Patents by Inventor Brian Cagno
Brian Cagno 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: 20080016309Abstract: A signaling speed module wherein that signaling speed module sets the signaling rate for each of a plurality of data storage devices. In certain embodiments of the invention, the signaling speed module comprises a memory device encoded with a pre-determined signaling rate. In other embodiments of the invention, the signaling speed module comprises a speed selection module, wherein that speed selection module sets the signaling rate for each of a plurality of data storage devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2007Publication date: January 17, 2008Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventor: BRIAN CAGNO
-
Publication number: 20060277327Abstract: A method is disclosed to set signal compensation settings for a data storage device comprising a first port and a second port, where that first port is interconnected to a first switch via a first communication pathway having a predetermined first length. The method determines first signal compensation settings based upon the first length.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2005Publication date: December 7, 2006Inventors: Brian Cagno, Robert Kubo, Gregg Lucas
-
Publication number: 20060182110Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for fibre channel device addressing. The apparatus includes a mapping module, a receiving module, and an assigning module configured to execute the necessary steps of defining an address assignment map to associate a single logical address with a physical device, receive a request for the logical address defined for the physical device by the address assignment map, and consistently assign the logical address defined by the address assignment map to the physical device. Beneficially, the apparatus, system, and method provide for consistent and reliable fibre channel device addressing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2005Publication date: August 17, 2006Inventors: Matthew Bomhoff, Brian Cagno, John Elliott, Robert Kubo, Gregg Lucas
-
Publication number: 20060179167Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for performing a storage device maintenance operation. A management module receives a command through an interconnection module configured as a non-blocking switch. The management module performs a maintenance operation on a storage device through the interconnection module in response to the command. In addition, the management module may receive queries on the status of the maintenance operation through the interconnection module and report the status of the maintenance operation through the interconnection module.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2005Publication date: August 10, 2006Inventors: Matthew Bomhoff, Brian Cagno, Gregg Lucas, Kenny Qiu
-
Publication number: 20060174044Abstract: A multiple-master Inter Integrated Circuit (“I2C) bus system includes a first master device including a first processing device within a first power boundary and a second master device including a second processing device within a second power boundary connected through a single I2C bus to one or more slave devices. The second master device utilizes a software algorithm or hardware component to detect or manage power up of the first power boundary. Additionally, the second master device includes a bus control algorithm that allows it, once initiated, to communicate with the connected slave device, to direct the first power boundary to activate or detect that the first power boundary has powered up, and to release the I2C bus. Once the first processor has initialized, the first master device acquires control of the I2C bus without arbitration or interference with the second master device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2005Publication date: August 3, 2006Inventors: Matthew Bomhoff, Brian Cagno, Robert Kubo, Gregg Lucas
-
Publication number: 20060112305Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for limiting failures in redundant signals. A coordination module generates a power status signal for each of a plurality of power modules. An input module receives a source signal. A signal generation module generates a plurality of output signals from the source signal and at least one power status signal. The output signals are not asserted if at least one power supply is operational. If a device of the signal generation module malfunctions, no more than one output signal is erroneously asserted.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2004Publication date: May 25, 2006Inventors: Brian Cagno, John Elliott, Carl Jones, Robert Kubo, Gregg Lucas
-
Publication number: 20060109844Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for automatically and transparently managing addresses in an arbitrated loop network. An arbitrated loop network switch is programmed with an address map and configured with the necessary modules to monitor an address assignment process and associate soft assigned addresses claimed during the address arbitration process with physical slot addresses. In one embodiment, the address fields of packets addressing a specific physical slot are changed (in route) to the soft address assigned during the address arbitration process. The entire process may be transparent to the rest of the network and to users. The present invention facilitates maintaining a physically ordered addressing scheme despite any soft addressing that occurs during loop initialization.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2004Publication date: May 25, 2006Inventors: Matthew Bomhoff, Brian Cagno, Gregg Lucas, Kenny Gan Qiu, Andrew Seidel
-
Publication number: 20060112249Abstract: A method is disclosed to set the signaling rate of a switch domain disposed in an information storage and retrieval system. The method establishes a switch domain target operating speed, and determines if that switch domain target operating speed comprises a first signaling rate. If the switch domain target operating speed comprises a first signaling rate, then the method asserts first Device Control Code bits to each of the plurality of data storage devices, and each of the plurality of data storage devices communicates with the switch using that first signaling rate. If the switch domain target operating speed does not comprise the first signaling rate, then the method asserts second Device Control Code bits to each of the plurality of data storage devices, and each of the plurality of data storage devices communicates with the switch using a second signaling rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2004Publication date: May 25, 2006Inventors: Matthew Bomhoff, Brian Cagno, John Elliott, Carl Jones, Robert Kubo, Gregg Lucas
-
Publication number: 20060104206Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for detecting a fibre channel miscabling event. The apparatus includes a detect module, a determine module, and an enable module. The detect module detects a fibre channel cable connection configuration, the determine module determines whether the connection configuration is valid according to preset validity requirements, and the enable module enables a valid fibre channel connection. Additionally, services for implementing such an apparatus, system, and method are disclosed. Implementation of the apparatus, system, and method beneficially reduce risk of data corruption, denial of data access, and similar data communication errors associated with miscabling events.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2004Publication date: May 18, 2006Inventors: Matthew Bomhoff, Brian Cagno, John Elliott, Robert Kubo, Gregg Lucas
-
Publication number: 20060106947Abstract: An information storage and retrieval system is disclosed, wherein that information storage and retrieval system comprises a storage controller, comprising one or more host adapter ports, one or more device adapter ports, a processor, and a Fibre Channel switch. The information storage and retrieval system further comprises a Fibre Channel switch controller consisting essentially of a Fibre Channel switch and a processor. The system further comprises a plurality of data storage devices, where each of those data storage devices is interconnected with the storage controller and with the Fibre Channel switch controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2004Publication date: May 18, 2006Inventors: Michael Benhase, Matthew Bomhoff, Brian Cagno, John Elliott, Robert Kubo, Gregg Lucas
-
Publication number: 20060104215Abstract: A method is disclosed to set the speed of a network. The method supplies a network interconnected with a system controller and a plurality of switch domains, where each of those plurality of switch domains comprises one or more information storage devices and a switch domain controller, and sets by each of the plurality of switch domains a signaling rate for that switch domain. The method queries in-band by the system controller each of the plurality of switch domains for that switch domain's signaling rate, and provides in-band by each of the plurality of switch domains the signaling rate for that switch domain. The method provides in-band by the system controller to each of the plurality of switch domains a first speed selection command specifying a first network speed, and resets by each of the plurality of switch domains the signaling rate for that switch domain to the first network speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2004Publication date: May 18, 2006Inventors: Matthew Bomhoff, Brian Cagno, John Elliott, Carl Jones, Robert Kubo, Gregg Lucas, Katherine Tyldesley
-
Publication number: 20060106952Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for integrating an enclosure. An initialization module initializes a second enclosure. A discovery module discovers a connection of the second enclosure to a first enclosure. An address module creates a valid address for the second enclosure. An assignment module assigns the address to the second enclosure. A power control module cycles power to the second enclosure to reinitialize the second enclosure and set the address.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2004Publication date: May 18, 2006Inventors: Matthew Bomhoff, Brian Cagno, John Elliott, Robert Kubo, Gregg Lucas
-
Publication number: 20060101833Abstract: A data processing unit including a first active cooling device configured to respond to a first control signal and a second active cooling device configured to respond to a second control signal. The control signals may be any type of control signal suitable to control the operation of the first and second active cooling devices. The data processing unit also includes a first control function selectively capable of providing the first control signal and/or the second control signal, and a second control function selectively capable of providing the first control signal and/or the second control signal. Logic associated with the first and second control functions is included to determine which of the control functions will provide which control signal at a specific time. Logic and/or switching or isolation apparatus is also included to prevent both the first and second control functions from attempting to provide one of the control signals simultaneously.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2004Publication date: May 18, 2006Applicant: International Business Machines (IBM) CorporationInventors: Gregg Lucas, Robert Kubo, Brian Cagno, Matthew Bomhoff
-
Publication number: 20060085564Abstract: A firmware update system includes a high-level management device implementing high-level management software application that selects a redundant embedded processor as a master sub-system. Firmware update images are transmitted to the master sub-system over a primary communication path. The master sub-system re-distributes the firmware update images to other associated redundant embedded processors over secondary communication paths. This reduces communication-bandwidth utilization over direct communication paths between the high-level management system and the other associated redundant embedded processors.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2004Publication date: April 20, 2006Inventors: Matthew Bomhoff, Brian Cagno, Gregg Lucas, Kenny Qiu, Andrew Seidel
-
Publication number: 20060075178Abstract: A connection is provided between logical macros to allow prioritization of operations in accordance with an arbitration scheme that distinguishes between operations based on such factors as priority or size of transaction. The invention allows connection of logical macros and prioritizes the appropriate operation for the resources available to optimize data throughput to optimize the utilization of multiple buses. A first arbiter manages data transmissions over a first communication bus. Arriving short or high-priority messages are transmitted over a second communication bus managed by a second arbiter, but only if the target logical macro is not the same as currently targeted by the first arbiter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2004Publication date: April 6, 2006Inventors: Gary Batchelor, Brian Cagno, Renee LaMar, Michael Harper
-
Publication number: 20060031599Abstract: An indicator light, such as an LED, for a computer disk drive module is controlled via an external controller. The disk drive module monitors a disk drive and determines a desired state of the LED, such as on, off or flashing, to indicate a status of the disk drive. The disk drive module provides a modulated signal carrying data that identifies the desired state on a path coupled to the indicator light and a terminal that is accessed by the external controller. The controller implements an algorithm for driving the indicator light, where the algorithm receives, as a first input, the desired state determined from the demodulated signal and, as a second input, information obtained from monitoring the disk drive module. The controller itself may obtain this information or receive it from a higher-level system controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2004Publication date: February 9, 2006Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Matthew Bomhoff, Brian Cagno, Gregg Lucas, Kenny Qiu
-
Publication number: 20050201292Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for detecting and reporting network mis-cabling. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a detection module, a comparison module, and a cabling connection module. The detection module is configured to detect a new connection at a network switch. The new connection is formed by physically connecting a network cable to the network switch, at one termination, and to another network device, at another termination. The comparison module is configured to compare the new connection to a connection rule, where the connection rule defines either a legal cabling connection or an illegal cabling connection. The cabling connection module is configured to control whether or not the new connection is inserted into the data network or maintained isolated from the data network.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2004Publication date: September 15, 2005Inventors: Matthew Bomhoff, Brian Cagno, Gregg Lucas, Kenny Gan Qiu, Andrew Seidel
-
Publication number: 20050068821Abstract: A method to provide a signal using a communication link. The method disposes a passive transponder on the communication link, where that passive transponder includes a memory. The method reads information relating to the communication link from the memory, and then, based upon that information, adjusts certain characteristics of a signal provided using the communication link.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2003Publication date: March 31, 2005Inventors: Brian Cagno, Matthew Bomhoff, Gregg Lucas, Kenny Qiu, Andrew Seidel