Patents by Inventor Joshua J. Crawford

Joshua J. Crawford 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: 20200150878
    Abstract: Remote copy operations are performed to copy data from a primary storage controller to a secondary storage controller, wherein input/output (I/O) requests are received at the primary storage controller from a host both via a bus interface and a network interface while the remote copy operations are in progress, and wherein consistency groups are formed during the remote copy operations to copy the data consistently. Quiescing of I/O operations performed via the bus interface are performed while a current consistency group is being replaced by a next consistency group during the remote copy operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew J. Ward, Matthew J. Kalos, Joshua J. Crawford, Carol S. Mellgren, Matthew R. Craig
  • Publication number: 20200142785
    Abstract: A method, system, and program product are provided for processing a host write operation during a recovery operation of a point-in-time copy restore. Provided are blocking the host write operation to the source volume based on whether a track on the source volume is copied to the target volume. A host and the point-in-time copy restore synchronize simultaneous access to the track using a track lock on track access, causing a requestor without the track lock to be queued until the track lock is available.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Joshua J. Crawford, Paul A. Jennas, II, Jason L. Peipelman, Matthew J. Ward
  • Publication number: 20200117749
    Abstract: A method for more intelligently managing storage space in journal volumes is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes maintaining, on a primary storage system, a change recording data structure that documents updated storage elements of a primary volume on the primary storage system. The method further determines in which extents of the primary volume the updated storage elements reside. These extents are recorded in an extent-based data structure. The method transmits the extent-based data structure from the primary storage system to a secondary storage system that is in an asynchronous mirroring relationship with the primary storage system. The extent-based data structure is then read at the secondary storage system. The method frees, from a journal volume on the secondary storage system, extents that are not recorded in the extent-based data structure. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Ward, Joshua J. Crawford
  • Patent number: 10620882
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for configuring virtualization of a storage system includes: creating a storage pool for each array designated by an administrator for virtualization; creating one or more volumes for each storage pool; creating or selecting a volume controller designated by the administrator for hosting virtualization; identifying one or more ports of the volume controller; and mapping the one or more volumes to the one or more ports of the volume controller. Corresponding systems and computer program products are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua J. Crawford, Paul A. Jennas, II, Jason L. Peipelman, David M. Sedgwick, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 10606489
    Abstract: Remote copy operations are performed to copy data from a primary storage controller to a secondary storage controller, wherein input/output (I/O) requests are received at the primary storage controller from a host both via a bus interface and a network interface while the remote copy operations are in progress, and wherein consistency groups are formed during the remote copy operations to copy the data consistently. A relocation is performed of data written via the bus interface for a current consistency group from a cache to a sidefile, and subsequently data written via the bus interface for a next consistency group is stored in the cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Ward, Matthew J. Kalos, Joshua J. Crawford, Carol S. Mellgren
  • Patent number: 10606486
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining requirements of a storage system by a planning module. The method also includes calculating, by the planning module, an initial configuration for the storage system, the initial configuration specifying a plurality of components that are interoperable to satisfy the requirements of the storage system. In addition, the method includes outputting a purchase file that describes all components that are specified by the initial configuration of the storage system. Moreover, the method includes outputting a configuration file that is interoperable with at least one of the components specified in the purchase file and is configured to automatically initialize the storage system in response to the components of the storage system being installed. In another embodiment, the method includes a management module receiving the configuration file and monitoring performance metrics of a plurality of workloads of the storage system during operation of the storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua J. Crawford, Matthew J. Ward, Paul A. Jennas, II, Jason L. Peipelman
  • Publication number: 20200073771
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for determining which target is most ahead in a multi-target mirroring environment between data from a consistent synchronous mirror copy operation and data from a consistent asynchronous mirror copy operation. It is determined that data is to be retrieved from one of a sync secondary storage of a sync secondary storage controller and an async secondary storage of an async secondary storage controller. Then, it is determined which one of data of a consistent synchronous mirror copy operation on the sync secondary storage and data of a consistent asynchronous mirror copy operation on the async secondary storage is a most current copy of the data. The most current copy of the data is retrieved and used for further processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew J. Ward, Nicolas M. Clayton, Joshua J. Crawford
  • Publication number: 20200050371
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for processing a space release command when mirroring data at a source storage to a target storage. A space release command is received to free a release space in the source storage while transferring changed data in a consistency group. A determination is made as to whether a transfer time to transfer remaining consistency group data in the consistency group for the release space that has not been transferred exceeds a response time to process a space release command. The remaining consistency group data in the release space is transferred to the target storage in response to determining that the transfer time does not exceed the response time. The release space for the space release command is freed in response to transferring the consistency group data in the release space to the target storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Theresa M. Brown, Nicolas M. Clayton, Joshua J. Crawford, Gregory E. McBride, Carol S. Mellgren, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 10558532
    Abstract: A method, system, and program product are provided for undoing a point-in-time copy restore. Provided are swapping corresponding tracks between a source volume and a target volume using cache of a storage subsystem to which the source and the target volumes are attached, based on an indicator being set that a track on the source volume is changed since a point-in-time copy. Tracks are moved from the source volume to the target volume based on the indicator being unset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua J. Crawford, Paul A. Jennas, II, Jason L. Peipelman, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 10545688
    Abstract: Remote copy operations are performed to copy data from a primary storage controller to a secondary storage controller, wherein input/output (I/O) requests are received at the primary storage controller from a host both via a bus interface and a network interface while the remote copy operations are in progress, and wherein consistency groups are formed during the remote copy operations to copy the data consistently. Quiescing of I/O operations performed via the bus interface are performed while a current consistency group is being replaced by a next consistency group during the remote copy operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew J. Ward, Matthew J. Kalos, Joshua J. Crawford, Carol S. Mellgren, Matthew R. Craig
  • Patent number: 10528593
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for delayed consistent point-in-time copy from a secondary device in an asynchronous mirror relationship. A consistent asynchronous mirror copy that includes an asynchronous mirror copy from a primary volume to a secondary volume and a point-in-time copy from the secondary volume to a tertiary volume is performed. A point-in-time copy is created from the secondary volume to an accessible consistent copy volume. In response to receiving a request to access a track of the accessible consistent copy volume, it is determined whether to access the track of one of the secondary volume, the tertiary volume, and the accessible consistent copy volume. A response to the request is provided with data accessed from the determined one of the secondary volume, the tertiary volume, and the accessible consistent copy volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Theresa M. Brown, Joshua J. Crawford, Gregory E. McBride, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 10528256
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for processing a space release command when mirroring data at a source storage to a target storage. A space release command is received to free a release space in the source storage while transferring changed data in a consistency group. A determination is made as to whether a transfer time to transfer remaining consistency group data in the consistency group for the release space that has not been transferred exceeds a response time to process a space release command. The remaining consistency group data in the release space is transferred to the target storage in response to determining that the transfer time does not exceed the response time. The release space for the space release command is freed in response to transferring the consistency group data in the release space to the target storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Theresa M. Brown, Nicolas M. Clayton, Joshua J. Crawford, Gregory E. McBride, Carol S. Mellgren, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 10489081
    Abstract: A method for reducing coordination times in asynchronous data replication environments is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes providing multiple primary storage devices in an asynchronous data replication environment. A command is issued, to each of the primary storage devices, to begin queuing I/O in order to coordinate a consistency group. Each primary storage device receives the command. The method further calculates, for each of the primary storage devices, an amount of time to wait before executing the command with the objective that each primary storage device executes the command at substantially the same time. Each primary storage device is configured to execute the command after receiving and waiting its corresponding amount of time. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua J. Crawford, Gregory E. McBride, Matthew J. Ward
  • Publication number: 20190347172
    Abstract: Withdrawal of a point-in-time snap copy relationship or a portion of such a relationship, is managed in a manner which can obviate disruption of consistency groups due to the withdrawal. If the withdrawal request is directed to a subrange of the original snap copy relationship, the snap copy relationship is split by creating one or more point-in-time snap copy relationships over one or more subranges of tracks of the snap copy source. A determination is made as to whether to delay execution of the withdrawal request to temporarily preserve data of the withdrawal range. Disruptions to completion of consistency groups may be avoided by selectively delaying the withdrawal of a snap copy relationship corresponding to the withdrawal subrange. In so far as the host is involved, a host may treat the withdrawal request as immediately granted without delay. Other aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Theresa M. Brown, Nicolas M. Clayton, Joshua J. Crawford, Nedlaya Y. Francisco, Theodore T. Harris, JR., Gregory E. McBride, Carol S. Mellgren, Edgar X. Somoza, Damian Trujillo
  • Patent number: 10437679
    Abstract: Withdrawal of a point-in-time snap copy relationship or a portion of such a relationship, is managed in a manner which can obviate disruption of consistency groups due to the withdrawal. If the withdrawal request is directed to a subrange of the original snap copy relationship, the snap copy relationship is split by creating one or more point-in-time snap copy relationships over one or more subranges of tracks of the snap copy source. A determination is made as to whether to delay execution of the withdrawal request to temporarily preserve data of the withdrawal range. Disruptions to completion of consistency groups may be avoided by selectively delaying the withdrawal of a snap copy relationship corresponding to the withdrawal subrange. In so far as the host is involved, a host may treat the withdrawal request as immediately granted without delay. Other aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Theresa M. Brown, Nicolas M. Clayton, Joshua J. Crawford, Nedlaya Y. Francisco, Theodore T. Harris, Jr., Gregory E. McBride, Carol S. Mellgren, Edgar X. Somoza, Damian Trujillo
  • Publication number: 20190286335
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining tracks to release in a target volume mirroring tracks from a source volume. Tracks received from the source volume are written to the target volume to form a consistency group of tracks in the source volume at the target volume. A determination is made of tracks available to release from a volume table providing a state of the tracks in the target volume and space allocated to the determined tracks is released. A point-in-time copy of the target volume is crated and complete is returned to forming the consistency group in response to releasing the space and creating the point-in-time copy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew J. WARD, Joshua J. CRAWFORD, Gregory E. MCBRIDE
  • Publication number: 20190286576
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining space to release in a target volume to which tracks from a source volume are mirrored. A copy of a source volume table for the source volume providing a state of the tracks in the source volume for a consistency group is received. Tracks received from the source volume are written to the target volume to form the consistency group of tracks in the source volume at the target volume. A determination is made of tracks available to release from the copy of the source volume table and space allocated to the determined tracks is replaced. A point-in-time copy is created of the target volume for the consistency group. Complete is returned to forming the consistency group in response to releasing the space and creating the point-in-time copy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew J. WARD, Joshua J. CRAWFORD, Gregory E. MCBRIDE
  • Publication number: 20190286345
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining tracks to release in a source volume being copied to a target volume. A consistency group is formed of tracks in the source volume to copy to the target volume. A volume table providing information on the tracks allocated to the source volume is copied to a volume table copy in a memory providing a state of the tracks in the source volume as of a consistency group time. A determination is made of tracks in the source volume to release for tracks that are indicated in the volume table copy as available to release excluding tracks in the source volume that are written after the consistency group time. Space allocated to the determined tracks is released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew J. WARD, Gregory E. MCBRIDE, Joshua J. CRAWFORD
  • Patent number: 10409733
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining space to release in a target volume to which tracks from a source volume are mirrored. A copy of a source volume table for the source volume providing a state of the tracks in the source volume for a consistency group is received. Tracks received from the source volume are written to the target volume to form the consistency group of tracks in the source volume at the target volume. A determination is made of tracks available to release from the copy of the source volume table and space allocated to the determined tracks is replaced. A point-in-time copy is created of the target volume for the consistency group. Complete is returned to forming the consistency group in response to releasing the space and creating the point-in-time copy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew J. Ward, Joshua J. Crawford, Gregory E. McBride
  • Patent number: 10402107
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for determining tracks to release in a source volume being copied to a target volume. A consistency group is formed of tracks in the source volume to copy to the target volume. A volume table providing information on the tracks allocated to the source volume is copied to a volume table copy in a memory providing a state of the tracks in the source volume as of a consistency group time. A determination is made of tracks in the source volume to release for tracks that are indicated in the volume table copy as available to release excluding tracks in the source volume that are written after the consistency group time. Space allocated to the determined tracks is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew J. Ward, Gregory E. McBride, Joshua J. Crawford