Patents by Inventor Randy Pafford

Randy Pafford 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: 9043542
    Abstract: Described is a technique for managing the content of a nonvolatile solid-state memory data cache to improve cache performance while at the same time, and in a complementary manner, providing for automatic wear leveling. A modified circular first-in first-out (FIFO) log/algorithm is generally used to determine cache content replacement. The algorithm is used as the default mechanism for determining cache content to be replaced when the cache is full but is subject to modification in some instances. In particular, data are categorized according to different data classes prior to being written to the cache, based on usage. Once cached, data belonging to certain classes are treated differently than the circular FIFO replacement algorithm would dictate. Further, data belonging to each class are localized to designated regions within the cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Kimmel, Randy Pafford, Rajesh Sundaram
  • Publication number: 20140181377
    Abstract: Described is a technique for managing the content of a nonvolatile solid-state memory data cache to improve cache performance while at the same time, and in a complementary manner, providing for automatic wear leveling. A modified circular first-in first-out (FIFO) log/algorithm is generally used to determine cache content replacement. The algorithm is used as the default mechanism for determining cache content to be replaced when the cache is full but is subject to modification in some instances. In particular, data are categorized according to different data classes prior to being written to the cache, based on usage. Once cached, data belonging to certain classes are treated differently than the circular FIFO replacement algorithm would dictate. Further, data belonging to each class are localized to designated regions within the cache.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Kimmel, Randy Pafford, Rajesh S. Sundaram
  • Patent number: 8621145
    Abstract: Described is a technique for managing the content of a nonvolatile solid-state memory data cache to improve cache performance while at the same time, and in a complementary manner, providing for automatic wear leveling. A modified circular first-in first-out (FIFO) log/algorithm is generally used to determine cache content replacement. The algorithm is used as the default mechanism for determining cache content to be replaced when the cache is full but is subject to modification in some instances. In particular, data are categorized according to different data classes prior to being written to the cache, based on usage. Once cached, data belonging to certain classes are treated differently than the circular FIFO replacement algorithm would dictate. Further, data belonging to each class are localized to designated regions within the cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Kimmel, Randy Pafford, Rajesh Sundaram