Patents by Inventor Thomas G. Price
Thomas G. Price 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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Patent number: 10642696Abstract: Methods, devices and systems to make compressed backup copies of in-use compressed database indices are described. In general, an “oldest” time at which index pages in working memory had been updated is identified. Compressed index pages may be directly copied without the need to bring them into working memory or uncompressing them. The identified “oldest” time is then associated with the compressed backup copy. In some embodiments, an entire compressed backup copy may be associated with a single point in time (e.g., the identified “oldest” time). In other embodiments, a compressed backup copy may be associated with multiple points in time (e.g., one time for each portion of the compressed index that is being backed-up). Compressed indices copied in accordance with the invention may be used during restore operations to reconstruct database indices using the identified “oldest” time and database log files.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Price, Richard W. Cline
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Patent number: 10565070Abstract: A method to efficiently create a consistent image of a database index at any point-in-time by reversing the effect of uncommitted updates by applying database transaction logs to an index page set in a single pass. The created image can be used to recover the database index to a point in time that is consistent with its associated table, or for physical migration where data and indexes are migrated to another database that may or may not be on the same DBMS and the indexes and data must be consistent as of the same point in time.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.Inventors: William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price, Vladimir Prasolov
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Patent number: 10366074Abstract: In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for ensuring a source database (e.g., target space or index space) has correct version information before a migration includes executing, using at least one processor, instructions recorded on a computer-readable storage medium. The instructions include determining whether a table has been changed since a most recent alter of the table, performing an update on the table when it is determined that the table has not been changed since the most recent alter, and performing a rollback on the table after the update. The method may also include creating an image copy of the data in the source database and refreshing data in a target database with the image copy of the data in the source database. The method may also include automatically repairing the target database when the version information of the target does not correspond with the version information for the source.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2015Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.Inventors: Richard Cline, William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price
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Publication number: 20190163579Abstract: A method to efficiently create a consistent image of a database index at any point-in-time by reversing the effect of uncommitted updates by applying database transaction logs to an index page set in a single pass. The created image can be used to recover the database index to a point in time that is consistent with its associated table, or for physical migration where data and indexes are migrated to another database that may or may not be on the same DBMS and the indexes and data must be consistent as of the same point in time.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2017Publication date: May 30, 2019Inventors: William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price, Vladimir Prasolov
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Publication number: 20170364410Abstract: Methods, devices and systems to make compressed backup copies of in-use compressed database indices are described. In general, an “oldest” time at which index pages in working memory had been updated is identified. Compressed index pages may be directly copied without the need to bring them into working memory or uncompressing them. The identified “oldest” time is then associated with the compressed backup copy. In some embodiments, an entire compressed backup copy may be associated with a single point in time (e.g., the identified “oldest” time). In other embodiments, a compressed backup copy may be associated with multiple points in time (e.g., one time for each portion of the compressed index that is being backed-up). Compressed indices copied in accordance with the invention may be used during restore operations to reconstruct database indices using the identified “oldest” time and database log files.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2017Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventors: Thomas G. Price, Richard W. Cline
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Patent number: 9753811Abstract: Methods, devices and systems to make compressed backup copies of in-use compressed database indices are described. In general, an “oldest” time at which index pages in working memory had been updated is identified. Compressed index pages may be directly copied without the need to bring them into working memory or uncompressing them. The identified “oldest” time is then associated with the compressed backup copy. In some embodiments, an entire compressed backup copy may be associated with a single point in time (e.g., the identified “oldest” time). In other embodiments, a compressed backup copy may be associated with multiple points in time (e.g., one time for each portion of the compressed index that is being backed-up). Compressed indices copied in accordance with the invention may be used during restore operations to reconstruct database indices using the identified “oldest” time and database log files.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Price, Richard Cline
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Publication number: 20150363458Abstract: In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for ensuring a source database (e.g., target space or index space) has correct version information before a migration includes executing, using at least one processor, instructions recorded on a computer-readable storage medium. The instructions include determining whether a table has been changed since a most recent alter of the table, performing an update on the table when it is determined that the table has not been changed since the most recent alter, and performing a rollback on the table after the update. The method may also include creating an image copy of the data in the source database and refreshing data in a target database with the image copy of the data in the source database. The method may also include automatically repairing the target database when the version information of the target does not correspond with the version information for the source.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2015Publication date: December 17, 2015Inventors: Richard CLINE, William J. POTHOFF, Thomas G. PRICE
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Patent number: 9152659Abstract: In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for ensuring a source database (e.g., target space or index space) has correct version information before a migration includes executing, using at least one processor, instructions recorded on a computer-readable storage medium. The instructions include determining whether a table has been changed since a most recent alter of the table, performing an update on the table when it is determined that the table has not been changed since the most recent alter, and performing a rollback on the table after the update. The method may also include creating an image copy of the data in the source database and refreshing data in a target database with the image copy of the data in the source database. The method may also include automatically repairing the target database when the version information of the target does not correspond with the version information for the source.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2011Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.Inventors: Richard Cline, William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price
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Publication number: 20150039563Abstract: Methods, devices and systems to make compressed backup copies of in-use compressed database indices are described. In general, an “oldest” time at which index pages in working memory had been updated is identified. Compressed index pages may be directly copied without the need to bring them into working memory or uncompressing them. The identified “oldest” time is then associated with the compressed backup copy. In some embodiments, an entire compressed backup copy may be associated with a single point in time (e.g., the identified “oldest” time). In other embodiments, a compressed backup copy may be associated with multiple points in time (e.g., one time for each portion of the compressed index that is being backed-up). Compressed indices copied in accordance with the invention may be used during restore operations to reconstruct database indices using the identified “oldest” time and database log files.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2014Publication date: February 5, 2015Inventors: Thomas G. Price, Richard Cline
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Patent number: 8880479Abstract: The present description refers to a computer implemented method, computer program product, and computer system for receiving a start time, selecting one or more database objects for which a database recovery progress report is to be provided, determining, based on an object recovery table generated by the database recovery utility, which of the selected database objects have been recovered since the start time, and outputting a database recovery progress report that identifies at least a number or percentage of the selected database objects that have been recovered by the database recovery utility since the start time.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2011Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.Inventors: James L. Whisenant, James T. Rabbitt, William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price
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Patent number: 8843449Abstract: Methods, devices and systems to make compressed backup copies of in-use compressed database indices are described. In general, an “oldest” time at which index pages in working memory had been updated is identified. Compressed index pages may be directly copied without the need to bring them into working memory or uncompressing them. The identified “oldest” time is then associated with the compressed backup copy. In some embodiments, an entire compressed backup copy may be associated with a single point in time (e.g., the identified “oldest” time). In other embodiments, a compressed backup copy may be associated with multiple points in time (e.g., one time for each portion of the compressed index that is being backed-up). Compressed indices copied in accordance with the invention may be used during restore operations to reconstruct database indices using the identified “oldest” time and database log files.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2009Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Price, Richard W. Cline
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Patent number: 8818949Abstract: In one general aspect, a computer-implemented method for migrating data from a source database to a target database includes a computer-implemented method that includes executing, using at least one processor, instructions recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The method includes ensuring that the source database has correct version information, creating an image copy of the data in the source database, and collecting metadata describing the source database. The metadata may include information used to verify that the target database is compatible with the source database, to automatically translate object identifiers, and to avert the migration if no data has changed in the source and the target databases (e.g., table and index spaces) since a previous migration. The method may further include refreshing the data in the target database using the image copy after determining that the source database and the target database are compatible.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2011Date of Patent: August 26, 2014Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.Inventors: Richard Cline, William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price
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Patent number: 8671076Abstract: A copy utility creates a copy of source database objects that is transactionally consistent to a consistent point-in-time, and a recovery utility applies log records to the consistent copy to make a resulting image that is updated as of an identified point-in-time (i.e., the current time or a point-in-time after the copy was made). To effectively recover and apply the logs so that no previously in-flight transactions are lost, the copy utility registers a starting point indicating a point-in-time for logs to be applied to the copy and also registers a smallest lock size used to block access to target data when the copy was made. The recovery utility bases its recovery operations using the registered starting point and the smallest lock size when applying log records to the copy so as not to lose any previously in-flight transactions.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2007Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Price, Stanley J. Dee, Michael S. Murley, Richard T. Weaver
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Publication number: 20130173546Abstract: In one general aspect, a computer-implemented method for migrating data from a source database to a target database includes a computer-implemented method that includes executing, using at least one processor, instructions recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The method includes ensuring that the source database has correct version information, creating an image copy of the data in the source database, and collecting metadata describing the source database. The metadata may include information used to verify that the target database is compatible with the source database, to automatically translate object identifiers, and to avert the migration if no data has changed in the source and the target databases (e.g., table and index spaces) since a previous migration. The method may further include refreshing the data in the target database using the image copy after determining that the source database and the target database are compatible.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2011Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.Inventors: Richard Cline, William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price
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Publication number: 20130173547Abstract: In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for ensuring a source database (e.g., target space or index space) has correct version information before a migration includes executing, using at least one processor, instructions recorded on a computer-readable storage medium. The instructions include determining whether a table has been changed since a most recent alter of the table, performing an update on the table when it is determined that the table has not been changed since the most recent alter, and performing a rollback on the table after the update. The method may also include creating an image copy of the data in the source database and refreshing data in a target database with the image copy of the data in the source database. The method may also include automatically repairing the target database when the version information of the target does not correspond with the version information for the source.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2011Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.Inventors: Richard Cline, William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price
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Publication number: 20130173558Abstract: The present description refers to a computer implemented method, computer program product, and computer system for receiving a start time, selecting one or more database objects for which a database recovery progress report is to be provided, determining, based on an object recovery table generated by the database recovery utility, which of the selected database objects have been recovered since the start time, and outputting a database recovery progress report that identifies at least a number or percentage of the selected database objects that have been recovered by the database recovery utility since the start time.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2011Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.Inventors: James L. Whisenant, James T. Rabbitt, William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price
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Patent number: 8161001Abstract: Methods, devices and systems which facilitate the conversion of database objects from one schema version (e.g., an earlier version) to another schema version (e.g., a newer version) without requiring the objects be unloaded and reloaded are described. In general, data object conversion applies to both table space objects and index space objects. The described transformation techniques may be used to convert any object whose schema changes occur at the page-level.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2009Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.Inventors: Donna M. Di Carlo, Thomas G. Price, Stanely J. Dee
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Publication number: 20100318497Abstract: Unobtrusive Copies of Actively Used Compressed Indices Methods, devices and systems to make compressed backup copies of in-use compressed database indices are described. In general, an “oldest” time at which index pages in working memory had been updated is identified. Compressed index pages may be directly copied without the need to bring them into working memory or uncompressing them. The identified “oldest” time is then associated with the compressed backup copy. In some embodiments, an entire compressed backup copy may be associated with a single point in time (e.g., the identified “oldest” time). In other embodiments, a compressed backup copy may be associated with multiple points in time (e.g., one time for each portion of the compressed index that is being backed-up). Compressed indices copied in accordance with the invention may be used during restore operations to reconstruct database indices using the identified “oldest” time and database log files.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2009Publication date: December 16, 2010Applicant: BMC Software, Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Price, Richard W. Cline
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Publication number: 20100287143Abstract: Methods, devices and systems which facilitate the conversion of database objects from one schema version (e.g., an earlier version) to another schema version (e.g., a newer version) without requiring the objects be unloaded and reloaded are described. In general, data object conversion applies to both table space objects and index space objects. The described transformation techniques may be used to convert any object whose schema changes occur at the page-level.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2009Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: BMC Software, Inc.Inventors: Donna M. Di Carlo, Thomas G. Price, Stanely J. Dee
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Patent number: 7801865Abstract: Methods and systems for providing access to spaces in a database during a recovery process affecting the database. Spaces in the database that are affected by the recovery process are identified and I/O requests sent to a media manager associated with the database are intercepted. If the I/O request is for a read operation to a space affected by the recovery process and the corresponding page has been recovered, the data in the page may be read. If the page has not been recovered, the read operation may be held in a cache until the recovery utility indicates that the page has been recovered. If the I/O request is for a write operation to a space affected by the recovery process, the data may be written to a cache.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2007Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.Inventors: Richard Wayne Cline, Stanley James Dee, Michel Laviolette, Thomas G. Price, John Grady Sullivan