Patents by Inventor William Micka
William Micka 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: 20080046612Abstract: A method, apparatus and program storage device for providing asynchronous status messaging in a data storage system Asynchronous events are returned from a target to an initiator in response to a Read Message from the initiator. The return status message may or may not be associated with a previously given command or Logical Unit (LUN).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2007Publication date: February 21, 2008Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Brent Beardsley, Minh-Ngoc Huynh, William Micka, Satish Penmetsa, Richard Schaeffer, Kaukab Uddin
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Publication number: 20080021974Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for copying storage. Data sent from a first storage unit is synchronously copied at a second storage unit. The copied data is sent asynchronously from the second storage unit to a third storage unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2007Publication date: January 24, 2008Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Warren Stanley, William Micka, Gail Spear, Sam Werner, Olympia Gluck, Michael Factor, Robert Bartfai
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Publication number: 20070239950Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture, wherein a primary control unit sends a selected time to a plurality of secondary control units. Clocks are periodically synchronized at the primary control unit and the secondary control units with a time server. The primary control unit and the plurality of secondary control units consistently update secondary storage subsystems coupled to the plurality of secondary control units at the selected time.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2006Publication date: October 11, 2007Inventors: Robert Kern, Gregory McBride, Kenneth Boyd, William Micka, Gail Spear, Robert Bartfai
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Publication number: 20070220223Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for remote copying of updates to primary and secondary storage locations subject to a copy relationship. A first copy relationship is established between first and second storage locations in a first storage system and second storage system, respectively, wherein updates to the first storage locations are copied to the second storage locations. A second copy relationship is established between the first storage locations in the first copy relationship and third storage locations in a third storage system, wherein updates to the first storage locations are indicated in a first bitmap. A suspended third copy relationship is established between the second storage locations in the first copy relationship and the third storage locations, wherein updates to the second storage locations are indicated in a second bitmap.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2006Publication date: September 20, 2007Inventors: Kenneth Boyd, Lisa Gundy, Nils Kaving, Robert Kern, Gregory McBride, Alan McClure, William Micka, David Petersen, Gail Spear, Warren Stanley
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Publication number: 20070168707Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture wherein a command is received for writing data to a first storage location. A determination is made that previously written data is stored in the first storage location. The previously written data is copied to a second storage location, in response to determining that the previously written data is stored in the first storage location. The data is written to the first storage location, in response to copying the previously written data to the second storage location.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2005Publication date: July 19, 2007Inventors: Robert Kern, Kenneth Boyd, William Micka, Gregory McBride, John Flynn, John Wolfgang, Michael Factor, Amiram Hayardeny, Kenneth Day, Aviad Zlotnick
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Publication number: 20070156983Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for maintaining consistency when mirroring data using different copy technologies. Update groups having updates to primary storage locations are formed using a first copy technology. The updates in the update groups are copied to secondary storage locations. Update groups having updates to primary storage locations are formed using a second copy technology, wherein the updates in the update groups are copied to secondary storage locations. Indication is made in a data structure of a time of an update in response to including the update in one of the update groups formed using the first copy technology. Indication is also made in the data structure of a time of the update group formed using the second copy technology.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2006Publication date: July 5, 2007Inventors: Robert Kern, Kenneth Boyd, Gregory McBride, Gail Spear, Robert Bartfai, William Micka, Kenneth Day
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Publication number: 20070130214Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for continuously protecting data. A mirror module mirrors a primary record set to a base record set. A log module accumulates each record change to the primary record set in a log. A change selection module selects a record change from the log. A change application module applies the selected record change to the base record set to form a recovered record set.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2005Publication date: June 7, 2007Inventors: Kenneth Boyd, John Flynn, Robert Kern, Gregory McBride, William Micka, David Shackelford
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Publication number: 20070061531Abstract: A method of recovery from a data storage system failure in a data storage system having a host computer writing data to a first storage unit with a first storage controller synchronously mirroring the data to a second storage unit, and with a second storage controller asynchronously mirroring the data to a third storage unit. Upon detection of an error or failure associated with the first storage unit, the synchronous data mirroring relationship between the first storage unit and the second storage unit is terminated and the host is directed to write data updates directly to the second storage unit. Upon correction of the failure associated the asynchronous mirroring of data updates from the second storage unit to the third storage unit is suspended and synchronous mirroring of the data updates in a reverse direction, from the second storage unit to the first storage unit, is commenced.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2006Publication date: March 15, 2007Applicant: IBM CORPORATIONInventors: Robert Bartfai, Michael Factor, Gail Spear, William Micka
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Publication number: 20070028065Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for forming a consistency group of data. Information is provided on a consistency group relationship indicating a plurality of slave controllers and, for each indicated slave controller, a slave storage unit managed by the slave controller. A command is transmitted to each slave controller in the consistency group relationship to cause each slave controller to transmit data in the slave storage unit to a remote storage in a manner that forms the consistency group. A determination is made as to whether all the slave controllers successfully transmitted the data in the slave storage units that is part of the consistency group to the remote storage.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2006Publication date: February 1, 2007Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Gail Spear, Robert Bartfai, Edward Lin, William Micka, Olympia Gluck, Aviad Zlotnick, Michael Factor, Thomas Jarvis, Sam Werner
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Publication number: 20070022267Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for copying storage. Copy operations are performed on source storage units to copy to target storage units, wherein the copy operations create a consistent copy of the source storage units in the target storage units. While performing a copy operation to copy from one source storage unit to one target storage unit, a write operation is restricted from being performed on the one source storage unit, until the copy operations have been performed on the source storage units.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2006Publication date: January 25, 2007Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Sam Werner, William Micka, Sivan Tal, Ifat Nuriel, Sheli Rahav, Gail Spear, Warren Stanley
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Publication number: 20060294332Abstract: A method is disclosed to write data to an information storage and retrieval system comprising (n) volumes and a data cache, where that information storage and retrieval system is capable of communicating with one or more host computers. The method receives from a host computer an update for the (i)th volume, and determines the (i)th delay, where that (i)th delay is associated with the (i)th volume. The method then writes the update to said data cache interposing the (i)th delay without indicating to said host computer that the information storage and retrieval system is unavailable.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2005Publication date: December 28, 2006Inventors: Alan McClure, William Micka, Warren Stanley
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Publication number: 20060098818Abstract: A method of transmitting information from a primary storage control unit to a secondary storage control unit in an asynchronous data copying system. The method includes building multiple descriptor blocks for transmission from the primary storage control unit, and encrypting multiple payloads according to one of n encryption methods. In addition, the n encryption methods are associated with the primary storage control unit and n decryption keys relating to the n encryption methods are associated with the secondary storage control unit. An index to the n encryption keys is associated with the multiple descriptor blocks. The method further includes encrypting each of the payloads according to one of the n encryption methods and indicating, in the index associated with a selected descriptor block, which decryption key relates to the encryption method used for any payload associated with a select descriptor block.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2004Publication date: May 11, 2006Applicant: International Business Machines (IBM) CorporationInventors: Nicholas Fifer, Robert Bartfai, William Micka, Warren Stanley, Kenneth Day, Kenneth Boyd
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Publication number: 20050251633Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for synchronizing an asynchronous mirror volume using a synchronous mirror volume by tracking change information when data is written to a primary volume and not yet written to an asynchronous mirror, and storing the change information on both the primary storage system and the synchronous mirror system. In the event the primary storage system becomes unavailable, the asynchronous mirror is synchronized by copying data identified by the change information stored in the synchronous mirror system and using the synchronous mirror as the copy data source.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2004Publication date: November 10, 2005Inventors: William Micka, Gail Spear, Sam Werner
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Publication number: 20050251634Abstract: A target data storage system comprises a peer-to-peer communication link interface for linking the target to a source data storage system, and data storage for storing point in time copy data received from the source via the peer-to-peer communication link interface. Information is established at the target relating logical identification of the point in time copy data to point in time copy data stored at the target and to point in time copy data stored at the source, such that the information references the data storage system having requested point in time copy data. A controller of the target accesses requested point in time copy data at the target if the table indicates that the requested point in time copy data is available at the target; else obtains the requested point in time copy data from the source via the peer-to-peer communication link interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2004Publication date: November 10, 2005Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Helena Burton, Michael Factor, Timothy Griffin, Thomas Jarvis, William Micka, Yoram Novick, Gail Spear, Sam Werner
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Publication number: 20050228954Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and program for managing metadata in cache. A first policy is used to determine when to remove data from a primary cache, and a second policy is used to determine when to remove data from a metadata cache.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2005Publication date: October 13, 2005Inventors: Michael Factor, Shachar Fienblit, Olympia Gluck, Joseph Hyde, Thomas Jarvis, William Micka, Gail Spear, Martin Tross, Aviad Zlotnick
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Publication number: 20050216681Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for copying data. A request is received at a first storage control unit having a first set of volumes, wherein the first storage unit is coupled via a link to a second storage control unit having a second set of volumes that are peer-to-peer copies of the first set of volumes, and wherein the request is for generating a copy of the first and second set of volumes in a third set of volumes in the second storage control unit. A command is transmitted via the link, from the first storage control unit to the second storage control unit, wherein the transmitted command is capable of causing the second storage control unit to generate the copy of the first and second set of volumes in the third set of volumes in the second storage control unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2004Publication date: September 29, 2005Inventors: William Micka, Gail Spear, Sam Werner, Warren Stanley
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Publication number: 20050188251Abstract: A system and method for controlling peer-to-peer remote copy (PPRC) operations initiated from one or more host devices that desire to store data contents written to a first storage system to a second storage system over a communications link. The system enables receipt and generation of copy services commands from host devices and the determination of whether a received command pertains to a copy service over an established PPRC relationship for that particular customer to enable that customer to perform storage operations effecting data written to a first storage server having source volumes and stored in a remote second storage system having target volumes. The copy services command effecting data contents of source volumes and/or remote target volumes will be enabled if it is determined that said PPRC relationship is already established for that customer; and, prevented if the received copy services command does effect any volume not already in a copy services relationship.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2004Publication date: August 25, 2005Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Michael Benhase, William Micka
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Publication number: 20050138318Abstract: A method to initialize information disposed in an information storage and retrieval system comprising a data cache and one or more information storage media comprising a plurality of addresses. The method receives an initialization command, where that initialization command comprises a range of addresses and, optionally, an initialization pattern, where the plurality of addresses includes the range of addresses. The method forms and saves state information, where that state information includes the initialization pattern, and generates and saves a plurality of indicators, where that plurality of indicators includes an indicator for each track comprising the range of addresses. The method sets each of those indicators to a first value thereby indicating special handling, and provides an ending status signal, such that the receiving step, forming step, generating step, setting step, and providing step are performed substantially synchronously.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2003Publication date: June 23, 2005Inventors: Kevin Ash, Susan Candelaria, Joseph Hyde, Thomas Jarvis, William Micka, Kenneth Todd, Gail Spear
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Publication number: 20050081091Abstract: A method of recovery from a data storage system failure in a data storage system having a host computer writing data to a first storage unit with a first storage controller synchronously mirroring the data to a second storage unit, and with a second storage controller asynchronously mirroring the data to a third storage unit. The method begins with the detection of a failure associated with the first storage unit. Upon detection of the error or failure associated with the first storage unit, the synchronous data mirroring relationship between the first storage unit and the second storage unit is terminated and the host is directed to write data updates directly to the second storage unit. Upon correction of the failure associated with the first storage unit, the asynchronous mirroring of data updates from the second storage unit to the third storage unit is suspended and synchronous mirroring of the data updates in a reverse direction, from the second storage unit to the first storage unit, is commenced.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2003Publication date: April 14, 2005Applicant: International Business Machines (IBM) CorporationInventors: Robert Bartfai, Michael Factor, Gail Spear, William Micka
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Publication number: 20050071380Abstract: A method to coordinate interconnected information storage and retrieval systems, where each of the information and storage systems is capable of communicating with one or more host computers. The method provides a plurality of controllers and one or more information storage and retrieval systems, where each of the plurality of controllers is disposed in one of the one or more information storage and retrieval systems. The method designates one of the plurality of controllers as a master controller and the remaining controllers as target controllers. The method then generates one or more master controller commands by the master controller, and provides those one or more master controller commands to each of said target controllers, where the one or more master controller commands cause said target controllers to adjust the flow of data into and out of the one or more information storage and retrieval systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2003Publication date: March 31, 2005Inventors: William Micka, Gail Spear, Warren Stanley, Aviad Zlotnick