Patents by Inventor Alan J. Fisher

Alan J. Fisher 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).

  • Patent number: 11314413
    Abstract: A tool for adjusting available physical tape storage capacities. The tool determines an initial capacity size for one or more tapes, wherein the initial capacity size is a maximum physical storage capacity provided by the one or more tapes. The tool assigns the one or more tapes to a logical cluster based, at least in part, on the initial capacity size for the one or more tapes. The tool determines an initial storage capacity for the one or more tapes, wherein the initial storage capacity is a starting logical storage capacity that is less than the maximum physical storage capacity provided by the one or more tapes. The tool determines an incremental growth threshold for the one or more tapes. Responsive to a determination that the incremental growth threshold is exceeded, the tool increments a logical storage capacity of the one or more tapes by an incremental growth assignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Brettell, Alan J. Fisher, Duke A. Lee, Alexander Nieves
  • Publication number: 20170293433
    Abstract: A tool for adjusting available physical tape storage capacities. The tool determines an initial capacity size for one or more tapes, wherein the initial capacity size is a maximum physical storage capacity provided by the one or more tapes. The tool assigns the one or more tapes to a logical cluster based, at least in part, on the initial capacity size for the one or more tapes. The tool determines an initial storage capacity for the one or more tapes, wherein the initial storage capacity is a starting logical storage capacity that is less than the maximum physical storage capacity provided by the one or more tapes. The tool determines an incremental growth threshold for the one or more tapes. Responsive to a determination that the incremental growth threshold is exceeded, the tool increments a logical storage capacity of the one or more tapes by an incremental growth assignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: David A. Brettell, Alan J. Fisher, Duke A. Lee, Alexander Nieves
  • Patent number: 9606873
    Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes copying data incoming to and/or generated at a production site to a copy cluster at a remote copy site, thereby creating a redundant copy of the data at the copy cluster. When the copy cluster becomes unavailable, data incoming to and/or generated at the production site is copied to a backup reserve site after the copy cluster becomes unavailable. Additional systems, methods, and computer programs products are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Brettell, Vanessa R. Earle, Alan J. Fisher, Duke A. Lee, Joseph M. Swingler
  • Publication number: 20160259573
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program product embodiments for storing data in a virtual data storage environment, by a processor device, are provided. In a virtualized tape storage environment, a plurality of partitions are created on a single node, each partition having unique attributes allowing for specific data management, and a logical volume is replicated across the plurality of partitions, such that the logical volume is redundantly stored in at least one of the plurality of partitions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David A. BRETTELL, Vanessa R. EARLE, Alan J. FISHER, Duke A. LEE
  • Publication number: 20150331759
    Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes copying data incoming to and/or generated at a production site to a copy cluster at a remote copy site, thereby creating a redundant copy of the data at the copy cluster. When the copy cluster becomes unavailable, data incoming to and/or generated at the production site is copied to a backup reserve site after the copy cluster becomes unavailable. Additional systems, methods, and computer programs products are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Brettell, Vanessa R. Earle, Alan J. Fisher, Duke A. Lee, Joseph M. Swingler
  • Patent number: 4345168
    Abstract: An electrical peak detector wherein two complementary transistors have commonly connected base leads and emitter leads, and a capacitor is connected between the collector of each transistor to a constant potential point. An input circuit is connected between the commonly connected base terminals and emitter terminals through a capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1982
    Inventor: Alan J. Fisher
  • Patent number: 4254441
    Abstract: A system for reading binary digital data, represented by two possible spacings between abrupt flux reversals appearing on a magnetic track of a credit card, as the credit card is transported by hand by and in engagement with a magnetic head of the system. A read head having an unusually large read aperture is used to translate the two possible encoded lengths into two possible waveform amplitudes which are independent of transport speed. Then, by means of amplitude discrimination, the "0" bits are detected; and by zero slope detection, the "1" bits are detected. Mechanically, the read head is located centrally in an obtusely angled long side of a housing and is opposed by a contoured Teflon pillow that substitutes for one-half of the usual card slot. This unidirectional pillow is shaped and spaced from the head so as to cause the credit card to be slightly bent around the head's face in passing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1981
    Inventor: Alan J. Fisher
  • Patent number: 4141494
    Abstract: A system for reading binary digital data, represented by two possible spacings between abrupt flux reversals appearing on a magnetic track of a credit card, as the credit card is transported by hand by and in engagement with a magnetic head of the system. A read head having an unusually large read aperture is used to translate the two possible encoded lengths into two possible waveform amplitudes which are independent of transport speed. Then, by means of amplitude discrimination, the "0" bits are detected; and by zero slope detection, the "1" bits are detected. Mechanically, the read head is located centrally in an obtusely angled long side of a housing and is opposed by a contoured Teflon pillow that substitutes for one-half of the usual card slot. This unidirectional pillow is shaped and spaced from the head so as to cause the credit card to be slightly bent around the head's face in passing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Inventor: Alan J. Fisher