Patents by Inventor Alan M. Frazier

Alan M. Frazier 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).

  • Publication number: 20200007622
    Abstract: A multi-system dispersed storage network (DSN) comprises a first DSN system that includes a first plurality of storage units, a first plurality of dispersed storage (DS) processing units and a first set of management units and a second DSN system that includes a second plurality of storage units, a second plurality of DS processing units and a second set of management units. The first set of management units manages a first set of configuration data of the first DSN system. A first management unit of the second set of management units, when, in a first mode, manages at least a first configuration data of the first set of configuration data, in a second mode, manages at least a first configuration data of the second set of configuration data, and in a third mode, manages at least the first configuration data of the first and second sets of configuration data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Bart R. Cilfone, Alan M. Frazier, Patrick A. Tamborski, Sanjaya Kumar
  • Publication number: 20190394272
    Abstract: A computing device includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with a communication system, a memory that stores operational instructions, and processing circuitry operably coupled to the interface and to the memory that is configured to execute the operational instructions to perform various operations. The computing device monitors a current state of a distributed storage and task processing network (DSTN) management unit by periodically collecting metadata that is compared to a previously recognized similar state. The computing device facilitates returning a resolution to the DSTN management unit to modify the current state using corrective actions and the DSTN management unit is configured to automatically execute the resolution or to record the resolution. Recorded resolutions are later passed to operators assigned to the DSN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Patrick A. Tamborski, Bart R. Cilfone, Alan M. Frazier, Sanjaya Kumar
  • Publication number: 20190391853
    Abstract: A distributed storage network (DSN) processes storage unit maintenance tasks on multiple tiers within the DSN. A master storage unit coordinates pending maintenance tasks when a DSN management unit, originally processing the pending maintenance tasks, changes its status to offline. The method includes the master storage unit aggregating pending maintenance tasks from corresponding DSN storage units into an ordered list of maintenance tasks, facilitating, based on the ordered list of maintenance tasks, coordination of a next maintenance task with a corresponding storage unit and directing execution of the next maintenance task by the corresponding storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Bart R. Cilfone, Alan M. Frazier, Patrick A. Tamborski, Sanjaya Kumar
  • Patent number: 10466900
    Abstract: A method begins by obtaining dispersed storage network (DSN) operational issue information concerning a DSN memory issue in a first locally operated DSN memory of a plurality of locally operated DSN memories. The method continues with determining whether the DSN memory issue is regarding a local DSN issue or a global DSN issue. When the DSN memory issue is the global DSN issue, the method continues with determining a corrective action in response to the DSN memory issue and determining whether the global DSN management unit is configured for automatic correction of the DSN memory issue. When the global DSN management unit is configured for automatic correction of the DSN memory issue in the first locally operated DSN memory of the plurality of locally operated DSN memories, the method continues with executing the corrective action in the first locally operated DSN memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick A. Tamborski, Bart R. Cilfone, Alan M. Frazier, Sanjaya Kumar
  • Publication number: 20190317689
    Abstract: A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the method begins by identifying, for data stored within a DSN memory, one or more encryption keys used to encrypt data stored within the DSN memory. The method continues by identifying, for data stored within a portion of the DSN memory requiring sanitization, a master key of the one or more encryption keys that encrypts all of the data stored within the portion to be sanitized. The method continues by determining, if the master key is not used to encrypt data stored outside of the portion to be sanitized. The method continues, if the master key is not used to encrypt data stored outside of the portion to be sanitized, by sanitizing the data stored within a portion of the DSN memory by erasing the master key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Alan M. Frazier, Scott M. Horan, Shibhani Rai, Jason K. Resch, Mark D. Seaborn
  • Patent number: 10423497
    Abstract: A method includes generating an entry for inclusion in a configuration queue regarding a configuration submission regarding DSN managed by a managing unit that uses a manager's configuration database stored in a first database. The method further includes updating a first version of the configuration queue stored in first database and a second version of the configuration queue stored in a manager's vault to include the entry. When the manager's configuration database requires restoring, the method further includes copying a backup version of the manager's configuration database to the first database to create an initially restored manager's configuration database and establishing an association between the managing unit and the initially restored manager's configuration database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bart R. Cilfone, Alan M. Frazier, Patrick A. Tamborski, Sanjaya Kumar
  • Patent number: 10379778
    Abstract: A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the method begins by identifying, for data stored within a DSN memory, one or more encryption keys used to encrypt data stored within the DSN memory. The method continues by identifying, for data stored within a portion of the DSN memory requiring sanitization, a master key of the one or more encryption keys that encrypts all of the data stored within the portion to be sanitized. The method continues by determining, if the master key is not used to encrypt data stored outside of the portion to be sanitized. The method continues, if the master key is not used to encrypt data stored outside of the portion to be sanitized, by sanitizing the data stored within a portion of the DSN memory by erasing the master key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alan M. Frazier, Scott M. Horan, Shibhani Rai, Jason K. Resch, Mark D. Seaborn
  • Publication number: 20190166200
    Abstract: A method includes generating an entry for inclusion in a configuration queue regarding a configuration submission regarding DSN managed by a managing unit that uses a manager's configuration database stored in a first database. The method further includes updating a first version of the configuration queue stored in first database and a second version of the configuration queue stored in a manager's vault to include the entry. When the manager's configuration database requires restoring, the method further includes copying a backup version of the manager's configuration database to the first database to create an initially restored manager's configuration database and establishing an association between the managing unit and the initially restored manager's configuration database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Bart R. Cilfone, Alan M. Frazier, Patrick A. Tamborski, Sanjaya Kumar
  • Publication number: 20190042345
    Abstract: A method begins with one or more processing modules of a dispersed storage network (DSN) identifying a set of encoded data slices generated from a data segment based on an error encoding dispersal function. The method continues with the one or more processing modules identifying a set of storage units (SUs) that distributedly store the set of EDSs, and determining a first plurality of performance values associated with the set of SUs, followed by the one or more processing modules receiving from the set of SUs a second plurality of performance values generated by the set of SUs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew D. Baptist, Bart R. Cilfone, Alan M. Frazier, Wesley B. Leggette, Jason K. Resch
  • Publication number: 20180052636
    Abstract: A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the method begins by identifying, for data stored within a DSN memory, one or more encryption keys used to encrypt data stored within the DSN memory. The method continues by identifying, for data stored within a portion of the DSN memory requiring sanitization, a master key of the one or more encryption keys that encrypts all of the data stored within the portion to be sanitized. The method continues by determining, if the master key is not used to encrypt data stored outside of the portion to be sanitized. The method continues, if the master key is not used to encrypt data stored outside of the portion to be sanitized, by sanitizing the data stored within a portion of the DSN memory by erasing the master key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Alan M. Frazier, Scott M. Horan, Shibhani Rai, Jason K. Resch, Mark D. Seaborn