Patents by Inventor Akihisa Hirasawa

Akihisa Hirasawa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Drive apparatus and method for controlling the same
    Patent number: 8429342
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • DRIVE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20120218660
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • Storage apparatus and method for controlling the same
    Patent number: 8200898
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a controller unit for controlling a drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the controller unit. The plurality of drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the controller unit to communicate with the controller unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same
    Patent number: 8151046
    Abstract: The disk array apparatus includes a controller having a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a plurality of disk drives, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. A plurality of cooling fans are provided for cooling the plurality of disk drives. In response to receiving a request, the controller controls the rotational speed of a first cooling fan related to a first disk drive, which is related to the request, and changes an operational mode of the first disk drive related to the request such that the rotational speed of the first cooling fan is increased before the operational mode of the first disk drive is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • DISK ARRAY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLNG THE SAME
    Publication number: 20110022796
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same
    Patent number: 7587548
    Abstract: An apparatus which includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • DISK ARRAY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20090150609
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same
    Patent number: 7523258
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same
    Patent number: 7461203
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same
    Patent number: 7080201
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • Method for managing disk drives of different types in disk array device
    Patent number: 6970974
    Abstract: The present invention manages disk-drive types in a storage device in which a mixture of disk drives of a plurality of types with different interfaces is stored. The storage device enclosure stores a mixture of an FC disk drive 220F with a fiber channel interface and a SATA disk drive with a serial interface. The SATA disk drive is connected to a fiber channel via an FC/SATA interface connection device 233 that performs interface conversion. At startup and so forth, the controller 310 issues an inquiry to the enclosure management unit or to each of the disk drives and, based on the address allocated to each of the disk drives, or similar, automatically confirms the type of each disk drive and manages the confirmation results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Isobe, Azuma Kano, Akihisa Hirasawa, Shingo Itagaki, Kenichi Tateyama, Yoshinori Nagaiwa, Nobuhiro Takahashi
  • Method for managing disk drives of different types in disk array device
    Publication number: 20050177683
    Abstract: The present invention manages disk-drive types in a storage device in which a mixture of disk drives of a plurality of types with different interfaces is stored. The storage device enclosure stores a mixture of an FC disk drive 220F with a fiber channel interface and a SATA disk drive with a serial interface. The SATA disk drive is connected to a fiber channel via an FC/SATA interface connection device 233 that performs interface conversion. At startup and so forth, the controller 310 issues an inquiry to the enclosure management unit or to each of the disk drives and, based on the address allocated to each of the disk drives, or similar, automatically confirms the type of each disk drive and manages the confirmation results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Daisuke Isobe, Azuma Kano, Akihisa Hirasawa, Shingo Itagaki, Kenichi Tateyama, Yoshinori Nagaiwa, Nobuhiro Takahashi
  • Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same
    Publication number: 20050149670
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same
    Publication number: 20050149671
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same
    Publication number: 20050149674
    Abstract: An apparatus which includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same
    Publication number: 20050149672
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same
    Publication number: 20050149668
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same
    Publication number: 20050149669
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same
    Publication number: 20050149673
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa
  • Disk array apparatus and method for controlling the same
    Publication number: 20040236908
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of disk drives. The controller has a communication control unit for accepting a data input/output request, a disk controller unit for controlling a disk drive, and a cache memory for temporarily storing data transferred between the communication control unit and the disk controller unit. The plurality of disk drives has different communication interfaces and connected to the disk controller unit to communicate with the disk controller unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Suzuki, Akihisa Hirasawa