Patents by Inventor Michael Lee Workman

Michael Lee Workman 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: 7721022
    Abstract: The invention classifies volumes (e.g., file systems or LUNs) of a data storage system according to application requirements and allocates space for the volumes on storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives) accordingly. A person such as an IT administrator configures the volumes specifying size, type (e.g., file system or SAN LUN), and priority (e.g., high, medium, low, or archive). The host schedules I/O requests to the storage devices in priority queues using the volume definition to match the application requirements and reduce storage seek time between volumes of different priorities. The host also allocates high performance bands of the storage devices to high performance applications and lower performance bands to lower performance applications. In this manner, the data storage system places data on the band of the storage device that best supports its performance needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Pillar Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Allan Brewer, David Alan Burton, Michael Lee Workman
  • Publication number: 20090271543
    Abstract: The invention classifies volumes (e.g., file systems or LUNS) of a data storage system according to application requirements and allocates space for the volumes on storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives) accordingly. A person such as an IT administrator configures the volumes specifying size, type (e.g., file system or SAN LUN), and priority (e.g., high, medium, low, or archive). The host schedules I/O requests to the storage devices in priority queues using the volume definition to match the application requirements and reduce storage seek time between volumes of different priorities. The host also allocates high performance bands of the storage devices to high performance applications and lower performance bands to lower performance applications. In this manner, the data storage system places data on the band of the storage device that best supports its performance needs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Michael Allan Brewer, David Alan Burton, Michael Lee Workman
  • Patent number: 7594044
    Abstract: The invention classifies volumes (e.g., file systems or LUNs) of a data storage system according to application requirements and allocates space for the volumes on storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives) accordingly. A person such as an IT administrator configures the volumes specifying size, type (e.g., file system or SAN LUN), and priority (e.g., high, medium, low, or archive). The host schedules I/O requests to the storage devices in priority queues using the volume definition to match the application requirements and reduce storage seek time between volumes of different priorities. The host also allocates high performance bands of the storage devices to high performance applications and lower performance bands to lower performance applications. In this manner, the data storage system places data on the band of the storage device that best supports its performance needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Pillar Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Allan Brewer, David Alan Burton, Michael Lee Workman
  • Patent number: 7418531
    Abstract: The invention classifies volumes (e.g., file systems or LUNs) of a data storage system according to application requirements and allocates space for the volumes on storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives) accordingly. A person such as an IT administrator configures the volumes specifying size, type (e.g., file system or SAN LUN), and priority (e.g., high, medium, low, or archive). The host schedules I/O requests to the storage devices in priority queues using the volume definition to match the application requirements and reduce storage seek time between volumes of different priorities. The host also allocates high performance bands of the storage devices to high performance applications and lower performance bands to lower performance applications. In this manner, the data storage system places data on the band of the storage device that best supports its performance needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Pillar Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Allan Brewer, David Alan Burton, Michael Lee Workman
  • Patent number: 7216192
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for configuring a data storage system. One method adds a Fibre Channel device to the loop by beaconing first and second ports, displaying instructions to connect a cable, receiving an indication the cable is connected, enabling the first port, initiating a LIP, and verifying whether the cable is connected. Another method removes a Fibre Channel device from the loop by beaconing the second port, bypassing the first port, initiating a LIP, beaconing the first port, displaying instructions for disconnecting the cable, and receiving an indication the cable is disconnected. A system includes means for displaying instructions to add a Fibre Channel device on the loop and a management controller for beaconing first and second ports, displaying instructions to connect a cable, receiving an indication that the cable is connected, enabling the first port, initiating a LIP, and verifying whether the cable is connected properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Pillar Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Robert Boulay, Michael Allan Brewer, Michael Lee Workman
  • Publication number: 20040123027
    Abstract: The present invention discloses technology that extends single-ported storage devices by providing multiple access paths and power control in data storage subsystems. In an embodiment, the system provides circuitry associated with single ported storage devices to connect the data and control signals of the storage devices to two redundant storage controllers and to control the storage device power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Lee Workman, Mark Andy D'Apice, Douglas John Fox, Wayne Eugene Miller, Paul Thomas Petersen
  • Publication number: 20040068591
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for providing multiple access paths to a single ported storage device used in data storage subsystems. In an embodiment, the system provides circuitry associated with single ported storage devices, including a coupling circuit for signals which include the data and control paths to and from redundant storage device controllers. In this embodiment, the additional control in the form of discrete signal lines or through additional commands is used to manage routing of the signals to and from a redundant data storage controller. Further, each redundant data storage controller preferably has its' own primary set of storage devices. If one of the controllers fails, the redundant controller can switch its' control to the failed controller's storage devices thus maintaining user access to the data contained on those storage devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: April 8, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Lee Workman, Mark Andy D'Apice, Paul Thomas Petersen
  • Patent number: D511521
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Pillar Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Otto Schmidt, Paul Robert Boulay, Kevin Paul Perera, Charles Anthony Woerner, Michael Lee Workman
  • Patent number: D511777
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Pillar Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Otto Schmidt, Paul Robert Boulay, Kevin Paul Perera, Charles Anthony Woerner, Michael Lee Workman