Patents by Inventor Naotaka Kobayashi

Naotaka Kobayashi 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: 8099551
    Abstract: Provided is a storage controller capable of improving the access performance to the storage device by preventing an I/O access request to the storage device from being concentrated on certain I/O processors among a plurality of I/O processor, and causing the plurality of I/O processors to issue the I/O access request in a well balanced manner. With this storage control system, a plurality of stripe units are formed by striping the logical volume into a stripe size of an arbitrary storage capacity, and information regarding which I/O processor among the plurality of I/O processors will output the I/O request to which stripe unit among the plurality of stripe units is stored as the control information in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naotaka Kobayashi, Kunihito Matsuki, Hiroshi Ogasawara, Youichi Gotoh
  • Publication number: 20110289331
    Abstract: Returning a response to a host system in a range which does not cause time-out by the host system even if a disk device in a power saving status is an access target of the host system. A NAS controller determines an access request from a client terminal, outputs a command for spinning up a disk device in a spin off status to a disk controller if the access target includes shared folders corresponding with the disk devices in the spin off status, sends response information to the client terminal to the effect that processing for connection with the shared folder as the access target is being performed in response to the access request, and inhibits the client terminal from shifting to the time-out processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Naotaka Kobayashi, Koji Sonoda
  • Patent number: 7908513
    Abstract: A method of installing software on a storage device controlling apparatus which includes at least one channel controller having a circuit board on which are formed a file access processing section receiving requests to input and output data in files as units from an information processing apparatus via a first network and an I/O processor outputting I/O requests corresponding to the requests to input and output data to a storage device; at least one disk controller executing input and output of data into and from the storage device in response to the I/O requests sent from the I/O processor; and a second network connecting the channel controller and the disk controller so as to be able to communicate with each other, the method comprises the step of writing software for enabling the file access processing section to function, into the storage device by communicating with the channel controller via the second network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ogasawara, Yutaka Takata, Naotaka Kobayashi, Jinichi Shikawa, Nobuyuki Saika
  • Publication number: 20110029732
    Abstract: Provided is a storage controller capable of improving the access performance to the storage device by preventing an I/O access request to the storage device from being concentrated on certain I/O processors among a plurality of I/O processor, and causing the plurality of I/O processors to issue the I/O access request in a well balanced manner. With this storage control system, a plurality of stripe units are formed by striping the logical volume into a stripe size of an arbitrary storage capacity, and information regarding which I/O processor among the plurality of I/O processors will output the I/O request to which stripe unit among the plurality of stripe units is stored as the control information in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Naotaka Kobayashi, Kunihito Matsuki, Hiroshi Ogasawara, Youichi Gotoh
  • Patent number: 7882206
    Abstract: A storage device system has a plurality of storage devices for storing information; a storage device control section that controls storage of information in the storage devices; and a connection unit connected to the storage device control section. Furthermore, the storage device system has a first communication control section that includes a first processor which is connected to the storage device control section via the connection unit and also connected on a first network external to the storage device system, which converts information of a first form received over the first external network into information of a second form, and which issues a request for access to the storage devices; and a second processor which accesses the storage devices via the connection unit and the storage device control section in response to the access request issued from the first processor, and which controls activation of the first processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ogasawara, Yutaka Takata, Naotaka Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20090157856
    Abstract: A storage device system has a plurality of storage devices for storing information; a storage device control section that controls storage of information in the storage devices; and a connection unit connected to the storage device control section. Furthermore, the storage device system has a first communication control section that includes a first processor which is connected to the storage device control section via the connection unit and also connected on a first network external to the storage device system, which converts information of a first form received over the first external network into information of a second form, and which issues a request for access to the storage devices; and a second processor which accesses the storage devices via the connection unit and the storage device control section in response to the access request issued from the first processor, and which controls activation of the first processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2009
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ogasawara, Yutaka Takata, Naotaka Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7478267
    Abstract: The access control device comprises a first interface (IF) which receives access requests from a host device, and a second IF which respectively accesses one or a plurality of access destination candidates in an external device. The second IF attempts to access a particular access destination candidate if the first IF has received an access request, and outputs a judgment result indicating that a recovery has been performed if it is determined that a recovery has been performed after the access attempt has failed. The first IF detects whether there has been a recovery in the access path to the particular access destination candidate by referring to the judgment result output by the second IF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihito Matsuki, Yutaka Takata, Hiroshi Ogasawara, Naotaka Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7461227
    Abstract: A storage system includes a network adapter, a channel adapter, a shared memory, a cache memory, a disk adapter, a switch and a storage device. The storage device stores data. The network adapter includes a port connected to a local area network, and a NAS processor and an I/O processor. The NAS processor receives a file access request via the port, and gives instructions to access the data stored in the storage device as well as instructions to back up the data stored in the storage device. The I/O processor transfers access to the data stored in the storage device to the cache memory, and transfers backup instructions for the data stored in the storage device to the shared memory. The channel adapter includes a port and an I/O processor. The I/O processor sends out data stored in the storage device to the device storing backup data, in response to a backup instruction from the network adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naotaka Kobayashi, Shizuo Yokohata
  • Publication number: 20080133942
    Abstract: A method of installing software on a storage device controlling apparatus which includes at least one channel controller having a circuit board on which are formed a file access processing section receiving requests to input and output data in files as units from an information processing apparatus via a first network and an I/O processor outputting I/O requests corresponding to the requests to input and output data to a storage device; at least one disk controller executing input and output of data into and from the storage device in response to the I/O requests sent from the I/O processor; and a second network connecting the channel controller and the disk controller so as to be able to communicate with each other, the method comprises the step of writing software for enabling the file access processing section to function, into the storage device by communicating with the channel controller via the second network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ogasawara, Yutaka Takata, Naotaka Kobayashi, Jinichi Shikawa, Nobuyuki Saika
  • Publication number: 20080120483
    Abstract: A storage system includes a network adapter, a channel adapter, a shared memory, a cache memory, a disk adapter, a switch and a storage device. The storage device stores data. The network adapter includes a port connected to a local area network, and a NAS processor and an I/O processor. The NAS processor receives a file access request via the port, and gives instructions to access the data stored in the storage device as well as instructions to back up the data stored in the storage device. The I/O processor transfers access to the data stored in the storage device to the cache memory, and transfers backup instructions for the data stored in the storage device to the shared memory. The channel adapter includes a port and an I/O processor. The I/O processor sends out data stored in the storage device to the device storing backup data, in response to a backup instruction from the network adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naotaka KOBAYASHI, Shizuo Yokohata
  • Patent number: 7334100
    Abstract: A storage system includes a network adapter, a channel adapter, a shared memory, a cache memory, a disk adapter, a switch and a storage device. The storage device stores data. The network adapter includes a port connected to a local area network, and a NAS processor and an I/O processor. The NAS processor receives a file access request via the port, and gives instructions to access the data stored in the storage device as well as instructions to back up the data stored in the storage device. The I/O processor transfers access to the data stored in the storage device to the cache memory, and transfers backup instructions for the data stored in the storage device to the shared memory. The channel adapter includes a port and an I/O processor. The I/O processor sends out data stored in the storage device to the device storing backup data, in response to a backup instruction from the network adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naotaka Kobayashi, Shizuo Yokohata
  • Patent number: 7305670
    Abstract: A method of installing software on a storage device controlling apparatus which includes at least one channel controller having a circuit board on which are formed a file access processing section receiving requests to input and output data in files as units from an information processing apparatus via a first network and an I/O processor outputting I/O requests corresponding to the requests to input and output data to a storage device; at least one disk controller executing input and output of data into and from the storage device in response to the I/O requests sent from the I/O processor; and a second network connecting the channel controller and the disk controller so as to be able to communicate with each other, the method comprises the step of writing software for enabling the file access processing section to function, into the storage device by communicating with the channel controller via the second network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ogasawara, Yutaka Takata, Naotaka Kobayashi, Jinichi Shikawa, Nobuyuki Saika
  • Publication number: 20070277007
    Abstract: In a storage device controlling apparatus which includes: a plurality of channel controllers having a circuit board on which are formed a file access processing section receiving from an information processing apparatus requests to input and output data in files as units via a network and an I/O processor outputting to a storage device I/O requests corresponding to the requests to input and output data; and a disk controller executing input and output of data into and from the storage device in response to the I/O requests sent from the I/O processors, at least one of the channel controllers receives data specifying an assignment of a logical volume to the channel controller, the data being sent from the information processing apparatus, and stores the received assignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakayama, Hiroshi Ogasawara, Naotaka Kobayashi, Jinichi Shikawa, Nobuyuki Saika
  • Publication number: 20070226547
    Abstract: Disclosed is a disc controller, which includes a network controlling unit for receiving a data input/output request sent from an external device through a network, and a disc controlling unit formed in the same circuit board in which the network controlling unit is formed, the disc controlling unit coupling the network controlling unit thereto by an internal bus provided in the circuit board. In the disc controller, the disc controlling unit is configured to receive a command sent from the network controlling unit through the internal bus and execute a data input/output for a disc drive in response to the command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Takata, Naotaka Kobayashi, Hiroshi Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 7263584
    Abstract: In a storage device controlling apparatus which includes: a plurality of channel controllers having a circuit board on which are formed a file access processing section receiving from an information processing apparatus requests to input and output data in files as units via a network and an I/O processor outputting to a storage device I/O requests corresponding to the requests to input and output data; and a disk controller executing input and output of data into and from the storage device in response to the I/O requests sent from the I/O processors, at least one of the channel controllers receives data specifying an assignment of a logical volume to the channel controller, the data being sent from the information processing apparatus, and stores the received assignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakayama, Hiroshi Ogasawara, Naotaka Kobayashi, Jinichi Shikawa, Nobuyuki Saika
  • Publication number: 20070174457
    Abstract: A disk array system in accordance with the present invention comprises: a plurality of storage devices in which data is stored; a storage device control unit that controls storage of data in the plurality of storage devices; a connection unit connected to the storage device control unit; a first communication control unit; and a management terminal. The first communication control unit is connected to the storage device control unit via the connection unit, and connected on a first network external to the own disk array system, and transfers file data over the first network. The first communication control unit transfers data to the connection unit, and reads information on a fault occurring in the own disk array system from the plurality of storage devices so as to transfer the information to the management terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Kunihito Matsuki, Yutaka Takata, Hiroshi Ogasawara, Naotaka Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7240188
    Abstract: A technique that can update the firmware with services for clients continued on a circuit board that comprises a control unit of a storage system is provided. A plurality of blade that comprise control unit have previous BIOS on flash memory. Clusters are formed including the blade which is subject to firmware update. At the time of updating the firmware, for the update candidate substrate, the processing unit including processing to move the service provided by OS of blade to be subject to firmware update processing to OS of other blade in the cluster as well as firmware update processing for updating previous BIOS of blade which no longer provides services by the use of the BIOS update program and new BIOS image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Takata, Naotaka Kobayashi, Takeshi Hashimoto, Akiyoshi Hashimoto, Shinichi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7240152
    Abstract: In a storage device controlling apparatus which includes: a plurality of channel controllers having a circuit board on which are formed a file access processing section receiving from an information processing apparatus requests to input and output data in files as units via a network and an I/O processor outputting to a storage device I/O requests corresponding to the requests to input and output data; and a disk controller executing input and output of data into and from the storage device in response to the I/O requests sent from the I/O processors, at least one of the channel controllers receives data specifying an assignment of a logical volume to the channel controller, the data being sent from the information processing apparatus, and stores the received assignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Nakayama, Hiroshi Ogasawara, Naotaka Kobayashi, Jinichi Shikawa, Nobuyuki Saika
  • Patent number: 7219144
    Abstract: A disk array system in accordance with the present invention comprises: a plurality of storage devices in which data is stored; a storage device control unit that controls storage of data in the plurality of storage devices; a connection unit connected to the storage device control unit; a first communication control unit; and a management terminal. The first communication control unit is connected to the storage device control unit via the connection unit, and connected on a first network external to the own disk array system, and transfers file data over the first network. The first communication control unit transfers data to the connection unit, and reads information on a fault occurring in the own disk array system from the plurality of storage devices so as to transfer the information to the management terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihito Matsuki, Yutaka Takata, Hiroshi Ogasawara, Naotaka Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20070101059
    Abstract: One or more master CHN 21AM and one or more back-up CHN 21AC are provided. In each of the one or more back-up CHNs 21AC, the I/O processor 504 is in a power on state, and the NAS processor is in a power off state. The I/O processor 504 accesses a shared memory 25 periodically, and if the fact that a problem has occurred in any master CHN 21AM has been written to the shared memory 25, then the power supply of the NAS processor 506 is turned on, and processing is carried out for switching the back-up CHN 21AC in which the I/O processor 504 is installed, to a master CHN 21AM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: Naotaka Kobayashi, Yutaka Takata, Shinichi Nakayama