Patents by Inventor Richard Paul Spillane

Richard Paul Spillane 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: 9645946
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for encrypting data stored on a solid-state drive (SSD) managed by a system (e.g., a computing device). Specifically, the system is configured to track block units of a larger size on the SSD so that a mapping table associated with the SSD can be kept small. After running SSD encryption using the large size block units, the entire SSD can be fully encrypted without requiring clear text to be written onto the SSD subsequent to SSD encryption being activated. Thereafter, the entire SSD can be defragmented to produce a single physical extent of encrypted data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Paul Spillane, Wenguang Wang
  • Patent number: 9213634
    Abstract: A non-overwrite storage system, such as a log-structured file system, that includes a non-volatile storage having multiple storage segments, a volatile storage having an unsafe free segments list (UFSL), and a controller for managing storage resources of the non-volatile storage. The controller can be configured to copy page data from used segment(s) of the non-volatile storage, write the copied page data to free segment(s) of the non-volatile storage, index the UFSL with indications of the used segment(s), and thereafter prevent reuse of the used segment(s) while the indications of the used segment(s) remain indexed in the UFSL. In some implementations, the non-overwrite storage system may be associated with flash storage system, and a flash controller can be configured perform a flush track cache operation to clear the indications of the used segment(s) from the UFSL, to enable reuse of segment(s) that were previously indexed to the UFSL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wenguang Wang, John Garvey, Richard Paul Spillane
  • Publication number: 20150347320
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for encrypting data stored on a solid-state drive (SSD) managed by a system (e.g., a computing device). Specifically, the system is configured to track block units of a larger size on the SSD so that a mapping table associated with the SSD can be kept small. After running SSD encryption using the large size block units, the entire SSD can be fully encrypted without requiring clear text to be written onto the SSD subsequent to SSD encryption being activated. Thereafter, the entire SSD can be defragmented to produce a single physical extent of encrypted data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Richard Paul SPILLANE, Wenguang WANG
  • Publication number: 20150149692
    Abstract: A non-overwrite storage system, such as a log-structured file system, that includes a non-volatile storage having multiple storage segments, a volatile storage having an unsafe free segments list (UFSL), and a controller for managing storage resources of the non-volatile storage. The controller can be configured to copy page data from used segment(s) of the non-volatile storage, write the copied page data to free segment(s) of the non-volatile storage, index the UFSL with indications of the used segment(s), and thereafter prevent reuse of the used segment(s) while the indications of the used segment(s) remain indexed in the UFSL. In some implementations, the non-overwrite storage system may be associated with flash storage system, and a flash controller can be configured perform a flush track cache operation to clear the indications of the used segment(s) from the UFSL, to enable reuse of segment(s) that were previously indexed to the UFSL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wenguang Wang, John Garvey, Richard Paul Spillane
  • Patent number: 8966147
    Abstract: A method for resolving deadlock in a multi-threaded computing system using a novel lock lease is disclosed. A first thread leases a lock held by the first thread to a second thread different from the first thread. The leasing transfers control of the lock to the second thread while the first thread retains ownership of the lock. To lease the lock: (1) the second thread applies for the lease from the first thread; (2) the first thread grants the lease; (3) the first thread waits for the second thread to complete a task; (4) the second thread terminates the lease; (5) the first thread confirms termination of the lease. The first thread receives control of the lock back from the second thread after the second thread has finished using resources controlled by the lock. The second thread also can sublease the lock to a third thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventors: Wenguang Wang, Richard Paul Spillane
  • Publication number: 20140059261
    Abstract: A method for resolving deadlock in a multi-threaded computing system using a novel lock lease is disclosed. A first thread leases a lock held by the first thread to a second thread different from the first thread. The leasing transfers control of the lock to the second thread while the first thread retains ownership of the lock. To lease the lock: (1) the second thread applies for the lease from the first thread; (2) the first thread grants the lease; (3) the first thread waits for the second thread to complete a task; (4) the second thread terminates the lease; (5) the first thread confirms termination of the lease. The first thread receives control of the lock back from the second thread after the second thread has finished using resources controlled by the lock. The second thread also can sublease the lock to a third thread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wenguang WANG, Richard Paul Spillane