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).

  • Patent number: 10642696
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Price, Richard W. Cline
  • Patent number: 10565070
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price, Vladimir Prasolov
  • Patent number: 10366074
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Cline, William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price
  • Publication number: 20190163579
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price, Vladimir Prasolov
  • Publication number: 20170364410
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas G. Price, Richard W. Cline
  • Patent number: 9753811
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Price, Richard Cline
  • Publication number: 20150363458
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Richard CLINE, William J. POTHOFF, Thomas G. PRICE
  • Patent number: 9152659
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Cline, William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price
  • Publication number: 20150039563
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas G. Price, Richard Cline
  • Patent number: 8880479
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.
    Inventors: James L. Whisenant, James T. Rabbitt, William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price
  • Patent number: 8843449
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Price, Richard W. Cline
  • Patent number: 8818949
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Cline, William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price
  • Patent number: 8671076
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Price, Stanley J. Dee, Michael S. Murley, Richard T. Weaver
  • Publication number: 20130173546
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Cline, William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price
  • Publication number: 20130173547
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Cline, William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price
  • Publication number: 20130173558
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: BMC SOFTWARE, INC.
    Inventors: James L. Whisenant, James T. Rabbitt, William J. Pothoff, Thomas G. Price
  • Patent number: 8161001
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Donna M. Di Carlo, Thomas G. Price, Stanely J. Dee
  • Publication number: 20100318497
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: BMC Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Price, Richard W. Cline
  • Publication number: 20100287143
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: BMC Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Donna M. Di Carlo, Thomas G. Price, Stanely J. Dee
  • Patent number: 7801865
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: BMC Software, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Wayne Cline, Stanley James Dee, Michel Laviolette, Thomas G. Price, John Grady Sullivan