Distributed Patents (Class 707/966)
  • Patent number: 9037533
    Abstract: A database appliance in which two or more internetworked data storage units are used to coordinate the storage and retrieval of database records. One or more central database processing units are also associated with the data storage units. A network infrastructure provides the ability for the central database processors and storage processors to communicate as network nodes, with the network infrastructure using a communication protocol. A software application for executing database operations executes in a distributed fashion with portions of the database application executing on at least one central database processor and other portions executing on the data storage processors. At least a portion of the database application is implemented within and/or coordinated by a communication process that is executing the communication protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: IBM International Group B.V.
    Inventors: Foster D. Hinshaw, Steven T. Almy, David A. Utter, Barry M. Zane
  • Patent number: 9037535
    Abstract: A system is provided for centrally managing core enterprise reference data associated with an enterprise. A centralized master repository contains the core enterprise reference data. The internal services framework also provides internal services for managing the core enterprise reference data within the centralized master repository, one or more of the internal services having direct access to the core enterprise reference data stored in the centralized master repository for management purposes. An infrastructure services layer coupled to the centralized master repository provides for bulk data transfers of core enterprise reference data between the centralized master repository and one or more external operational systems according to one or more enterprise-level business workflows, the external operational systems permitted indirect access to the core enterprise reference data stored in the centralized master repository for operational purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: JDA Software Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Vasudev Rangadass
  • Patent number: 9020897
    Abstract: A computer system with read/write access to storage devices creates a snapshot of a data volume at a point in time while continuing to accept access requests to the mirrored data volume by copying before making changes to the base data volume. Multiple snapshots may be made of the same data volume at different points in time. Only data that is not stored in a previous snapshot volume or in the base data volume are stored in the most recent snapshot volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Silicon Graphics International Corp.
    Inventor: Kenneth Beck
  • Patent number: 8965921
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a distributed database system supporting flexible configuration of data clusters is disclosed. The system includes a cluster manager, an index, and a dataset distributed over one or more database clusters. Where the nodes of the clusters may report ownership of a particular range, the index contains an alternate range. The cluster manager receives requests to access a range of data within database and queries the index to determine the appropriate nodes and/or clusters with which to connect. The cluster manager then directs the requestor to connect to the specified nodes and/or clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Rackspace US, Inc.
    Inventor: Natasha Gajic
  • Patent number: 8938435
    Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for managing data across an enterprise. A request for information is received from a user. Data relating to the user request is searched for in at least two geographically separated information repositories. The results of the search are presented to the user. The user is allowed to browse through additional data of the information repositories. Links between data items and other data entries in the information repositories are created according to relationships the data items have to the other data entries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited
    Inventors: Kishore Swaminathan, Edy S. Liongosari, Kelly L. Dempski, Scott Kurth
  • Patent number: 8874563
    Abstract: Information associated with responses and requests that result from one or more selections of a webpage component is collected. The webpage component corresponds to at least one identifier. At least one set including the at least one identifier and the collected information associated with the responses and requests is determined. A destination webpage for the webpage component corresponding to the webpage component based at least on the information associated with the responses and requests is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: comScore, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Brown, Xinyu Huang, Glen Grant
  • Patent number: 8843471
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing packets in a network are disclosed. For example, the method scans one or more packets representing a content that is being transferred via the network, where the scanning acquires one or more content elements. The method then builds a keyterm index from the one or more content elements, and stores the keyterm index in a repository. A query handler then responds to queries in accordance with the keyterm index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Joseph B. Weinman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8805791
    Abstract: Images created by one or more image acquisition devices are initially stored in remote data bases at one or more remote or satellite locations and copies of the images are subsequently transferred to a central server at a central storage location over a network and stored in a central data base. A common catalog listing local image files stored at the central data base and remote image files stored at one or more remote data bases is stored at the central location and is accessed by users to search for images. User requests for images associated with local image files result in transfer of the requested images by the central server to the user. User requests for images associated with remote image files are relayed by the central server to the associated remote location, and the requested images are then relayed to the user from the remote location via the central server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Leica Biosystems Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Ole Eichhorn
  • Patent number: 8799209
    Abstract: Improved method of and apparatus for aggregating data elements in multidimensional databases (MDDB). In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus is realized in the form of a high-performance stand-alone (i.e. external) aggregation server which can be plugged-into conventional MOLAP systems to achieve significant improvements in system performance. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the stand-alone aggregation server contains a scalable MDDB and a high-performance aggregation engine that are integrated into the modular architecture of the aggregation server. The stand-alone aggregation server of the present invention can uniformly distribute data elements among a plurality of processors, for balanced loading and processing, and therefore is highly scalable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Yanicklo Technology Limited Liability Company
    Inventors: Reuven Bakalash, Guy Shaked, Joseph Caspi
  • Patent number: 8782093
    Abstract: A system for managing construction projects includes a database, a component interface, a state interface, and a database interface. The component interface is operative to receive component identifiers identifying components of a construction project. The state interface is operative to receive state indicators, each state indicator indicating a particular state (e.g., ordered, in transit, installed, inspected, etc.) associated with one of the components. The database interface is operative to store the component identifiers and the associated state indicators in the database. A method of managing construction projects is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: GCC, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary L. Greer, John T. Hohn, Margaret L. Flores
  • Patent number: 8775483
    Abstract: Systems and methods of managing an in-memory data grid (IMDG) may involve conducting a data distribution analysis of the IMDG on a periodic basis, and selecting a hash scheme from a plurality of hash schemes based on the data distribution analysis. In one example, the selected hash scheme is used to conduct a repopulation of the IMDG, wherein the repopulation increases the distribution evenness of database records across the IMDG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Snehal S. Antani, Kulvir S. Bhogal, Nitin Gaur, Chris D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8768979
    Abstract: Systems and methods of managing an in-memory data grid (IMDG) may involve conducting a data distribution analysis of the IMDG on a periodic basis, and selecting a hash scheme from a plurality of hash schemes based on the data distribution analysis. In one example, the selected hash scheme is used to conduct a repopulation of the IMDG, wherein the repopulation increases the distribution evenness of database records across the IMDG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Snehal S. Antani, Kulvir S. Bhogal, Nitin Gaur, Chris D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8738647
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for image matching. The method includes receiving a query image at a query-server. Further, the method includes, sending a request to one or more image-matching servers of a set of distributed image-matching servers to conduct an image-search corresponding to the query image. Furthermore, the method includes receiving at the query-server, a list of identified matches from the image-matching servers corresponding to the query image, wherein the list of matches is identified based on the image-search at the image-matching servers. Moreover, the method includes selecting one or more matches from the list of identified matches based on a score corresponding to the identified matches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Keshav Menon, Max Delgadillo, Sunil Ramesh, Gd Ramkumar
  • Patent number: 8732162
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods for server management are provided. An exemplary system comprises a plurality of servers, with each server having the ability to access a database or, in some embodiments, be configured to perform a calculation, computation or make a determination of a particular value, values or other information. A communications network delivers queries to each server whereby a look-up table directs query processing by the servers. Further embodiments of the system feature a program logic controller for rebalancing the workload of the network servers. Exemplary methods of processing queries on the system comprise submitting a query to the network, communicating the query to each server in the network and each server looking-up on a look-up table the processing responsibilities of the servers in the network. The query is processed by the server having primary responsibility for processing the query while other the servers monitor query processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
    Inventor: Adam Pierce Harris
  • Patent number: 8683021
    Abstract: A computer system with read/write access to storage devices creates a snapshot of a data volume at a point in time while continuing to accept access requests to the mirrored data volume by copying before making changes to the base data volume. Multiple snapshots may be made of the same data volume at different points in time. Only data that is not stored in a previous snapshot volume or in the base data volume are stored in the most recent snapshot volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Silicon Graphics International, Corp.
    Inventor: Kenneth S. Beck
  • Patent number: 8671087
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for scanning and indexing data for different purposes. Included is a universal engine operable to scan and index data stored in at least one device, for a plurality of different purposes. Further provided is at least one application for controlling the universal engine to perform the scanning and indexing for at least one of the different purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: McAfee, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Holland Wills, Charles Allen Ross, George L. Heron
  • Patent number: 8667169
    Abstract: A method is provided in one example and includes receiving network traffic associated with a first user and a second user; evaluating keywords in the network traffic in order to identify a topic of discussion involving the first and the second users; determining a first sentiment associated with a first data segment associated with the first user; determining a second sentiment associated with a second data segment associated with the second user; and generating an argument map based on the first data sentiment and the second data sentiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Deepti Patil, Satish K. Gannu, Ashutosh A. Malegaonkar
  • Patent number: 8615573
    Abstract: A content management system for managing content stored by a number of networked Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) associated with a user community is provided. More specifically, the storage space of each of the personal video recorders is physically or logically partitioned into a personal space and a community space. The content management system manages the community spaces of the PVRs such that content relevant to the user community is stored in the collective community space of the PVRs and available to the user community.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Quiro Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Walsh, Alfredo C. Issa, Sid Stafford, James Evans
  • Patent number: 8612386
    Abstract: A distributed database synchronization capability is provided herein. The distributed database synchronization capability may be implemented using one or more of a timer-based scheme and a token-based scheme. The distributed database synchronization capability enables synchronization of databases of nodes in various types of networks, including dynamic networks (e.g., such as rapidly deployable wireless networks) and various other types of networks. The synchronization of databases may include synchronization of databases as a whole and/or portions of databases (which may include any suitable database table or tables). The distributed database synchronization capability enables synchronization of databases of nodes under various dynamic conditions (e.g., synchronization of databases of nodes within a cluster of nodes, synchronization of databases of nodes between clusters of nodes, synchronization of databases of nodes by administrative domain, and the like).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Chienwen Tien, Raymond B. Miller, Jih-Tsang Leu, Pravir A. Patel, Suman Das, Jaideep Singh Lamba, Liem Le
  • Patent number: 8564820
    Abstract: According to the present invention, an apparatus that communicates with a data management system sets a condition for acquiring data from the data management system, collects data of an image forming device, adds a key matching the set condition to the collected data, and transmits the data to which the key is added, to the data management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nao Funane
  • Patent number: 8560292
    Abstract: A system and method for simulating a state of a distributed storage system is provided. A current state of a distributed storage system and replication policies for the objects in the distributed storage system is obtained. Proposed modifications to the current state of the distributed storage system are received. The state of the distributed storage system is simulated over time based on the current state of the distributed storage system, the replication policies for the objects in the distributed storage system, and the proposed modifications to the current state of the distributed storage system. Then reports relating to the time evolution of the current state of the distributed storage system are generated based on the simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Yonatan Zunger, Alexandre Drobychev, Alexander Kesselman, Rebekah C. Vickrey, Frank C. Dachille, George Datuashvili
  • Patent number: 8554726
    Abstract: Systems and methods for reslicing data in a representation of a relational database are disclosed. In one embodiment, the database includes a representation including a first slice. The database system creates a plurality of new slice and to create a plurality of write queues. The database system copies units of data in the first slice to the new slices according to a distribution function. The distribution function determines, for each unit of data in the first slice, one of the new slices into which to copy the unit of data. The database system asynchronously writes one or more actions of a set of one or more asynchronous database transactions to the first slice when copying the data in the first slice to the new slices. The database asynchronously enqueues the one or more actions of the set of asynchronous database transactions in the write queues according to the distribution function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Clustrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Frantz, Sergei Tsarev, Jim Gale, Scott Smith, Dan Adkins
  • Patent number: 8543538
    Abstract: Systems and methods for redistributing data in a relational database are disclosed. In one embodiment, the database includes a plurality of rows of data distributed across a plurality of slices of a table in the database. The database system is configured to distribute the rows of data across the slices according to a first function based on one or more columns of the database. The database system monitors at least one database statistic indicative of variation in a distribution of the rows of data across the slices and detects a redistribution condition based on the at least one monitored database statistic. The database system is further configured to respond to the detected redistribution condition by redistributing the rows of data across the slices according to a second function based on a different number of columns than the first function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Clustrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Frantz, Sergei Tsarev, Jim Gale, Scott Smith
  • Patent number: 8543600
    Abstract: Techniques are described for data redistribution in a database system. Embodiments store a first set of receiver location identifiers mapped to a document identifier, the first set of receiver location identifiers assigned to a first set of receiver locations storing relational data referencing the document identifier. Embodiments further store a second set of receiver location identifiers mapped to the document identifier, the second set of receiver location identifiers assigned to a second set of receiver locations storing document data corresponding to the document identifier referenced by the relational data. Sender index keys are received separately from the relational data and the document data, the sender index keys referencing the document identifier and containing sender location identifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ivan Lew, Aleksandrs Santars, Adil M. Sardar, David Tremaine
  • Patent number: 8522005
    Abstract: A first portion of a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) configuration language string is determined, the first portion identifying an Human Interface Infrastructure (HII) configuration attribute. A second portion of the string is determined and includes a first attribute modifier. The first attribute modifier includes a first name-value pair identifying a first name and a first value. The first name and the first value are individually parsable, and the meaning of the first value is determined based on the first name. The string is stored at a HII string package of an HII database. An HII string identifier uniquely references the string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Dell Products, LP
    Inventors: Samer El Haj Mahmoud, Austin Bolen, Richard Chan, William Munger
  • Patent number: 8478803
    Abstract: A method for managing a logical statement within a distributed database includes checking, responsive to receipt of a first logical statement for by first database management system node, whether the first logical statement is stored within a segment of the distributed database; and storing, responsive to a determination that the first logical statement is not stored within a segment of the distributed database, storing the first logical statement in at least one of non-unique fact table and unique fact table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Graham A. Bent, Patrick Dantressangle
  • Patent number: 8468229
    Abstract: A method for controlling distribution of media contents over a network is provided, wherein the contents are distributed contents available at surrogate servers and remaining contents that are not available at the surrogate servers. The method includes identifying contents eligible for distribution from the remaining contents; defining a set of categories; identifying for each category at least a reference content; associating the identified contents with the predefined categories based on semantics affinity with the reference content, the semantics affinity being calculated as the distance of each of the identified contents to the at least a reference content; selecting at least one of the predefined categories; and making at least one of the identified contents associated with the selected predefined category available for distribution at the surrogate servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marzio Alessi, Eugenio Maria Maffione
  • Patent number: 8417689
    Abstract: Each of a plurality of subtasks is configured to explore and assess alternative solutions for a combinatorial optimization problem by a reentrant finite state machine is represented. Each of a plurality of threads is configured to perform operations comprising a subtask until either completion or a blocked state is reached and, in the event a blocked state is reached, to move on to performing another subtask that is not currently in a blocked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Florian Waas, Mohamed Soliman, Konstantinos Krikellas
  • Patent number: 8364728
    Abstract: A method and system including a plurality of multifunction devices (MFDs), the method and system further including a storage station having geographically separated MFDs for permitting users to store information generated by the plurality of MFDs in operable communication with the locale aware DFS; wherein the information is stored on a plurality of storage stations based on a weighted undirected graph generated from a plurality of dynamically monitored user behaviors, required level of replications, and selection rules to pick the points of storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Shanmuga-nathan Gnanasambandam, Naveen Sharma
  • Patent number: 8364732
    Abstract: An extensible file system format for portable storage media is provided. The extensible file system format includes the specification of primary and secondary directory entry types that may be custom defined. The primary and secondary directory entry types can be further classified as critical and benign directory entries. The directory entry types can define whether a cluster chain corresponding to a file can be contiguously allocated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ravisankar V. Pudipeddi, Vishal V. Ghotge, Sarosh C. Havewala, Revinder S. Thind, Mark J. Zbikowski, David A. Goebel
  • Patent number: 8364677
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating partition keys in an information handling system having a partitioned database. Partition keys are generated by concatenating a partition subrange identifier specifying a subrange of key values and a sequence number specifying a particular key value within a subrange. Partition keys are assigned with the aid of a partition key control table that stores subrange and available key block information and is updated whenever key blocks are reserved or the database is repartitioned. An activity indicator maintained for each partition indicates recent activity in the partition. In response to a request for a partition key, a partition is selected for key assignment having the least recent activity as indicated by its activity indicator. Specific activity indicators disclosed include a timestamp for each partition in the control table, as well as a count of the threads in a particular application instance concurrently accessing a partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Brodfuehrer, Terence Patrick Purcell, Michael S. Wang, Kim Jon Worm
  • Patent number: 8311982
    Abstract: A system has a processing pipeline with a plurality of processing stages, where each of the processing stages has one or plural processors, and where the processing stages are individually and independently scalable. A first of the processing stages of the processing pipeline provides a received date update into an update data structure, where the update data structure is accessible to process a query received by the system. One or more additional of the processing stages transforms the update data structure to allow for merging of the transformed update data structure into a database, where the transformed update data structure is accessible to process the query. Content of the transformed update data structure is stored into the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L. P.
    Inventors: Craig A. N. Soules, Kimberly Keeton, Charles B. Morrey, III, Alistair Veitch
  • Patent number: 8291000
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a system, method, and related computer-related medium to process data transactions are provided. In one example, a system is arranged to process data transactions in a data store including a plurality of databases. The system includes a computer interface module to receive a data transaction request from at least one requesting computer and a data access layer having one or more processors to identify at least one database in the plurality of databases. The data access layer is to define an abstraction layer between a computer interface module and the plurality of databases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Elena Grossfeld, Surjatini Widjojo, Thorsten Lockert, Greg Seitz, Kenneth Randall Wigginton, Christopher J. Kasten
  • Patent number: 8255431
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products for managing memory. In one general embodiment, the method includes assigning an isolated virtual heap in a global kernel heap of a global operating system environment to each of a plurality of isolated virtual operating system environments operating in a global operating system environment; and in response to an invocation of kernel heap memory allocation from one of the isolated virtual operating system environments, dynamically allocating memory to the invoking isolated virtual operating system environment from the virtual kernel heap assigned to the invoking isolated virtual operating system environment. The method may also include running the plurality of isolated virtual operating system environments in the global operating system environment. The plurality of isolated virtual operating system environments may share a single common kernel. The isolated virtual operating system environments may run under the same operating system image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Madhusudanan Kandasamy, Vidya Ranganathan, Murali Vaddagiri
  • Patent number: 8204922
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for centrally managing core enterprise reference data associated with an enterprise. A centralized master repository includes the core enterprise reference data. An internal services framework coupled with the centralized master repository provides a business process toolkit for managing models. The business process toolkit includes a model library comprising data models and one or more modeling services for modeling the system. The internal services framework also provides internal services for managing the core enterprise reference data, one or more of the internal services having direct access to the core enterprise reference data for management purposes. An infrastructure services layer coupled with the centralized master repository provides bulk data transfers of core enterprise reference data according to one or more enterprise-level business workflows, the external operational systems permitted indirect access to the core enterprise reference data for operational purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: JDA Software Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Vasudev Rangadass
  • Patent number: 8171047
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a database query optimizer utilizes a combining network to optimize a portion of a query in a parallel computer system with multiple nodes. The efficiency of the parallel computer system is increased by offloading collective operations on node data to the global combining network. The global combining network performs collective operations such as minimum, maximum, sum, and logical functions such as OR and XOR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric L. Barsness, David L. Darrington, Amanda E. Peters, John M. Santosuosso
  • Patent number: 8166005
    Abstract: Servers in a storage system store a nested multilayer directory structure, and a global index that is an abstract of the directory structure. The global index identifies respective portions of the directory structure that are stored in respective ones of the servers, and the global index identifies paths through the directory structure linking the respective portions. Upon performing a top-down search of the directory structure in response to a client request and finding that a portion of it is offline, the global index is searched to discover portions of the directory structure that are located below the offline portion. The global index may also identify the respective server storing each of the respective portions of the directory structure, and may indicate whether or not each of the respective portions of the directory structure is known to be offline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Peter C. Bixby, Xiaoye Jiang, Uday K. Gupta, Sorin Faibish
  • Patent number: 8161079
    Abstract: A plurality of components of a storage area network is grouped into a plurality of component groups, wherein a component group includes one or more of the plurality of components of the storage area network. A group relationship data structure provides relationships among one or more of the plurality of component groups, wherein a relationship indicates a supported configuration of the storage area network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Doan Lam Chen, Michael Allan Nelsen, Vincent J. Rooney, Florence Hon Sheung Tang
  • Patent number: 8156107
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of partitioning database relations across a plurality of hosts in a shared-nothing cluster while minimizing communication costs. A new partitioning approach for database relations—join-partitioning—is introduced that focuses on relations and their dependencies to a priori partition the plurality of relations to the plurality of hosts such that each host can locally compute a large class of queries over its partitioned data in isolation at query time, independent of other hosts in the cluster. Such an approach thus overcomes the primary bottleneck, i.e., the network, in deploying database systems over shared-nothing clusters by allowing them to seamlessly scale linearly to tens of thousands of hosts and manage tens or hundreds of terabytes of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Teradata US, Inc.
    Inventors: Mayank Bawa, Anastasios Argyros, George Candea
  • Patent number: 8131749
    Abstract: A flexible database schema allows changes to the types of digital media objects, metadata types, and/or metadata relationships without corrupting the database, breaking applications functionality, or requiring the database reconstruction. A database schema stores all objects in a single table. The objects table contains common fields and generic metadata fields. The generic metadata fields reference metadata objects associated with a digital media object. Each type of digital media object can map its generic metadata fields to a different metadata hierarchy. A data access API provides a set of digital media object and metadata mappings to enable applications to insert and retrieve information from the database. The data access API can be updated as needed to account for changes in the metadata hierarchies of one or more types of digital media objects. The database schema can be used to store metadata for digital media objects or other types of data objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Giyora Sayfan
  • Patent number: 8131781
    Abstract: The invention provides an efficient apparatus and method for deleting items within a distributed datastore. Deletion of items is accomplished using anti-items having the same structure as a conventional data item, but for a single tag, flag, or bit which indicates that it is an anti-item, wherein the single tag, flag, or bit but does not affect the location at which a data item or anti-item is ultimately stored within the datastore, thereby ensuring that, upon insertion, the anti-item reaches the same location or locations within the datastore as the original data item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Minds, LLC
    Inventor: W. Daniel Hillis
  • Patent number: 8099388
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is described for improving access to mostly read data on network servers. The preferred embodiments more efficiently utilize replicated data servers to minimize server response time for improved performance of data access to network servers by workload managing client requests across the primary server and all replicated servers when it is possible to do so. In preferred embodiments, a load balancer supplies the most current data for mostly read data transactions while maximizing server usage by workload managing client requests across the primary server and all replicated servers. Client requests are managed by a load balancer in the workload manager. Client requests are sent by the load balancer to replicated servers when a routing table (stale data marker list) indicates that the data is in a safe period. Clients are directed exclusively to the primary server only during data update times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jinmei Shen, Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 8095512
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may be used to increase query processing parallelism of an in-memory database stored on a parallel computing system. A group of compute nodes each store a portion of data as part of the in-memory database. Further, a pool of compute nodes may be reserved to create copies of data from the compute nodes of the in-memory database as part of query processing. When a query is received for execution, the query may be evaluated to determine whether portions of in-memory should be duplicated to allow multiple elements of the query (e.g., multiple query predicates) to be evaluated in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Lawrence Barsness, David L. Darrington, Amanda Peters, John Matthew Santosuosso
  • Patent number: 8086582
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for scanning and indexing data for different purposes. Included is a universal engine operable to scan and index data stored in at least one device, for a plurality of different purposes. Further provided is at least one application for controlling the universal engine to perform the scanning and indexing for at least one of the different purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: McAfee, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Holland Wills, Charles Allen Ross, George L. Heron
  • Patent number: 8082255
    Abstract: A process for creating a melded visual image to accompany a delivery of digital content. The melded image including at least a digital image associated with the digital content and a first placement image. The first placement image selected for delivery with the digital image in accordance with the execution of one or more rules concerning the digital content or the end user receiving the digital content. The melded image may contain constituent parts that have been altered such as changing the aspect ratio or transparency so that the digital image and the placement image can be displayed on a display screen associated with at least one class of player device that may play the digital content. The placement image may be part of an advertising campaign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: eMinor Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward J. Carlson, Jr., Andrew Watts, Steve Jernigan, Robert Hubbard, Ferol Vernon
  • Patent number: 8073887
    Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, a method for REST service importation in a distributed application development data processing system can be provided. The method can include the specifying a sample uniform resource locator (URL) in a graphical user interface to a REST service importation editor and invoking the REST service at the sample URL in order to receive a response object from the REST service. The method further can include parsing both the sample URL and the response object to identify different request fields and field types of a request object for the REST service and also response fields and field types of the response object. Finally, the method can include displaying a description of the request fields and field types of the request object and also a description of the response fields and field types of the response object in the graphical user interface to the REST service importation editor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jennifer E. Baldwin, Jonathan D. Ball, Elijah El-Haddad, Mihnea Galeteanu, Perry R. Giffen, Evgueni Kharlamov, Han Xu
  • Patent number: 8051036
    Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for authenticating a visiting node in a wireless network. A method includes receiving a request to transfer a user database of a visiting node, obtaining the visiting node user database from the visiting node in response to a determination to update a master user database to include the visiting node user database, and merging the visiting node user database with the master user database. The request to transfer the visiting node user database is received, from the visiting node, at a primary authentication node of the network. The visiting node user database includes entries for users associated with the visiting node. The master user database includes entries for users associated with nodes authenticated by the primary authentication node of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Thierry Etienne Klein, Charles Payette
  • Patent number: 8032488
    Abstract: A system for improved data sharing within a cluster of nodes having a database management system. The system defines a virtual replicated table as being useable in a hybrid of a shared-cache and shared-nothing architecture. The virtual replicated table is a physically single table sharable among a plurality of cluster nodes for data read operations and not sharable with other cluster nodes for data modification operations. Default owner node is assigned for each virtual replicated table to ensure the page validity and provide requested pages to the requesting node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Scott David Lashley, Paul Sherwood Taylor
  • Patent number: 8027992
    Abstract: A system and method for managing and verifying the installation of software on a modular information handling system includes a bar file database and an installation management module. The bar file database stores bar files. The bar files each are related to a component of a modular information handling system. The installation management module is able to receive a bar file and communicate with the bar file database to identify and access each bar file associated with the modular information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: David Blake, Michelle Eddie
  • Patent number: 8024377
    Abstract: The invention provides an efficient apparatus and method for deleting items within a distributed datastore. Deletion of items is accomplished using anti-items having the same structure as a conventional data item, but for a single tag, flag, or bit which indicates that it is an anti-item, wherein the single tag, flag, or bit but does not affect the location at which a data item or anti-item is ultimately stored within the datastore, thereby ensuring that, upon insertion, the anti-item reaches the same location or locations within the datastore as the original data item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Minds, LLC
    Inventor: W. Daniel Hillis