Patents by Inventor Takashi Chikusa
Takashi Chikusa 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).
-
Publication number: 20180150233Abstract: A storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a storage device and a storage controller having a memory chip with a magneto-resistant element as a memory element, a memory device having a memory controller for controlling the memory chip, and a processor. The processor may be configured to manage a storage are of the memory chip by dividing the storage area into a storage area used by the processor and a storage area not used by the processor. The processor may be configured to execute, in a periodic fashion, an update process of reading data stored in the storage area and writing the data back to the storage area.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2015Publication date: May 31, 2018Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.Inventors: Satoru HANZAWA, Takashi CHIKUSA, Naoki MORITOKI
-
Patent number: 9710168Abstract: Disclosed is a storage system that suppress occurrence of a bottleneck in the storage system, efficiently uses a bandwidth of hardware, and achieves high reliability. A storage system includes a storage apparatus that stores data, a controller that controls data input/output with respect to the storage apparatus, and an interface that couples the storage apparatus and the controller. The storage apparatus has a plurality of physical ports that are couples to the interface. The controller logically partitions a storage area of the storage apparatus into a plurality of storage areas and provides the plurality of storage areas, or allocates the plurality of physical ports to the logically partitioned storage areas.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2015Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Mamoru Motonaga, Takashi Chikusa, Takashi Nozawa, Yuko Matsui, Megumi Hokazono
-
Patent number: 9690610Abstract: In a computer system having a plurality of integrated systems of servers and storage apparatuses and having a management computer, each of the plurality of integrated systems has a plurality of resources having different ratios, and the management computer, depending on the ratios of the plurality of resources required for a work, selects an integrated system in which the work is executed from the plurality of integrated systems.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.Inventors: Naohiro Katsura, Yuta Eno, Takashi Chikusa
-
Patent number: 9563377Abstract: In order to reduce the amount of consumption of a back-end bandwidth in a storage apparatus, a computer system includes: a first storage device; and a second storage device that is coupled to the first controller through a first interface and is coupled to the second controller through a second interface. The first controller receives data from a host computer through a first communication channel; write the received data into the first storage device; identify part of the received data as first data, the part satisfying a preset particular condition; and write a replica of the first data as second data into the second storage device. The second controller reads the second data from the second storage device in response to a Read request received from the host computer through a second communication channel; and transmit the second data to the host computer through the second communication channel.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Takumi Takagi, Takashi Chikusa
-
Publication number: 20160246625Abstract: In a computer system having a plurality of integrated systems of servers and storage apparatuses and having a management computer, each of the plurality of integrated systems has a plurality of resources having different ratios, and the management computer, depending on the ratios of the plurality of resources required for a work, selects an integrated system in which the work is executed from the plurality of integrated systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2014Publication date: August 25, 2016Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.Inventors: Naohiro KATSURA, Yuta ENO, Takashi CHIKUSA
-
Patent number: 9398728Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a storage subsystem capable of improving a backend-side I/O processing performance and enabling a single semiconductor memory adapter to be replaced at a time. Therefore, the present invention provides one or more semiconductor memory adapter boards mounting semiconductor memories each having smaller capacity than SSDs attached detachably to a drive canister, a wide port connection established to access the semiconductor memories, the semiconductor memories used as a read cache area of HDDs, and further adopts a wind direction control structure for ensuring a cooling wind path to the HDDs when an adapter board is attached.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2013Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.Inventors: Shigeaki Tanaka, Takashi Chikusa
-
Patent number: 9329781Abstract: A disk array apparatus using an SAS can transfer data without lowering a transfer efficiency of data even if rates of a plurality of physical links connected to a controller and storage device are different. A plurality of HDDs are connected to a controller through an expander. Data are transferred from the controller to the expander and then to HDD. In this connection, the controller and the expander transfers a set of transfer data in a plurality of the HDD-side physical links. The controller-side physical link integrates the transfer data, and multiplexes them to transfer. A plurality of HDDs-side physical links separates the transfer data to transfer in parallel.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Chikusa, Satoru Yamaura, Toshio Tachibana, Takehiro Maki, Hirotaka Honma
-
Publication number: 20160098196Abstract: Disclosed is a storage system that suppress occurrence of a bottleneck in the storage system, efficiently uses a bandwidth of hardware, and achieves high reliability. A storage system includes a storage apparatus that stores data, a controller that controls data input/output with respect to the storage apparatus, and an interface that couples the storage apparatus and the controller. The storage apparatus has a plurality of physical ports that are couples to the interface. The controller logically partitions a storage area of the storage apparatus into a plurality of storage areas and provides the plurality of storage areas, or allocates the plurality of physical ports to the logically partitioned storage areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventors: Mamoru MOTONAGA, Takashi CHIKUSA, Takashi NOZAWA, Yuko MATSUI, Megumi HOKAZONO
-
Patent number: 9256372Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to suppress inconsistency of mount information necessary for mounting a volume in a storage device having a primary volume and a secondary volume. The storage device according to the present invention creates a memory region storing the mount information necessary for mounting the secondary volume, saves a snapshot thereof, and presents a virtual volume which has been created by using the snapshot and the data in the secondary volume to an external device.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2012Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Noriaki Sato, Masayuki Kikuchi, Keisuke Matsumoto, Takashi Chikusa
-
Patent number: 9223508Abstract: Disclosed is a storage system that suppress occurrence of a bottleneck in the storage system, efficiently uses a bandwidth of hardware, and achieves high reliability. A storage system includes a storage apparatus that stores data, a controller that controls data input/output with respect to the storage apparatus, and an interface that couples the storage apparatus and the controller. The storage apparatus has a plurality of physical ports that are couples to the interface. The controller logically partitions a storage area of the storage apparatus into a plurality of storage areas and provides the plurality of storage areas, or allocates the plurality of physical ports to the logically partitioned storage areas.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2015Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Mamoru Motonaga, Takashi Chikusa, Takashi Nozawa, Yuko Matsui, Megumi Hokazono
-
Publication number: 20150342095Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a storage subsystem capable of improving a backend-side I/O processing performance and enabling a single semiconductor memory adapter to be replaced at a time. Therefore, the present invention provides one or more semiconductor memory adapter boards mounting semiconductor memories each having smaller capacity than SSDs attached detachably to a drive canister, a wide port connection established to access the semiconductor memories, the semiconductor memories used as a read cache area of HDDs, and further adopts a wind direction control structure for ensuring a cooling wind path to the HDDs when an adapter board is attached.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2013Publication date: November 26, 2015Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Shigeaki TANAKA, Takashi CHIKUSA
-
Publication number: 20150309739Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to suppress inconsistency of mount information necessary for mounting a volume in a storage device having a primary volume and a secondary volume. The storage device according to the present invention creates a memory region storing the mount information necessary for mounting the secondary volume, saves a snapshot thereof, and presents a virtual volume which has been created by using the snapshot and the data in the secondary volume to an external device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2012Publication date: October 29, 2015Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.Inventors: Noriaki SATO, Masayuki KIKUCHI, Keisuke MATSUMOTO, Takashi CHIKUSA
-
Publication number: 20150286439Abstract: In order to reduce the amount of consumption of a back-end bandwidth in a storage apparatus, a computer system includes: a first storage device; and a second storage device that is coupled to the first controller through a first interface and is coupled to the second controller through a second interface. The first controller receives data from a host computer through a first communication channel; write the received data into the first storage device; identify part of the received data as first data, the part satisfying a preset particular condition; and write a replica of the first data as second data into the second storage device. The second controller reads the second data from the second storage device in response to a Read request received from the host computer through a second communication channel; and transmit the second data to the host computer through the second communication channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2015Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Takumi TAKAGI, Takashi CHIKUSA
-
Patent number: 9086807Abstract: A storage apparatus and tier control method capable of executing hierarchical control based on variable performance of SSDs are suggested. With a storage apparatus equipped with a plurality of drives composed of flash memories, the storage apparatus includes a controller for hierarchically controlling storage areas provided by the plurality of drives by classifying the storage areas into a plurality of tiers with different performances and managing them, wherein the controller: decides a first tier, to which each of the drives should belong, based on performance of the drive; decides to change the tier, to which the drive should belong, from the first tier to a second tier different from the first tier based on the drive's performance, which varies depending on property of the drive; and changes the tier, to which the drive determined to change its tier should belong, from the first tier to the second tier.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2013Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Gosuke Okada, Takashi Chikusa, Keiichiro Uchida, Megumi Hokazono, Naoto Shiino, Mamoru Motonaga
-
Publication number: 20150160858Abstract: A storage apparatus and tier control method capable of executing hierarchical control based on variable performance of SSDs are suggested. With a storage apparatus equipped with a plurality of drives composed of flash memories, the storage apparatus includes a controller for hierarchically controlling storage areas provided by the plurality of drives by classifying the storage areas into a plurality of tiers with different performances and managing them, wherein the controller: decides a first tier, to which each of the drives should belong, based on performance of the drive; decides to change the tier, to which the drive should belong, from the first tier to a second tier different from the first tier based on the drive's performance, which varies depending on property of the drive; and changes the tier, to which the drive determined to change its tier should belong, from the first tier to the second tier.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2013Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventors: Gosuke Okada, Takashi Chikusa, Keiichiro Uchida, Megumi Hokazono, Naoto Shiino, Mamoru Motonaga
-
Publication number: 20150160875Abstract: Disclosed is a storage system that suppress occurrence of a bottleneck in the storage system, efficiently uses a bandwidth of hardware, and achieves high reliability. A storage system includes a storage apparatus that stores data, a controller that controls data input/output with respect to the storage apparatus, and an interface that couples the storage apparatus and the controller. The storage apparatus has a plurality of physical ports that are couples to the interface. The controller logically partitions a storage area of the storage apparatus into a plurality of storage areas and provides the plurality of storage areas, or allocates the plurality of physical ports to the logically partitioned storage areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2015Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventors: Mamoru MOTONAGA, Takashi CHIKUSA, Takashi NOZAWA, Yuko MATSUI, Megumi HOKAZONO
-
Patent number: 9055044Abstract: In order to reduce the amount of consumption of a back-end bandwidth in a storage apparatus, a computer system includes: a first storage device; and a second storage device that is coupled to the first controller through a first interface and is coupled to the second controller through a second interface. The first controller receives data from a host computer through a first communication channel; write the received data into the first storage device; identify part of the received data as first data, the part satisfying a preset particular condition; and write a replica of the first data as second data into the second storage device. The second controller reads the second data from the second storage device in response to a Read request received from the host computer through a second communication channel; and transmit the second data to the host computer through the second communication channel.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Takumi Takagi, Takashi Chikusa
-
Patent number: 8966174Abstract: Disclosed is a storage system that suppress occurrence of a bottleneck in the storage system, efficiently uses a bandwidth of hardware, and achieves high reliability. A storage system includes a storage apparatus that stores data, a controller that controls data input/output with respect to the storage apparatus, and an interface that couples the storage apparatus and the controller. The storage apparatus has a plurality of physical ports that are coupled to the interface. The controller logically partitions a storage area of the storage apparatus into a plurality of storage areas and provides the plurality of storage areas, or allocates the plurality of physical ports to the logically partitioned storage areas.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2012Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Mamoru Motonaga, Takashi Chikusa, Takashi Nozawa, Yuko Matsui, Megumi Hokazono
-
Publication number: 20140173017Abstract: In order to reduce the amount of consumption of a back-end bandwidth in a storage apparatus, a computer system includes: a first storage device; and a second storage device that is coupled to the first controller through a first interface and is coupled to the second controller through a second interface. The first controller receives data from a host computer through a first communication channel; write the received data into the first storage device; identify part of the received data as first data, the part satisfying a preset particular condition; and write a replica of the first data as second data into the second storage device. The second controller reads the second data from the second storage device in response to a Read request received from the host computer through a second communication channel; and transmit the second data to the host computer through the second communication channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Takumi Takagi, Takashi Chikusa
-
Patent number: 8656099Abstract: A storage apparatus and its control method capable of implementing thin provisioning and reducing power consumption of storage devices are provided. The storage apparatus classifies a plurality of storage devices, which provide a pool with a storage resource, into a plurality of groups; performs thin provisioning operation by setting some of the plurality of groups to an active mode, in which the storage devices belonging to the groups are made to enter an activated state; sets other groups to a power-saving mode in which the storage devices are made to enter a power-saving state; and sequentially switches between the group(s) in the active mode and the group(s) in the power-saving mode among the plurality of groups.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2010Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kenichi Saito, Takashi Chikusa, Kazuya Hirano, Hiroyuki Kumasawa