Patents by Inventor Robert Wipfel

Robert Wipfel 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: 9250817
    Abstract: A storage layer presents logical address space of a non-volatile storage device. The storage layer maintains logical interfaces to the non-volatile storage device, which may include arbitrary, any-to-any mappings between logical identifiers and storage resources. Data may be stored on the non-volatile storage device in a contextual format, which includes persistent metadata that defines the logical interface of the data. The storage layer may modify the logical interface of data that is stored in the contextual format. The modified logical interface may be inconsistent with the existing contextual format of the data on the non-volatile storage media. The storage layer may provide access to the data in the inconsistent contextual format through the modified logical interface. The contextual format of the data may be updated to be consistent with the modified logical interface in a write out-of-place storage operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: David Flynn, Robert Wipfel, David Nellans, John Strasser
  • Patent number: 9251087
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for virtual memory management. The method includes detecting a memory access to a virtual memory address within a monitored page of data not loaded in main memory of a computing device. The method includes determining a first address for a loaded page of data in the main memory. The first address is defined in a sparse virtual address space exposed by a persistent storage device. The first address is associated in an index with a first deterministic storage location. The method includes storing the loaded page on a persistent storage device at the first deterministic storage location. The method includes moving the monitored page from a second deterministic storage location to the main memory. The second deterministic storage location is associated with a second address in the index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Nellans, Robert Wipfel
  • Patent number: 9251086
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for managing a cache. A cache interface module provides access to a plurality of virtual storage units of a solid-state storage device over a cache interface. At least one of the virtual storage units comprises a cache unit. A cache command module exchanges cache management information for the at least one cache unit with one or more cache clients over the cache interface. A cache management module manages the at least one cache unit based on the cache management information exchanged with the one or more cache clients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Peterson, Nisha Talagala, Robert Wipfel, David Atkisson, Jonathan Ludwig, Ann Martin
  • Publication number: 20160019136
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for a memory controller. An apparatus includes a volatile memory medium located on a memory module. An apparatus includes a non-volatile memory medium located on a memory module. A memory controller is located on a memory module. A memory controller may be configured to provide access to at least a non-volatile memory medium over a direct wire interface with a processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: David Nellans, Robert Wipfel
  • Patent number: 9223662
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products for auto-commit memory are presented. A monitor module determines that a triggering event for an auto-commit memory has occurred. An identification module identifies a triggered commit action for an auto-commit memory. An auto-commit memory module performs a triggered commit action for an auto-commit memory in response to a triggering event occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Flynn, David Nellans, John Strasser, James G. Peterson, Robert Wipfel
  • Publication number: 20150350318
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to synchronizing state information across nodes in a cluster. In one embodiment, a first cluster node receives a request to update state information for a logical volume of the cluster. The first cluster node acquires a lock from a distributed lock manager of the cluster, the lock controlling modification of the state information. In response to acquiring the lock, the first cluster node updates the state information across cluster nodes of the cluster. In one embodiment, first cluster node updates the state information in some, but not all, of the cluster nodes. In some embodiments, the first cluster node updates the state information across only cluster nodes associated with the logical volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Bart Van Assche, Robert Wipfel, Mike Christie
  • Patent number: 9191380
    Abstract: The system and method described herein for managing information technology models in an intelligent workload management system may include a computing environment having a model-driven, service-oriented architecture for creating collaborative threads to manage workloads. In particular, the management threads may converge information for managing planned changes and recovery processes for version-controlled snapshots of the information technology models. For example, a discovery engine may enrich models of an infrastructure with identity information obtained from an identity vault and the infrastructure itself, and a management infrastructure may then manage planned changes to the infrastructure model. In particular, the management infrastructure may construct implementation plans that coordinate interaction between managed entities to implement the planned changes, and may further detect drifts between operational states and planned states for the infrastructure models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Novell, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric W. B. Anderson, Robert Wipfel, Kurt Westerfield
  • Patent number: 9176786
    Abstract: In a computing environment, a method for providing a data backup function without transferring data across a local area network includes providing a plurality of resources including at least a client resource requiring a periodic servicing operation, a service provider resource capable of providing that servicing operation. At least one of the client resource and the service provider resource, such as a data backup resource, are defined by virtual machines. The client resource and the service provider resource are transparently co-located by transferring the resource defined by a virtual machine to the physical machine hosting the other resource, and the service provider resource performs the data backup function without need of transferring the data being backed up across a local area network. Methods, computer systems, and computer programs available as a download or on a computer-readable medium for installation according to the invention are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: NOVELL, INC.
    Inventors: Joachim F. M. De Baer, Robert A. Wipfel
  • Patent number: 9159419
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for a memory controller. An apparatus includes a volatile memory medium located on a memory module. An apparatus includes a non-volatile memory medium located on a memory module. A memory controller is located on a memory module. A memory controller may be configured to provide access to at least a non-volatile memory medium over a direct wire interface with a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Intelligent Intellectual Property Holdings 2 LLC
    Inventors: David Nellans, Robert Wipfel
  • Publication number: 20150207684
    Abstract: Techniques for cloud control and management are provided. The control, creation, and management of workloads in distributed infrastructures are coordinated via a master Configuration Management Database (CMDB). The master CMDB is also used to unify the multiple distributed infrastructures so that the workloads are rationalized. Moreover, data centers are coordinated with the distributed infrastructures so the configuration settings and policies included in the master CMDB are enforced and synchronized throughout the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Inventors: Robert A. Wipfel, Stephen R. Carter, Carolyn B. McClain
  • Patent number: 9075557
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for a virtual channel for data transfers between devices. A method includes presenting an address space for a memory buffer. The address space may be larger than a physical capacity of the memory buffer. A method includes controlling, from a peripheral device, a rate at which a data source transfers data to a memory buffer using a presented address space based on a rate at which a data target transfers data from the memory buffer using the presented address space so that an amount of data stored in the memory buffer remains at or below a physical capacity of the memory buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Flynn, Robert Wipfel
  • Publication number: 20150160879
    Abstract: A storage layer presents logical address space of a non-volatile storage device. The storage layer maintains logical interfaces to the non-volatile storage device, which may include arbitrary, any-to-any mappings between logical identifiers and storage resources. Data may be stored on the non-volatile storage device in a contextual format, which includes persistent metadata that defines the logical interface of the data. The storage layer may modify the logical interface of data that is stored in the contextual format. The modified logical interface may be inconsistent with the existing contextual format of the data on the non-volatile storage media. The storage layer may provide access to the data in the inconsistent contextual format through the modified logical interface. The contextual format of the data may be updated to be consistent with the modified logical interface in a write out-of-place storage operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: David Flynn, Robert Wipfel, David Nellans, John Strasser
  • Publication number: 20150121134
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to storage device failover. In one embodiment, a plurality of storage devices are represented as cluster resources to a cluster resource manager that manages cluster resources on a plurality of cluster nodes. An indication may be received that a failover operation is requested with respect to one of the plurality of storage devices. In response to the indication, the cluster resource manager may initiate the failover operation. In some embodiments, the failover operation includes changing a first access state of the storage device and a second access state of another storage device. In such an embodiment, the storage device and the other storage device may be associated with a logical unit number. In some embodiments, the storage device is located within a first of the plurality of cluster nodes; the other storage device is located within a second of the plurality of cluster nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Fusion-io, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wipfel, Bart Van Assche, Ranjan Gupta
  • Patent number: 8966191
    Abstract: A storage layer presents logical address space of a non-volatile storage device. The storage layer maintains logical interfaces to the non-volatile storage device, which may include arbitrary, any-to-any mappings between logical identifiers and storage resources. Data may be stored on the non-volatile storage device in a contextual format, which includes persistent metadata that defines the logical interface of the data. The storage layer may modify the logical interface of data that is stored in the contextual format. The modified logical interface may be inconsistent with the existing contextual format of the data on the non-volatile storage media. The storage layer may provide access to the data in the inconsistent contextual format through the modified logical interface. The contextual format of the data may be updated to be consistent with the modified logical interface in a write out-of-place storage operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Fusion-IO, Inc.
    Inventors: David Flynn, Robert Wipfel, David Nellans, John Strasser
  • Patent number: 8966017
    Abstract: Techniques for cloud control and management are provided. The control, creation, and management of workloads in distributed infrastructures are coordinated via a master Configuration Management Database (CMDB). The master CMDB is also used to unify the multiple distributed infrastructures so that the workloads are rationalized. Moreover, data centers are coordinated with the distributed infrastructures so the configuration settings and policies included in the master CMDB are enforced and synchronized throughout the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Novell, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Wipfel, Stephen R Carter, Carolyn B. McClain
  • Publication number: 20150052395
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to writing data atomically to one or more recording media. In one embodiment, a request is received to perform an atomic write for a set of data. Responsive to the request, the set of data is written across a plurality of storage units including storing metadata at a dedicated location within at least one of the plurality of storage units. The metadata is usable to determine whether the writing completed successfully. In some embodiments, the request is received from an application that has been assigned an address range of the plurality of storage units. In such an embodiment, the address range is accessible to the application for storing data, and the dedicated location resides outside of the address range. In one embodiment, the metadata specifies an address range where the set of data was written and a sequence number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Fusion-io, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Wipfel
  • Publication number: 20150039577
    Abstract: An atomic storage module may be configured to implement atomic storage operation directed to a first set of identifiers in reference to a second, different set of identifiers. In response to completing the atomic storage operation, the atomic storage module may move the corresponding data to the first, target set of identifiers. The move operation may comprise modifying a logical interface of the data. The move operation may further include storing persistent metadata configured to bind the data to the first set of identifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: FUSION-IO, INC.
    Inventors: Nisha Talagala, David Flynn, Swaminathan Sundararaman, Sriram Subramanian, David Nellans, Robert Wipfel, John Strasser
  • Publication number: 20150032982
    Abstract: A storage layer is configured to implement efficient open-close consistency operations. Open close consistency may comprise preserving the original state of a file until the file is closed. The storage layer may be configured to clone a file in response to a file open request. Cloning the file may comprise referencing file data by two separate sets of identifiers. One set may be configured to reflect file modifications, and the other set may be configured to preserve the original state of the file. Subsequent operations configured to modify the file may be performed in reference to one of the sets of identifiers, while the storage layer provides access to the unmodified file through the other set of identifiers. Closing the file may comprise merging the sets of identifiers according to a merge policy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: FUSION-IO, INC.
    Inventors: Nisha Talagala, Nick Piggin, David Flynn, Robert Wipfel, David Nellans, John Strasser
  • Publication number: 20140344488
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for a virtual channel for data transfers between devices. A method includes presenting an address space for a memory buffer. The address space may be larger than a physical capacity of the memory buffer. A method includes controlling, from a peripheral device, a rate at which a data source transfers data to a memory buffer using a presented address space based on a rate at which a data target transfers data from the memory buffer using the presented address space so that an amount of data stored in the memory buffer remains at or below a physical capacity of the memory buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Fusion-io, Inc.
    Inventors: David Flynn, Robert Wipfel
  • Publication number: 20140297929
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for a memory controller. An apparatus includes a volatile memory medium located on a memory module. An apparatus includes a non-volatile memory medium located on a memory module. A memory controller is located on a memory module. A memory controller may be configured to provide access to at least a non-volatile memory medium over a direct wire interface with a processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Fusion-io, Inc.
    Inventors: David Nellans, Robert Wipfel