Patents by Inventor Lawrence E. Aszmann

Lawrence E. Aszmann 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: 10067712
    Abstract: A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Dell International L.L.C.
    Inventors: Philip E. Soran, John P. Guider, Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm
  • Publication number: 20160357446
    Abstract: A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Philip E. Soran, John P. Guider, Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm
  • Patent number: 9489150
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a data storage system including a RAID subsystem having a first and second type of RAID storage. A virtual volume configured to accept I/O is stored on the first type of RAID storage, and snapshots of the virtual volume are stored on the second type of RAID storage. A method of the present disclosure includes providing an active volume that accepts I/O and generating read-only snapshots of the volume. In certain embodiments, the active volume is converted to a snapshot. The active volume includes a first type of RAID storage, and the snapshots include a second type of RAID storage. The first type of RAID storage has a lower write penalty than the second type of RAID storage. In typical embodiments, the first type of RAID storage includes RAID 10 storage and the second type of RAID storage includes RAID 5 and/or RAID 6 storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Dell International L.L.C.
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm
  • Patent number: 9436390
    Abstract: A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Dell International L.L.C.
    Inventors: Philip E. Soran, John P. Guider, Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm
  • Patent number: 9251049
    Abstract: A process of determining explicitly free data space in computer data storage systems with implicitly allocated data space through the use of information provided by a hosting computer system with knowledge of what space allocated is currently being used at the time of a query, is provided. In one embodiment, a File System (“FS”) is asked to identify clusters no longer in use which is then mapped to physical disks as visible to an Operating System (“OS”). The physical disks are mapped to simulated/virtualized volumes presented by a storage subsystem. By using server information regarding the FS, for those pages that are no longer in use, point in time copy (“PITC”) pages are marked for future PITC and will not be coalesced forward, thereby saving significant storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Compellent Technologies
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm, Michael H. Pittelko, Mark D. Olson
  • Publication number: 20150301751
    Abstract: A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Philip E. Soran, John P. Guider, Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm
  • Patent number: 9047216
    Abstract: A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Compellent Technologies
    Inventors: Philip E. Soran, John P. Guider, Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm
  • Patent number: 9021295
    Abstract: A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Compellent Technologies
    Inventors: Philip E. Soran, John P. Guider, Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm
  • Patent number: 8892676
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for migrating data from one data storage system to another data storage system. A method can include copying data from one data storage system to another data storage system wherein data stored in data address locations of the first data storage system containing a NULL or zero is excluded from being written to the second data storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Compellent Technologies
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm
  • Patent number: 8819334
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a data storage system and method that includes at least two solid state devices that can be classified in at least two different efficiency levels, wherein data progression is used to allocate data to the most cost-appropriate device according to the nature of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Compellent Technologies
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm, Michael H. Pittelko
  • Publication number: 20140108858
    Abstract: A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: Compellent Technologies
    Inventors: Philip E. Soran, John P. Guider, Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm
  • Publication number: 20140089628
    Abstract: A process of determining explicitly free data space in computer data storage systems with implicitly allocated data space through the use of information provided by a hosting computer system with knowledge of what space allocated is currently being used at the time of a query, is provided. In one embodiment, a File System (“FS”) is asked to identify clusters no longer in use which is then mapped to physical disks as visible to an Operating System (“OS”). The physical disks are mapped to simulated/virtualized volumes presented by a storage subsystem. By using server information regarding the FS, for those pages that are no longer in use, point in time copy (“PITC”) pages are marked for future PITC and will not be coalesced forward, thereby saving significant storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: Compellent Technologies
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm, Michael H. Pittelko, Mark D. Olson
  • Publication number: 20140040546
    Abstract: A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Compellent Technologies
    Inventors: Philip E. Soran, John P. Guider, Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm
  • Patent number: 8601035
    Abstract: A process of determining explicitly free data space in computer data storage systems with implicitly allocated data space through the use of information provided by a hosting computer system with knowledge of what space allocated is currently being used at the time of a query, is provided. In one embodiment, a File System (“FS”) is asked to identify clusters no longer in use which is then mapped to physical disks as visible to an Operating System (“OS”). The physical disks are mapped to simulated/virtualized volumes presented by a storage subsystem. By using server information regarding the FS, for those pages that are no longer in use, point in time copy (“PITC”) pages are marked for future PITC and will not be coalesced forward, thereby saving significant storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Compellent Technologies
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm, Michael H. Pittelko, Mark D. Olson
  • Publication number: 20130297850
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a data storage system and method that includes at least two solid state devices that can be classified in at least two different efficiency levels, wherein data progression is used to allocate data to the most cost-appropriate device according to the nature of the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm, Michael H. Pittelko
  • Patent number: 8560880
    Abstract: A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Compellent Technologies
    Inventors: Philip E. Soran, John P. Guider, Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm
  • Patent number: 8555108
    Abstract: A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Compellent Technologies
    Inventors: Philip E. Soran, John P. Guider, Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm
  • Patent number: 8473776
    Abstract: A disk drive system and method capable of dynamically allocating data is provided. The disk drive system may include a RAID subsystem having a pool of storage, for example a page pool of storage that maintains a free list of RAIDs, or a matrix of disk storage blocks that maintain a null list of RAIDs, and a disk manager having at least one disk storage system controller. The RAID subsystem and disk manager dynamically allocate data across the pool of storage and a plurality of disk drives based on RAID-to-disk mapping. The RAID subsystem and disk manager determine whether additional disk drives are required, and a notification is sent if the additional disk drives are required. Dynamic data allocation and data progression allow a user to acquire a disk drive later in time when it is needed. Dynamic data allocation also allows efficient data storage of snapshots/point-in-time copies of virtual volume pool of storage, instant data replay and data instant fusion for data backup, recovery etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Compellent Technologies
    Inventors: Philip E. Soran, John P. Guider, Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm
  • Patent number: 8468292
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a data storage system and method that includes at least two solid state devices that can be classified in at least two different efficiency levels, wherein data progression is used to allocate data to the most cost-appropriate device according to the nature of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Compellent Technologies
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm, Michael H. Pittelko
  • Publication number: 20130124798
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a data storage system including a RAID subsystem having a first and second type of RAID storage. A virtual volume configured to accept I/O is stored on the first type of RAID storage, and snapshots of the virtual volume are stored on the second type of RAID storage. A method of the present disclosure includes providing an active volume that accepts I/O and generating read-only snapshots of the volume. In certain embodiments, the active volume is converted to a snapshot. The active volume includes a first type of RAID storage, and the snapshots include a second type of RAID storage. The first type of RAID storage has a lower write penalty than the second type of RAID storage. In typical embodiments, the first type of RAID storage includes RAID 10 storage and the second type of RAID storage includes RAID 5 and/or RAID 6 storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Compellent Technologies
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Aszmann, Michael J. Klemm