Patents by Inventor Ronald D. MARTENS

Ronald D. MARTENS 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: 11892971
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for maintaining a current operating state of an enclosure when a controller card of the enclosure is repaired and/or replaced. In one embodiment, such a method maintains, within a controller card of an enclosure, operating parameters used to establish an operating state of the enclosure. The method further offloads, from the controller card while the controller card is installed in the enclosure, the operating parameters to a location external to the controller card. Upon removal of the controller card from the enclosure, the method maintains the operating state of the enclosure using the operating parameters stored in the external location. Upon reinstalling the controller card in the enclosure, the method optionally retrieves the operating parameters from the external location and initializes the controller card with the operating parameters. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Elliott, Gary W. Batchelor, Enrique Q. Garcia, Ronald D. Martens, Todd C. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 11550676
    Abstract: A method for protecting data in a storage system is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes detecting, by a first hardware management console, first battery-on status associated with a first uninterruptible power supply. The method further detects, by a second hardware management console, second battery-on status associated with a second uninterruptible power supply. The method communicates, from the first hardware management console to the second hardware management console, the first battery-on status. The method then triggers, by the second hardware management console, a dump of modified data from memory to more persistent storage upon detecting both the first battery-on status and the second battery-on status. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Todd C. Sorenson, Ronald D. Martens, Keith G. Morrison, Brian A. Rinaldi, Jiwu Duan, John C. Elliott, Gary W. Batchelor
  • Patent number: 11079947
    Abstract: A method to ensure that a hardware management console powers up after a storage system loses external AC power is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes detecting loss of external AC power to a storage system. The loss of external AC power causes the storage system to operate on battery power. The method further initiates, in response to the loss, shutdown of a hardware management console associated with the storage system. The method starts a timer in response to initiation of the shutdown. When the timer expires, the method power cycles the hardware management console, thereby causing the hardware management console to power up and restart. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Todd C. Sorenson, Gary W. Batchelor, Ronald D. Martens, John C. Elliott, Heidi L. Mccook
  • Patent number: 10956148
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for concurrent Input/Output (I/O) enclosure firmware/Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) update in a multi-node environment. First notifications are sent to each I/O enclosure management engine on each of a plurality of server nodes that code activation for a first set of I/O enclosures is starting. An update image is distributed to the first set of I/O enclosures. The update image on the first set of I/O enclosures is activated by sending an activate reset command to each of the first set of I/O enclosures, wherein a reset is not propagated to other devices within each I/O enclosure in the first set of I/O enclosures in response to determining that the reset is an activate reset. In response to the activate reset command completing, second notifications are sent to each I/O enclosure management engine that code activation for the first set of I/O enclosures has completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary W. Batchelor, Veronica S. Davila, Enrique Q. Garcia, Robin Han, Jay T. Kirch, Ronald D. Martens, Trung N. Nguyen, Brian A. Rinaldi, Todd C. Sorenson
  • Publication number: 20200278946
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for maintaining a current operating state of an enclosure when a controller card of the enclosure is repaired and/or replaced. In one embodiment, such a method maintains, within a controller card of an enclosure, operating parameters used to establish an operating state of the enclosure. The method further offloads, from the controller card while the controller card is installed in the enclosure, the operating parameters to a location external to the controller card. Upon removal of the controller card from the enclosure, the method maintains the operating state of the enclosure using the operating parameters stored in the external location. Upon reinstalling the controller card in the enclosure, the method optionally retrieves the operating parameters from the external location and initializes the controller card with the operating parameters. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Elliott, Gary W. Batchelor, Enrique Q. Garcia, Ronald D. Martens, Todd C. Sorenson
  • Publication number: 20200257461
    Abstract: A method to ensure that a hardware management console powers up after a storage system loses external AC power is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes detecting loss of external AC power to a storage system. The loss of external AC power causes the storage system to operate on battery power. The method further initiates, in response to the loss, shutdown of a hardware management console associated with the storage system. The method starts a timer in response to initiation of the shutdown. When the timer expires, the method power cycles the hardware management console, thereby causing the hardware management console to power up and restart. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Todd C. Sorenson, Gary W. Batchelor, Ronald D. Martens, John C. Elliott, Heidi L. Mccook
  • Patent number: 10606716
    Abstract: Power line disturbance hold up times are dynamically adjusted based on battery capacity of a plurality of batteries in a plurality of racks upon determining an amount of the power line disturbance one of the plurality of racks, having a fewest number of remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries with the battery capacity, is able to support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mann Du, Ya-Huey Juan, Larry Juarez, Brian C. Kraemer, Ronald D. Martens, Su Qin, Todd C. Sorenson, Ji Qiu Xu
  • Publication number: 20200081702
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for concurrent Input/Output (I/O) enclosure firmware/Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) update in a multi-node environment. First notifications are sent to each I/O enclosure management engine on each of a plurality of server nodes that code activation for a first set of I/O enclosures is starting. An update image is distributed to the first set of I/O enclosures. The update image on the first set of I/O enclosures is activated by sending an activate reset command to each of the first set of I/O enclosures, wherein a reset is not propagated to other devices within each I/O enclosure in the first set of I/O enclosures in response to determining that the reset is an activate reset. In response to the activate reset command completing, second notifications are sent to each I/O enclosure management engine that code activation for the first set of I/O enclosures has completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Gary W. Batchelor, Veronica S. Davila, Enrique Q. Garcia, Robin Han, Jay T. Kirch, Ronald D. Martens, Trung N. Nguyen, Brian A. Rinaldi, Todd C. Sorenson
  • Publication number: 20200081809
    Abstract: A method for protecting data in a storage system is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes detecting, by a first hardware management console, first battery-on status associated with a first uninterruptible power supply. The method further detects, by a second hardware management console, second battery-on status associated with a second uninterruptible power supply. The method communicates, from the first hardware management console to the second hardware management console, the first battery-on status. The method then triggers, by the second hardware management console, a dump of modified data from memory to more persistent storage upon detecting both the first battery-on status and the second battery-on status. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Todd C. Sorenson, Ronald D. Martens, Keith G. Morrison, Brian A. Rinaldi, Jiwu Duan, John C. Elliott, Gary W. Batchelor
  • Patent number: 10540170
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for concurrent Input/Output (I/O) enclosure firmware/Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) update in a multi-node environment. First notifications are sent to each I/O enclosure management engine on each of a plurality of server nodes that code activation for a first set of I/O enclosures is starting. An update image is distributed to the first set of I/O enclosures. The update image on the first set of I/O enclosures is activated by sending an activate reset command to each of the first set of I/O enclosures, wherein a reset is not propagated to other devices within each I/O enclosure in the first set of I/O enclosures in response to determining that the reset is an activate reset. In response to the activate reset command completing, second notifications are sent to each I/O enclosure management engine that code activation for the first set of I/O enclosures has completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary W. Batchelor, Veronica S. Davila, Enrique Q. Garcia, Robin Han, Jay T. Kirch, Ronald D. Martens, Trung N. Nguyen, Brian A. Rinaldi, Todd C. Sorenson
  • Publication number: 20190012165
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for concurrent Input/Output (I/O) enclosure firmware/Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) update in a multi-node environment. First notifications are sent to each I/O enclosure management engine on each of a plurality of server nodes that code activation for a first set of I/O enclosures is starting. An update image is distributed to the first set of I/O enclosures. The update image on the first set of I/O enclosures is activated by sending an activate reset command to each of the first set of I/O enclosures, wherein a reset is not propagated to other devices within each I/O enclosure in the first set of I/O enclosures in response to determining that the reset is an activate reset. In response to the activate reset command completing, second notifications are sent to each I/O enclosure management engine that code activation for the first set of I/O enclosures has completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Gary W. Batchelor, Veronica S. Davila, Enrique Q. Garcia, Robin Han, Jay T. Kirch, Ronald D. Martens, Trung N. Nguyen, Brian A. Rinaldi, Todd C. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 10114633
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for concurrent Input/Output (I/O) enclosure firmware/Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) update in a multi-node environment. First notifications are sent to each I/O enclosure management engine on each of a plurality of server nodes that code activation for a first set of I/O enclosures is starting. An update image is distributed to the first set of I/O enclosures. The update image on the first set of I/O enclosures is activated by sending an activate reset command to each of the first set of I/O enclosures, wherein a reset is not propagated to other devices within each I/O enclosure in the first set of I/O enclosures in response to determining that the reset is an activate reset. In response to the activate reset command completing, second notifications are sent to each I/O enclosure management engine that code activation for the first set of I/O enclosures has completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary W. Batchelor, Veronica S. Davila, Enrique Q. Garcia, Robin Han, Jay T. Kirch, Ronald D. Martens, Trung N. Nguyen, Brian A. Rinaldi, Todd C. Sorenson
  • Publication number: 20180165082
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for concurrent Input/Output (I/O) enclosure firmware/Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) update in a multi-node environment. First notifications are sent to each I/O enclosure management engine on each of a plurality of server nodes that code activation for a first set of I/O enclosures is starting. An update image is distributed to the first set of I/O enclosures. The update image on the first set of I/O enclosures is activated by sending an activate reset command to each of the first set of I/O enclosures, wherein a reset is not propagated to other devices within each I/O enclosure in the first set of I/O enclosures in response to determining that the reset is an activate reset. In response to the activate reset command completing, second notifications are sent to each I/O enclosure management engine that code activation for the first set of I/O enclosures has completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Gary W. Batchelor, Veronica S. Davila, Enrique Q. Garcia, Robin Han, Jay T. Kirch, Ronald D. Martens, Trung N. Nguyen, Brian A. Rinaldi, Todd C. Sorenson
  • Publication number: 20180081772
    Abstract: Power line disturbance hold up times are dynamically adjusted based on battery capacity of a plurality of batteries in a plurality of racks upon determining an amount of the power line disturbance one of the plurality of racks, having a fewest number of remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries with the battery capacity, is able to support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mann DU, Ya-Huey JUAN, Larry JUAREZ, Brian C. KRAEMER, Ronald D. MARTENS, Su QIN, Todd C. SORENSON, Ji Qiu XU
  • Patent number: 9886356
    Abstract: Power line disturbance hold up times are dynamically adjusted based on battery capacity of a plurality of batteries in a plurality of racks by determining which one of the plurality of racks has a fewest number of remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries having the battery capacity. A determination of an amount of the power line disturbance the one of the plurality of racks, having the fewest number of remaining batteries of the plurality of batteries with the battery capacity, is able to support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mann Du, Ya-Huey Juan, Larry Juarez, Brian C. Kraemer, Ronald D. Martens, Su Qin, Todd C. Sorenson, Ji Qiu Xu
  • Patent number: 9698614
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for adjusting an extended power line disruption time and end-of-life for at least one battery backup unit used in a system. A request is received to change from a first extended power line disruption time currently used in the system to a second extended power line disruption time. A first end-of-life and a second end-of-life correspond to the first extended power line disruption time and the second extended power line disruption time, respectively. A message is sent to a power distribution unit with information on the second extended power line disruption time to cause the power distribution unit to initiate a graceful shutdown of the system after power is supplied from the at least one battery backup unit for the second extended power line disruption time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew D. Carson, Jiwu Duan, John C. Elliott, Mark E. Hack, Larry Juarez, Ronald D. Martens, Brian A. Rinaldi, Todd C. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 9678799
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present description, in a distributed node management system for a distributed computing system having multiple processor nodes, each processor node has a local data structure which contains a “to-do tasks” synchronization table that resides on each such processor node. The “to-do-tasks” synchronization table contains one or more actions that each processor node may perform to facilitate maintaining the operations of the associated processor node with equivalent knowledge of the system configuration, status and backup capabilities as the other processor nodes of the distributed computing system. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ye Na Chen, Ya-Huey Juan, Ronald D. Martens, Jing Peng, Yibo Xu
  • Publication number: 20170149242
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for adjusting an extended power line disruption time and end-of-life for at least one battery backup unit used in a system. A request is received to change from a first extended power line disruption time currently used in the system to a second extended power line disruption time. A first end-of-life and a second end-of-life correspond to the first extended power line disruption time and the second extended power line disruption time, respectively. A message is sent to a power distribution unit with information on the second extended power line disruption time to cause the power distribution unit to initiate a graceful shutdown of the system after power is supplied from the at least one battery backup unit for the second extended power line disruption time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew D. Carson, Jiwu Duan, John C. Elliott, Mark E. Hack, Larry Juarez, Ronald D. Martens, Brian A. Rinaldi, Todd C. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 9557984
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for performing code load operations on managed components in a system. A first node group comprising at least one computational node in the computer system performs code load operations for the managed components. Status of the code load operations at the managed component is written to a status data structure while the code load operations are being performed at the managed component. The first node group transfers control of the code load operations for the managed components to a second node group comprising at least computational node in the computer system while the code load operations are occurring at the managed components. A second node group reads the status data structure for the managed components to determine the status of the code load operations and continue the code load operations at managed components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael P. Groover, Robin Han, Cindy K. Hoac, Ronald D. Martens, Tony J. Zhang
  • Publication number: 20160274886
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for performing code load operations on managed components in a system. A first node group comprising at least one computational node in the computer system performs code load operations for the managed components. Status of the code load operations at the managed component is written to a status data structure while the code load operations are being performed at the managed component. The first node group transfers control of the code load operations for the managed components to a second node group comprising at least computational node in the computer system while the code load operations are occurring at the managed components. A second node group reads the status data structure for the managed components to determine the status of the code load operations and continue the code load operations at managed components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: MICHAEL P. GROOVER, ROBIN HAN, CINDY K. HOAC, RONALD D. MARTENS, TONY J. ZHANG