Patents by Inventor John M. Clifton

John M. Clifton 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: 10956084
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method, computer system, and computer program product for adjusting tiering based on operation types in a multi-tier storage system is provided. The present invention may include retrieving an extent to be managed and operations associated with the extent; analyzing the operations of the extent to determine an IO pattern associated with the extent; receiving a list of storage devices within the multi-tier storage system; querying each storage device of the storage devices for suitable pattern types; selecting, based on the querying and the IO pattern associated with the extent, a suitable storage device; and transferring the extent to the suitable storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander H. Ainscow, Duo Chen, John M. Clifton, Kushal Patel, Sarvesh Patel
  • Patent number: 10691357
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: detecting that a configuration change for a virtualization layer in a multi-tiered data storage system has been received, and determining whether the configuration change corresponds to a tiering adjustment. In response to determining that the configuration change corresponds to a tiering adjustment, I/O pattern changes are predicted. Moreover, a determination is made as to whether each specific extent is stored in a tier of the multi-tiered data storage system suitable to satisfy the predicted I/O pattern changes which correspond to the respective specific extent. In response to determining that one of the specific extents is stored in a tier of the multi-tiered data storage system which is not suitable to satisfy the predicted I/O pattern changes, the at least one specific extent is migrated to another one of the tiers determined as being suitable to satisfy the predicted I/O pattern changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander H. Ainscow, John M. Clifton, Sarvesh S. Patel, Kushal S. Patel, Kalpesh Chhajed
  • Publication number: 20200050381
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: detecting that a configuration change for a virtualization layer in a multi-tiered data storage system has been received, and determining whether the configuration change corresponds to a tiering adjustment. In response to determining that the configuration change corresponds to a tiering adjustment, I/O pattern changes are predicted. Moreover, a determination is made as to whether each specific extent is stored in a tier of the multi-tiered data storage system suitable to satisfy the predicted I/O pattern changes which correspond to the respective specific extent. In response to determining that one of the specific extents is stored in a tier of the multi-tiered data storage system which is not suitable to satisfy the predicted I/O pattern changes, the at least one specific extent is migrated to another one of the tiers determined as being suitable to satisfy the predicted I/O pattern changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Alexander H. Ainscow, John M. Clifton, Sarvesh S. Patel, Kushal S. Patel, Kalpesh Chhajed
  • Publication number: 20190339903
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method, computer system, and computer program product for adjusting tiering based on operation types in a multi-tier storage system is provided. The present invention may include retrieving an extent to be managed and operations associated with the extent; analyzing the operations of the extent to determine an IO pattern associated with the extent; receiving a list of storage devices within the multi-tier storage system; querying each storage device of the storage devices for suitable pattern types; selecting, based on the querying and the IO pattern associated with the extent, a suitable storage device; and transferring the extent to the suitable storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Alexander H. Ainscow, Duo Chen, John M. Clifton, Kushal Patel, Sarvesh Patel
  • Patent number: 9575660
    Abstract: Storing defined presets for configuration of a storage controller may include providing a storage controller interface to define a preset associated with an action of the storage controller; receiving preset parameter values for the preset via the interface; validating the preset parameter values to check that the preset is valid; storing the preset within the storage controller, and creating one or more preset objects from the preset, the preset object being accessible by the storage controller at run time. The preset may include a human-readable name; an action name indicating to which associated storage controller action the preset applies, and a set of parameter name-value pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Clifton, Matthew J. Fairhurst, Colin R. Jewell, James Mulcahy
  • Patent number: 9542289
    Abstract: A computer node comprises dual hard drives. A method of testing the computer node comprises performing a test of the first hard drive, waiting a specific time period, and performing a test of the second hard drive. Each test comprises isolating the drive being tested, writing data to the drive being tested, removing power from the drive being tested, repowering the drive being tested, and reading data from the drive being tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Clifton, Matthew J. Fairhurst
  • Patent number: 9348721
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes evaluating event history information for each of one or more events associated with a hardware entity against a symptom rule, the symptom rule defining a validity state of a diagnosis. The method also includes identifying contextual information by receiving and inspecting the event history information in response to the symptom rule being satisfied and the diagnosis being validated. An indication of the validity state of the diagnosis is sent to at least one subscriber that has requested a subscription specifically for the diagnosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Clifton, Matthew John Fairhurst
  • Publication number: 20150324267
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes evaluating event history information for each of one or more events associated with a hardware entity against a symptom rule, the symptom rule defining a validity state of a diagnosis. The method also includes identifying contextual information by receiving and inspecting the event history information in response to the symptom rule being satisfied and the diagnosis being validated. An indication of the validity state of the diagnosis is sent to at least one subscriber that has requested a subscription specifically for the diagnosis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: John M. Clifton, Matthew John Fairhurst
  • Publication number: 20150255116
    Abstract: A computer node comprises dual hard drives. A method of testing the computer node comprises performing a test of the first hard drive, waiting a specific time period, and performing a test of the second hard drive. Each test comprises isolating the drive being tested, writing data to the drive being tested, removing power from the drive being tested, repowering the drive being tested, and reading data from the drive being tested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: John M. Clifton, Matthew J. Fairhurst
  • Patent number: 9116806
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes recording event history information for one or more events associated with an entity; evaluating the event history information for each of the one or more events associated with the entity against a symptom rule, wherein the symptom rule defines a validity state of a diagnosis; issuing a subscription to one or more subscribers, wherein the subscription enables the one or more subscribers to receive diagnosis information; and indicating the validity state of the diagnosis to the subscriber, wherein the recording and the evaluating are performed independently such that the issuing and the event history information and the are substantially decoupled. Other methods are also described, according to various embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Clifton, Matthew J. Fairhurst
  • Patent number: 9086970
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a recording module adapted for recording event history information for one or more events associated with an entity, an evaluating module adapted for evaluating the event history information for each of the one or more events associated with the entity against a symptom rule, wherein the symptom rule defines a validity state of a diagnosis, an issuing module adapted for issuing a subscription to one or more subscribers, wherein the subscription enables the one or more subscribers to receive diagnosis information, and an indicating module adapted for indicating the validity state of the diagnosis to the subscriber, wherein the recording module and the evaluating module are independent such that the issuing module and the event history information are substantially decoupled. Other systems and computer program products are also described, according to various embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Clifton, Matthew J. Fairhurst
  • Publication number: 20140304484
    Abstract: Storing defined presets for configuration of a storage controller may include providing a storage controller interface to define a preset associated with an action of the storage controller; receiving preset parameter values for the preset via the interface; validating the preset parameter values to check that the preset is valid; storing the preset within the storage controller, and creating one or more preset objects from the preset, the preset object being accessible by the storage controller at run time. The preset may include a human-readable name; an action name indicating to which associated storage controller action the preset applies, and a set of parameter name-value pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John M. Clifton, Matthew J. Fairhurst, Colin R. Jewell, James Mulcahy
  • Publication number: 20120239982
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes recording event history information for one or more events associated with an entity; evaluating the event history information for each of the one or more events associated with the entity against a symptom rule, wherein the symptom rule defines a validity state of a diagnosis; issuing a subscription to one or more subscribers, wherein the subscription enables the one or more subscribers to receive diagnosis information; and indicating the validity state of the diagnosis to the subscriber, wherein the recording and the evaluating are performed independently such that the issuing and the event history information and the are substantially decoupled. Other methods are also described, according to various embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John M. Clifton, Matthew J. Fairhurst
  • Publication number: 20120089874
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a recording module adapted for recording event history information for one or more events associated with an entity, an evaluating module adapted for evaluating the event history information for each of the one or more events associated with the entity against a symptom rule, wherein the symptom rule defines a validity state of a diagnosis, an issuing module adapted for issuing a subscription to one or more subscribers, wherein the subscription enables the one or more subscribers to receive diagnosis information, and an indicating module adapted for indicating the validity state of the diagnosis to the subscriber, wherein the recording module and the evaluating module are independent such that the issuing module and the event history information are substantially decoupled. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are also described, according to various embodiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John M. Clifton, Matthew J. Fairhurst
  • Patent number: 8090907
    Abstract: A method, system, computer program product, and computer program storage device for receiving and processing I/O requests from a host device and providing data consistency in both a primary site and a secondary site, while migrating a SRC (Synchronous Peer to Peer Remote Copy) from a backend storage subsystem to a storage virtualization appliance. While transferring SRC from the backend storage subsystem to the storage virtualization appliance, all new I/O requests are saved in both a primary cache memory and a secondary cache memory, allowing a time window during which the SRC at the backend storage subsystem can be stopped and the secondary storage device is made as a readable and writable medium. The primary cache memory and secondary cache memory operates separately on each I/O request in write-through, read-write or no-flush mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander H. Ainscow, John M. Clifton
  • Publication number: 20100011177
    Abstract: A method, system, computer program product, and computer program storage device for receiving and processing I/O requests from a host device and providing data consistency in both a primary site and a secondary site, while migrating a SRC (Synchronous Peer to Peer Remote Copy) from a backend storage subsystem to a storage virtualization appliance. While transferring SRC from the backend storage subsystem to the storage virtualization appliance, all new I/O requests are saved in both a primary cache memory and a secondary cache memory, allowing a time window during which the SRC at the backend storage subsystem can be stopped and the secondary storage device is made as a readable and writable medium. The primary cache memory and secondary cache memory operates separately on each I/O request in write-through, read-write or no-flush mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alexander H. Ainscow, John M. Clifton
  • Patent number: 7551853
    Abstract: An apparatus achieves data communications between a data storage controller and data storage devices within a data storage system via an optical network. The apparatus includes a wavelength division multiplexing logic for simultaneously establishing, on the optical network, a number of arbitrated communications loops between the controller and the data storage system, for communicating data between the controller and the storage devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher B. E. Beeken, John M. Clifton, Jonathan I. Settle, Dale R Burr