to be backed up from the cache to the backup storage. Upon backup of each portion of the identified data from the cache to the backup storage, the processor marks the backed up portion of the identified data for discard from the cache. Thus, the backed up data is discarded from the cache right away, lessening cache pollution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lawrence Carter Blount, Rahul Fiske, Carl Evan Jones, Subhojit Roy
  • Patent number: 9495377
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for performing a secure delete operation in a wide area network (WAN) including a cache site and a home site. A method includes identifying a file for deletion at the cache site, determining whether the file has a copy stored at the home site, detecting a location of the copy at the home site prior to a disconnection event of the cache site from the home site, deleting the file from the cache site during the disconnection event, and performing a secure deletion of the copy at the home site immediately after a reconnection event of the cache site to the home site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lawrence Carter Blount, Deepak Rambahu Ghuge, Shah Mohammad Rezaul Islam, Sandeep Ramesh Patil, Riyazahamad Moulasab Shiraguppi, Renu Tewari
  • Patent number: 8800041
    Abstract: For an antivirus scan during a data scrub operation, an antivirus scan is concurrently performed as an overlap with the data scrub operation, wherein the data scrub operation periodically inspects and corrects memory errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence Carter Blount
  • Publication number: 20140074802
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for performing a secure delete operation in a wide area network (WAN) including a cache site and a home site. A method includes identifying a file for deletion at the cache site, determining whether the file has a copy stored at the home site, detecting a location of the copy at the home site prior to a disconnection event of the cache site from the home site, deleting the file from the cache site during the disconnection event, and performing a secure deletion of the copy at the home site immediately after a reconnection event of the cache site to the home site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lawrence Carter BLOUNT, Deepak Rambahu GHUGE, Shah Mohammad Rezaul ISLAM, Sandeep Ramesh PATIL, Riyazahamad Moulasab SHIRAGUPPI, Renu TEWARI
  • Publication number: 20130198843
    Abstract: For an antivirus scan during a data scrub operation, an antivirus scan is concurrently performed as an overlap with the data scrub operation, wherein the data scrub operation periodically inspects and corrects memory errors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Lawrence Carter BLOUNT
  • Publication number: 20130198844
    Abstract: For an antivirus scan during a data scrub operation, an antivirus scan is concurrently performed as an overlap with the data scrub operation, wherein the data scrub operation periodically inspects and corrects memory errors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Lawrence Carter BLOUNT
  • Patent number: 7930588
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for managing modified metadata in a storage controller cache pursuant to a recovery action by a processor in communication with a memory device is provided. A count of modified metadata tracks for a storage rank is compared against a predetermined criterion. If the predetermined criterion is met, a storage volume having the storage rank is designated with a metadata invalidation flag to defer metadata invalidation of the modified metadata tracks until after the recovery action is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Carter Blount, Lokesh Mohan Gupta, Carol Santich Melgren, Kenneth Wayne Todd
  • Patent number: 7774571
    Abstract: Provided is a system, deployment and program for resource allocation unit queuing in which an allocation unit associated with a task is classified. An allocation unit freed as the task ends is queued for use by another task in a queue at a selected location within the queue in accordance with the classification of said allocation unit. In one embodiment, an allocation unit is queued at a first end of the queue if classified in a first class and is queued at a second end of the queue if classified in said second class. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Benhase, Lawrence Carter Blount, James Chien-Chiung Chen, Juan Alonso Coronado, Roger Gregory Hathorn
  • Publication number: 20100191925
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for managing modified metadata in a storage controller cache pursuant to a recovery action by a processor in communication with a memory device is provided. A count of modified metadata tracks for a storage rank is compared against a predetermined criterion. If the predetermined criterion is met, a storage volume having the storage rank is designated with a metadata invalidation flag to defer metadata invalidation of the modified metadata tracks until after the recovery action is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lawrence Carter BLOUNT, Lokesh Mohan GUPTA, Carol Santich MELLGREN, Kenneth Wayne TODD
  • Publication number: 20100131930
    Abstract: Reporting on software test coverage, where a set of coverage tasks and a coverage task hierarchy have been established for a software under test (SUT). Establishing a coverage task subset, the subset including at least one coverage task hierarchy element at a level above the lowest coverage task hierarchy level. Identifying when, during a software test, a coverage task in the coverage task subset was completed. Outputting to a user the identity of those portions of the coverage task that have been completed. Refining the coverage task subset in one of the following fashions through the coverage task hierarchy in accordance with user input: depth first progression, breadth first progression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yochai Ben-Chaim, Lawrence Carter Blount, Hana Chockler, Eitan Farchi, Orna Raz-Pelleg, Aviad Zlotnick
  • Publication number: 20090089791
    Abstract: Provided is a system, deployment and program for resource allocation unit queuing in which an allocation unit associated with a task is classified. An allocation unit freed as the task ends is queued for use by another task in a queue at a selected location within the queue in accordance with the classification of said allocation unit. In one embodiment, an allocation unit is queued at a first end of the queue if classified in a first class and is queued at a second end of the queue if classified in said second class. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Benhase, Lawrence Carter Blount, James Chien-Chiung Chen, Juan Alonso Coronado, Roger Gregory Hathorn
  • Patent number: 7487319
    Abstract: Provided is a method, system, deployment and program for resource allocation unit queuing in which an allocation unit associated with a task is classified. An allocation unit freed as the task ends is queued for use by another task in a queue at a selected location within the queue in accordance with the classification of said allocation unit. In one embodiment, an allocation unit is queued at a first end of the queue if classified in a first class and is queued at a second end of the queue if classified in said second class. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Benhase, Lawrence Carter Blount, James Chien-Chiung Chen, Juan Alonso Coronado, Roger Gregory Hathorn
  • Patent number: 7114112
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for simulating I/O requests to test a system coupled to an adaptor having a port used for transmitting and receiving I/O requests to the system. A user test command is received indicating an I/O test object. The adaptor processes the I/O test object indicated in the user test command to generate a sequence of simulated I/O requests and transmits the generated simulated I/O requests to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Alan Griffin, Roger Gregory Hathorn, Bret Wayne Holley, Lawrence Carter Blount
  • Publication number: 20040260993
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for simulating I/O requests to test a system coupled to an adaptor having a port used for transmitting and receiving I/O requests to the system. A user test command is received indicating an I/O test object. The adaptor processes the I/O test object indicated in the user test command to generate a sequence of simulated I/O requests and transmits the generated simulated I/O requests to the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Timothy Alan Griffin, Roger Gregory Hathorn, Bret Wayne Holley, Lawrence Carter Blount
  • Patent number: 6408348
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system, method, and program for limiting input/output (I/O) requests from an application program to a storage device to facilitate the processing of data in memory. A determination is made as to whether an amount of a set of data in memory exceeds at least one threshold. At least one of multiple paths to the storage device is indicated as blocked to I/O requests from the application program. Each indicated blocked path is available for processing the set of data in memory. An I/O request from the application program is received and a determination is made as to whether the received I/O request intends to access the storage device using one indicated blocked path. The I/O request is denied access to the storage device via the blocked path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Carter Blount, Emeline Yvonne Germain, Vernon John Legvold, William Frank Micka, Warren Keith Stanley, Stephen Charles West
  • Patent number: 5991775
    Abstract: A data storage system provides generalized record caching through a control unit adapted to support track caching in the upper level store of a two level memory. Dynamic reallocation of space between each type of caching in the upper store follows operating patterns of host computer systems using the data storage system. A storage controller cache has a plurality of segments. A directory data entry data structure is allocated each segment. Such allocated directory entries are used to identify tracks as cached. A plurality of unallocated directory entries are also provided. As a record is cached in a segment outside of a track slot, an unallocated directory entry is used to identify a virtual track in cache corresponding to the track of the record in the lower level store. Records from one track can thus appear in several segments outside track slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent Cameron Beardsley, Lawrence Carter Blount, Joel Harvey Cord, Michael Howard Hartung, Vernon John Legvold
  • Patent number: 5875479
    Abstract: A volume-to-volume copy method on a DASD storage subsystem concurrent with host CPU application execution and referencing of data on a primary. In this method, updates to data made on a primary volume after the element was copied during a first pass will be deferred and copied only during a second pass rather than interrupting the first pass. This accumulation and deferral of updates to a second pass shortens the volume copy time and reduces application referencing delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Carter Blount, Carol Santich Michod
  • Patent number: 5771367
    Abstract: An improved storage controller and method for storing and recovering data. The storage controller includes a first cluster for directing data from a host computer to a storage device and a second cluster for directing data from a host computer to a storage device. A first cache memory is connected to the first cluster and a second cache memory is connected to the second cluster. A first nonvolatile memory is connected to the second cluster and a second nonvolatile memory is connected to the first cluster. The first and second cache memories and the first and second nonvolatile stores are thus "cross-coupled" to the first and second clusters to provide improved data recovery capability. Data is directed to the first cache and backed up to the first nonvolatile memory in a first operational mode. In the event of failure of the first nonvolatile memory, data is recovered from the first cache memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent Cameron Beardsley, Lawrence Carter Blount, Gail Andrea Spear, Vern John Legvold
  • Patent number: 5721898
    Abstract: A method and system for enhancing the efficiency of communication between one or more host computers and a storage system controller during a data search within either the associated storage systems or within the storage system controller itself. A storage system controller, coupled to one or more host computers via multiple communication channels, is utilized to control access to one or more direct access storage devices. A host computer authorizes the storage system controller to search within a range of data locations within the storage system, sets an initial location from which the data search will begin, and specifies a key field argument to search for. The host computer then permits the storage system controller to independently search the authorized range of data locations within the storage system or within cache memory within the storage system controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent Cameron Beardsley, Michael Thomas Benhase, Lawrence Carter Blount, Susan Kay Candelaria, Joseph Smith Hyde