Patents by Inventor Neal T. Fachan

Neal T. Fachan 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: 20110153569
    Abstract: In one embodiment, systems and methods are provided for nonlinear journaling. In one embodiment, groups of data designated for storage in a data storage unit are journaled into persistent storage. In one embodiment, the journal data is recorded nonlinearly. In one embodiment, a linked data structure records data and data descriptors in persistent storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Neal T. Fachan, Peter J. Godman, Justin M. Husted, Aaron J. Passey
  • Publication number: 20110145195
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide an indexing data structure. In one embodiment, the indexing data structure is mirrored index tree where the copies of the nodes of the tree are stored across devices in a distributed system. In one embodiment, nodes that are stored on an offline device are restored, and an offline device that comes back online is merged into the distributed system and given access to the current indexing data structure. In one embodiment, the indexing data structure is traversed to locate and restore nodes that are stored on offline devices of the distributed system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: ISILON SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron J. Passey, Darren P. Schack, Peter J. Godman, Robert J. Anderson, Neal T. Fachan
  • Patent number: 7953709
    Abstract: In general, embodiments of the invention relate to reading data from and writing data to a storage system. Specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to a read only mode for a portion of a storage system. In one embodiment, a selective read-only mode for a portion of a storage system is implemented by monitoring a condition that affects a subset of persistent storage in a storage system, by detecting the condition, by entering a read-only mode for the subset, and by enforcing a policy of processing write requests and read requests to the storage system, which includes processing the write requests without modifying user data stored on the subset and processing the read requests, including requests for user data stored on the subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Tyler A. Akidau, Aaron J. Passey, Neal T. Fachan, Jonathan Walton
  • Patent number: 7953704
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a user or client device is connected to a distributed file system comprised of one or more physical nodes. The data on each of the physical nodes store metadata about files and directories within the file system. Some of the embodiments permit a user to take a snapshot of data stored on the file system. The snapshot may include a single file, a single directory, a plurality of files within a directory, a plurality of directories, a path on the file system that includes nested files and subdirectories, or more than one path on the file system that each includes nested files and directories. According to one embodiment, the system stores and updates metadata, including a governance list, for each of the files and directories. The governance list provides a representation of the snapshots which govern a file or directory and its descendants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Anderson, Neal T. Fachan, Eric M. Lemar, Aaron J. Passey, David W. Richards, Darren P. Schack
  • Patent number: 7949692
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a user or client device communicates with a distributed file system comprised of one or more physical nodes. The data on each of the physical nodes store metadata about files and directories within the file system. Some of the embodiments permit a user to take a snapshot of data stored on the file system. The snapshot may include a single file, a single directory, a plurality of files within a directory, a plurality of directories, a path on the file system that includes nested files and subdirectories, or more than one path on the file system that each includes nested files and directories. In some embodiments, systems and methods intelligently choose whether to use copy-on-write or point-in-time copy when saving data in a snapshot version of a file whose current version is being overwritten. In some embodiments, systems and methods allow snapshot users to return from a snapshot directory to the immediate parent directory from which the user entered into the snapshot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Eric M. Lemar, Darren P. Schack, Neal T. Fachan
  • Patent number: 7949636
    Abstract: In general, embodiments of the invention relate to reading data from and writing data to a storage system. Specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to a read only mode for a portion of a storage system. In one embodiment, a selective read-only mode for a portion of a storage system is implemented by monitoring a condition that may affect a subset of persistent storage in a storage system, by detecting the condition, by entering a read-only mode for the subset, and by enforcing a policy of processing write requests and read requests to the storage system, which includes processing the write requests without modifying user data stored on the subset and processing the read requests, including requests for user data stored on the subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: EMC Corporation
    Inventors: Tyler A. Akidau, Neal T. Fachan, Aaron J. Passey
  • Publication number: 20110119234
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a user or client device communicates with a distributed file system comprised of one or more physical nodes. The data on each of the physical nodes store metadata about files and directories within the file system. Some of the embodiments permit a user to take a snapshot of data stored on the file system. The snapshot may include a single file, a single directory, a plurality of files within a directory, a plurality of directories, a path on the file system that includes nested files and subdirectories, or more than one path on the file system that each includes nested files and directories. In some embodiments, systems and methods intelligently choose whether to use copy-on-write or point-in-time copy when saving data in a snapshot version of a file whose current version is being overwritten. In some embodiments, systems and methods allow snapshot users to return from a snapshot directory to the immediate parent directory from which the user entered into the snapshot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Darren P. Schack, Eric M. Lemar, Neal T. Fachan
  • Publication number: 20110113211
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to incremental computing. Specifically, embodiments of the invention include systems and methods that provide for the concurrent processing of multiple, incremental changes to a data value while at the same time monitoring and/or enforcing threshold values for that data value. For example, a method is provided that implements domain quotas within a data storage system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: ISILON SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Neal T. Fachan, Peter J. Godman, Justin M. Husted, Aaron J. Passey
  • Publication number: 20110087635
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a user or client device is connected to a distributed file system comprised of one or more physical nodes. The data on each of the physical nodes store metadata about files and directories within the file system. Some of the embodiments permit a user to take a snapshot of data stored on the file system. The snapshot may include a single file, a single directory, a plurality of files within a directory, a plurality of directories, a path on the file system that includes nested files and subdirectories, or more than one path on the file system that each includes nested files and directories. In an embodiment, a snapshot tracking data structure is maintained for efficient creation and deletion of the snapshot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: Isilon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal T. Fachan, Justin M. Husted, Eric M. Lemar, Darren P. Schack
  • Patent number: 7917474
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide an indexing data structure. In one embodiment, the indexing data structure is mirrored index tree where the copies of the nodes of the tree are stored across devices in a distributed system. In one embodiment, nodes that are stored on an offline device are restored, and an offline device that comes back online is merged into the distributed system and given access to the current indexing data structure. In one embodiment, the indexing data structure is traversed to locate and restore nodes that are stored on offline devices of the distributed system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Isilon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron J. Passey, Darren P. Schack, Peter J. Godman, Robert J. Anderson, Neal T. Fachan
  • Patent number: 7899800
    Abstract: In one embodiment, systems and methods are provided for nonlinear journaling. In one embodiment, groups of data designated for storage in a data storage unit are journaled into persistent storage. In one embodiment, the journal data is recorded nonlinearly. In one embodiment, a linked data structure records data and data descriptors in persistent storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Isilon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal T. Fachan, Peter J. Godman, Justin M. Husted, Aaron J. Passey
  • Patent number: 7900015
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to incremental computing. Specifically, embodiments of the invention include systems and methods that provide for the concurrent processing of multiple, incremental changes to a data value while at the same time monitoring and/or enforcing threshold values for that data value. For example, a method is provided that implements domain quotas within a data storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Isilon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal T. Fachan, Peter J. Godman, Justin M. Husted, Aaron J. Passey
  • Publication number: 20110044209
    Abstract: The systems and methods of the present invention provide a quiescing protocol. In one embodiment, nodes of a system utilize the protocol to complete processing until they reach a consistent state. In one embodiment, a coordinator initiates the quiescing process and the nodes communicate with each other to determine whether their messages have been processed and communicate with the coordinator to determine when all of the messages have been processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: Isilon Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Neal T. Fachan
  • Publication number: 20110035412
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide an indexing data structure. In one embodiment, the indexing data structure is mirrored index tree where the copies of the nodes of the tree are stored across devices in a distributed system. In one embodiment, nodes that are stored on an offline device are restored, and an offline device that comes back online is merged into the distributed system and given access to the current indexing data structure. In one embodiment, the indexing data structure is traversed to locate and restore nodes that are stored on offline devices of the distributed system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: ISILON SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Neal T. Fachan, Aaron J. Passey, Darren P. Schack
  • Patent number: 7882071
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a user or client device is connected to a distributed file system comprised of one or more physical nodes. The data on each of the physical nodes store metadata about files and directories within the file system. Some of the embodiments permit a user to take a snapshot of data stored on the file system. The snapshot may include a single file, a single directory, a plurality of files within a directory, a plurality of directories, a path on the file system that includes nested files and subdirectories, or more than one path on the file system that each includes nested files and directories. In one embodiment, previous versions of a file or directory are stored only in response to a request to modify the file or directory. The system creates and updates a snapshot tracking data structure which provides information regarding each file or directory governed by the snapshot that was modified or deleted after the snapshot was taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Isilon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal T. Fachan, Justin M. Husted, Eric M. Lemar, Darren P. Schack
  • Patent number: 7882068
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a user or client device communicates with a distributed file system comprised of one or more physical nodes. The data on each of the physical nodes store metadata about files and directories within the file system. Some of the embodiments permit a user to take a snapshot of data stored on the file system. The snapshot may include a single file, a single directory, a plurality of files within a directory, a plurality of directories, a path on the file system that includes nested files and subdirectories, or more than one path on the file system that each includes nested files and directories. In some embodiments, systems and methods intelligently choose whether to use copy-on-write or point-in-time copy when saving data in a snapshot version of a file whose current version is being overwritten. In some embodiments, systems and methods allow snapshot users to return from a snapshot directory to the immediate parent directory from which the user entered into the snapshot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Isilon Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren P. Schack, Eric M. Lemar, Neal T. Fachan
  • Publication number: 20110022790
    Abstract: In one embodiment, systems and methods are provided for nonlinear journaling. In one embodiment, groups of data designated for storage in a data storage unit are journaled into persistent storage. In one embodiment, the journal data is recorded nonlinearly. In one embodiment, a linked data structure records data and data descriptors in persistent storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: ISILON SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Neal T. Fachan, Peter J. Godman, Justin M. Husted, Aaron J. Passey
  • Publication number: 20110016155
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to incremental computing. Specifically, embodiments of the invention include systems and methods that provide for the concurrent processing of multiple, incremental changes to a data value while at the same time monitoring and/or enforcing threshold values for that data value. For example, a method is provided that determines whether multiple incremental changes to a data field could pass a threshold based on keeping track of a possible value range for the data field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: ISILON SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Neal T. Fachan, Peter J. Godman, Justin M. Husted, Aaron J. Passey
  • Patent number: 7848261
    Abstract: The systems and methods of the present invention provide a quiescing protocol. In one embodiment, nodes of a system utilize the protocol to complete processing until they reach a consistent state. In one embodiment, a coordinator initiates the quiescing process and the nodes communicate with each other to determine whether their messages have been processed and communicate with the coordinator to determine when all of the messages have been processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Isilon Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Neal T. Fachan
  • Publication number: 20100306786
    Abstract: In one embodiment, systems and methods are provided for tracking events wherein an event system monitors certain areas of a system. When an event occurs in one area of the system, the event system notifies the processes listening to that area of the system of the event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: ISILON SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron J. Passey, Neal T. Fachan