Patents by Inventor Mark B. Thomas
Mark B. Thomas 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).
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Publication number: 20240075473Abstract: A lateral flow assay device of the present disclosure has numerous features to ensure correct operation of the device under gravity, such as vent pockets for enabling the flow of sample fluid from one chamber to the next when the vent pocket is unsealed. The vent pockets have protrusions to help prevent accidental resealing. The device also can have a gasket to ensure free air movement between open vent pockets. Flow control features that protrude horizontally into a chamber proximal to an outlet act to deflect the flow to the side of the chamber opposite from the outlet, prior to the flow entering the outlet. Such features can reduce the flow velocity of the sample fluid and increase the effective fluid flow path length, enhance mixing of reagents with a sample, and enabling more accurate control of fluid flow in the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2022Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Mark Nowakowski, Michael Wang, Robert B Cary, Hong Cai, Conrad Lindberg, Martin Bouliane, Donald J Thomas
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Publication number: 20240076724Abstract: An automated method for performing an assay of the present disclosure can be performed in a microfluidic device that is a lateral flow device having numerous features to ensure correct operation of the device under gravity, such as vent pockets for enabling the flow of sample fluid from one chamber to the next when the vent pocket is unsealed. Each chamber can have a reagent recess proximal to an inlet end of the chamber. A reagent pellet formed in a reagent recess can be effectively mixed with a sample as the sample flows into the chamber. A flexible circuit with patterned metallic electrical components disposed on a heat stable material can be in direct contact with fluid in the chambers and has resistive heating elements aligned with, for example, a chamber for performing an amplification reaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2022Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: Mark Nowakowski, Michael Wang, Robert B Cary, Hong Cai, Conrad Lindberg, Martin Bouliane, Donald J Thomas
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Patent number: 10606491Abstract: A method for providing redundancy in a virtualized storage system for a computer system is provided. The method includes determining a first set of first logical addresses to provide a virtual storage volume. A redundancy schema is then selected to provide redundancy data for primary data stored in the first set of first logical addresses. A second set of second logical addresses is determined to provide logical storage for the primary data and for the redundancy data. The first set of first logical addresses and the second set of second logical addresses are then mapped and a set of physical addresses is selected from a set of physical storage elements. Mapping between the second set of second logical addresses and the set of physical addresses is then performed to provide physical storage for the primary data and the redundancy data stored in the virtual storage volume.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Mark B. Thomas
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Publication number: 20190004716Abstract: A method for providing redundancy in a virtualized storage system for a computer system is provided. The method includes determining a first set of first logical addresses to provide a virtual storage volume. A redundancy schema is then selected to provide redundancy data for primary data stored in the first set of first logical addresses. A second set of second logical addresses is determined to provide logical storage for the primary data and for the redundancy data. The first set of first logical addresses and the second set of second logical addresses are then mapped and a set of physical addresses is selected from a set of physical storage elements. Mapping between the second set of second logical addresses and the set of physical addresses is then performed to provide physical storage for the primary data and the redundancy data stored in the virtual storage volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventor: Mark B. Thomas
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Patent number: 10114563Abstract: A method for providing redundancy in a virtualized storage system for a computer system is provided. The method includes determining first set of first logical addresses to provide a virtual storage volume. A redundancy schema is then selected to provide redundancy data for primary data stored in the first set of first logical addresses. A second set of second logical addresses is determined to provide logical storage for the primary data and for the redundancy data. The first set of first logical addresses and the second set of second logical addresses are then mapped and a set of physical addresses is selected from a set of physical storage elements. Mapping between the second set of second logical addresses and the set of physical addresses is then performed to provide physical storage for the primary data and the redundancy data stored in the virtual storage volume.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2014Date of Patent: October 30, 2018Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Mark B. Thomas
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Patent number: 9563359Abstract: A system is provided for transforming an in-use RAID array from a first array configuration having a first parameter to a second array configuration having a second parameter while preserving a logical data structure of the RAID array. The system includes an extent reservation component, and a data migration component for reading unmigrated data from an area of an array arranged according to the first array configuration and writing the data to an area of the array arranged according to the second array configuration using reserved extents to store migrated data. The system also includes a first I/O component for performing I/O according to the first array configuration on unmigrated data prior to its reading by the data migration component, and a second I/O component for performing I/O according to the second array configuration on the migrated data after writing the migrated data.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joanna K. Brown, Matthew J. Fairhurst, William J. Scales, Mark B. Thomas
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Publication number: 20160041764Abstract: A system is provided for transforming an in-use RAID array from a first array configuration having a first parameter to a second array configuration having a second parameter while preserving a logical data structure of the RAID array. The system includes an extent reservation component, and a data migration component for reading unmigrated data from an area of an array arranged according to the first array configuration and writing the data to an area of the array arranged according to the second array configuration using reserved extents to store migrated data. The system also includes a first I/O component for performing I/O according to the first array configuration on unmigrated data prior to its reading by the data migration component, and a second I/O component for performing I/O according to the second array configuration on the migrated data after writing the migrated data.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2015Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Joanna K. Brown, Matthew J. Fairhurst, William J. Scales, Mark B. Thomas
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Patent number: 9195412Abstract: A system is provided for transforming an in-use RAID array from a first array configuration having a first parameter to a second array configuration having a second parameter while preserving a logical data structure of the RAID array. The system includes an extent reservation component, and a data migration component for reading unmigrated data from an area of an array arranged according to the first array configuration and writing the data to an area of the array arranged according to the second array configuration using reserved extents to store migrated data. The system also includes a first I/O component for performing I/O according to the first array configuration on unmigrated data prior to its reading by the data migration component, and a second I/O component for performing I/O according to the second array configuration on the migrated data after writing the migrated data.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2011Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joanna K. Brown, Matthew J. Fairhurst, William J. Scales, Mark B. Thomas
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Publication number: 20150019809Abstract: A method for providing redundancy in a virtualized storage system for a computer system is provided. The method includes determining first set of first logical addresses to provide a virtual storage volume, A redundancy schema is then selected to provide redundancy data for primary data stored in the first set of first logical addresses. A second set of second logical addresses is determined to provide logical storage for the primary data and for the redundancy data. The first set of first logical addresses and the second set of second logical addresses are then mapped and a set of physical address es is selected from a set of physical storage elements. Mapping between the second set of second logical addresses and the set of physical addresses is then performed to provide physical storage for the primary data and the redundancy data stored in the virtual storage volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventor: Mark B. Thomas
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Patent number: 8880843Abstract: A method for providing redundancy in a virtualized storage system for a computer system is provided. The method includes determining a first set of first logical addresses to provide a virtual storage volume. A redundancy schema is then selected to provide redundancy data for primary data stored in the first set of first logical addresses. A second set of second logical addresses is determined to provide logical storage for the primary data and for the redundancy data. The first set of first logical addresses and the second set of second logical addresses are then mapped and a set of physical storage addresses is selected from a set of physical storage elements. Mapping between the second set of second logical addresses and the set of physical addresses is then performed to provide physical storage for the primary data and the redundancy data stored in the virtual storage volume.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2010Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Mark B. Thomas
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Publication number: 20130205086Abstract: Transforming an in-use RAID array from a first array configuration having a first parameter to a second array configuration having a second parameter while preserving the logical data structure. An extent reservation component and data migration component are provided for reading unmigrated data from an area of an array arranged according to the first array configuration and writing the data to an area of the array arranged according to the second array configuration using reserved extents to store first migrated data and using further extents to store second migrated data. A first I/O component for performing I/O according to the first array configuration on unmigrated data prior to its reading by the data migration component is provided along with a second I/O component for performing I/O according to the second array configuration on the first migrated data and the second migrated data after its writing by the data migration component.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2011Publication date: August 8, 2013Applicant: International Business Machines Corp,Inventors: Joanna K. Brown, Matthew J. Fairhurst, William J. Scales, Mark B. Thomas
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Patent number: 8347182Abstract: Mechanisms for ensuring data consistency in a data store are provided. The mechanisms access a parity scrub factor f and perform a check on a data group of the data store. The check on the data group includes performing a parity check on a portion of the data group, the portion being equal to 1/f of the data group, and performing a data verify on the remainder of the data group. The performing of the check is repeated for the entire data store. An offset factor is used to select the portion of the data group for the parity check. In this case, the offset factor may be incremented when the performance of the check on the data group of the data store has been repeated for the entire data store.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2009Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joanna K. Brown, Matthew J. Fairhurst, Mark B. Thomas
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Publication number: 20110197024Abstract: A method for providing redundancy in a virtualized storage system for a computer system is provided. The method includes determining a first set of first logical addresses to provide a virtual storage volume. A redundancy schema is then selected to provide redundancy data for primary data stored in the first set of first logical addresses. A second set of second logical addresses is determined to provide logical storage for the primary data and for the redundancy data. The first set of first logical addresses and the second set of second logical addresses are then mapped and a set of physical storage addresses is selected from a set of physical storage elements. Mapping between the second set of second logical addresses and the set of physical addresses is then performed to provide physical storage for the primary data and the redundancy data stored in the virtual storage volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2010Publication date: August 11, 2011Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Mark B. Thomas
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Publication number: 20100005374Abstract: Mechanisms for ensuring data consistency in a data store are provided. The mechanisms access a parity scrub factor f and perform a check on a data group of the data store. The check on the data group includes performing a parity check on a portion of the data group, the portion being equal to 1/f of the data group, and performing a data verify on the remainder of the data group. The performing of the check is repeated for the entire data store. An offset factor is used to select the portion of the data group for the parity check. In this case, the offset factor may be incremented when the performance of the check on the data group of the data store has been repeated for the entire data store.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2009Publication date: January 7, 2010Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Joanna K. Brown, Matthew J. Fairhurst, Mark B. Thomas