Patents Represented by Attorney Adam M. Steadman
  • Patent number: 8255648
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are provided for maintaining a storage device backup consistency group. The method comprises receiving a first I/O command for a first storage device, receiving a second I/O command for a second storage device, identifying a transaction comprising both the first I/O command and the second I/O command, accessing a storage device backup consistency group for the first storage device, determining whether a backup for the second storage device is a member of the storage device backup consistency group, and performing a predefined corrective action if a backup for the second storage device is not a member of the storage device backup consistency group. The predefined corrective action may comprise detecting or creating a backup for the second storage device and then adding the detected or created backup to the storage device backup consistency group, invalidating the second I/O command, and/or issuing a warning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gordon D. Hutchison, Cameron J. McAllister, Lucy A. Raw, Bruce J. Smith
  • Patent number: 8229901
    Abstract: A method, a system, and a computer program product are provided for data management. The method may comprise identifying a predefined set of data storage parameters and a predefined set of data scrubbing parameters. The method further may comprise determining the predefined set of data scrubbing parameters for first data in a first data storage based on the predefined set of data storage parameters for the first data and performing data scrubbing for the first data using the determined predefined set of data scrubbing parameters. Furthermore, the method may comprise comparing first data in the first data storage and corresponding second data in a second data storage. If a mismatch is determined between the first data and the second data, the method further may comprise synchronizing the first data with the second data as a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Abhinay R. Nagpal, Sandeep R. Patil, Dhaval K. Shah, Yan W. Stein
  • Patent number: 8130460
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for writing data accumulated in a buffer on a tape medium in such a way that overwriting is prevented. The apparatus comprises a write unit configured for writing first data in a first position extending over a first track and an area adjacent to the first track, writing second data in a second position extending over a second track and an area adjacent to the second track, and writing the first data and the second data in a third position extending over a third track and an area adjacent to the third track. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a processing unit configured for preventing the first data written in the first position from being overwritten with the second data written in the second position or with the first data written in the third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Oishi, Hirokazu Nakayama, Setsuko Masuda, Kenji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8055931
    Abstract: A method is provided for switching between two oscillator signals within an alignment element. In accordance with the method, one of the two oscillator signals one is selected as a first master signal in order to provide an output stepping signal at an output of the alignment element. The method comprises introducing a virtual stepping signal when a switch between the two oscillator signals occurs or when a failure in the first master signal is detected. The method further comprises sending the virtual stepping signal to the output of the alignment element in the event of a switch until an alignment with a new master signal is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ralf Ludewig, Thuyen Le, Tilman Gloekler, Willm Hinrichs
  • Patent number: 8051153
    Abstract: A switch apparatus for a remote boot sequence of a network device is disclosed. The network device may comprise a processor and a network control circuit. The switch apparatus may comprise a first storage element for storing a first boot code, a second storage element for storing a second boot code, and a detect and switch circuit electrically connected to the network control circuit. The detect and switch circuit may selectively connect to one of the first storage element and the second storage element in response to whether there is a detected signal of a pluggable unit inserted into said network device, so that the processor executes the remote boot sequence in accordance with the boot code stored in the selected storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ku-Jei King, MW Wang, Kelvin WP Huang
  • Patent number: 7913132
    Abstract: A digital system and method for scanning sequential logic elements are disclosed. The digital system may comprise a plurality of sequential logic elements subdivided into power domains, wherein at least one of the power domains is power gated; a scan chain configured for processing a scan data sequence; a scan enable switch configured for controlling a scan mode; and at least one shadow engine, wherein the at least one shadow engine comprises a control circuit. At least some of the power domains may be interconnected to the scan chain with the scan enable switch, and the scan enable switch may control the scan mode by asserting a scan enable signal. The at least one power gated power domain with one or more sequential logic elements to be power gated may be bypassed via the at least one shadow engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tobias Gemmeke, Dieter Wendel, Holger Wetter, Jens Leenstra
  • Patent number: 7901250
    Abstract: An electrical adapter is provided for engaging a connector plug. The adapter comprises a male end, a female end, and a retention member. The male end is disposed at one end of the adapter for connecting the adapter to a female receptacle corresponding to the connector plug. The female end is disposed at another end of the adapter for engaging the connector plug. The female end comprises a top cap having a button disposed thereon. The retention member comprises a holder section, an energy storage section, and an energy release section. The holder section holds the connector plug. The energy storage section stores energy resulting from when the connector plug engages the retention member. When engaged by the button, the energy release section releases the energy stored in the energy storage section such that the connector plug automatically ejects from the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bill Lam, Ian Lin, Mark Wiltse
  • Patent number: 7885292
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product are disclosed for exchanging data among data processing systems. The method may comprise transmitting a first data structure from an originating system in the format native to such system to a management component; identifying a target system for receiving the first data structure; transmitting the first data structure from the management component to an autonomous component as a function of the target system; and comparing the first data structure to a set of data templates in order to identify a matching data template. If a matching data template is identified, the method further may comprise generating a second data structure according to the matching data template in the format native to the target system. If no matching data template is identified, the method further may comprise generating a new data template and generating the second data structure according to the new data template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Sebastien Llaurency