Patents Represented by Attorney Kunzler Needham Massey & Thorpe
  • Patent number: 8042000
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for validating application server replication errors. The method includes receiving a first information message with a test sequence from a caller. The caller is engaged in a communication session with a callee according to a communication protocol and the communication session is managed by a first application server. The method also includes storing the test sequence in a replicable data structure on the first application server. The replicable data structure is replicated to a second application server to form a replicated data structure and both servers operate within an active-active configuration. The method also includes receiving a second information message from the caller. The second information message includes a confirmation sequence. In addition, the method includes determining a replication error in response to comparing the stored test sequence in the replicated data structure with the confirmation sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Oliver Birch, Can P. Boyacigiller, Christopher Dacombe, Sreenivasa R. Pamidala, Bouna Sall
  • Patent number: 8041921
    Abstract: An apparatus and system are presented for utilizing tape storage media segmentation to improve data access performance. A segmented tape storage medium within a tape cartridge having a first and second segment is utilized. A selection module allows a user to select a user-defined capacity of the tape storage medium that is less than the usable capacity of the tape storage medium. The user-defined capacity allows the user to prefer improved data access over tape storage capacity. Data, when written to the tape, is written only within the user-defined capacity. Data may be written exclusively on the first segment or written on both the first segment and second segment allowing data access to be improved. In addition, the user-defined capacity may correspond to the full capacity of the tape storage media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lyn Lequam Ashton, Erika Marianna Dawson, Lisa Joan Gundy, Stanley Mark Kissinger, Michael Ray Noel
  • Patent number: 8039989
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a low cost multiple output redundant power supply. Disclosed is a power supply that includes a primary stage for regulating voltage on an internal bus. The power supply includes a first regulator stage and a second regulator stage connected to the internal bus. The first regulator stage regulates voltage on a bus configured to connect to a first system. The second regulator stage regulates voltage on a bus configured to connect to a second system. The each regulator stage continues to operate in the event the other regulator stage is not operating. A disconnecting means is connected between the primary stage and the each regulator stage for isolating the failed regulator stage from the other regulator stage and the primary stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Chu T. Chung, Cecil C. Dishman, Randhir S. Malik
  • Patent number: 8041680
    Abstract: Backing up a database, including providing, in the database by a DBMS, at least one record with at least one backup field, the backup field being a data element that controls the backing up of the record, and backing up, by a backup module, the a record in dependence upon a value of the backup field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Susann M. Keohane, Gerald F. McBrearty, Shawn P. Mullen, Jessica C. Murillo, Johnny M. Shieh
  • Patent number: 8032972
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed providing a portable, multi-purpose golf apparatus. The apparatus includes a casing, a cleaning device, and an opening. The cleaning device may be extendable through the opening an effective distance to clean a golf ball. A carrier may be mounted to the cleaning device within the casing. The carrier may slide within the casing to transition the cleaning device from a stored position to an extended position. The golf apparatus may further include a positioning mechanism coupled to the carrier. The apparatus may include a second opening through which a divot tool or other supplemental device may be extendable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventor: Janet Cherry
  • Patent number: 8033289
    Abstract: A support apparatus includes a rectilinear central pole having axially opposed end portions. The pole includes a plurality of oppositely spaced female portions and a male portion slid ably engageable therewith. Each female portion has a plurality of apertures equidistantly spaced along a longitudinal length thereof. The male portion is medially nested between the female portions wherein the female portions are telescopically movable. The apparatus further includes first and second pairs of telescopically adjustable and rectilinear leg members connected to the opposed end portions of the pole and extending away therefrom, respectively. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for independently pivoting each of the first and second leg members about a fulcrum axis centrally registered with the pole and extending parallel thereto. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for independently pivoting the first and second members along a unique arcuate path and about a fulcrum axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventor: Scott L. Buckley
  • Patent number: 8037092
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for merging manual parameters with predefined parameters. The system includes a parse module configured to receive a command string having multiple nested manual parameters and a build module configured to generate a parameter tree having manual parameter nodes and predefined parameter nodes. The system may also include a search module configured to compare manual parameter nodes to predefined parameter nodes to identify matching parameter contexts, and a command module configured to generate a command string. The method includes receiving a command string having multiple nested manual parameters, identifying manual parameters within the command string, and generating a parameter tree having manual parameter nodes and predefined parameter nodes. The method also includes comparing manual parameter nodes to predefined parameter nodes to identify parameter nodes having a matching parameter context, and generating a command string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Pedro Sanchez Vera
  • 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: 8032816
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for distinguishing correctable bit errors in memory. A bit error detection module detects a correctable bit error in a memory in response to a READ operation. The correctable bit error is correctable using error-correcting code. The READ operation is generated during normal operation. A comparison module compares an error location indicator with a stored error location indicator. The error location indicator includes a memory location of the correctable bit error. The stored error location indicator corresponds to a previously stored error location indicator of a previous correctable bit error. A storage module stores the error location indicator if the comparison module determines that the error location indicator differs from a stored error location indicator. An error counter module increases an error counter corresponding to the error location indicator if the comparison module determines that the error location indicator matches a stored error location indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Carol Spanel, Andrew Dale Walls
  • Patent number: 8028025
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for processing a technology specific message. In one embodiment, a computer program product receives a message having a conventional header and a user-defined header that both conform to a predefined header format, each header comprising a header name and a value; identifies each header in the message based on the predefined header format; generates a header structure to store the header name and the value from each header; stores the header structure in a set of header structures of an extendable message business object; and passes the extendable message business object to an integration broker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rajan Kumar, Deepa Rao Koppa V
  • Patent number: 8016221
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for dynamic tape stick and tape break detection. A first counter increments a first count and resets a second count in response to a sensor pulse from a first sensor of a first tape servo. A second counter increments the second count and resets the first count in response to a sensor pulse from a second sensor of a second tape servo. A detection module detects either the first count or the second count exceeding an error threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Nhan Xuan Bui, Reed Alan Hancock, Eiji Ogura, Kazuhiro Tsuruta
  • Patent number: 8018088
    Abstract: Efficient multiple power outputs are provided by receiving a primary voltage as an input to a bridge module and providing one or more secondary voltages as outputs of the bridge module. The secondary voltages are generated on the secondary side of one or more respective secondary windings of a transformer. The bridge module includes at least one primary complementary pair of switches on the primary winding side of the transformer and a secondary complementary pair of switches on the secondary side of each secondary winding of the transformer. The secondary output voltages are received from the bridge module by one or more output voltage regulation modules. Each output voltage regulation module receives one of the secondary voltages from the bridge module as an input and provides at least one regulated output voltage as an output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: C. Charles Dishman, Randhir S. Malik
  • Patent number: 8019965
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for managing the storage of data in a computing system that includes a data processor and local physical storage, involving the steps of: defining a virtual storage volume for access by the data processor, the data processor including a local storage pool mapped to the local physical storage and a remote storage pool mapped to physical storage at a remote site, and the virtual storage volume being overallocated with respect to the local storage pool; and migrating data between the local storage pool and the remote storage pool according to a defined migration policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John P. Agombar, Christopher B. Beeken, Stephanie Machleidt, Simon Walsh
  • Patent number: 8019938
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for solid-state storage as cache for high-capacity, non-volatile storage. The apparatus, system, and method are provided with a plurality of modules including a cache front-end module and a cache back-end module. The cache front-end module manages data transfers associated with a storage request. The data transfers between a requesting device and solid-state storage function as cache for one or more HCNV storage devices, and the data transfers may include one or more of data, metadata, and metadata indexes. The solid-state storage may include an array of non-volatile, solid-state data storage elements. The cache back-end module manages data transfers between the solid-state storage and the one or more HCNV storage devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Fusion-I0, Inc.
    Inventors: David Flynn, John Strasser, Jonathan Thatcher, Michael Zappe
  • Patent number: 8012223
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method are disclosed for producing energy from the controlled reaction of an alkali metal with water. The method comprises forcing a liquefied alkali metal through a filter that separates the liquid alkali metal into alkali metal droplets. The alkali metal droplets comprise small enough particles that the alkali metal droplets completely react in water to produce heat, steam, an alkaline hydroxide and hydrogen gas before the alkali metal droplets reach the surface of the water. The filter separates the alkali metal droplets at a sufficient distance to avoid recombining of the alkali metal droplets. The alkaline hydroxide is reduced to an alkali metal and water which can be reused in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventor: Bruce McGill
  • Patent number: 8015440
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for data storage with progressive redundant array of independent drives (“RAID”). A storage request receiver module, a striping module, a parity-mirror module, and a parity progression module are included. The storage request receiver module receives a request to store data of a file or of an object. The striping module calculates a stripe pattern for the data. The stripe pattern includes one or more stripes, and each stripe includes a set of N data segments. The striping module writes the N data segments to N storage devices. Each data segment is written to a separate storage device within a set of storage devices assigned to the stripe. The parity-mirror module writes a set of N data segments to one or more parity-mirror storage devices within the set of storage devices. The parity progression module calculates a parity data segment on each parity-mirror device in response to a storage consolidation operation, and stores the parity data segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Fusion-IO, Inc.
    Inventors: David Flynn, David Atkisson, Jonathan Thatcher, Michael Zappe
  • Patent number: 8007431
    Abstract: A male chastity system comprises a housing and a partial ring configured for placement behind the scrotum of the user. The partial ring contains a gap. A bridge bridges the gap by attaching to the partial ring at first and second attachment points. The bridge comprises a rear portion and a front portion, and the partial ring and the bridge collectively form a ring. Guide pins extend at least partially through the rear bridge portion, attachment points, front bridge portion, and housing. A locking pin extends through the bridge and housing, a spacer on the locking pin spacing the housing from the ring, and a lock is applied to the locking pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: A. L. Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: A. Frank Miller, Doris Miller
  • Patent number: 8002877
    Abstract: Ethylene is a gaseous growth hormone produced by plant which triggers the ripening of fruits and vegetables. Titanium dioxide, positioned on a filter, acts to trap ethylene to remove the ethylene from a vegetation storage container. Sodium silicate is utilized to absorb moisture to reduce the absorption of moisture by the titanium dioxide to prolong the ethylene trapping capacity of the titanium dioxide. The filter, after becoming saturated to a desired extent with ethylene, is removed from the vegetation storage container and heated to facilitate a release of the ethylene from the titanium dioxide. This process provides for a reconditioning of the filter for continued use within the vegetation storage container. Producing an air flow and providing for exhaust of ethylene enhance the reconditioning of the filter during the application of heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventor: Lawrence Sadler
  • Patent number: 8001783
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a single-actuated multi-function valve. The apparatus includes a primary fluid conduit, a secondary fluid conduit, and a valve. The primary fluid conduit flows from an exhaust manifold to an outlet through a high pressure turbocharger and a low pressure turbocharger. The secondary fluid conduit flows from the exhaust manifold to an outlet through the low pressure turbocharger. The valve has two flow passages—the first flow passage is a variable restriction within the primary fluid conduit, and the second flow passage is a variable restriction within the secondary fluid conduit. Turning the valve one direction from a nominal position controls the flow ratios in the primary and secondary fluid conduits, while turning the valve in the other direction from the nominal position controls exhaust braking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian P. Dale, Vivek A. Sujan
  • Patent number: 8006003
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for enqueue prioritization. The apparatus for enqueue prioritization is provided with a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the steps of holding one or more queued requests in a queue, sorting the queued requests according to a first priority identifier associated with each of the queued requests, and assigning a second priority identifier to a delayed request in response to a determination that the delayed request has resided in the queue for a predetermined length of time, wherein the second priority identifier indicates a higher priority than the first priority identifier indicates. These modules in the described embodiments include a queue module, a sorting module, and a reassignment module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas Lee Lehr, Franklin Emmert McCune, David Charles Reed, Max Douglas Smith