Patents by Inventor Joseph E. Cunliffe

Joseph E. Cunliffe 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: 6467046
    Abstract: A computer implemented system, method and computer program product for automatically distributing copies of a replicated database for a computer system comprising at least first and second host computers. Each of the host computers operatively control at least one associated computer mass storage device controller coupled to commonly accessible computer mass storage devices by at least one storage device bus. The system and method comprises the step of enumerating each of the various host computers of the computer system, each of the computer mass storage device controllers associated with each host computer and each of the computer mass storage devices coupled to the storage device buses coupling the controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Cunliffe, Dale R. Passmore
  • Patent number: 5740348
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for ensuring that a replicated computer database does not encounter a "split brain" problem by replicating the database and requiring a replica quorum wherein at least (50% +1) of the replicas are accessible and in agreement. When a replica quorum in not obtainable, but 50% of the copies of the data are in agreement, an external source, or "mediator", is called upon to provide a deciding vote (+1) to ensure that the data can be trusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Cunliffe, Dale R. Passmore