Patents by Inventor Gary R. Hix

Gary R. Hix 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: 9031914
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the deficiencies of the related art by providing a tier-based data storage solution. Specifically, the present invention evaluates the data contained in database tables by analyzing several metrics for the data, and creating a valuation score. The valuation score is used to determine the storage tier that would meet the performance and availability requirements of the database with the goal of reducing the costs associated with storing that data. The metrics that are used to evaluate database tables include (among others): table purpose, data retention, disk requirements, data criticality, data relevance, and desired performance. As such, the present invention will develop a data (lifecycle) storage plan for each set of data. This storage plan not only identifies an initial storage tier where the data should be stored, but also identifies, if, when and to where the data should be moved thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gary R. Hix, Philip T. Spencley
  • Patent number: 7979513
    Abstract: Method and system for determining a management complexity factor for an environment, such as an information technology (IT) environment, is disclosed. A management complexity factor represents the needless complexity, inefficiencies and waste in an environment. An IT environment includes different platforms, systems, and components that have an effect on changes and upgrades within the environment. The impact of the changes or upgrades is reduced if the environment has increased coordination, few single points of failure, high information availability, a high level of automation and the like. The management complexity factor is determined by evaluating several metrics according to objective criteria and weighing the metrics according to their importance. Using the management complexity factor, strategies and targets are identified to lower the complexity and inefficiencies within the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sean P. Garvey, Stephen T. O'Keefe, William S. Edgar, John G. Birch, Akilesh V. Duvvur, Gary R. Hix, Philip T. Spencley, Gerald T. Winner, Matthew G. Sharib, John F. Echaniz
  • Publication number: 20100274827
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the deficiencies of the related art by providing a tier-based data storage solution. Specifically, the present invention evaluates the data contained in database tables by analyzing several metrics for the data, and creating a valuation score. The valuation score is used to determine the storage tier that would meet the performance and availability requirements of the database with the goal of reducing the costs associated with storing that data. The metrics that are used to evaluate database tables include (among others): table purpose, data retention, disk requirements, data criticality, data relevance, and desired performance. As such, the present invention will develop a data (lifecycle) storage plan for each set of data. This storage plan not only identifies an initial storage tier where the data should be stored, but also identifies, if, when and to where the data should be moved thereafter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gary R. Hix, Philip T. Spencley
  • Publication number: 20070234301
    Abstract: Method and system for determining a management complexity factor for an environment, such as an information technology (IT) environment, is disclosed. A management complexity factor represents the needless complexity, inefficiencies and waste in an environment. An IT environment includes different platforms, systems, and components that have an effect on changes and upgrades within the environment. The impact of the changes or upgrades is reduced if the environment has increased coordination, few single points of failure, high information availability, a high level of automation and the like. The management complexity factor is determined by evaluating several metrics according to objective criteria and weighing the metrics according to their importance. Using the management complexity factor, strategies and targets are identified to lower the complexity and inefficiencies within the environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Sean P. Garvey, Stephen T. O'Keefe, William S. Edgar, John G. Birch, Akilesh V. Duvvur, Gary R. Hix, Philip T. Spencley, Gerald T. Winner, Matthew G. Sharib, John F. Echaniz