Patents by Inventor Michael E. Browne

Michael E. Browne 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: 20130191105
    Abstract: According to exemplary embodiments, a computer program product for testing virtual systems includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method comprises randomly selecting commands from a pool of commands, generating by a computer a test sequence from the randomly selected commands and simulating performance of the test sequence for a simulated virtual system that is a model of a virtual system. The method also includes recording simulated results of the simulated performance, performing the test sequence on the virtual system, recording actual results of the test sequence being performed on the virtual system, and determining by a computer if the virtual system is operating properly based on a comparison of the simulated results to the actual results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES COPORATION
    Inventors: Mohammad Abdirashid, Michael E. Browne, Ali Y. Duale
  • Patent number: 8478954
    Abstract: A method which prioritizes the subgroups in a consistency group by usage and/or business process. Thereafter, in case of abnormal operation of the process for copying the consistency group from primary storage to secondary storage, only a portion of the subgroups of the consistency group are copied from primary storage to secondary storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Browne, Nancy J. Finn, Christina Lara, Maria R. Ward
  • Patent number: 8473699
    Abstract: A method is provided for facilitating data replication in a storage system. A logical volume of a first storage array of a replicated pair is preconfigured with one or more logical volume attributes, which include a compressible configuration bit that indicates whether data blocks to be stored to that logical volume are compressible during replication. Subsequently, with receipt of a data block at the first storage array to be stored to the logical volume, a check of the compressible configuration bit is made to determine whether the data block is compressible during replication, and if so, the data block is compressed for replication. The compressible configuration bit is placed into the payload region of the data packet being replicated to the second storage array. At the second storage array, the compressible configuration bit is used to determine whether to uncompress the replicated data block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Browne, Nancy J. Finn, Christina Lara, Maria R. Ward
  • Patent number: 8468315
    Abstract: Computer program product, system and method are provided for facilitating data replication in a storage system. A logical volume of a first storage array of a replicated pair is preconfigured with one or more logical volume attributes, which include a compressible configuration bit that indicates whether data blocks to be stored to that logical volume are compressible during replication. Subsequently, with receipt of a data block at the first storage array to be stored to the logical volume, a check of the compressible configuration bit is made to determine whether the data block is compressible during replication, and if so, the data block is compressed for replication. The compressible configuration bit is placed into the payload region of the data packet being replicated to the second storage array. At the second storage array, the compressible configuration bit is used to determine whether to uncompress the replicated data block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Browne, Nancy J. Finn, Christina Lara, Maria R. Ward
  • Publication number: 20130024842
    Abstract: Described are a system and method for performing an automated quality assessment on a software program under test. A test automation system executes a test on a software program Data related to the test is automatically collected. The data includes first information determined by the test automation system in response to executing the test. The data further includes second information related to the test and received from a source other than the test automation system. The first information is analyzed. A quality assessment of the software program is generated from the analyzed first information and from the second information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael E. Browne, Nnaemeka Iriele Emejulu, Andrew Jason Lavery, Ye Liu, Mario Alessandro Maldari
  • Publication number: 20130024847
    Abstract: Described are a system and method for performing an automated quality assessment on a software program under test. A test automation system executes a test on a software program Data related to the test is automatically collected. The data includes first information determined by the test automation system in response to executing the test. The data further includes second information related to the test and received from a source other than the test automation system. The first information is analyzed. A quality assessment of the software program is generated from the analyzed first information and from the second information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael E. Browne, Nnaemeka Iriele Emejulu, Andrew Jason Lavery, Ye Liu, Mario Alessandro Maldari
  • Publication number: 20130019063
    Abstract: A cache page management method can include paging out a memory page to an input/output controller, paging the memory page from the input/output controller into a real memory, modifying the memory page in the real memory to an updated memory page and purging the memory page paged to the input/output controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tara Astigarraga, Michael E. Browne, Joseph Demczar, Eric C. Wieder
  • Publication number: 20130007010
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for software requirements extraction from external sources for software development. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for software requirements extraction from external sources for software development includes retrieving content from over a computer communications network pertaining to a product. The content can include by way of example, a Web page, e-mail message, instant message, blog posting or social network posting, to name only a few. Within the content, a modal verb can be identified and text extracted that is proximate to the modal verb. Thereafter, a requirement can be generated for a revision of the product based upon the extracted text. Optionally, the requirement can be ranked according to the modal verb, for example, an imperative modal verb can correspond to a higher ranking than a suggestive modal verb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Browne, Nnaemeka I. Emejulu, Andrew J. Lavery, Mario A. Maldari
  • Publication number: 20120203987
    Abstract: A method is provided for facilitating data replication in a storage system. A logical volume of a first storage array of a replicated pair is preconfigured with one or more logical volume attributes, which include a compressible configuration bit that indicates whether data blocks to be stored to that logical volume are compressible during replication. Subsequently, with receipt of a data block at the first storage array to be stored to the logical volume, a check of the compressible configuration bit is made to determine whether the data block is compressible during replication, and if so, the data block is compressed for replication. The compressible configuration bit is placed into the payload region of the data packet being replicated to the second storage array. At the second storage array, the compressible configuration bit is used to determine whether to uncompress the replicated data block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael E. Browne, Nancy J. Finn, Christina Lara, Maria R. Ward
  • Patent number: 8220032
    Abstract: Using an authentication server to discover one or more additional authentication servers and to dynamically establish a trust relationship with the one or more additional authentication servers. The authentication server searches for the one or more additional authentication servers to discover one or more sources of authentication tokens, and inspects an incoming authentication request from the one or more additional authentication servers to determine if the request is carrying one or more authentication tokens from a newly discovered realm. Once the authentication server determines a newly discovered realm to be trustworthy, the authentication server receives a directory schema from the newly discovered realm and compares the received directory schema with a known directory schema retrieved by the authentication server to identify an intersection of the received directory schema and the known directory schema.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Brenneman, Michael E. Browne, William J. Huie, Sarah J. Sheppard, Kyle M. Smith
  • Patent number: 8190545
    Abstract: A system thinker application receives a first issue, a first resolution to the first issue, and a first plurality of skills. The system thinker application searches a system environment electronic profile for a second issue, a second resolution to the second issue, and a second plurality of skills, wherein the system environment electronic profile contains a plurality of component profiles, and wherein the plurality of component profiles contain a second issue, a second resolution to the second issue, and a second plurality of skills. The system thinker application determines if the first issue, the first resolution to the first issue, and any one of the first plurality of skills are similar to any one of the second issue, the second resolution to the second issue, and any one of the second plurality of skills. The system thinker application adds skills to the system environment electronic profile and the component profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Browne, Carole A. Jannak, Sandra K. Johnson, Colin James Parris, Katherine June Pearsall, Bernadette Marie Wing, Rudolph John Younger, III
  • Patent number: 8127099
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method, information processing system, and computer readable medium for resource recovery. The method comprises associating at least one bit with at least one block of memory. The bit denotes a borrow status for the block of memory. The bit is set for resource recovery. A resource recovery event is detected and in response to the bit being enabled for resource recovery, the block of memory is borrowed for a given duration of time. The block is borrowed to temporarily store information associated with the resource recovery there into until the information is written to persistent storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tara Astigarraga, Michael E. Browne, Joseph Demczar, Eric C. Wieder
  • Patent number: 8108179
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method, electronic device, and computer readable medium for determining an end-of-life stage of the flash memory. The method includes detecting at least one life cycle event associated with a flash memory residing on an electronic device. A counter that is associated with the life cycle event is then incremented. Based on the counter, a total number of occurrences for the one life cycle event is determined. The total number of occurrences for the at least one given threshold is also determined. A current life cycle stage of the flash memory is identified based at least in part on determining if the total number of occurrences exceeds at least one given threshold. The life cycle stage is associated with the at least one given threshold. A user is then notified of the life cycle state of the flash memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tara Astigarraga, William E. Atherton, Michael E. Browne
  • Patent number: 8108180
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method, electronic device, and computer readable medium for determining an end-of-life stage of the flash memory. The method includes detecting at least one life cycle event associated with a flash memory residing on an electronic device. A counter that is associated with the life cycle event is then incremented. Based on the counter, a total number of occurrences for the one life cycle event is determined. The total number of occurrences for the at least one given threshold is also determined. A current life cycle stage of the flash memory is identified based at least in part on determining if the total number of occurrences exceeds at least one given threshold. The life cycle stage is associated with the at least one given threshold. A user is then notified of the life cycle state of the flash memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tara Astigarraga, William E. Atherton, Michael E. Browne
  • Patent number: 8055867
    Abstract: A method can include identifying a storage area in the storage system for access control, assigning a switching criterion to modify allowable access to the identified storage area, where the identified storage area supports pre-staging of provisioned data, and blocking a select access attempt to the identified storage area as a function of the switching criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tara Astigarraga, Michael E. Browne, Christina A. Lara
  • Publication number: 20110153964
    Abstract: A method which prioritizes the subgroups in a consistency group by usage and/or business process. Thereafter, in case of abnormal operation of the process for copying the consistency group from primary storage to secondary storage, only a portion of the subgroups of the consistency group are copied from primary storage to secondary storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Browne, Nancy J. Finn, Christina Lara, Maria R. Ward
  • Publication number: 20110145525
    Abstract: Storing and operating an information object. An indicator associated with the information object is read. The indicator indicates that a historical information is stored for the information object. Responsive to determining from the historical information that the information object has been historically accessed, (a) future access time based on the historical information is determined; (b) a trigger for placing the information object in a storage device at a predetermined time before the future access of the information object is scheduled, the trigger being associated with a scheduled time; and (c) responsive to the scheduled time elapsing, the trigger is executed. When the trigger is executed, the information object is placed in said storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael E. Browne, Eli M. Dow
  • Publication number: 20110099344
    Abstract: Computer program product, system and method are provided for facilitating data replication in a storage system. A logical volume of a first storage array of a replicated pair is preconfigured with one or more logical volume attributes, which include a compressible configuration bit that indicates whether data blocks to be stored to that logical volume are compressible during replication. Subsequently, with receipt of a data block at the first storage array to be stored to the logical volume, a check of the compressible configuration bit is made to determine whether the data block is compressible during replication, and if so, the data block is compressed for replication. The compressible configuration bit is placed into the payload region of the data packet being replicated to the second storage array. At the second storage array, the compressible configuration bit is used to determine whether to uncompress the replicated data block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. BROWNE, Nancy J. FINN, Christina LARA, Maria R. WARD
  • Patent number: 7873883
    Abstract: A method for scrubbing storage in a computer memory which includes a plurality of memory modules each having plurality of memory chips. The method includes selecting a pattern that correlates with physical structures for scanning the memory chips of the memory modules for errors, scanning a memory chip of a memory module for errors based upon the selected pattern. The method further includes successively scanning remaining memory chips of the respective memory module for errors when an error is found in the scanned memory chip, and scanning a memory chip of another memory module when an error is not found in the scanned memory chip of the respective memory module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Browne, Trevor E. Carlson, Stephanie A. Schaum, Ashwin S. Venkatraman, Maria R. Ward
  • Patent number: 7818309
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for managing requests to access data in a computer environment. In one aspect of the present invention, a request manager receives a request associated with meta data corresponding to data that is maintained separately from the meta data. In another aspect, the request manager informs a data object manager of an anticipated request that will be received by the data object manager to enable it to prepare for the anticipated request. The data object manager commences preparing for the anticipated request in response to being informed of the anticipated request to facilitate a reduction in data access time. In one example of a computing environment utilizing one or more aspects of the invention, a storage subsystem comprising a data object manager prepares for the anticipated request by pre-fetching data blocks from storage media into a cache.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Browne, Glenn R. Wightwick