Abstract: A method for managing a data storage system includes maintaining a record predictive of locations to which data are to be written on a first storage medium by a host computer. Upon receiving a write command from the host computer directed to storing specified data at a specified location on the first storage medium, if the specified location is not included in the record, the record is updated responsively to the specified location. A signal is sent to the host computer that the specified data have been stored in the data storage system responsively to storing the specified data and, if the specified location was not included in the record, responsively to updating the record. The specified data are copied to the second storage medium responsively to the record, and are stored in the specified location on both the first and second storage media.

Abstract: An execution engine synchronizes test suite execution to run multiple independent operations concurrently or in parallel. The execution engine operates by stepping through the test suite. At each step it runs the required number of independent operations and waits for their completion. It then checks the results, and continues to the next step of the test suite. If at any step, the actual results are different from the expected results, then the exact sequence that triggered the fault is known. The sequence can be repeated when a correction is provided for the fault. Furthermore, the execution engine allows the user to interactively step through a test case when debugging a fault. A synchronization pattern generator may be incorporated in the system to generate minimal numbers of repetitions of test cases to guarantee varying degrees of interaction coverage.

Abstract: A method for managing a data storage system includes copying data stored on a first storage subsystem to a second storage subsystem in an asynchronous mirroring process. A record is maintained on the second storage subsystem, indicative of locations at which the data have been updated on the first storage subsystem and have not yet been copied to the second storage subsystem. Upon receiving at the second storage subsystem, from a host processor, a request to access the data stored at a specified location on the data storage system, if the specified location is included in the record, the second storage subsystem initiates a synchronous transfer of the data at the specified location from the first storage subsystem.

Abstract: A method for servicing a computerized system includes detecting a failure of a given type in the computerized system, and generating a list of corrective actions in response to the failure, using an automated maintenance program. A record of one or more previous failures of the given type in the computerized system is retrieved, indicating at least one previous corrective action taken in response to the previous failures. The method prioritizes the list of corrective actions responsively to the record, using the automated maintenance program, so as to adjust a priority of the at least one previous corrective action in the list. The prioritized list from the automated maintenance program is provided to a repair function for use in servicing the computerized system.

Abstract: A method for reconfiguring a storage system communicating with a host, consisting of the steps of formulating a proposed reconfiguration of the storage system from an original configuration, and generating a record of operations of the storage system during an evaluation period in the original configuration. In response to the record, the method further consists of making a determination whether data accessed by the host in the original configuration during the evaluation period would have been unavailable to the host if the proposed reconfiguration had been implemented prior to the evaluation period. In response to the determination, a decision is made whether to implement the proposed reconfiguration.

Abstract: A method for increasing efficiency of interaction by an operator with data on a computer display includes presenting the data to the operator on the computer display, and providing multiple instances of an on-screen control at different locations on the display for selection by the operator using a pointing device linked to the display. The control is actuated responsive to the selection by the operator of any of the instances of the control on the display.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and program for determining which data to remove from storage. A first policy is used to determine when to remove a block of data of a first type. A second policy is used to determine when to remove a block of data of a second type.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for processing data in which inputs of a plurality of records including respective entries in a first field and in a second field are received. At least some of the records are processed so as to find a relation between the entries in the first and second fields in the at least some of the records. One of the records comprising first and second entries in the first and second fields respectively is selected. Thereafter, the first and second entries are compared to the relation in order to verify the first and second entries.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and program for reducing an mount of data transferred. Indicators of sub-blocks modified for a block of data since the block of data was last sent to remote storage are maintained until the block of data is demoted. The maintained indicators are used to identify sub-blocks on the block of data for transfer to the remote storage. Disclosed is a method, system, and program for managing metadata in cache. A first policy is used to determine when to remove data from a primary cache, and a second policy is used to determine when to remove data from a metadata cache.

Abstract: Provides methods, systems and apparatus for data storage including running an asynchronous replication process to copy successive sets of stored data from a primary storage system to a secondary storage system, and receiving at the primary storage system from the secondary storage system an indication of space available for receipt of the data at the secondary storage system. An example method further includes selecting from amongst the data stored at the primary storage system one of the sets of the data as a selected set, sized in response to the indication, conveying the selected set from the primary storage system to the secondary storage system in the asynchronous replication process, and storing the sets of the data atomically in the secondary storage system.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for reliably updating a data group in a data replication environment. The apparatus, system, and method reliably update the data group by receiving an updated data group sent from a first storage medium to a second storage medium, comparing the updated data group with a previous data group previously existing on the second storage medium and writing the updated data group to the second storage medium. The read-before-write and differencing method disclosed maintain reliability by storing multiple copies of changes made to the second storage medium during and after the write process.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for data storage including initiating a destaging process in a storage system for destaging data from a cache to a mass storage device. Upon inputting a standby command to the storage system to inhibit the destaging of the data in a specified range, the destaging of the data in the specified range from the cache to the mass storage device is inhibited.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatus for maintaining colors and color boundaries across multiple storage controllers by instructing a polling storage controller to poll a color control node for current color information, changing the current color to a new color, and instructing the polling storage controller to cease polling the color control node for the current color information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and program for managing metadata in cache. A first policy is used to determine when to remove data from a primary cache, and a second policy is used to determine when to remove data from a metadata cache.

Abstract: A method for data entry, includes receiving a plurality of images and sorting the images into an order responsive to a measure of similarity between the images, so as to group similar images together in the order. A first image among the images in the order is presented to an operator, and an input is received from the operator specifying a code to be assigned to the first image. A second image, subsequent to the first image among the images in the order, is then presented to the operator, along with the code specified by the operator for assignment to the first image. The code is assigned to the second image responsive to a single input action by the operator, indicating that the second image is to be assigned the same code as the first image.

Abstract: A method for compression of an input image that includes a plurality of pixels having respective input pixel values. The method includes quantizing the input pixel values so as to generate respective quantized pixel values, and generating a quantized image by substituting the quantized pixel values for the respective input pixel values in the input image. The input pixel values in the input image are reordered so as to generate a reordered image in which the input pixel values are grouped by their respective quantized values. The quantized image and the reordered image are compressed so as to generate a compressed output image file.

Abstract: A method for processing a plurality of input images containing variable content that is filled into respective, fixed templates. The method includes comparing the images to collect a group of the images having a high degree of similarity therebetween, and combining the images in the group so as to distinguish the variable content from a fixed portion common to a preponderant number of the images in the group. The fixed portion is processed to reconstruct the fixed template that is common to at least some of the images among the preponderant number, and information is extracted from the images using the reconstructed template.

Abstract: A method for managing a data storage system includes maintaining a record on a secondary storage subsystem, which is predictive of locations to which data are to be written on a primary storage subsystem by a host processor. Upon receiving at the primary storage subsystem, from a host processor, the data to be written to a specified location, if the specified location is not included in the record, the primary storage subsystem sends to the secondary storage subsystem so as to cause the secondary storage subsystem to update the record. The primary storage subsystem signals the host processor that the data have been stored in the data storage system responsively to receiving the data and to receiving an acknowledgment from the secondary storage subsystem indicating that the record has been updated.

Abstract: A method for managing a data storage system includes maintaining a record predictive of locations to which data are to be written on a first storage medium by a host computer. Upon receiving a write command from the host computer directed to storing specified data at a specified location on the first storage medium, if the specified location is not included in the record, the record is updated responsively to the specified location. A signal is sent to the host computer that the specified data have been stored in the data storage system responsively to storing the specified data and, if the specified location was not included in the record, responsively to updating the record. The specified data are copied to the second storage medium responsively to the record, and are stored in the specified location on both the first and second storage media.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for maintaining consistency of data. One or more blocks of data identified by a first structure are copied to form a consistent set of data. While not acknowledging completion of write requests to any blocks of data, a second structure is created, wherein the second structure indicates which blocks of data are modified while the consistent set of data is being formed. Also disclosed is a technique for asynchronous copy. Indicators are updated in a first structure for one or more blocks of data, wherein each indicator in the first structure indicates whether a corresponding block of data was modified since the block of data was last sent to remote storage.