Patents by Inventor Kenneth Wayne Todd

Kenneth Wayne Todd 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: 9733991
    Abstract: Data operations, requiring a lock, are batched into a set of operations to be performed on a per-core basis. A global lock for the set of operations is periodically acquired, the set of operations is performed, and the global lock is freed so as to avoid excessive duty cycling of lock and unlock operations in the computing storage environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin John Ash, Michael Thomas Benhase, Lokesh Mohan Gupta, Kenneth Wayne Todd, David Blair Whitworth
  • Patent number: 9626113
    Abstract: A processor, operable in a computing storage environment, for each rank in a storage management device in the computing storage environment, allocates a lower maximum count defined by a predetermined lower maximum count of Task Control Blocks (TCBs) of a rank for performing destage operations, and a higher maximum count of TCBs to be implemented for performing a storage operation, and performs the storage operation using up to the lower maximum count of TCBs, yet only allows those TCBs above the lower maximum count to be allocated for performing the storage operation satisfying at least one criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin John Ash, Michael Thomas Benhase, Lokesh Mohan Gupta, Kenneth Wayne Todd
  • Publication number: 20160253107
    Abstract: A processor, operable in a computing storage environment, for each rank in a storage management device in the computing storage environment, allocates a lower maximum count defined by a predetermined lower maximum count of Task Control Blocks (TCBs) of a rank for performing destage operations, and a higher maximum count of TCBs to be implemented for performing a storage operation, and performs the storage operation using up to the lower maximum count of TCBs, yet only allows those TCBs above the lower maximum count to be allocated for performing the storage operation satisfying at least one criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin John ASH, Michael Thomas BENHASE, Lokesh Mohan GUPTA, Kenneth Wayne TODD
  • Patent number: 9430395
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for grouping and dispatching scans in a cache directory of a processing environment is provided. A plurality of scan tasks is aggregated from a scan wait queue into a scan task queue. The plurality of scan tasks is determined by selecting one of (1) each of the plurality of scan tasks on the scan wait queue, (2) a predetermined number of the plurality of scan tasks on the scan wait queue, and (3) a set of scan tasks of a similar type on the scan wait queue. A first scan task from the plurality of scan tasks is selected from the scan task queue. The scan task is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Thomas Benhase, Susan Kay Candelaria, Lokesh Mohan Gupta, Kenneth Wayne Todd
  • Patent number: 9396102
    Abstract: For cache/data management in a computing storage environment, incoming data segments into a Non Volatile Storage (NVS) device of the computing storage environment are validated against a bitmap to determine if the incoming data segments are currently in use. Those of the incoming data segments determined to be currently in use are designated to the computing storage environment to protect data integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin John Ash, Michael Thomas Benhase, Lokesh Mohan Gupta, Kenneth Wayne Todd
  • Patent number: 9367479
    Abstract: A processor, operable in a computing storage environment, for each rank in a storage management device in the computing storage environment, allocates a lower maximum count, and a higher maximum count, of Task Control Blocks (TCBs) to be implemented for performing a storage operation, and performs the storage operation using up to the lower maximum count of TCBs, yet only allows those TCBs above the lower maximum count to be allocated for performing the storage operation satisfying at least one criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin John Ash, Michael Thomas Benhase, Lokesh Mohan Gupta, Kenneth Wayne Todd
  • Patent number: 8832379
    Abstract: A processor, operable in a computing storage environment, allocates portions of a Scatter Index Table (SIT) disproportionately between a larger portion dedicated for meta data tracks, and a smaller portion dedicated for user data tracks, and processes a storage operation through the disproportionately allocated portions of the SIT using an allocated number of Task Control Blocks (TCB).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin John Ash, Michael Thomas Benhase, Lokesh Mohan Gupta, Kenneth Wayne Todd
  • Publication number: 20140082254
    Abstract: For cache/data management in a computing storage environment, incoming data segments into a Non Volatile Storage (NVS) device of the computing storage environment are validated against a bitmap to determine if the incoming data segments are currently in use. Those of the incoming data segments determined to be currently in use are designated to the computing storage environment to protect data integrity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin John ASH, Michael Thomas BENHASE, Lokesh Mohan GUPTA, Kenneth Wayne TODD
  • Publication number: 20140082296
    Abstract: Data operations, requiring a lock, are batched into a set of operations to be performed on a per-core basis. A global lock for the set of operations is periodically acquired, the set of operations is performed, and the global lock is freed so as to avoid excessive duty cycling of lock and unlock operations in the computing storage environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin John ASH, Michael Thomas BENHASE, Lokesh Mohan GUPTA, Kenneth Wayne TODD, David Blair WHITWORTH
  • Publication number: 20140082292
    Abstract: A processor, operable in a computing storage environment, allocates portions of a Scatter Index Table (SIT) disproportionately between a larger portion dedicated for meta data tracks, and a smaller portion dedicated for user data tracks, and processes a storage operation through the disproportionately allocated portions of the SIT using an allocated number of Task Control Blocks (TCB).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin John ASH, Michael Thomas BENHASE, Lokesh Mohan GUPTA, Kenneth Wayne TODD
  • Patent number: 7975169
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for preserving data in a storage subsystem having dual cache and dual nonvolatile storage (NVS) through a failover from a failed cluster to a surviving cluster is provided. A memory preserved indicator is initiated to mark tracks on a cache of the surviving cluster to be preserved, the tracks having an image in an NVS of the failed cluster. A destage operation is performed to destage the marked tracks. Subsequent to a determination that each of the marked tracks have been destaged, the memory preserved indicator is disabled to remove the mark from the tracks. If the surviving cluster reboots previous to each of the marked tracks having been destaged, the cache is verified as a memory preserved cache, the marked tracks are retained for processing while all unmarked tracks are removed, and the marked tracks are processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin John Ash, Michael Thomas Benhase, Lokesh Mohan Gupta, Alfred Emilio Sanchez, Kenneth Wayne Todd
  • Patent number: 7930588
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for managing modified metadata in a storage controller cache pursuant to a recovery action by a processor in communication with a memory device is provided. A count of modified metadata tracks for a storage rank is compared against a predetermined criterion. If the predetermined criterion is met, a storage volume having the storage rank is designated with a metadata invalidation flag to defer metadata invalidation of the modified metadata tracks until after the recovery action is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Carter Blount, Lokesh Mohan Gupta, Carol Santich Melgren, Kenneth Wayne Todd
  • Patent number: 7895465
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for preserving data in a storage subsystem having dual cache and dual nonvolatile storage (NVS) through a failover from a failed cluster to a surviving cluster, the surviving cluster undergoing a rebooting process, is provided. A memory preserved indicator associated with a cache of the surviving cluster is detected. The memory preserved indicator designates marked tracks having an image in an NVS of the failed cluster to be preserved through the rebooting process. A counter in a data structure of the surviving cache is incremented. If a value of the counter exceeds a predetermined value, a cache memory is initialized, and the marked tracks are removed from the cache to prevent an instance of repetitive reboots caused by a corrupted structure in the cache memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin John Ash, Michael Thomas Benhase, Lokesh Mohan Gupta, Alfred Emilio Sanchez, Kenneth Wayne Todd
  • Patent number: 7818533
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for managing write processes in which a list of destination location identifiers for pending write operations is maintained in an array having an array pointer which identifies the next available entry of the array. In one embodiment, the array includes a stack of variable size. Adding a destination location identifier of a pending write operation increases the size of the stack. Removing a destination location identifier of a completed write operation reduces the size of the stack. A stack index may be incremented as write operation destination location identifiers are added and may be decremented as write operation destination location identifiers are removed from the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Wayne Todd, Kevin John Ash
  • Publication number: 20100191925
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for managing modified metadata in a storage controller cache pursuant to a recovery action by a processor in communication with a memory device is provided. A count of modified metadata tracks for a storage rank is compared against a predetermined criterion. If the predetermined criterion is met, a storage volume having the storage rank is designated with a metadata invalidation flag to defer metadata invalidation of the modified metadata tracks until after the recovery action is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lawrence Carter BLOUNT, Lokesh Mohan GUPTA, Carol Santich MELLGREN, Kenneth Wayne TODD
  • Patent number: 7761680
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for copying data from a first cluster to a second cluster to reassign storage areas from the first cluster to the second cluster. An operation is initiated to reassign storage areas from a first cluster to a second cluster, wherein the first cluster includes a first cache and a first storage unit and the second cluster includes a second cache and a second storage unit. Data in the first cache for the storage areas to reassign to the second cluster is copied to the second cache. Data in the first storage unit for storage areas remaining assigned to the first cluster is copied to the second storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin John Ash, Lokesh Mohan Gupta, Steven Robert Lowe, Alfred Emilio Sanchez, Kenneth Wayne Todd
  • Patent number: 7680982
    Abstract: In a data storage subsystem with disk storage and a pair of clusters, one set of DASD fast write data is in cache of one cluster and in non-volatile data storage of the other. In response to a failover of one of the pair of clusters to a local cluster, the local cluster converts the DASD fast write data in local cache to converted fast write data to prioritize the converted data for destaging to disk storage. In response to failure to destage, the local cluster allocates local non-volatile storage tracks and emulates a host adapter to store the converted fast write data by the local non-volatile storage, reconverting the converted fast write data of the non-volatile storage to local DASD fast write data stored in the local non-volatile storage and stored in the local cache storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin John Ash, Lokesh Mohan Gupta, Steven Robert Lowe, Alfred Emilio Sanchez, Kenneth Wayne Todd
  • Publication number: 20100037226
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for grouping and dispatching scans in a cache directory of a processing environment is provided. A plurality of scan tasks is aggregated from a scan wait queue into a scan task queue. The plurality of scan tasks is determined by selecting one of (1) each of the plurality of scan tasks on the scan wait queue, (2) a predetermined number of the plurality of scan tasks on the scan wait queue, and (3) a set of scan tasks of a similar type on the scan wait queue. A first scan task from the plurality of scan tasks is selected from the scan task queue. The scan task is performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Thomas BENHASE, Susan Kay CANDELARIA, Lokesh Mohan Gupta, Kenneth Wayne Todd
  • Patent number: 7647463
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for detecting mismatches in a mirror volume. A receive module receives a start indicator from a primary storage system. The start indicator includes a starting location of a first block to be modified on a track in a secondary storage system. The first block corresponds to an identically located first block of a modified record in the primary storage system. The tracks the first blocks on the primary and secondary storage systems each comprise irregular count key data (“CKD”) tracks. A compare module compares the first block location indicated by the start indicator with block locations listed in track metadata. The track metadata describes user records on the irregular CKD tracks of the secondary storage system. An alert module generates an alert in response to the first block not aligning with a beginning block of a record on the secondary storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Charles Jarvis, Beth Ann Peterson, Warren Keith Stanley, Kenneth Wayne Todd
  • Publication number: 20090300408
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for preserving data in a storage subsystem having dual cache and dual nonvolatile storage (NVS) through a failover from a failed cluster to a surviving cluster, the surviving cluster undergoing a rebooting process, is provided. A memory preserved indicator associated with a cache of the surviving cluster is detected. The memory preserved indicator designates marked tracks having an image in an NVS of the failed cluster to be preserved through the rebooting process. A counter in a data structure of the surviving cache is incremented. If a value of the counter exceeds a predetermined value, a cache memory is initialized, and the marked tracks are removed from the cache to prevent an instance of repetitive reboots caused by a corrupted structure in the cache memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin John Ash, Michael Thomas Benhase, Lokesh Mohan Gupta, Alfred Emilio Sanchez, Kenneth Wayne Todd