Patents by Inventor James P. Smith

James P. Smith 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: 20180285203
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for exploiting object tags in order to produce a work order across several backup engines for a backup job. A selection of tags for an object is received. A work order for the object is created using the tags. The work order is stored with a virtual server that stores the object, wherein a data mover of a backup engine retrieves the work order from the virtual server to back up the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Sean P. Cox, David G. Derk, Kevin L. Gibble, Avishai H. Hochberg, James P. Smith, Steven V. Voyk, Martine B. Wedlake, Jean X. Yu
  • Patent number: 10055299
    Abstract: In an approach to backup and restore one or more clone file trees, one or more processors generate a clone management table. One or more processors record a clone management information in the clone management table about each clone file. To backup a clone file, one or more processors update the clone management information, and store one or more data blocks that are in the clone file trees. To restore a clone file, one or more processors analyze a clone management information and restore one or more data blocks in the clone file. To restore a clone file parent, one or more processors analyze a clone management information and restore one or more data blocks in the clone file parent. To restore a clone file tree, one or more processors analyze a clone management information and restore one or more data blocks in the clone file tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Bender, Nils Haustein, Dominic Mueller-Wicke, Wayne A. Sawdon, James P. Smith
  • Patent number: 10049121
    Abstract: In an approach to backup and restore one or more clone file trees, one or more processors generate a clone management table. One or more processors record a clone management information in the clone management table about each clone file. To backup a clone file, one or more processors update the clone management information, and store one or more data blocks that are in the clone file trees. To restore a clone file, one or more processors analyze a clone management information and restore one or more data blocks in the clone file. To restore a clone file parent, one or more processors analyze a clone management information and restore one or more data blocks in the clone file parent. To restore a clone file tree, one or more processors analyze a clone management information and restore one or more data blocks in the clone file tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Bender, Nils Haustein, Dominic Mueller-Wicke, Wayne A. Sawdon, James P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20180165265
    Abstract: A method for indicating property inheritance in object hierarchies is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes enabling a user to select an object in an object hierarchy. In response, the method displays a property sheet showing property values for the selected object. The property sheet shows a property value that is inherited from an object upstream from the selected object. The method provides, on the property sheet, an icon indicating a level in the object hierarchy from which the property value is inherited, and a label indicating a source object in the object hierarchy from which the property value is inherited. The label may, in certain embodiments, incorporate a name associated with the source object and link to a property sheet associated with the source object. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sean P. Cox, David G. Derk, Kevin L. Gibble, Andres F. Holguin, James P. Smith, Steven V. Voyk, Martine B. Wedlake, Jean X. Yu
  • Publication number: 20180165162
    Abstract: A method for presenting options associated with restoring data is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes providing a calendar, such as a monthly calendar, showing multiple days. The method enables a user to select a day on the calendar. In response to the selection, the method automatically displays, together with the calendar, a list of restore points associated with the selected day. The method further enables a user to select a restore point in the list. In response to the selection, the method automatically displays, together with the calendar and list of restore points, a list of restore options associated with the selected restore point. The method further enables the user to select a restore option, associated with a data recovery method, from the list of restore options. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sean P. Cox, David G. Derk, Kevin L. Gibble, Andres F. Holguin, James P. Smith, Steven V. Voyk, Martine B. Wedlake, Jean X. Yu
  • Publication number: 20170371547
    Abstract: For accessing files from block-level backups of a virtual disk, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a changed block module that obtains a list of changed blocks between a previous and a current backup of a virtual disk. The apparatus includes a mapping module that maps logical clusters of the virtual disk to the changed blocks and identifies files corresponding to the logical clusters. The apparatus further includes a changed file module that designates the files corresponding to the logical clusters as changed files, unless current attributes of the files for the current backup match attributes of the files in a backup file index corresponding to the previous backup of the virtual disk. The changed file module further stores the current attributes and extents for the changed files within blocks of a backup storage device for updating in the backup file index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Michael S. Fruchtman, Avishai H. Hochberg, Vadzim I. Piletski, James P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170325327
    Abstract: A printed circuit board for high-power components includes at least two dielectric layers. A thermally-conductive embedded layer is disposed between two of the dielectric layers and includes one or more internal coolant channels. Thermal vias extend from the embedded layer to an exterior surface of at least one of the dielectric layers. At least one of the dielectric layers in the printed circuit board has an exterior surface on which one or more high power components may be mounted. In some implementations, there are at least two dielectric layers on a same side of the embedded layer and high power components may be located inside the printed circuit board between two dielectric layers. Thermal resistance between the high-power components and the embedded layer is decreased in comparison to typical surface-mounted cold plates, resulting in more efficient heat dissipation. In some implementations the embedded layer is also an electrical ground plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: James P. Smith, M. David Conway, David Bragdon, David B. Du Russel, Thomas Ferguson, Jeffrey M. Hughes
  • Patent number: 9800569
    Abstract: During a data protection operation, a system exploits a virtual hierarchy to centralize the configuration and management of operating system credentials of numerous virtual guests. For each virtual guest, the system uses the credential to collect a single Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) previously generated and stored in-guest by any data protection agent. The system stores the collected GUID as a custom property in the context of the virtual hierarchy. The system also exploits the virtual hierarchy custom properties to determine if GUIDs are copies due to virtual guest replication. The system ensures GUID uniqueness by requesting regeneration of the GUID by in-guest data protection agents. Using GUIDs that are unique across the virtual hierarchy, the system can correlate application data of multiple in-guest data protection agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Edwards, Jr., Avishai H. Hochberg, Jawed Iqbal, Tai W. Nam, Joanne T. Nguyen, Neil G. Rasmussen, James P. Smith, Peter B. Symonds, Jean X. Yu
  • Publication number: 20170249217
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for hypervisor agnostic interchangeable backup recovery and file level recovery from virtual disks. Data is stored for a first virtual disk that represents data in a first format and metadata for the first virtual disk in a common data format in a storage having a fixed block length. A virtual disk file represents data in a second format that allows variable size blocks. Multiple instances of the fixed block length of blocks of data for the second virtual disk indicated in the virtual disk file are read. Each instance of the read fixed block length of blocks is written to the storage in the common data format with metadata describing the format of the blocks in the second virtual disk, and can be restored to a third virtual disk in the first or second format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: David G. Derk, Robert C. Edwards, JR., Michael S. Fruchtman, Avishai H. Hochberg, Vadzim L. Piletski, Delbert B. Hoobler, III, James P. Smith
  • Patent number: 9684567
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for hypervisor agnostic interchangeable backup recovery and file level recovery from virtual disks. Data is stored for a first virtual disk that represents data in a first format and metadata for the first virtual disk in a common data format in a storage having a fixed block length. A virtual disk file represents data in a second format that allows variable size blocks. Multiple instances of the fixed block length of blocks of data for the second virtual disk indicated in the virtual disk file are read. Each instance of the read fixed block length of blocks is written to the storage in the common data format with metadata describing the format of the blocks in the second virtual disk, and can be restored to a third virtual disk in the first or second format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David G. Derk, Robert C. Edwards, Jr., Michael S. Fruchtman, Avishai H. Hochberg, Vadzim L. Piletski, Delbert B. Hoobler, III, James P. Smith
  • Patent number: 9632875
    Abstract: Techniques for adjusting the frequency of data backups and initiating event-driven backups in a storage system are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a self-adjusting backup frequency, known as a “Change Rate Objective,” is defined to conduct or delay backups for one or more volumes in the storage system on the basis of an associated policy value. The Change Rate Objective may be tied to one or more business or data activity events, such as the amount and type of data changes since a last backup. The storage system may also be tailored to conduct or delay full or incremental backups on the basis of a Change Rate Objective that measures whether a full or incremental or differential backup is more appropriate. Various data or system failures, or data or business events may also be used to adjust the retention periods of continuous data protection (CDP) data and delay a rollup of CDP data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Eran Raichstein, James P. Smith, Gregory J. Tevis, David G. Van Hise, Oren Wolf
  • Patent number: 9619342
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide efficient and cost-effective systems and methods for backing up and recovering a virtual machine and application data therein. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to satisfy near-zero RPOs by providing more recovery points for backups in virtual machine environments, while also providing increased granularity for recovery (i.e., single virtual disk, single file, etc.) and maintaining central management capabilities and back up efficiencies offered by virtual machine-level backups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Zhengwen He, Mandeep K. Jandir, James P. Smith, Mark L. Yakushev, Christopher Zaremba
  • Patent number: 9606876
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide efficient and cost-effective systems and methods for backing up and recovering a virtual machine and application data therein. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to satisfy near-zero RPOs by providing more recovery points for backups in virtual machine environments, while also providing increased granularity for recovery (i.e., single virtual disk, single file, etc.) and maintaining central management capabilities and back up efficiencies offered by virtual machine-level backups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Zhengwen He, Mandeep K. Jandir, James P. Smith, Mark L. Yakushev, Christopher Zaremba
  • Publication number: 20160292041
    Abstract: In an approach to backup and restore one or more clone file trees, one or more processors generate a clone management table. One or more processors record a clone management information in the clone management table about each clone file. To backup a clone file, one or more processors update the clone management information, and store one or more data blocks that are in the clone file trees. To restore a clone file, one or more processors analyze a clone management information and restore one or more data blocks in the clone file. To restore a clone file parent, one or more processors analyze a clone management information and restore one or more data blocks in the clone file parent. To restore a clone file tree, one or more processors analyze a clone management information and restore one or more data blocks in the clone file tree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Stefan Bender, Nils Haustein, Dominic Mueller-Wicke, Wayne A. Sawdon, James P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20160292047
    Abstract: In an approach to backup and restore one or more clone file trees, one or more processors generate a clone management table. One or more processors record a clone management information in the clone management table about each clone file. To backup a clone file, one or more processors update the clone management information, and store one or more data blocks that are in the clone file trees. To restore a clone file, one or more processors analyze a clone management information and restore one or more data blocks in the clone file. To restore a clone file parent, one or more processors analyze a clone management information and restore one or more data blocks in the clone file parent. To restore a clone file tree, one or more processors analyze a clone management information and restore one or more data blocks in the clone file tree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Stefan Bender, Nils Haustein, Dominic Mueller-Wicke, Wayne A. Sawdon, James P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20160070623
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for hypervisor agnostic interchangeable backup recovery and file level recovery from virtual disks. Data is stored for a first virtual disk that represents data in a first format and metadata for the first virtual disk in a common data format in a storage having a fixed block length. A virtual disk file represents data in a second format that allows variable size blocks. Multiple instances of the fixed block length of blocks of data for the second virtual disk indicated in the virtual disk file are read. Each instance of the read fixed block length of blocks is written to the storage in the common data format with metadata describing the format of the blocks in the second virtual disk, and can be restored to a third virtual disk in the first or second format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: David G. Derk, Robert C. Edwards, Jr., Michael S. Fruchtman, Avishai H. Hochberg, Vadzim L. Piletski, Delbert B. Hoobler, III, James P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20150370639
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide efficient and cost-effective systems and methods for backing up and recovering a virtual machine and application data therein. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to satisfy near-zero RPOs by providing more recovery points for backups in virtual machine environments, while also providing increased granularity for recovery (i.e., single virtual disk, single file, etc.) and maintaining central management capabilities and back up efficiencies offered by virtual machine-level backups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Zhengwen He, Mandeep K. Jandir, James P. Smith, Mark L. Yakushev, Christopher Zaremba
  • Publication number: 20150370652
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide efficient and cost-effective systems and methods for backing up and recovering a virtual machine and application data therein. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to satisfy near-zero RPOs by providing more recovery points for backups in virtual machine environments, while also providing increased granularity for recovery (i.e., single virtual disk, single file, etc.) and maintaining central management capabilities and back up efficiencies offered by virtual machine-level backups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Zhengwen He, Mandeep K. Jandir, James P. Smith, Mark L. Yakushev, Christopher Zaremba
  • Publication number: 20150358309
    Abstract: A system correlates application information from within a virtual guest to an entity managing off-host data protection. During a data protection operation, the system exploits the virtual hierarchy to centralize the configuration and management of operating system credentials of numerous virtual guests. For each virtual guest, the system uses the credential to collect a single Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) previously generated and stored in-guest by any data protection agent. The system stores the collected GUID as a custom property in the context of the virtual hierarchy. The system also exploits the virtual hierarchy custom properties to determine if GUIDs are copies due to virtual guest replication. The system ensures GUID's uniqueness by requesting regeneration of the GUID by in-guest data protection agents. Using GUIDs that are unique across the virtual hierarchy, from the entity managing off-host data protection, the system can correlate application data of multiple in-guest data protection agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Robert C. Edwards, Jr., Avishai H. Hochberg, Jawed Iqbal, Tai W. Nam, Joanne T. Nguyen, Neil G. Rasmussen, James P. Smith, Peter B. Symonds, Jean X. Yu
  • Patent number: 9058298
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention includes a configuration of a storage management system that enables the performance of deduplication activities at both the client (source) and at the server (target) locations. The location of deduplication operations can then be optimized based on system conditions or predefined policies. In one embodiment, seamless switching of deduplication activities between the client and the server is enabled by utilizing uniform deduplication process algorithms and accessing the same deduplication index (containing information on the hashed data chunks). Additionally, any data transformations on the chunks are performed subsequent to identification of the data chunks. Accordingly, with use of this storage configuration, the storage system can find and utilize matching chunks generated with either client- or server-side deduplication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Anglin, David M. Cannon, Avishai H. Hochberg, James P. Smith, David G. Van Hise, Mark L. Yakushev