Patents by Inventor Hiroshi Abei

Hiroshi Abei 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: 9170750
    Abstract: A storage apparatus comprises a storage controller and multiple storage devices. The storage controller sends, to either a storage device which is a copy source of copy-target data, or a storage device which is a copy destination of the copy-target data, a copy indication showing areas of the copy source and the copy destination, and the storage device, which receives the copy indication, copies data of the copy-source area to the copy-destination area based on the copy indication without going through the storage controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Abei, Koji Sonoda
  • Publication number: 20140317367
    Abstract: A storage apparatus comprises a storage controller and multiple storage devices. The storage controller sends, to either a storage device which is a copy source of copy-target data, or a storage device which is a copy destination of the copy-target data, a copy indication showing areas of the copy source and the copy destination, and the storage device, which receives the copy indication, copies data of the copy-source area to the copy-destination area based on the copy indication without going through the storage controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Abei, Koji Sonoda
  • Patent number: 8713266
    Abstract: A storage apparatus having a plurality of logical volumes includes a storage device, and a storage controller that operates each of the logical volumes as a virtual volume. A primary volume and a secondary volume are configured as a copy pair in which data in the primary volume can be copied to the secondary volume. If the primary volume receives a discard request for a unit physical storage area, the storage controller determines whether or not a unit physical storage area exists configuring the secondary volume corresponding to the unit physical storage area, which is a target of the discard request. If the unit physical storage area configuring the secondary volume exists, an instruction is transmitted to the secondary volume to discard the page or unit physical storage area assigned to the secondary volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michio Suetsugu, Hiroshi Abei, Haruaki Watanabe, Youichi Gotoh
  • Patent number: 8112362
    Abstract: A storage system and a license management method that can simplify license management are proposed. In a storage system in which a first storage apparatus is connected to one or a plurality of second storage apparatuses and the first storage apparatus virtualizes each of the second storage apparatuses, the first storage apparatus checks, based on this license key, which targets the license key input from the outside for setting a predetermined optional function has been issued for, and transmits the license key to the corresponding second storage apparatus when the target to which the license key has been issued is the second storage apparatus, and the second storage apparatus sets the corresponding optional function in its own storage apparatus based on the license key transmitted from the first storage apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Abei
  • Publication number: 20110258406
    Abstract: A storage apparatus having a plurality of logical volumes, each providing a data storage area to an external device, comprises a storage device providing a physical storage area, and a storage controller creating a plurality of unit physical storage areas from the storage device, operating each of the logical volumes as a virtual volume in which, in response to a data TO request from the external device, the unit physical storage area is added to each of the logical volumes, selecting any one of the logical volumes as a primary volume, selecting any one of the rest of the logical volumes as a secondary volume, the primary volume and the secondary volume being configured as a copy pair in which data in the primary volume can be copied to the secondary volume, in the case that the primary volume receives a discarding request for the unit physical storage area from the external device, determining whether or not the unit physical storage are exists, the unit physical storage area configuring the secondary volume
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Michio Suetsugu, Hiroshi Abei, Haruaki Watanabe, Youichi Gotoh
  • Publication number: 20080027963
    Abstract: The present invention can simplify the update work of a microprogram to reduce mistakes made by administrators during update work.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Junichi Hiwatashi, Hiroshi Abei
  • Publication number: 20070214294
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method, a system and code for backing up information on a storage system, for example, a disk system, connected to a storage area network. The host or server system off loads the task of backing up its data to the storage system that stores the data. In an exemplary embodiment a server sends an E-Copy command to a disk system. Next, the disk system finds an available back-device, for example a tape or DLT library, and then backups the information indicated in the E-Copy command to the back-up device. A user interface is provided so that one or more path groups, comprising at least a target port and an initiator port, on a disk system may be designated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keishi Tamura, Yoshinori Okami, Hiroshi Abei, Mikito Ogata
  • Patent number: 7246214
    Abstract: Two data centers located in the vicinity are connected using a synchronous transfer copy function, and one of the data centers is coupled with a third data center disposed at a remote location by an asynchronous remote copying function. The order whereat a storage sub-system located in the vicinity has received data from a host is consistently guaranteed, and the third data center holds the data. Further, each storage sub-system includes a function whereby, during normal operation, data can be exchanged and the data update state can be obtained by the storage sub-systems located in the two data centers that do not directly engage in data transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Nakano, Katsunori Nakamura, Mikito Ogata, Yoshinori Okami, Seiichi Higaki, Hiroshi Abei, Shigeru Kishiro, Akira Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7228397
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method, a system and code for backing up information on a storage system, for example, a disk system, connected to a storage area network. The host or server system off loads the task of backing up its data to the storage system that stores the data. In an exemplary embodiment a server sends an E-copy command to a disk system. Next, the disk system finds an available back-up device, for examples a tape or DLT library, and then backs-up the information indicated in the E-copy command to the back-up device. A user interface is provided so that one or more path groups, comprising at least a target port and an initiator port, on a disk system may be designated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keishi Tamura, Yoshinori Okami, Hiroshi Abei, Mikito Ogata
  • Patent number: 7213114
    Abstract: Two data centers located in the vicinity are connected using a synchronous transfer copy function, and one of the data centers is coupled with a third data center disposed at a remote location by an asynchronous remote copying function. The order whereat a storage sub-system located in the vicinity has received data from a host is consistently guaranteed, and the third data center holds the data. Further, each storage sub-system includes a function whereby, during normal operation, data can be exchanged and the data update state can be obtained by the storage sub-systems located in the two data centers that do not directly engage in data transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Nakano, Katsunori Nakamura, Mikito Ogata, Yoshinori Okami, Seiichi Higaki, Hiroshi Abei, Shigeru Kishiro, Teruo Nagasawa, Takeshi Koide
  • Publication number: 20070078984
    Abstract: A storage system and a license management method that can simplify license management are proposed. In a storage system in which a first storage apparatus is connected to one or a plurality of second storage apparatuses and the first storage apparatus virtualizes each of the second storage apparatuses, the first storage apparatus checks, based on this license key, which targets the license key input from the outside for setting a predetermined optional function has been issued for, and transmits the license key to the corresponding second storage apparatus when the target to which the license key has been issued is the second storage apparatus, and the second storage apparatus sets the corresponding optional function in its own storage apparatus based on the license key transmitted from the first storage apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventor: Hiroshi Abei
  • Patent number: 7194590
    Abstract: A storage apparatus configuration in a three data center architecture comprises first and second data storage systems, and a remote data storage system. The first data storage systems can copy an image of data stored therein to the remote data storage system without affecting access to storage in the first data storage system. The second data storage system is configured to perform a takeover operation if the first data storage system becomes unavailable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyosuke Achiwa, Takashi Oeda, Katsunori Nakamura, Toshio Nakano, Mikito Ogata, Yoshinori Okami, Seiichi Higaki, Hiroshi Abei, Shigeru Kishiro
  • Patent number: 7167962
    Abstract: Two data centers located in the vicinity are connected using a synchronous transfer copy function, and one of the data centers is coupled with a third data center disposed at a remote location by an asynchronous remote copying function. The order whereat a storage sub-system located in the vicinity has received data from a host is consistently guaranteed, and the third data center holds the data. Further, each storage sub-system includes a function whereby, during normal operation, data can be exchanged and the data update state can be obtained by the storage sub-systems located in the two data centers that do not directly engage in data transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Nakano, Katsunori Nakamura, Mikito Ogata, Yoshinori Okami, Seiichi Higaki, Hiroshi Abei, Haruaki Watanabe, Kouji Arai, Takashi Oeda, Akira Yamamoto, Kenji Yamagami, Shigeru Kishiro
  • Publication number: 20060195668
    Abstract: Two data centers located in the vicinity are connected using a synchronous transfer copy function, and one of the data centers is coupled with a third data center disposed at a remote location by an asynchronous remote copying function. The order whereat a storage sub-system located in the vicinity has received data from a host is consistently guaranteed, and the third data center holds the data. Further, each storage sub-system includes a function whereby, during normal operation, data can be exchanged and the data update state can be obtained by the storage sub-systems located in the two data centers that do not directly engage in data transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Nakano, Katsunori Nakamura, Mikito Ogata, Yoshinori Okami, Seiichi Higaki, Hiroshi Abei, Haruaki Watanabe, Kouji Arai, Takashi Oeda, Akira Yamamoto, Kenji Yamagami, Shigeru Kishiro
  • Publication number: 20060195667
    Abstract: Two data centers located in the vicinity are connected using a synchronous transfer copy function, and one of the data centers is coupled with a third data center disposed at a remote location by an asynchronous remote copying function. The order whereat a storage sub-system located in the vicinity has received data from a host is consistently guaranteed, and the third data center holds the data. Further, each storage sub-system includes a function whereby, during normal operation, data can be exchanged and the data update state can be obtained by the storage sub-systems located in the two data centers that do not directly engage in data transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Nakano, Katsunori Nakamura, Mikito Ogata, Yoshinori Okami, Seiichi Higaki, Hiroshi Abei, Shigeru Kishiro, Hideo Tabuchi, Akinobu Shimada, Masafumi Nozawa
  • Publication number: 20060085612
    Abstract: Two data centers located in the vicinity are connected using a synchronous transfer copy function, and one of the data centers is coupled with a third data center disposed at a remote location by an asynchronous remote copying function. The order whereat a storage sub-system located in the vicinity has received data from a host is consistently guaranteed, and the third data center holds the data. Further, each storage sub-system includes a function whereby, during normal operation, data can be exchanged and the data update state can be obtained by the storage sub-systems located in the two data centers that do not directly engage in data transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Nakano, Katsunori Nakamura, Mikito Ogata, Yoshinori Okami, Seiichi Higaki, Hiroshi Abei, Shigeru Kishiro
  • Publication number: 20050120093
    Abstract: Two data centers located in the vicinity are connected using a synchronous transfer copy function, and one of the data centers is coupled with a third data center disposed at a remote location by an asynchronous remote copying function. The order whereat a storage sub-system located in the vicinity has received data from a host is consistently guaranteed, and the third data center holds the data. Further, each storage sub-system includes a function whereby, during normal operation, data can be exchanged and the data update state can be obtained by the storage sub-systems located in the two data centers that do not directly engage in data transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Nakano, Katsunori Nakamura, Mikito Ogata, Yoshinori Okami, Seiichi Higaki, Hiroshi Abei, Shigeru Kishiro, Teruo Nagasawa, Takeshi Koide
  • Publication number: 20050120092
    Abstract: Two data centers located in the vicinity are connected using a synchronous transfer copy function, and one of the data centers is coupled with a third data center disposed at a remote location by an asynchronous remote copying function. The order whereat a storage sub-system located in the vicinity has received data from a host is consistently guaranteed, and the third data center holds the data. Further, each storage sub-system includes a function whereby, during normal operation, data can be exchanged and the data update state can be obtained by the storage sub-systems located in the two data centers that do not directly engage in data transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Nakano, Katsunori Nakamura, Mikito Ogata, Yoshinori Okami, Seiichi Higaki, Hiroshi Abei, Shigeru Kishiro, Akira Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20040177098
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method, a system and code for backing up information on a storage system, for example, a disk system, connected to a storage area network. The host or server system off loads the task of backing up its data to the storage system that stores the data. In an exemplary embodiment a server sends an E-Copy command to a disk system. Next, the disk system finds an available back-device, for example a tape or DLT library, and then backups the information indicated in the E-Copy command to the back-up device. A user interface is provided so that one or more path groups, comprising at least a target port and an initiator port, on a disk system may be designated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keishi Tamura, Yoshinori Okami, Hiroshi Abei, Mikito Ogata
  • Patent number: 6728848
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method, a system and code for backing up information on a storage system, for example, a disk system, connected to a storage area network. The host or server system off loads the task of backing up its data to the storage system that stores the data. In an exemplary embodiment a server sends an E-copy command to a disk system. Next, the disk system finds an available back-up device, for example, a tape or DLT library, and then backs-up the information indicated in the E-copy command to the back-up device. A user interface is provided so that one or more path groups, comprising at least a target port and an initiator port, on a disk system may be designated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keishi Tamura, Yoshinori Okami, Hiroshi Abei, Mikito Ogata