Patents Represented by Attorney Century IP Group, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8352540
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer products for communicating between a client and server by identifying and separating file data streams within a file are provided. The method comprises indicating the type of file data stream to be transmitted and transmitting the indicated file data stream. The transmitted file data stream is compared with a stored data stream. A non-redundant file data stream is stored based upon the outcome of the comparison. The transmitted file data stream and stored data stream may be compared according to a deduplication table based on data stream profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph Anglin, Avishai Haim Hochberg, James Patrick Smith, Neil Gregory Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8296514
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing storage virtualization in a storage infrastructure are provided. The method comprises examining storage virtualization configurations across a data storage infrastructure having one or more data storage resources, such that configuration data associated with the storage virtualization configurations applied to the one or more data storage resources is stored in a configuration repository; analyzing the configuration data to detect storage virtualization policy inconsistencies across the data storage infrastructure; reporting potential problems associated with applying the storage virtualization configurations to said one or more data storage resources; and automatically implementing recommendations for corrective action to improve storage virtualization, in response to detecting the virtualization policy inconsistencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Gregory Van Hise, Gregory John Tevis
  • Patent number: 8281091
    Abstract: A method of selecting a target volume in a storage system is provided. The method comprises defining one or more parameters for a plurality of storage volumes in the storage system according to user preference; dynamically collecting information related to the parameters while the storage volumes are used; receiving a request to backup a first source volume in the storage system; and selecting or creating the target volume based on the collected information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anastasia Braginsky, Shachar Fienblit
  • Patent number: 8276041
    Abstract: A method for reading data from a data storage system is provided. The method comprises requesting a virtual data volume to access data from one or more data blocks in the data storage system; requesting a virtual protection information volume to access protection information associated with the data blocks; validating the data using the protection information; and providing the data to the host interface, in response to successful validation of the data. A method for writing data to a data storage system is also provided. The method comprises receiving data to be written to one or more data blocks in the data storage system, wherein the data is stored in a cache; generating protection information to be stored on a virtual protection information volume; requesting a virtual data volume to update the data blocks with the data; and requesting the virtual protection information volume to store the protection information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Lee Hafner, Wendy Ann Belluomini, Douglas William Dewey, Brian D. McKean, Donald R. Humlicek, Kevin L. Kidney, Theresa L. Segura
  • Patent number: 8250326
    Abstract: Systems and methods for data swapping in a storage network are provided. The method comprises associating a flag with a first track on a first volume (TA1) and a first track on a second volume (TB1) to indicate that I/O access to TA1 is to be redirected to TB1, and that I/O access to TB1 is to be redirected to TA1; locking TA1 and TB1 to prohibit I/O access to TA1 and TB1; copying data stored on TA1 and TB1 to cache; swapping data between TA1 and TB1; unlocking TA1 and TB1 to allow I/O access to TA1 and TB1; redirecting I/O access to TB1, in response to receiving an I/O request to access TA1, when TA1 is flagged, and redirecting I/O access to TA1, in response to receiving an I/O request to access TB1, when TB1 is flagged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Akram Bitar, Amir Sasson
  • Patent number: 8195876
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing storage virtualization in a storage infrastructure are provided. The method comprises examining storage virtualization configurations across a data storage infrastructure having one or more data storage resources, such that configuration data associated with the storage virtualization configurations applied to the one or more data storage resources is stored in a configuration repository; analyzing the configuration data to detect storage virtualization policy inconsistencies and redundancies across the data storage infrastructure; and reporting potential problems associated with applying the storage virtualization configurations to said one or more data storage resources, in response to detecting the virtualization policy inconsistencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Gregory Van Hise, Gregory John Tevis
  • Patent number: 8185496
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer products for separating file data streams for improved progressive incremental processing are provided. The method comprises identifying data in a file, prior to transmission of the data in a data stream to a second system, such that the second system can distinguish first data from second data in the file. The method further comprises processing the first and second data to determine whether the first or second data has changed, and transmitting the first data to the second system in response to determining the first data has changed, so that the first data is stored in a data storage medium in association with third and fourth data previously stored without replacing the third data and fourth data, wherein the third and fourth data comprise older versions of the first and second data, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph Anglin, David Maxwell Cannon, Barry Fruchtman, Avishai Haim Hochberg, James Patrick Smith
  • Patent number: 8176405
    Abstract: A method for validating data in a data storage system comprising associating a first data chunk with first check data and storing the first data chunk and the first check data on a first storage device. Additional associated data chunks of the first data and associated additional check data are stored on at least one of the first storage device or one or more additional storage devices. At least a portion of the first check data and at least a portion of the additional check data are stored to a second storage device, which is distinct from the first storage device and the additional storage devices. I/O access to the second storage device is minimized by retaining at least a portion of the first check data and at least a portion of the additional check data in a readily accessible storage medium, during servicing of a first I/O request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Lee Hafner, Wendy Ann Belluomini, Douglas William Dewey, Brian D. McKean, Donald R. Humlicek, Kevin L. Kidney, Theresa L. Segura
  • Patent number: 8176149
    Abstract: A method for managing a storage system comprises ejecting a first drive in the storage system having a plurality of drives, in response to determining a fault associated with the first drive, wherein the ejecting takes place in response to a command issued by a management tool utilized for determining the fault associated with the plurality of drives in the storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Bogner, Sumant Padbidri
  • Patent number: 8176272
    Abstract: A backup method that uses snapshot delta views to create backups of a data collection is provided. The method comprises taking a first snapshot of the data collection, in response to determining that a previous snapshot used to create a backup does not exist; creating a backup of the data collection using the first snapshot, in response to determining that the previous snapshot does not exist; recording that the first snapshot was used as a source for the creation of a backup; and taking a second snapshot of the data collection, in response to determining that the previous snapshot that was used as a source for a backup does exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Oliver Augenstein, Toby Lyn Marek, James Patrick Smith, Thomas Prause
  • Patent number: 8140485
    Abstract: A data recovery method that uses a minimum number of recovery streams is provided. The method comprises defining a minimum number of recovery streams to be read from during restoration of data from one or more storage volumes in a communication network, wherein the minimum number is determined according to one or more parameters defining availability of one or more resources in the communication network; restoring the data using at least the minimum number of recovery streams to optimize the rate at which the data is restored; and dynamically changing the minimum number of recovery streams, in response to determining that the availability of the one or more resources has changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Colin Scott Dawson, Howard Newton Martin
  • Patent number: 8127942
    Abstract: An apparatus for draining liquid from wet items is provided. The apparatus comprises opposing sidewalls, a rear wall, a front wall; a sloped floor positioned at an inclined angle between the two opposing sidewalls such that surface of the sloped floor meets the rear wall at a first position and the front wall at a second position, such that the first position is lower in altitude relative to the second position, wherein an opening formed in the apparatus allows for wet items to be placed in between the sidewalls on the sloped floor; one or more receiver partitions formed on the sloped floor to receive the wet items; and a gutter running along at least a portion of the sloped floor approximately at the first position where the sloped floor meets the rear wall, wherein the gutter is configured to collect liquid drained from the wet items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Inventor: Behrouz Meshkinfam
  • Patent number: 8006126
    Abstract: Data validation systems and methods are provided. Data is recorded in N data chunks on one or more storage mediums. A first validation chunk independently associated with said N data chunks comprises first validation information for verifying accuracy of data recorded in said N data chunks. The first validation chunk is associated with a first validation appendix comprising second validation information, wherein the first validation appendix is stored on a first storage medium independent of said one or more storage mediums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Veera W. Deenadhayalan, James L. Hafner, James C. Wyllie, Wendy A. Belluomini
  • Patent number: 8001336
    Abstract: Systems and methods for memory management in a computing environment are provided. The method comprises uniquely identifying a first object associated with a first task for an application executed in a computing environment, wherein a first area of memory is allocated to the first object; determining a first execution scope for the first task according to a first execution context associated with the first task, wherein the first context defines a first life expectancy for the first task within the execution environment hierarchy; determining a change in execution scope of the first task, in response to monitoring the first execution context; and deallocating the first area of memory, in response to determining that the first task is no longer executed within the first execution scope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gergana Vassileva Markova, Harry Clayton Husfelt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7979867
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a device in a distributed file system are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises instantiating a physical device object, in response to a file system driver detecting a device remotely connected to a computing system via a distributed network. An operating system running on the computing device loads a disk function driver for managing access to the device. A plug and play manager of the operating system enumerates the device. The disk function driver instantiates and registers a functional device object with a mount manager of the operating system. A file system instantiates a volume device object for a logical drive volume mapped to the device and the mount manager mounts the volume device object on the functional device object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Vipul Paul, Vikas Ahluwalia
  • Patent number: 7908246
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer products for separating file data streams for improved progressive incremental processing are provided. The method comprises identifying data in a file, prior to transmission of the data in a data stream to a second system, such that the second system can distinguish first data from second data in the file. The method further comprises processing the first and second data to determine whether the first or second data has changed, and transmitting the first data to the second system in response to determining the first data has changed, so that the first data is stored in a data storage medium in association with third and fourth data previously stored without replacing the third data and fourth data, wherein the third and fourth data comprise older versions of the first and second data, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph Anglin, David Maxwell Cannon, Barry Fruchtman, Avishai Haim Hochberg, James Patrick Smith
  • Patent number: 7890715
    Abstract: This invention relates to an asynchronous remote copying (ARC) system adapted to operate as a remote copy pair by communicating between primary storage and remote storage of a remote copy pair. The system comprises a primary controller for receiving a write command and writing data to primary storage; a remote controller for receiving a write command and writing data to remote storage; an ARC controller for suppressing the release of the write command to the remote controller if a delay between receiving the write command and the time when the remote storage may accept the data is more than a threshold delay, and the primary controller suppresses recording the data in primary storage until release of the write command to the remote storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dale Burr, Robert Bruce Nicholson, Carlos Francisco Fuente, William James Scales
  • Patent number: 7823008
    Abstract: An apparatus configured to operate as a primary for a remote copy pair is provided. The apparatus comprises a journal component at said primary for generating journal entries for one or more uncompleted sequenced batches; a configurator responsive to an error indication from a secondary for enumeration of said one or more uncompleted sequenced batches; and a primary server responsive to said enumeration of said one or more uncompleted sequenced batches to reissue to said secondary one or more write requests for said one or more uncompleted sequenced batches, during recovery processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dale Burr, Henry Esmond Butterworth, Carlos Francisco Fuente, William James Scales
  • Patent number: 7551896
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable medium allows a user to select an output signal for device/terminal in short distance wireless network. In embodiments of the present invention, the output signal is a ring tone, alarm, background image, vibration signal, font type, or portion of a motion picture. In embodiments of the present invention, a system comprises a first and second device, in a short distance wireless network, generating a first and second output signal. A cellular device generates a first and a second short-range radio signals responsive to a cellular signal from a cellular network. The cellular signal includes a first multimedia file for the first device and a second multimedia file for the second device. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first multimedia file and second multimedia file are thematically related. In an embodiment of the present invention, a processing device is coupled to the cellular network and stores the first and second multimedia files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: IXI Mobile (R&D), Ltd
    Inventors: Amit Haller, Ziv Haparnas
  • Patent number: 7551593
    Abstract: A device, a system, a method and a computer readable medium allowing a user to efficiently and easily add/remove or pair a processing device to a short distance wireless network is provided according to embodiments of the present invention. A user enters a PIN into a device. The device is then automatically paired to another device without any further user intervention to form a short distance wireless network in an embodiment of the present invention. A third party such as a manufacturer, reseller or telecommunication provider enables a processing device to be added to the short distance wireless network by generating a pairing message over the Internet or a SMS in an embodiment of the present invention. A user is able to know when a PIN code is invalid by a device performing error detection in another embodiment of the present invention. In still another embodiment of the present invention, the device also stores an error correction software component for correcting an erroneously inputted PIN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: IXI Mobile (R&D), Ltd.
    Inventors: Amit Haller, Peter Fornell, Avraham Itzchak, Ziv Haparnas, Amir Glick