Patents by Inventor Ian Nicholas Whalley

Ian Nicholas Whalley 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: 9405585
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a system of heterogeneous workloads are provided. Work that enters the system is separated into a plurality of heterogeneous workloads. A plurality of high-level quality of service goals is gathered. At least one of the plurality of high-level quality of service goals corresponds to each of the plurality of heterogeneous workloads. A plurality of control functions are determined that are provided by virtualizations on one or more containers in which one or more of the plurality of heterogeneous workloads run. An expected utility of a plurality of settings of at least one of the plurality of control functions is determined in response to the plurality of high-level quality of service goals. At least one of the plurality of control functions is exercised in response to the expected utility to effect changes in the behavior of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Michael Chess, Malgorzata Steinder, Ian Nicholas Whalley
  • Patent number: 9218213
    Abstract: Techniques for managing a system of heterogeneous applications are provided. A plurality of applications is classified into a plurality of application types. One or more of the plurality of applications in each of the plurality of application types are classified into one or more collections. A utility function of possible resource allocations is computed for each of the one or more collections. An application placement is computed that optimizes a global utility of the plurality of applications in accordance with the one or more utility functions. Placement and resource allocation of the plurality of applications are modified in the system in accordance with the application placement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Malgorzata Steinder, Ian Nicholas Whalley
  • Patent number: 9110729
    Abstract: Systems and methods for admission control to a physical host system are provided herein. One aspect provides for receiving at least one resource request at an admission control component of a distributed computing system, the at least one resource request comprised of at least one system type; processing the at least one resource request utilizing at least one physical host accessible to the distributed computing system; specifying a number of resource request slots to be reserved for at least one system type based on at least one future reservation threshold accessible to the admission control component; and blocking resource requests from entering the system through the admission control component based on a number of available resource request slots and the at least one future reservation threshold. Other embodiments and aspects are also described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Diana Jeanne Arroyo, Zohar Feldman, Michael Masin, Malgorzata Steinder, Asser Nasreldin Tantawi, Ian Nicholas Whalley
  • Patent number: 8635625
    Abstract: An exemplary method of allocating a workload among a set of computing devices includes obtaining at least one efficiency model for each device. The method also includes, for each of a set of allocations of the workload among the devices, determining, for each device, the power consumption for the device to perform the workload allocated to the device by the allocation, the power consumption being determined based on the at least one efficiency model for each device; and determining a total power consumption of the devices. The method also includes selecting an allocation of the workload among the devices based at least in part on the total power consumption of the devices for each allocation. The method also includes implementing the selected allocation of the workload among the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Edwin Hanson, Jeffrey Owen Kephart, Malgorzata Steinder, Ian Nicholas Whalley
  • Patent number: 8554898
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for autonomic control and optimization of computing systems. A plurality of component models for one or more components in an autonomic computing system are maintained in a system level database. These component models are obtained from a source external to the management server including the components associated with the models. Component models are added or removed from the database or updated as need. A system level management server in communication with the database utilizes the component models maintained in the system level database and generic component models as needed to compute an optimum state of the autonomic computing system. The autonomic computing system is managed in accordance with the computed optimum state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Michael Chess, Rajashi Das, James Edwin Hanson, Alla Segal, Gerald James Tesauro, Ian Nicholas Whalley
  • Publication number: 20130219066
    Abstract: Systems and methods for admission control to a physical host system are provided herein. One aspect provides for receiving at least one resource request at an admission control component of a distributed computing system, the at least one resource request comprised of at least one system type; processing the at least one resource request utilizing at least one physical host accessible to the distributed computing system; specifying a number of resource request slots to be reserved for at least one system type based on at least one future reservation threshold accessible to the admission control component; and blocking resource requests from entering the system through the admission control component based on a number of available resource request slots and the at least one future reservation threshold. Other embodiments and aspects are also described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Diana Jeanne Arroyo, Zohar Feldman, Michael Masin, Malgorzata Steinder, Asser Nasreldin Tantawi, Ian Nicholas Whalley
  • Publication number: 20130031035
    Abstract: A system for learning admission policy for optimizing quality of service of computer resources networks is provided herein. The system includes a statistical data extractor configured to extract historical data of deployment requests issued to an admission unit of a computer resources network. The system further includes a Markov decision process simulator configured to generate a simulation model based on the extracted historical data and resources specifications of the computer resources network, in terms of a Markov decision process. The system further includes a value function generator configured to determine a value function for deployment requests admissions. The system further includes a machine learning unit configured to train a classifier based on the simulation model and the value function, to yield an admission policy usable for processing incoming deployment requests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Arroyo Diana Jeanne, Zohar Feldman, Michael Masin, Malgorzata Steinder, Asser Nasreldin Tantawi, Ian Nicholas Whalley
  • Patent number: 8301742
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamically controlling application placement and server resource allocation in a distributed system wherein a performance manager and power manager collaborate during run-time execution of data processing tasks to coordinate management and control of workload placement and server usage and dynamically determine a tradeoff between performance level and power usage that meets power and performance objectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Hanson, Jeffrey Owen Kephart, Malgorzata Steinder, Ian Nicholas Whalley
  • Publication number: 20120222042
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a system of heterogeneous workloads are provided. Work that enters the system is separated into a plurality of heterogeneous workloads. A plurality of high-level quality of service goals is gathered. At least one of the plurality of high-level quality of service goals corresponds to each of the plurality of heterogeneous workloads. A plurality of control functions are determined that are provided by virtualizations on one or more containers in which one or more of the plurality of heterogeneous workloads run. An expected utility of a plurality of settings of at least one of the plurality of control functions is determined in response to the plurality of high-level quality of service goals. At least one of the plurality of control functions is exercised in response to the expected utility to effect changes in the behavior of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Michael Chess, Malgorzata Steinder, Ian Nicholas Whalley
  • Publication number: 20120203912
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for autonomic control and optimization of computing systems. A plurality of component models for one or more components in an autonomic computing system are maintained in a system level database. These component models are obtained from a source external to the management server including the components associated with the models. Component models are added or removed from the database or updated as need. A system level management server in communication with the database utilizes the component models maintained in the system level database and generic component models as needed to compute an optimum state of the autonomic computing system. The autonomic computing system is managed in accordance with the computed optimum state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
    Inventors: David Michael Chess, Rajashi Das, James Edwin Hanson, Alla Segal, Gerald James Tesauro, Ian Nicholas Whalley
  • Patent number: 8214474
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for autonomic control and optimization of computing systems. A plurality of component models for one or more components in an autonomic computing system are maintained in a system level database. These component models are obtained from a source external to the management server including the components associated with the models. Component models are added or removed from the database or updated as need. A system level management server in communication with the database utilizes the component models maintained in the system level database and generic component models as needed to compute an optimum state of the autonomic computing system. The autonomic computing system is managed in accordance with the computed optimum state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Michael Chess, Rajashi Das, James Edwin Hanson, Alla Segal, Gerald James Tesauro, Ian Nicholas Whalley
  • Patent number: 7950015
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and data processing system for providing an improved directory service for storing information about hardware and software components is disclosed. The directory service stores not only the information that other hardware and software components require to locate, and make use of, the components listed in the directory, but is also able to dynamically construct ‘meta services’ that fulfill a client's functionality requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rajarshi Das, Ian Nicholas Whalley
  • Patent number: 7928907
    Abstract: A system and method automatically maps computer center rooms and locates data center components within computer centers. Radio triangulation is used to determine the locations and, optionally, orientation, of machines within a computer center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Nicholas Whalley, Steve R. White
  • Patent number: 7788362
    Abstract: In one aspect this invention provides a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium that is executed by at least one data processor of a policy management system. The computer program includes first computer program instructions for implementing a user interface and second computer program instructions for implementing a policy manager that is coupled to the user interface via a policy repository for introducing a new attribute, using the first computer program instructions, into a policy for a policy-managed system, without requiring a change to (e.g., without having to re-write or re-compile) the second computer program instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David M Chess, Murthy V Devarakonda, Alla Segal, Ian Nicholas Whalley
  • Patent number: 7676505
    Abstract: Users create, share, and build collaboration communities around tailored versions of the functional pages of a web site, such as the pages used to select and purchase products, or the pages used to present course materials in an online-learning site. The tailored versions of the web site are stored at the common web site development web site or at another server side location. Users access the tailored versions to select a tailored version for their own use and/or modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David M Chess, Alla Segal, Ian Nicholas Whalley, Jian Yin
  • Publication number: 20090254909
    Abstract: An exemplary method of allocating a workload among a set of computing devices includes obtaining at least one efficiency model for each device. The method also includes, for each of a set of allocations of the workload among the devices, determining, for each device, the power consumption for the device to perform the workload allocated to the device by the allocation, the power consumption being determined based on the at least one efficiency model for each device; and determining a total power consumption of the devices. The method also includes selecting an allocation of the workload among the devices based at least in part on the total power consumption of the devices for each allocation. The method also includes implementing the selected allocation of the workload among the devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: James Edwin Hanson, Jeffrey Owen Kephart, Malgorzata Steinder, Ian Nicholas Whalley
  • Publication number: 20090254660
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dynamically controlling application placement and server resource allocation in a distributed system wherein a performance manager and power manager collaborate during run-time execution of data processing tasks to coordinate management and control of workload placement and server usage and dynamically determine a tradeoff between performance level and power usage that meets power and performance objectives
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: James E. Hanson, Jeffrey Owen Kephart, Malgorzata Steinder, Ian Nicholas Whalley
  • Patent number: 7515105
    Abstract: A system and method automatically maps computer center rooms and locates data center components within computer centers. Radio triangulation is used to determine the locations and, optionally, orientation, of machines within a computer center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Nicholas Whalley, Steve R. White
  • Patent number: 7502793
    Abstract: A physical token is provided that is used to assign an activity or role to a specific device by virtue of a physical relationship with the device. By associating the token with a device, through electrical connection or by mere proximity relative to the device, an administrator informs the device of the intended role for the device in an enterprise. In conjunction with some bootstrapping or other appropriate software on the computing device, the act of placing the token in the proper physical relationship with the device is all that is necessary to configure and deploy the device in a data center. A device may be assigned roles from a plurality of tokens. Computing devices may also be assigned roles based upon their proximity to other devices. Roles may also include a concept of seniority, wherein one device may be assigned a more senior role to another device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edward C. Snible, David Michael Chess, Ian Nicholas Whalley
  • Patent number: 7483986
    Abstract: In one aspect this invention provides a data processing system (10) that includes a plurality of self-organizing software agents (40) capable of autonomously establishing relationships between themselves, where the totality of the relationships can be represented by a topological structure having nodes that each contain one of the plurality of software agents and links between the nodes that are the established relationships. The data processing system further includes a topology tuning function that obtains information that is descriptive of the topology and, based at least in part on the obtained information and on at least one criterion, that makes a recommendation to at least one of the plurality of software agents that is intended to modify the topology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Hanson, Ian Nicholas Whalley