Patents by Inventor Toby Smith

Toby Smith 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: 11880343
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for replicating a data container of a source storage server at the logical level in an unordered stream of individual data units are described. In certain embodiments, the replication operations can be performed without regard to the differences in geometry of physical persistent storage of the source and destination storage servers and without regard to the differences in data container format of the source and destination storage servers. An initial replication operation of the source data container is performed by transferring the data objects within the source data container to a replica data container in the destination storage server as an unordered stream of individual data units while preserving data object identifiers of the source data objects. Afterwards, incremental replication operations can be performed to capture modifications to the source data container over time after the initial replication operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Leverett, Michael Kazar, Alan Stuart Driscoll, Peter Frank Corbett, Devang K. Shah, Srishylam Simharajan, Toby Smith
  • Publication number: 20210081369
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for replicating a data container of a source storage server at the logical level in an unordered stream of individual data units are described. In certain embodiments, the replication operations can be performed without regard to the differences in geometry of physical persistent storage of the source and destination storage servers and without regard to the differences in data container format of the source and destination storage servers. An initial replication operation of the source data container is performed by transferring the data objects within the source data container to a replica data container in the destination storage server as an unordered stream of individual data units while preserving data object identifiers of the source data objects. Afterwards, incremental replication operations can be performed to capture modifications to the source data container over time after the initial replication operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Bruce Leverett, Michael Kazar, Alan Stuart Driscoll, Peter Frank Corbett, Devang K. Shah, Srishylam Simharajan, Toby Smith
  • Patent number: 10860542
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for replicating a data container of a source storage server at the logical level in an unordered stream of individual data units are described. In certain embodiments, the replication operations can be performed without regard to the differences in geometry of physical persistent storage of the source and destination storage servers and without regard to the differences in data container format of the source and destination storage servers. An initial replication operation of the source data container is performed by transferring the data objects within the source data container to a replica data container in the destination storage server as an unordered stream of individual data units while preserving data object identifiers of the source data objects. Afterwards, incremental replication operations can be performed to capture modifications to the source data container over time after the initial replication operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: NetApp Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Leverett, Michael Kazar, Alan Stuart Driscoll, Peter Frank Corbett, Devang K. Shah, Srishylam Simharajan, Toby Smith
  • Publication number: 20170249329
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for replicating a data container of a source storage server at the logical level in an unordered stream of individual data units are described. In certain embodiments, the replication operations can be performed without regard to the differences in geometry of physical persistent storage of the source and destination storage servers and without regard to the differences in data container format of the source and destination storage servers. An initial replication operation of the source data container is performed by transferring the data objects within the source data container to a replica data container in the destination storage server as an unordered stream of individual data units while preserving data object identifiers of the source data objects. Afterwards, incremental replication operations can be performed to capture modifications to the source data container over time after the initial replication operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Bruce Leverett, Michael Kazar, Alan Stuart Driscoll, Peter Frank Corbett, Devang K. Shah, Srishylam Simharajan, Toby Smith
  • Patent number: 9659026
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for replicating a data container of a source storage server at the logical level in an unordered stream of individual data units are described. In certain embodiments, the replication operations can be performed without regard to the differences in geometry of physical persistent storage of the source and destination storage servers and without regard to the differences in data container format of the source and destination storage servers. An initial replication operation of the source data container is performed by transferring the data objects within the source data container to a replica data container in the destination storage server as an unordered stream of individual data units while preserving data object identifiers of the source data objects. Afterwards, incremental replication operations can be performed to capture modifications to the source data container over time after the initial replication operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Leverett, Michael Kazar, Alan Stuart Driscoll, Peter Frank Corbett, Devang K. Shah, Srishylam Simharajan, Toby Smith
  • Publication number: 20140195490
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for replicating a data container of a source storage server at the logical level in an unordered stream of individual data units are described. In certain embodiments, the replication operations can be performed without regard to the differences in geometry of physical persistent storage of the source and destination storage servers and without regard to the differences in data container format of the source and destination storage servers. An initial replication operation of the source data container is performed by transferring the data objects within the source data container to a replica data container in the destination storage server as an unordered stream of individual data units while preserving data object identifiers of the source data objects. Afterwards, incremental replication operations can be performed to capture modifications to the source data container over time after the initial replication operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Bruce Leverett, Michael Kazar, Alan Stuart Driscoll, Peter Frank Corbett, Devang K. Shah, Srishylam Simharajan, Toby Smith
  • Patent number: 8655848
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for replicating a data container of a source storage server at the logical level in an unordered stream of individual data units are described. In certain embodiments, the replication operations can be performed without regard to the differences in geometry of physical persistent storage of the source and destination storage servers and without regard to the differences in data container format of the source and destination storage servers. An initial replication operation of the source data container is performed by transferring the data objects within the source data container to a replica data container in the destination storage server as an unordered stream of individual data units while preserving data object identifiers of the source data objects. Afterwards, incremental replication operations can be performed to capture modifications to the source data container over time after the initial replication operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Leverett, Michael Kazar, Srishylam Simharajan, Peter Frank Corbett, Toby Smith, Alan Stuart Driscoll, Devang K. Shah
  • Patent number: 8326798
    Abstract: A replication operation service migrates data from a source volume having a source file system type to a destination volume having a destination file system type, where the source file system type may be different from the destination file system type. The replication operation is completed without interrupting the operations of a client device in the system. A stable copy of the source file system is generated on the source volume. A file system agnostic representation of a portion of the data in the source volume is generated from the stable copy. The representation is transmitted to the destination volume where it is converted to conform to the destination file system type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Network Appliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Stuart Driscoll, Peter Frank Corbett, Toby Smith, Devang K. Shah, Srishylam Simharajan, Keith Allen Arner, Joe Warren Dukes, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120249016
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise a base and a light emitting diode (LED) power supply (PS) detachably connectable to the base module. The LED PS provides current and voltage to at least one LED lamp in a lighting fixture. The base optionally includes electrical connections for detachable connection of a ballast and further includes electrical connections to mains electrical power. An embodiment may further include the ballast. The LED PS, base, and ballast implement a common electrical and mechanical interface for enabling replacement of fluorescent lamps in lighting fixtures with LED lamps. A lamp including a base is included in some embodiments of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventor: Toby Smith
  • Patent number: 8015355
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for managing lock state information in a distributed file system. A set of data containers storing data is maintained. The data containers are striped across a plurality of volumes, where each volume includes one or more data storage devices. A metadata volume is maintained with the plurality of volumes, the metadata volume configured to include a lock state database that stores lock state information for the plurality of volumes. The lock state information is communicated between the metadata volume and the plurality of volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Toby Smith, Richard P. Jernigan, IV, Robert Wyckoff Hyer, Jr., Michael Kazar, David B. Noveck, Peter Griess
  • Patent number: 7857498
    Abstract: An electronic-ballast lamp system comprises a modular lamp ballast in a plug-in housing. A light fixture has matching sockets for the ballast and is pre-wired for the intended lamp tubes. In one instance, an electronic ballast accepts 100-300 VAC and 50-60 Hz power inputs, and provides the correct rapid-start, instant-on, or standard lamp outputs as sensed from the lamps themselves, or as read from a data card embedded in the light fixture. The data card is read optically or electronically, depending on application, or the lamp types may be dialed-in on the ballast itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Inventor: Toby Smith
  • Patent number: 7730258
    Abstract: A system and method manages lock state information in a storage system. A meta-data volume node includes a lock state database which is a comprehensive source for lock state information about data containers in the system. A plurality of data volume nodes include local lock caches, which contain information about locks. Lock state messaging between the meta-data volume node and the data volume nodes is used to assign locks and to update local lock caches. The meta-data volume node is configured to determine whether input/output requests should be allowed or denied and to instruct the data volume nodes of this input/output operation result. Lock information is also sent to the data volume nodes for storage in local lock state caches to the extent the data volume nodes have the network capacity locally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Toby Smith, Richard P. Jernigan, IV, Robert Wyckoff Hyer, Jr., Michael Kazar, David B. Noveck, Peter Griess
  • Patent number: 7587558
    Abstract: A system and method manages lock state information in a distributed file system. A meta-data volume includes a lock state database which is a comprehensive source for lock state information about a striped volume set in the system. A plurality of data volumes includes local lock caches which contain information about locks. Lock state messaging between the meta-data volume and the data volumes is used to assign locks and to update local lock caches. The meta-data volume is configured to assigned permissive areas in the data containers accessed by clients in order to efficiently manage the lock state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Toby Smith, Richard P. Jernigan, IV, Robert Wyckoff Hyer, Jr., Michael Kazar, David B. Noveck, Peter Griess
  • Publication number: 20080019113
    Abstract: An electronic-ballast lamp system comprises a modular lamp ballast in a plug-in housing. A light fixture has matching sockets for the ballast and is pre-wired for the intended lamp tubes. In one instance, an electronic ballast accepts 100-300 VAC and 50-60 Hz power inputs, and provides the correct rapid-start, instant-on, or standard lamp outputs as sensed from the lamps themselves, or as read from a data card embedded in the light fixture. The data card is read optically or electronically, depending on application, or the lamp types may be dialed-in on the ballast itself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventor: Toby Smith
  • Publication number: 20070040692
    Abstract: In accordance with a first preferred aspect of the instant invention, there is provided a patient monitor that is automatically disabled when a caregiver enters a room and then is automatically reactivated after the caregiver leaves. According to a first preferred embodiment, it will remain disabled during the time the caregiver is proximate to the patient/monitor and then will automatically reactivate after the caregiver has moved away.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Publication date: February 22, 2007
    Inventors: Toby Smith, Craig Cooper
  • Publication number: 20050257822
    Abstract: There is provided herein a thermocouple and method of manufacturing same, which is preferably created by imprinting one or more non-conductive surfaces such as polyethylene with inks made of two different finely powered metals, the two constituent metals being chosen such that when they are placed in contact with each other thermocouple effect is created. According to a preferred embodiment, a finely powered metal ink containing, for example, iron would first be silk screened onto a substrate. Then a second metal ink would be screened onto the same substrate so as to intersect the first, the second metal being preferably being some combination of nickel and copper. By attaching electrodes to this screened combination, it will be possible to monitor temperature changes by measuring the current generated thereby.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2005
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Toby Smith, Craig Cooper
  • Publication number: 20050172398
    Abstract: There is provided herein a support surface such as a bed or chair which contains a network of inelastic straps, the tension in each of which can be independently sensed and adjusted under control of an electronic monitor. Preferably, each strap will contain a plurality of sensors to allow an attached electronic monitor (preferably one with a microprocessor) to determine in real time the amount of pressure (or the duration of the pressure) applied to each strap. Based on that information, the attached monitor will periodically loosen or tighten the straps as needed to move support for the patient's body away from current pressure points. In one preferred arrangement, each strap will preferably be loosened or tightened through the use of a worm gear drive or similar mechanical motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Toby Smith, Craig Cooper
  • Publication number: 20050083207
    Abstract: The instant invention is designed to detect when undue tension is placed on a belt or strap that is connected to a restraining vest, such undue pressure being indicative that a patient may be in trouble. It is preferable that, whatever sensor is used, it should be elastically resilient to return to its unstressed state after tension on the strap is removed. Additionally, it is preferable that the amount of force that is required in order to trigger an alarm be adjustable to accommodate patients of different weights. Finally, it is also preferable that the level of stress on the strap—and the duration over which it is applied—that is necessary to trigger an alarm be such that the patient cannot easily intentionally cause the device to sound an alarm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Inventors: Toby Smith, Craig Cooper, Sanford Fitzgerald
  • Publication number: 20050082466
    Abstract: There is provided herein a sensor for determining relative displacement between two surfaces which utilizes two optically conductive members that have been mounted in proximity to each other, whereby the amount of displacement between the two surfaces may be determined by measurement of the magnitude of the intensity of light transmitted through them. The instant invention preferably utilizes two planar light transmitting surfaces—an emitter and a receiver—which are free to move laterally with respect to each other and are positioned so that when light is introduced into the emitter some proportion of that light falls on the receiver. By electronically monitoring the intensity of light impinging on the receiver an estimate of the amount of overlap between the two optical surfaces and, thus, an estimate of the relative displacement between them, may be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Inventors: Toby Smith, Craig Copper
  • Publication number: 20050046575
    Abstract: There is provided herein a first preferred arrangement of the instant invention, wherein an electronic patient monitor utilizes a computer CPU as an alarm signal generator, which CPU is preferably directly connected to a power amplifier and/or a speaker without an intervening (or subsequent) conventional volume control. The alarm signal is preferably expressed as a series of square waves. The volume of the alarm signal as heard through the speaker is controlled by varying the width of the square waves that represent the alarm signal with the duty cycle of the square waves being shortened to reduce the output alarm volume and lengthened to increase it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: Craig Cooper, Toby Smith