Patents by Inventor Steven Robert Hetzler
Steven Robert Hetzler 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).
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Publication number: 20100262792Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes gathering monitor data information from a memory device having finite endurance and/or retention, the monitor data being data of known content stored in dedicated memory cells of known write cycle count; analyzing the monitor data information; estimating a reliable life of the memory device or portion thereof based on the analysis; tracking a rate of change of at least a highest cycle count of user data; estimating when the reliable life of the memory device or portion thereof will be expended based on the tracking and the estimating; and taking an action prior to the reliable life of the memory device or portion thereof being expended. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2009Publication date: October 14, 2010Inventors: Steven Robert Hetzler, William John Kabelac
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Patent number: 7788569Abstract: Error tolerance is increased for a storage system having a plurality of arrays by making local redundancy in a selected array globally available throughout the storage system. To achieve the increased error tolerance, a donor array is selected from the plurality of arrays when the difference between a minimum distance of the donor array and a minimum distance of a recipient array is greater or equal to 2. A donor storage unit is selected in the donor array and recipient information is then rebuilt from the recipient array on the selected storage unit. The selected storage unit is indicated to the donor array as having been donated before the lost information is rebuilt on the selected storage unit. Preferably, the minimum Hamming distance of the recipient array is d?2 before the donor array is selected from the plurality of arrays.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven Robert Hetzler, Daniel Felix Smith
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Patent number: 7562281Abstract: Error tolerance is increased for a storage system having a plurality of arrays by making local redundancy in a selected array globally available throughout the storage system. To achieve the increased error tolerance, a donor array is selected from the plurality of arrays when the difference between a minimum distance of the donor array and a minimum distance of a recipient array is greater or equal to 2. A donor storage unit is selected in the donor array and recipient information is then rebuilt from the recipient array on the selected storage unit. The selected storage unit is indicated to the donor array as having been donated before the lost information is rebuilt on the selected storage unit. Preferably, the minimum Hamming distance of the recipient array is d?2 before the donor array is selected from the plurality of arrays.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2007Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven Robert Hetzler, Daniel Felix Smith
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Publication number: 20090132890Abstract: The error tolerance of an array of m storage units is increased by using a technique referred to as “dodging.” A plurality of k stripes are stored across the array of storage units in which each stripe has n+r elements that correspond to a symmetric code having a minimum Hamming distance d=r+1. Each respective element of a stripe is stored on a different storage unit. An element is selected when a difference between a minimum distance of the donor stripe and a minimum distance of a recipient stripe is greater or equal to 2. The selected element is also stored on a storage unit having no elements of the recipient stripe. A lost element of the recipient stripe is then rebuilt on the selected element.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2009Publication date: May 21, 2009Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven Robert Hetzler, Daniel Felix Smith
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Patent number: 7533325Abstract: The error tolerance of an array of m storage units is increased by using a technique referred to as “dodging.” A plurality of k stripes are stored across the array of storage units in which each stripe has n+r elements that correspond to a symmetric code having a minimum Hamming distance d=r+1. Each respective element of a stripe is stored on a different storage unit. An element is selected when a difference between a minimum distance of the donor stripe and a minimum distance of a recipient stripe is greater or equal to 2. The selected element is also stored on a storage unit having no elements of the recipient stripe. A lost element of the recipient stripe is then rebuilt on the selected element.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2003Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven Robert Hetzler, Daniel Felix Smith
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Publication number: 20080276057Abstract: A method for rearranging data blocks in a data storage system when adding new storage devices to create an expanded data storage system. A temporary configuration is selected for which the exchange of one or more data blocks between the temporary configuration and the source configuration produces the destination configuration before identifying and exchanging data blocks between the temporary configuration and the source configuration to produce the destination configuration. A single data element transfer chain embodiment provides superior performance in an embodiment that maintains (does not reduce) the source array data storage efficiency at the destination array after scaling. When adding a single new device to an existing array, the required data movement is minimized and does not exceed the capacity of the new device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2008Publication date: November 6, 2008Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventor: STEVEN ROBERT HETZLER
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Publication number: 20080276041Abstract: A method for rearranging data blocks in a data storage system when adding new storage devices to create an expanded data storage system. A temporary configuration is selected for which the exchange of one or more data blocks between the temporary configuration and the source configuration produces the destination configuration before identifying and exchanging data blocks between the temporary configuration and the source configuration to produce the destination configuration. A single data element transfer chain embodiment provides superior performance in an embodiment that maintains (does not reduce) the source array data storage efficiency at the destination array after scaling. When adding a single new device to an existing array, the required data movement is minimized and does not exceed the capacity of the new device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2007Publication date: November 6, 2008Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventor: STEVEN ROBERT HETZLER
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Publication number: 20080195811Abstract: An optimum pathway to data stored on a data storage system having N storage devices and more than N pathways is determined in response to a read request for the data. A sorter separates the read request into an appropriate segment size for sending to the storage devices of the data storage system. An assigner generates the set of read permutations satisfying the read request. A read permutation is selected based on a metric. A collector receives the requested data from the N storage devices in response to the selected read permutation being sent to the storage devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2008Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven Robert Hetzler, Daniel Felix Smith
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Publication number: 20080126890Abstract: Error tolerance is increased for a storage system having a plurality of arrays by making local redundancy in a selected array globally available throughout the storage system. To achieve the increased error tolerance, a donor array is selected from the plurality of arrays when the difference between a minimum distance of the donor array and a minimum distance of a recipient array is greater or equal to 2. A donor storage unit is selected in the donor array and recipient information is then rebuilt from the recipient array on the selected storage unit. The selected storage unit is indicated to the donor array as having been donated before the lost information is rebuilt on the selected storage unit. Preferably, the minimum Hamming distance of the recipient array is d?2 before the donor array is selected from the plurality of arrays.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2007Publication date: May 29, 2008Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven Robert Hetzler, Daniel Felix Smith
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Patent number: 7379974Abstract: An optimum pathway to data stored on a data storage system having N storage devices and more than N pathways is determined in response to a read request for the data. A sorter separates the read request into an appropriate segment size for sending to the storage devices of the data storage system. An assigner generates the set of read permutations satisfying the read request. A read permutation is selected based on a metric. A collector receives the requested data from the N storage devices in response to the selected read permutation being sent to the storage devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2003Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven Robert Hetzler, Daniel Felix Smith
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Patent number: 7281177Abstract: Error tolerance is increased for a storage system having a plurality of arrays by making local redundancy in a selected array globally available throughout the storage system. To achieve the increased error tolerance, a donor array is selected from the plurality of arrays when the difference between a minimum Hamming distance of the donor array and a minimum Hamming distance of a recipient array is greater or equal to 2. A donor storage unit is selected in the donor array and recipient information is then rebuilt from the recipient array on the selected storage unit. The selected storage unit is indicated to the donor array as having been donated before the lost information is rebuilt on the selected storage unit. Preferably, the minimum Hamming distance of the recipient array is d?2 before the donor array is selected from the plurality of arrays.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2003Date of Patent: October 9, 2007Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven Robert Hetzler, Daniel Felix Smith
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Patent number: 7254754Abstract: A data storage subsystem that includes three data storage units, three check storage units, and an array controller coupled to the three data and three check storage units can tolerate failure of any three data and check storage units failures can be occur before data stored on the data storage subsystem is lost. Information is stored on the data storage subsystem as a symmetric Maximum Distance Separation code, such as a Winograd code, a Reed Solomon code, an EVENODD code or a derivative of an EVENODD code. The array controller determines the contents of the check storage units so that any three erasures of the data storage units and the check storage units can be corrected by the array controller. The array controller updates a block of data contained in any one of the data storage units and the check storage units using only six IO operations.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2003Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven Robert Hetzler, Daniel Felix Smith, Shmuel Winograd
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Patent number: 7010645Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for staging write data to improve a storage system's performance. The method includes providing a write cache on the medium. The write cache includes a plurality of cache lines. Each of the cache lines includes a plurality of data blocks, line meta-data to identify each data blocks sector address, and a sequential number indicating the order of the data blocks within their respective cache line relative to the other data blocks in the cache line. In addition, the method includes staging write data in the write cache as sequentially written data to improve performance of the system. The staging includes receiving a plurality of data blocks to be written to the system. Moreover, the staging includes storing the data blocks in one of the cache lines.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2002Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven Robert Hetzler, Daniel Felix Smith
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Patent number: 6950265Abstract: A system and method for managing servo defects in a data storage device. During operation of the device, a servo sector recorded on a medium is identified. A lookup is performed in a servo defect table resource to determine whether the servo sector contains defective servo information. A responsive servo control action is taken if the servo sector is found to contain defective servo information. Media having servo defect information recorded thereon are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2002Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven Robert Hetzler, Daniel James Malone
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Publication number: 20040128470Abstract: A log-structured write cache for a data storage system and method for improving the performance of the storage system are described. The system might be a RAID storage array, a disk drive, an optical disk, or a tape storage system. The write cache is preferably implemented in the main storage medium of the system, but can also be provided in other storage components of the system. The write cache includes cache lines where write data is temporarily accumulated in a non-volatile state so that it can be sequentially written to the target storage locations at a later time, thereby improving the overall performance of the system. Meta-data for each cache line is also maintained in the write cache. The meta-data includes the target sector address for each sector in the line and a sequence number that indicates the order in which data is posted to the cache lines. A buffer table entry is provided for each cache line.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2002Publication date: July 1, 2004Inventors: Steven Robert Hetzler, Daniel Felix Smith
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Publication number: 20040075933Abstract: A system and method for managing servo defects in a data storage device. During operation of the device, a servo sector recorded on a medium is identified. A lookup is performed in a servo defect table resource to determine whether the servo sector contains defective servo information. A responsive servo control action is taken if the servo sector is found to contain defective servo information. Media having servo defect information recorded thereon are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2002Publication date: April 22, 2004Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Steven Robert Hetzler, Daniel James Malone
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Patent number: 5999110Abstract: Disclosed is an error tolerant binary encoded synchronization mark concatenated with a known pattern, such as a VFO pattern, comprising an encoded pattern of a fixed plurality of bits, the encoded synchronization pattern being at maximum Hamming distance from the concatenated known pattern for the number of bits in the fixed plurality of bits. The error tolerant synchronization mark may also be concatenated with the VFO pattern seen in reverse, and the synchronization pattern additionally is at maximum Hamming distance from the concatenated known VFO pattern seen in reverse.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1998Date of Patent: December 7, 1999Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Mario Blaum, Steven Robert Hetzler, Glen Alan Jaquette, William John Kabelac
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Patent number: 5954820Abstract: A method for managing power in a portable computer uses past access history of the various electrically-powered computer components and a prediction of future user demands to determine power-save mode entry and exit conditions. The component or the computer system keeps track of the access patterns. In the case of the display system component, such as the LCD display panel, because the access occurs when the user is watching the display panel and is thus not possible to measure directly, the accesses are measured indirectly from keyboard and/or pointing device activity. Each component access is detected and used to compute a current access frequency. The current access frequency is compared to a previously calculated and continuously updated threshold frequency. The threshold frequency is representative of the access pattern, e.g., uniform or sporadic, and is computed from equations that include adjustable gain factors.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1997Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Steven Robert Hetzler
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Patent number: 5937435Abstract: A data recording disk drive includes a system and method for mapping around skip sectors, both bad sectors and spare sectors. A received logical block address is converted to a corresponding physical block address by mapping through a set of tables. A first table includes entries for virtual tracks which group together LBAs having shared high order bits. A second table contains entries for the skip sectors. The high order bits of a given LBA are used to select an entry in the first table, which entry is an index into the second table. Starting from the index point, the second table is searched, using the low order bits of the LBA, for a skip sector beyond the LBA value. Once the appropriate skip sector is found, the index of this skip sector within the second table is added to the LBA to compute the PBA. The PBA is then mapped to a zone, cylinder, head, sector location on the disk drive.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1996Date of Patent: August 10, 1999Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jeff J. Dobbek, Steven Robert Hetzler
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Patent number: 5909333Abstract: A non-invasive servo-write system for use in a data recording disk drive. The system measures actuator position and generates a reference clock using semiconductor lasers. Internal position references are provided by reflective diffraction gratings affixed to the actuator arm and the spindle hub. Wavefront reconstruction optics correct for aberrations in the gratings. Optical sensors detect differential changes in the diffraction patterns created by the gratings, eliminating sensitivity to frequency drift. Decode electronics convert optical sensor data into an actuator position measurement. Control electronics drive the voice coil motor within the disk drive, which positions the write transducer to record servo information provided in a servo pattern generator. Transparent windows in the head-disk-assembly cover allow the servo-writer to write drives which are completely assembled and sealed.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1997Date of Patent: June 1, 1999Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John Stewart Best, Wen-Wei Chiang, Steven Robert Hetzler, Donald Edward Horne, Chih-Kung Lee, Vincent Marrello