Patents Represented by Attorney Griffiths & Seaton
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Patent number: 8332589Abstract: Method, system, and computer program product embodiments for, in a computing storage environment for destaging data from nonvolatile storage (NVS) to a storage unit, identifying working data on a stride basis by a processor device are provided. A multi-update bit is established for each stride in a modified cache. The multi-update bit is adapted to indicate at least one track in a working set. A schedule of destage scans is configured based on a plurality of levels of urgency. A destage operation is performed based on at least one of a number of strides examined by the destage scans, whether the multi-update bit is set, and whether an emergency level of the plurality of levels of urgency is active.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Brent C. Beardsley, Michael T. Benhase, Lokesh M. Gupta, Joseph S. Hyde, II, Sonny E. Williams
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Patent number: 8327338Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for identifying an overlay of a data processing target structure in a computing environment is provided. At least one of examining a mapping macro for the target structure with a set of valid ranges, comparing the set of valid ranges with the target structure to identify a string of at least one first invalid value and a last invalid value and locate invalid regions of the target structure, and examining executable code associated with the target structure, comparing at least one unchanged module against at least one additional module exhibiting an overlay characteristic to identify the string of the at least one first invalid value and the last invalid value and locate invalid regions of the target structure, is performed.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2009Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Herman Aranguren, David Bruce LeGendre, David Charles Reed, Max Douglas Smith
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Patent number: 8327331Abstract: A method for verifying an input/output (I/O) hardware configuration is provided. A verification command is processed. The verification command includes a software device address range associated with a logical control unit (LCU) of the I/O hardware. The LCU utilizes a first logical path. The software device address range utilizing the first logical path is compared with an existing software device address range utilizing at least one additional logical path. The verification command is accepted if the software device address range and the existing software device address range match.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2008Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Juan Alonso Coronado, Roger Gregory Hathorn, Dinh Hai Le, Daniel J. Perkin, Adelaide Margaret Richards, Aaron Eugene Taylor
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Patent number: 8327106Abstract: Various method, system, and computer program product embodiments for selective device access control in a data storage system are provided. In one such embodiment, a plurality of access groups associated with logical devices used to access the data storage system is initialized. Each of the plurality of access groups corresponds to a range of the logical devices. An access group name of one of the access groups is bound to a logical volume of the data storage system at a volume creation. The logical volume, once bound to the access group name, is granted access by those of the logical devices in a range of the logical devices corresponding to the one of the access groups.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2009Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jonathan W. Peake, Joseph M. Swingler
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Patent number: 8327050Abstract: Methods and systems for creating, reading, and writing compressed files in a computer system comprising a file system coupled with storage medium and at least one application program interface (API) configured to communicate with the file system by means of file access-related requests are provided. The file access-related requests are intercepted in order to provide at least one of the following: a) to derive and compress data corresponding to the intercepted file access request and to facilitate storing the compressed data at the storage medium as a compressed file; b) to facilitate restoring at least part of compressed data corresponding to the intercepted file request and communicating the resulting data through the API. The compressed files comprise plurality of compressed units. One or more corresponding compressed units may be read and/or updated with no need of restoring the entire file while maintaining de-fragmented structure of the compressed file.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2011Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jonathan Amit, Noah Amit, Nadav Kedem
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Patent number: 8322619Abstract: An account application product includes a package, an account identifier and a terms sheet. The package includes a first panel extending from a free edge to a first fold line, a second panel extending away from the first fold line to a second fold line, and a third panel extending away from the second fold line. The first panel is folded back along the first fold line toward a first surface of the second panel to define a storage area between the first panel and the second panel. The third panel is folded forward along the second fold line toward a second surface of the second panel. The account identifier indicates an account associated with the account application product and is configured to be machine readable. The terms sheet is selectively stored in the storage area and includes printed terms for the account. Associated packages and method are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2009Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Sullivan, Maria S. Holm, Rachell Ann McDougall, Kristin Watnemo Choi, Timothy D. Schumann, Jenna Bowar
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Patent number: 8322529Abstract: A hanger assembly for supporting an item suspended from a support structure includes a hanger and a sleeve. The hanger includes a display section, which defines a bottom edge and including a hanging feature configured to receive a portion of the support structure, and a drop section extending downwardly from the display section. The drop section includes a primary shaft and an arm. The primary shaft extends the length of the drop section and defines a front surface configured to be placed adjacent the item. The arm extends upwardly from a lower portion of the drop section to define a lower slot between the primary shaft and the arm. The sleeve extends entirely around the primary shaft through the lower slot. The sleeve is initially loose around the primary shaft and is configured to shrink to tightly fit around and secure the item to the primary shaft.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2010Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.Inventors: Laszlo Titkos, Alex Tetiyevsky, Michael Norman, Keith C. Cedro
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Patent number: 8316182Abstract: In response to read and write requests for data blocks at logical storage locations, a block mapping device determines physical storage locations on the storage devices. Read requests switch over secondary storage devices to the active mode when they are in the passive mode. Write requests write data blocks only to the primary storage devices. Secondary storage devices that have not been accessed for a minimum activation time may be switched over from the active to the passive mode to save power consumption and cooling. Data migration and data recall policies control moving of data blocks between the primary and secondary storage devices and are primarily based on threshold values.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2010Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Oliver Augenstein, Stefan Bender, Karl Fleckenstein, Andreas Uhl
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Patent number: 8312610Abstract: A method of constructing a retail display system includes creating a first display article including a support panel and hanging the first display article. Creating the first display article includes editing an original photograph of a clothing product for sale to appear similar to a mannequin wearing the clothing product for sale in an edited photograph. Hanging the first display article includes hanging the first display article in a display area using a mounting bracket secured to a back surface of the support panel. The method further includes positioning a retail good corresponding to the clothing product depicted in the photograph in proximity to the first display article. Retail display systems and methods of construction provide additional advantages.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2010Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.Inventors: Jeremy A. Clark, Michael A. Whittier
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Patent number: 8308119Abstract: A retail product assembly includes a retail product, a bracket coupled thereto and defining an opening between the retail product and the bracket, and a hanger. The hanger includes a hanging portion configured to receive a support structure, a cross bar, a drop portion, and a tapered portion. The cross bar extends from the hanging portion and is wider than the bracket. At least a portion of the cross bar extends below the topmost sidewall of the retail product. The drop portion extends through the opening. The tapered portion extends away from the drop portion and is configured to slide through the opening to position a top edge of the tapered portion opposite the cross bar relative to the opening. The top edge of the tapered portion interacts with the bracket to support the retail product via the bracket when the hanger is hung from the support structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2010Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.Inventors: Peter Foltz, Jacob Streich
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Patent number: 8307135Abstract: A method for operating a storage system, including storing data redundantly in the system and measuring respective queue lengths of input/output requests to operational elements of the system. The queue lengths are compared to an average queue length to determine respective performances of the operational elements of the storage system. In response to the average queue lengths and a permitted deviation from the average an under-performing operational element among the operational elements is identified. An indication of the under-performing operational element is provided to host interfaces in the storage system. One of the host interfaces receives requests for specified items of the data directed to the under-performing element, and in response to the indication, some of the requests are diverted from the under-performing operational element to one or more other operational elements of the storage system that are configured to provide the specified items of the data.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2011Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Ofir Zohar, Shemer Schwarz, Efraim Zeidner
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Patent number: 8301670Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus and a method of managing a snapshot storage pool (SSP) associated with a storage unit of a distributed data storage system. According to some embodiments of the invention, the apparatus may include a logic module and a processor. The logic module may be adapted to provide a threshold corresponding to a ratio between a current amount of storage resources used for storing snapshots in the SSP and a total storage capacity defined for the SSP. The processor may be adapted to trigger an action that may be effective for managing the SSP in response to the amount of storage resources used for storing snapshots in the SSP crossing the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2011Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Yaron Revah, Shemer Schwartz, Efri Zeidner, Ofir Zohar
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Patent number: 8301855Abstract: A method for data storage, including configuring a first logical volume on a first storage system and a second logical volume on a second storage system. The second logical volume is configured as a mirror of the first logical volume, so that the first and second logical volumes form a single logical mirrored volume. The method also includes receiving at the second storage system a command submitted by a host to write data to the logical mirrored volume, and transferring the command from the second storage system to the first storage system without writing the data to the second logical volume. On receipt of the command at the first storage system, the data is written to the first logical volume. Subsequent to writing the data to the first logical volume, the data is mirrored on the second logical volume.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2011Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Kariel E. Sandler
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Patent number: 8296536Abstract: A replication synchronization table (RST) is configured for the source instance. The RST is adapted for recording compacted information for at least one of a truncate and an erase operation applied on the source instance. The RST of the source instance is updated at a source component with the compacted information. The updated RST is transmitted from the source instance to the replicated instance. Based on the RST of the source instance and the RST of the replicated instance, data representative of a most recent position on the source component from which data should be transmitted to a replicated component to achieve a full synchronization is determined.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2009Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Shay H. Akirav, Yariv Bachar, Elena Drobchenko, Samuel Krikler, Aharon Lazar, Itay Maoz, Dan Melamed, Gil E. Paz
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Patent number: 8296600Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are provided for failover responses to configuration node failures in SVC clusters. An SVC cluster manages a plurality of storage devices and includes a plurality of SVCs interconnected via a network, each SVC acting as a separate node. A new configuration node is activated in response to configuration node failures. The new configuration node retrieves client subscription information about events occurring in storage devices managed by the SVC cluster from the storage devices. In response to events occurring in the storage device managed by the SVC cluster, the new configuration node obtains storage device event information from a storage device event monitoring unit. The new configuration node sends storage device events to clients who have subscribed to this information according to subscription information obtained. The storage device is not installed in the original configuration node.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2010Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Hao He, Ling Sun, Jun Wei Zhang
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Patent number: 8288979Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a wheel motor is provided. A plurality of switches is provided for controlling a direction of current through motor coils of the wheel motor. A brushless motor control circuit is connected to each of the plurality of switches. Responsive to a request to adjust one of an angular velocity and an angular acceleration of the wheel motor, the plurality of switches are activated to place the motor coils in a predetermined configuration to maximize torque or reduce a total back electromotive force (BEMF) from the motor coils.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2009Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Allen Keith Bates, Nhan Xuan Bui, Reed Alan Hancock, Wayne Isami Imaino, Daniel James Winarski
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Patent number: 8291429Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for implementing policies in a managed systems environment is provided. A plurality of the heterogeneous entities is organized into a system resource group (SRG). Each of the plurality of heterogeneous entities is visible to an application operable on the managed systems environment. The system resource group is subject to at least one membership requirement, defines a relationship between at least two of the heterogeneous entities, contains at least one policy defining an operation as to be performed on the system resource group for a domain of the managed systems environment, and defines at least a portion of a policy framework between the system resource group and an additional system resource group organized from an additional plurality of the heterogeneous entities. The system resource group expands according to an action performed incorporating the relationship, policy, or policy framework.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2009Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Craig Anthony Laverone, David Lynn Merbach, Sumant Padbidri, Ramani Ranjan Routray, Prasenjit Sarkar
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Patent number: D668894Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2011Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.Inventors: Scott Denby, Joseph R. Stukenberg
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Patent number: D668914Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2011Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.Inventors: Richard P. Riedel, Amanda Miller
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Patent number: D671800Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2012Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth H. Apple, Kent D. Katterheinrich