Patents by Inventor James P. Allen

James P. Allen 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: 20100293552
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for altering access to a network. A virtual I/O server controller in a virtual I/O server operating system receives an indication that an identified communications adapter requires attention. The virtual I/O server controller issues a set of calls to a set of N_port identification virtualization server adapters coupled to the identified communications adapter. Each of the set of calls indicates to each of the set of N_port identification virtualization server adapters a request to move a set of clients from their assigned port on the identified communications adapter to an available port on a failover communications adapter. The set of N_port identification virtualization server adapters moves the set of clients from the identified communications adapter to the failover communications adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Michael P. Cyr, James A. Pafumi, James B. Partridge
  • Patent number: 7783663
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for balancing I/O among available paths connected to a device. The mechanism partitions paths so a device can use all or only a subset of available paths to a device, depending on the load of I/O for other devices that are sharing the paths. The partitioning of paths is dynamic, readjusting as I/O loads change for the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Timothy M. Damron, Stephen M. Tee, Teerasit Tinnakul
  • Publication number: 20100180086
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer usable program product for an improved data storage device driver are provided in the illustrative embodiments. For managing an elevator queue, several requests are stored in the elevator queue. A determination is made whether the elevator queue is sorted. A number of requests in the elevator queue is determined if the elevator queue is unsorted. The unsorted elevator queue is monitored. Reaching a threshold condition in the unsorted elevator queue is detected. Sorting of the unsorted elevator queue is initiated. The requests may be I/O requests for a data storage device. The elevator queue may be sorted according to an ascending or descending order of data block addresses in the requests. The monitoring may monitor a remaining number of unsorted requests in the elevator queue as requests are removed from the elevator queue. The threshold condition may be associated with a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Gary Steven Domrow, John Leslie Neemidge, Stephen M. Tee
  • Publication number: 20100153593
    Abstract: Disclosed is a computer implemented method and apparatus for queuing I/O requests to a pending queue. The I/O device driver sets a maximum ordered queue length for an I/O device driver coupled to a storage device then receives an I/O request from an application. The I/O device driver determines whether the pending queue is sorted and responds to a determination that the pending queue is sorted, determining if queued I/O requests exceed the maximum ordered queue length. Responding to a determination that the pending queue exceeds the maximum ordered queue length, the I/O device driver adds the I/O request based on a high pointer, and points the high pointer to the I/O request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Nicholas S. Ham, John L. Neemidge, Stephen M. Tee
  • Publication number: 20100122111
    Abstract: Embodiments that dynamically manage physical and virtual multipath I/O are contemplated. Various embodiments comprise one or more computing devices, such as one or more servers, having at least two HBAs. At least one of the HBAs may be associated with a virtual I/O server that employs the HBA to transfer data between a plurality of virtual clients and one or more storage devices of a storage area network. The embodiments may monitor the availability of the HBAs, such as monitoring the HBAs for a failure of the HBA or a device coupled to the HBA. Upon detecting the unavailability of one of the HBAs, the embodiments may switch, dynamically, from the I/O path associated with the unavailable HBA to the alternate HBA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Robert G. Kovacs, James A. Pafumi, James B. Partridge, Jacob J. Rosales, Stephen M. Tee
  • Publication number: 20090307330
    Abstract: A system and method for migrating a client partition between computer electronic complexes (CECs) while maintaining access to a Storage Area Network. An active and inactive world wide port name are generated for a client virtual channel adapter. A query is sent to a name server from the VIOS on the source CEC. The name server creates a list of small computer system interface (SCSI) targets that are available. The list is used by the VIOS on the destination CEC to verify whether any physical ports in the destination CEC have access to the same SCSI target. The client partition may be migrated between a source CEC and a destination CEC and the access to the Storage Area Network access may be maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Michael Paul Cyr, James A. Pafumi, Vasu Vallabhaneni
  • Publication number: 20090307378
    Abstract: Disclosed is a computer implemented method, data processing system and computer program product to discover an SCSI target. The method comprises a client adapter transmitting an N_port ID virtualization (NPIV) login to a virtual I/O server (VIOS). The client adapter receives a successful login acknowledgement from the VIOS and issues a discover-targets command to the fabric. Upon determining that the SCSI target information is received, wherein the SCSI target information includes at least one SCSI identifier. Responsive a determination that SCSI target information is received the client adapter issues a port login to a target port, wherein the target port is associated with the at least one SCSI target. The client adapter makes a process login to form an initiator/target nexus between a client and at least one SCSI target. The client adapter queries the SCSI target by using a world wide port name associated with the target port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Michael P. Cyr, Robert G. Kovacs, James A. Pafumi, James B. Partridge, Vasu Vallabhaneni
  • Publication number: 20080133810
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for balancing I/O among available paths connected to a device. The mechanism partitions paths so a device can use all or only a subset of available paths to a device, depending on the load of I/O for other devices that are sharing the paths. The partitioning of paths is dynamic, readjusting as I/O loads change for the devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Timothy M. Damron, Stephen M. Tee, Teerasit Tinnakul
  • Patent number: 7337235
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for balancing I/O among available paths connected to a device. The mechanism partitions paths so a device can use all or only a subset of available paths to a device, depending on the load of I/O for other devices that are sharing the paths. The partitioning of paths is dynamic, readjusting as I/O loads change for the devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Timothy M. Damron, Stephen M. Tee, Teerasit Tinnakul
  • Patent number: 7089587
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for negotiating parameters for an IPSec connection between a requesting client and an iSCSI system using a computer system other than an iSCSI system are provided. By design, the iSCSI system monitors TCP (Transmission Control protocol) port 500 for secure requests. When a request enters port 500, the iSCSI system transmits all information received on port 500 to a computer system better suited to handle IPSec parameter negotiations. After the computer system has negotiated the parameters, the parameters are passed to the iSCSI system for a secure data transaction to ensue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, William Christopher Conklin, Vinit Jain, Shawn Patrick Mullen, Rakesh Sharma, Satya Prakesh Sharma
  • Patent number: 6917988
    Abstract: A system and method for managing a Fibre Channel adapter is disclosed. When a close request is received by the Fibre Channel adapter, the adapter is set to a quasi-open state. In a quasi-open state, the adapter keeps the link to the Fibre Channel network open, releases extended resources, and maintains minimal resources in order to keep the link open. When a request is received by the adapter while in a quasi-open state, the request is rejected thereby preventing other devices from logging into the quasi-opened device and informing other devices that the quasi-opened device is not currently communicating across the Fibre Channel network. An information handling system and a computer program product for implementing the Fibre Channel adapter quasi-open state are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Marcus Bryan Grande, Robert G. Kovacs
  • Patent number: 6915429
    Abstract: A system and method for remotely waking up a Fibre Channel attached device. A Fibre Channel attached device is set in a quasi-open mode wherein the device summarily rejects most requests and allocates a minimal set of resources to operate the adapter. One request that is not rejected is an activation request received from another Fibre Channel attached device. When an activation request is received, an optional authentication process can be invoked to insure that only authenticated devices issue the activation command. An additional security feature can be used to restrict the devices authorized to activate a device. A list of devices can be stored on nonvolatile storage or in memory. When a requesting device has been authenticated, its address is checked against the list of approved devices before the device adapter is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Marcus Bryan Grande, Robert G. Kovacs
  • Patent number: 6895453
    Abstract: In traditional Fiber Channel systems, remote devices connected to the Fiber Channel network using a bridge or included in a storage enclosure are not tracked. If a remote device, such as a SCSI disk device, is removed or swapped, data errors such as data corruption can result. A device identifier corresponding to the remote device is obtained from the remote device. The device identifier may include the remote device's serial number and other identifying information pertaining to the device. The first time the remote device is used, the device identifier is obtained and stored by the Fiber Channel device using the remote device. This device identifier is compared with subsequently obtained identifiers. If the identifiers match, communication with the remote device occurs. However, if the identifiers do not match, an error condition is raised indicating that the remote device has been removed or swapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Marcus Bryan Grande, Madhuranath Narasipur Krishna Iyengar, Robert George Kovacs, John Leslie Neemidge, Marshon Larapheal Robinson
  • Patent number: 6804703
    Abstract: A system and method for recovering from a failure in a clustered environment sharing a common nonvolatile storage device. The first computer reserves the device by identifying itself in a reservation key associated with the device. The first device sends a signal to one or more backup computers informing the backup computers that the first computer is operational. When the first computer fails to operate, one of the backup computers breaks the first computer's reservation to the storage device and writes a new reservation key to the reservation storage area identifying the backup computer as the reservation holder of the storage device. When the first computer is reinitialized, it reads the reservation storage area and does not attempt to break the reservation made by the backup computer. One embodiment provides for the first computer to request control from the backup computer upon being reinitialized whereupon the backup computer releases its reservation and relinquishes control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Gerald Francis McBrearty, Johnny Meng-Han Shieh, Thomas Van Weaver
  • Patent number: 6792479
    Abstract: In traditional Fibre Channel systems, remote devices connected to the Fibre Channel network using a bridge or included in a storage enclosure are not tracked. A device identifier corresponding to the remote device is obtained from the remote device. The device identifier may include the remote device's serial number and other identifying information pertaining to the device. The remote device's vendor and product identifiers are retrieved and matched against a table of known vendor/product identifiers. If the match is successful, a predefined routine is located based on the match. The predefined routine is repeatedly used to retrieve the device identifier from the remote device. Communication with the remote device continues while the device identifier matches a previously stored device identifier corresponding to the device. When the device identifier no longer matches, an error occurs indicating that the remote device has been removed or swapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Marcus Bryan Grande, Madhuranath Narasipur Krishna Iyengar, Robert George Kovacs, John Leslie Neemidge, Marshon Larapheal Robinson
  • Patent number: 6643586
    Abstract: A GPS device is used in conjunction with a device, such as a SAN device, to record and track the device's location. A device can periodically report its location to one or more computer systems that track device locations. Another device can send a request to other devices requesting the devices' geographic location. The devices, in turn, respond with data corresponding to their geographic location. In the event of a catastrophe or other event rendering devices in one area inoperable, one of the computer systems can be used to identify a location of another device that includes similar data. The GPS data corresponding to a device can also be used to identify a technician that should respond to a device maintenance or repair event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Marcus Bryan Grande, Madhuranath Narasipur Krishna Iyengar, Robert G. Kovacs, John Leslie Neemidge
  • Publication number: 20030191932
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for negotiating parameters for an IPSec connection between a requesting client and an iSCSI system using a computer system other than an iSCSI system are provided. By design, the iSCSI system monitors TCP (Transmission Control protocol) port 500 for secure requests. When a request enters port 500, the iSCSI system transmits all information received on port 500 to a computer system better suited to handle IPSec parameter negotiations. After the computer system has negotiated the parameters, the parameters are passed to the iSCSI system for a secure data transaction to ensue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, William Christopher Conklin, Vinit Jain, Shawn Patrick Mullen, Rakesh Sharma, Satya Prakesh Sharma
  • Publication number: 20030177174
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product applicable within a server for adaptively allocating target resources in a network environment. In accordance with the method of the present invention, a storage name server triggers a forced target rediscovery evolution during competing sessions in which multiple initiator nodes are communicatively connected to a target node utilizing an associated network target address.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, William Christopher Conklin, Robert G. Kovacs, Shawn Patrick Mullen, Rakesh Sharma
  • Publication number: 20030114981
    Abstract: A GPS device is used in conjunction with a device, such as a SAN device, to record and track the device's location. A device can periodically report its location to one or more computer systems that track device locations. Another device can send a request to other devices requesting the devices' geographic location. The devices, in turn, respond with data corresponding to their geographic location. In the event of a catastrophe or other event rendering devices in one area inoperable, one of the computer systems can be used to identify a location of another device that includes similar data. The GPS data corresponding to a device can also be used to identify a technician that should respond to a device maintenance or repair event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Marcus Bryan Grande, Madhuranath Narasipur Krishna Iyengar, Robert G. Kovacs, John Leslie Neemidge
  • Publication number: 20020161951
    Abstract: In traditional Fibre Channel systems, remote devices connected to the Fibre Channel network using a bridge or included in a storage enclosure are not tracked. A device identifier corresponding to the remote device is obtained from the remote device. The device identifier may include the remote device's serial number and other identifying information pertaining to the device. The remote device's vendor and product identifiers are retrieved and matched against a table of known vendor/product identifiers. If the match is successful, a predefined routine is located based on the match. The predefined routine is repeatedly used to retrieve the device identifier from the remote device. Communication with the remote device continues while the device identifier matches a previously stored device identifier corresponding to the device. When the device identifier no longer matches, an error occurs indicating that the remote device has been removed or swapped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Allen, Marcus Bryan Grande, Madhuranath Narasipur Krishana Iyengar, Robert George Kovacs, John Leslie Neemidge, Marshon Larapheal Robinson