Patents by Inventor Kevin J. Webster

Kevin J. Webster 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: 10084640
    Abstract: For automatic updates to fabric alert definitions, a method monitors fabric alert definitions defined for a storage area network having a plurality of switches and a plurality of fabrics. The fabric alert definitions define alert conditions within the storage area network relevant to events occurring within one or more of the plurality of fabrics. The method further detects one or more changes to the plurality of fabrics by discovering relationships between each fabric and each switch within the storage area network and comparing current relationships against previous relationships. In addition, the method automatically modifies fabric alert definitions having a reference to changed fabrics responsive to detection of the one or more changes to the plurality of fabrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sunil Bharadwaj, Stephen A. Byrd, David L. Merbach, Kevin J. Webster, Li Zhou
  • Patent number: 9323474
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for selective zone control session termination. A zone control service executing in the data processing system creates logical zoning definitions in memory for each client session. Each client session attempts to make changes to a fabric. Responsive to the zone control service receiving a request to commit a session from a given client and changes made by the given client during the session not conflicting with changes made by another client in a concurrent session based on the logical zoning definitions, the zone control service applies the changes made by the given client during the session to the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin J. Webster
  • Publication number: 20140250233
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided in a data processing system for selective zone control session termination. A zone control service executing in the data processing system creates logical zoning definitions in memory for each client session. Each client session attempts to make changes to a fabric. Responsive to the zone control service receiving a request to commit a session from a given client and changes made by the given client during the session not conflicting with changes made by another client in a concurrent session based on the logical zoning definitions, the zone control service applies the changes made by the given client during the session to the fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin J. Webster
  • Patent number: 8627001
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for creating at least one volume in a disk storage system. A request is received to create at least one volume on the disk storage system indicating a volume size and number of volumes to create. Selection is made of a storage pool object representing one of a plurality of storage pools having available storage space to create the requested number of volumes. retrieving a storage configuration service of the disk storage system using an association of a disk storage system object representing the disk storage system and the selected storage pool object. The disk storage system object representing the disk storage system is associated with the retrieved storage configuration service. A volume size of the volume to create is set to a calculated size. The storage pool is set as the selected storage pool object. A method is invoked through the retrieved storage configuration service for each volume in the requested number of volumes to create.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Groves, Michael L. Lamb, Raymond M. Swank, Kevin J. Webster
  • Patent number: 8443078
    Abstract: Techniques for identifying and selecting equivalent sets of agents with defined capabilities to perform certain actions are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, determining agents to gather information for a storage area network fabric may be performed through the use of fabric discovery operations which identify agents capable of performing various actions within the fabric. From the determined capabilities of the agents, a dynamic capability grid may be populated to assist with the generation of a list of equivalent subsets to perform the various actions. The most efficient set of agents from each equivalent subset may then be selected to perform actions, with other sets of agents in the equivalent subset available as secondary choices in case of an unexpected failure. For example, a fabric probe may be executed in a storage area network using discovered agents from a list of equivalent subsets to most efficiently accomplish network operations such as zoning and topology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sunil Bharadwaj, Stephen A. Byrd, David L. Merbach, Sumant Padbidri, William Tuminaro, Kevin J. Webster, Li Zhou
  • Patent number: 8326978
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques for updating fabric alert definitions defined for a fiber channel or other fabric-based network within a storage management system. One embodiment provides techniques for detecting fabric merges, fabric segmentations, and principal switch changes of the fabric and modifying fabric alert definitions as a result of these changes. Thus, any alert definitions scoped by fabric will remain relevant even after fabric structural changes, and duplicate and/or redundant alerts may be reduced within the storage management system. In a further embodiment, detection of fabric changes is performed by first storing relationships between fabrics and switches, and comparing the current relationships between the fabrics and the switches against the stored relationships. Upon recognition of changes within the fabrics, the fabric alert definitions may be automatically analyzed and updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Sunil Bharadwaj, Stephen A. Byrd, David L. Merbach, Kevin J. Webster, Li Zhou
  • Patent number: 8132183
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for dynamic categorized event cool off for CIM indications. Exemplary embodiments include a method for dynamic categorized event cool-off for CIM indications for a SMIS client having a handler for CIM indications, the method including categorizing incoming CIM Indications into the SMIS client, the categorization being based on the handler for the CIM indications, identifying a default delay of CIM indications handling during SMIS client operation in an absence of an indications storm, detecting the presence of an indications storm in the SMIS client, generating an alert when the indications storm is detected, increasing the default delay of CIM indications handling during the indications storm, and returning the default delay of CIM indications handling to EventCoolOffPeriod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Craig A. Laverone, Kevin J. Webster
  • Publication number: 20120047249
    Abstract: Techniques for identifying and selecting equivalent sets of agents with defined capabilities to perform certain actions are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, determining agents to gather information for a storage area network fabric may be performed through the use of fabric discovery operations which identify agents capable of performing various actions within the fabric. From the determined capabilities of the agents, a dynamic capability grid may be populated to assist with the generation of a list of equivalent subsets to perform the various actions. The most efficient set of agents from each equivalent subset may then be selected to perform actions, with other sets of agents in the equivalent subset available as secondary choices in case of an unexpected failure. For example, a fabric probe may be executed in a storage area network using discovered agents from a list of equivalent subsets to most efficiently accomplish network operations such as zoning and topology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sunil Bharadwaj, Stephen A. Byrd, David L. Merbach, Sumant Padbidri, William Tuminaro, Kevin J. Webster, Li Zhou
  • Publication number: 20110196958
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques for updating fabric alert definitions defined for a fibre channel or other fabric-based network within a storage management system. One embodiment provides techniques for detecting fabric merges, fabric segmentations, and principal switch changes of the fabric and modifying fabric alert definitions as a result of these changes. Thus, any alert definitions scoped by fabric will remain relevant even after fabric structural changes, and duplicate and/or redundant alerts may be reduced within the storage management system. In a further embodiment, detection of fabric changes is performed by first storing relationships between fabrics and switches, and comparing the current relationships between the fabrics and the switches against the stored relationships. Upon recognition of changes within the fabrics, the fabric alert definitions may be automatically analyzed and updated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sunil Bharadwaj, Stephen A. Byrd, David L. Merbach, Kevin J. Webster, Li Zhou
  • Publication number: 20110167213
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for creating at least one volume in a disk storage system. A request is received to create at least one volume on the disk storage system indicating a volume size and number of volumes to create. Selection is made of a storage pool object representing one of a plurality of storage pools having available storage space to create the requested number of volumes. retrieving a storage configuration service of the disk storage system using an association of a disk storage system object representing the disk storage system and the selected storage pool object. The disk storage system object representing the disk storage system is associated with the retrieved storage configuration service. A volume size of the volume to create is set to a calculated size. The storage pool is set as the selected storage pool object. A method is invoked through the retrieved storage configuration service for each volume in the requested number of volumes to create.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David W. Groves, Michael L. Lamb, Raymond M. Swank, Kevin J. Webster
  • Patent number: 7970907
    Abstract: An example of a method for assigning a resource (for example, storage) includes receiving a request for a resource, wherein the request includes a list of paths. This example also includes retrieving a HardwareAccount, Controller, and an AccessAuthorization object for a first path in the list of paths. This example further includes making an attach device request to a CIMOM for a first available resource, using the Controller and the AccessAuthorization object. This example also includes determining if the first available resource was successfully attached, and if so, recording the assignment as successful, and if not, rolling back all assignments for the first available resource that were previously recorded as successful. Another aspect of the invention is a method for creating at least one LUN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Groves, Michael L. Lamb, Raymond M. Swank, Kevin J. Webster
  • Patent number: 7725473
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a method for responding to an inquiry. An example of the method includes receiving the inquiry, obtaining information from a CIMOM, and creating at least one Storage Object. This example of the method also includes populating the at least one Storage Object with information received from the CIMOM, and sending the at least one Storage Object to a calling function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. Lamb, Edward M. McCrickard, Raymond M. Swank, Kevin J. Webster, Timothy C. Willging
  • Publication number: 20090320046
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for dynamic categorized event cool off for CIM indications. Exemplary embodiments include a method for dynamic categorized event cool-off for CIM indications for a SMIS client having a handler for CIM indications, the method including categorizing incoming CIM Indications into the SMIS client, the categorization being based on the handler for the CIM indications, identifying a default delay of CIM indications handling during SMIS client operation in an absence of an indications storm, detecting the presence of an indications storm in the SMIS client, generating an alert when the indications storm is detected, increasing the default delay of CIM indications handling during the indications storm, and returning the default delay of CIM indications handling to EventCoolOffPeriod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Craig A. Laverone, Kevin J. Webster
  • Publication number: 20090132711
    Abstract: An example of a method for assigning a resource (for example, storage) includes receiving a request for a resource, wherein the request includes a list of paths. This example also includes retrieving a HardwareAccount, Controller, and an AccessAuthorization object for a first path in the list of paths. This example further includes making an attach device request to a CIMOM for a first available resource, using the Controller and the AccessAuthorization object. This example also includes determining if the first available resource was successfully attached, and if so, recording the assignment as successful, and if not, rolling back all assignments for the first available resource that were previously recorded as successful. Another aspect of the invention is a method for creating at least one LUN.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David W. Groves, Michael L. Lamb, Raymond M. Swank, Kevin J. Webster
  • Patent number: 7500000
    Abstract: An example of a method for assigning a resource (for example, storage) includes receiving a request for a resource, wherein the request includes a list of paths. This example also includes retrieving a HardwareAccount, Controller, and an AccessAuthorization object for a first path in the list of paths. This example further includes making an attach device request to a CIMOM for a first available resource, using the Controller and the AccessAuthorization object. This example also includes determining if the first available resource was successfully attached, and if so, recording the assignment as successful, and if not, rolling back all assignments for the first available resource that were previously recorded as successful. Another aspect of the invention is a method for creating at least one LUN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Groves, Michael L. Lamb, Raymond M. Swank, Kevin J. Webster
  • Patent number: 7272690
    Abstract: An example of a method for assigning storage includes receiving a request for storage, wherein the request includes a requested amount of storage space and connectivity information. This example of the method also includes identifying storage that is accessible by a requesting device based on the connectivity information, and identifying all LUNs that are masked from all hosts, in the identified storage. This example of the method further includes selecting at least one identified LUN, and assigning the at least one selected LUN to the requesting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Groves, Michael L. Lamb, Douglas S. Noddings, Raymond M. Swank, Kevin J. Webster