Patents by Inventor Sonny E. Williams

Sonny E. Williams 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: 10628331
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method demote scan processing to demote tracks from cache. Tracks in the storage stored in the cache are indicated in a cache list. The cache list is scanned to determine unmodified tracks to initiate to demote. In response to processing an indicated modified track in the cache list while scanning the cache list, a destage is initiated for the processed indicated modified track and continuing to scan the cache list to determine unmodified tracks. In response to processing a number of modified tracks indicted in the cache list, a determination is made of an unmodified track in the cache list and continuing to scan, from the determined unmodified track, for unmodified tracks to initiate to demote.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ash, Lokesh M. Gupta, Sonny E. Williams
  • Patent number: 10082979
    Abstract: In a network computing environment, in which data stored at a primary storage system, is mirrored from the primary storage system to a secondary storage system, a selection may be made to direct an input/output operation such as a read operation, for example, to the secondary storage system instead of the primary storage system in order to improve operations. For example, a read operation may be directed to the secondary storage to improve the read operation response time. In other aspects, a read or other input/output operation may be directed to the secondary storage to improve utilization of the resources of the secondary storage system. Other aspects are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph S. Hyde, II, Sonny E. Williams, Yan Xu, Harry M. Yudenfriend
  • Publication number: 20170351619
    Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method demote scan processing to demote tracks from cache. Tracks in the storage stored in the cache are indicated in a cache list. The cache list is scanned to determine unmodified tracks to initiate to demote. In response to processing an indicated modified track in the cache list while scanning the cache list, a destage is initiated for the processed indicated modified track and continuing to scan the cache list to determine unmodified tracks. In response to processing a number of modified tracks indicted in the cache list, a determination is made of an unmodified track in the cache list and continuing to scan, from the determined unmodified track, for unmodified tracks to initiate to demote.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ash, Lokesh M. Gupta, Sonny E. Williams
  • Patent number: 9542330
    Abstract: Storage tracks from at least one host are destaged from the write cache rank when it is determined that the at least one host is idle with respect to a first set of ranks, and storage tracks are refrained from being destaged from each rank when it is determined that the at least one host is not idle with respect to a second set of ranks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent C. Beardsley, Michael T. Benhase, Binny S. Gill, Lokesh M. Gupta, Sonny E. Williams
  • Patent number: 9442847
    Abstract: Techniques for increased destaging efficiency by smoothing destaging tasks to reduce long input/output (I/O) read operations are described. A system may comprise a processor device operable in the computing storage environment. The processor device calculates a current number of the destaging tasks and calculates a desired number of the destaging tasks. The processor device smoothes the destaging of the of the destaging tasks between the desired number of the destaging tasks and the current number of the destaging tasks by accelerating the calculating of the current number of the destaging tasks and the desired number of the destaging tasks, according to either a time interval or a variable recomputed destaging task interval, for reaching the desired number of the destaging tasks by decrementing the current number of destaging tasks or incrementing the current number of destaging tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael T. Benhase, Lokesh M. Gupta, Roger G. Hathorn, Sonny E. Williams
  • Patent number: 9442848
    Abstract: Techniques for increased destaging efficiency by smoothing destaging tasks to reduce long input/output (I/O) read operations are described. A method may comprise a processor device operable in the computing storage environment. The processor device destages tasks are calculated according to one of a standard time interval and a variable recomputed destaging task interval. The destaging of storage tracks between a desired number of destaging tasks and a current number of destaging tasks is smoothed according to the calculating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael T. Benhase, Lokesh M. Gupta, Roger G. Hathorn, Sonny E. Williams
  • Publication number: 20160217081
    Abstract: Storage tracks from at least one host are destaged from the write cache rank when it is determined that the at least one host is idle with respect to a first set of ranks, and storage tracks are refrained from being destaged from each rank when it is determined that the at least one host is not idle with respect to a second set of ranks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent C. BEARDSLEY, Michael T. BENHASE, Binny S. GILL, Lokesh M. GUPTA, Sonny E. WILLIAMS
  • Patent number: 9323694
    Abstract: Storage tracks from at least one server are destaged from the write cache rank when it is determined that the at least one server is idle with respect to a first set of ranks, and storage tracks are refrained from being destaged from each rank when it is determined that the at least one server is not idle with respect to a second set of ranks such that storage tracks in the first set of ranks may be destaged while storage tracks in the second set of ranks are not being destaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent C. Beardsley, Michael T. Benhase, Binny S. Gill, Lokesh M. Gupta, Sonny E. Williams
  • Patent number: 9317447
    Abstract: Storage tracks from at least one host are destaged from the write cache rank when it is determined that the at least one host is idle with respect to a first set of ranks, and storage tracks are refrained from being destaged from each rank when it is determined that the at least one host is not idle with respect to a second set of ranks such that storage tracks in the first set of ranks may be destaged while storage tracks in the second set of ranks are not being destaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent C. Beardsley, Michael T. Benhase, Binny S. Gill, Lokesh M. Gupta, Sonny E. Williams
  • Publication number: 20150261689
    Abstract: Storage tracks from at least one server are destaged from the write cache rank when it is determined that the at least one server is idle with respect to a first set of ranks, and storage tracks are refrained from being destaged from each rank when it is determined that the at least one server is not idle with respect to a second set of ranks such that storage tracks in the first set of ranks may be destaged while storage tracks in the second set of ranks are not being destaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent C. BEARDSLEY, Michael T. BENHASE, Binny S. GILL, Lokesh M. GUPTA, Sonny E. WILLIAMS
  • Publication number: 20150261685
    Abstract: Storage tracks from at least one host are destaged from the write cache rank when it is determined that the at least one host is idle with respect to a first set of ranks, and storage tracks are refrained from being destaged from each rank when it is determined that the at least one host is not idle with respect to a second set of ranks such that storage tracks in the first set of ranks may be destaged while storage tracks in the second set of ranks are not being destaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent C. BEARDSLEY, Michael T. BENHASE, Binny S. GILL, Lokesh M. GUPTA, Sonny E. WILLIAMS
  • Patent number: 9069683
    Abstract: A system includes a cache and a processor coupled to the cache. The cache stores data in multiple storage tracks and each storage track includes an associated multi-bit counter. The processor is configured to perform the following method. One method includes incrementing the multi-bit counter on each respective storage track a predetermined amount each time the processor writes to a respective storage track. The method further includes decrementing each multi-bit counter each scan cycle, and destaging each storage track including a zero count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent C. Beardsley, Michael T. Benhase, Lokesh M. Gupta, Sonny E. Williams
  • Patent number: 9063863
    Abstract: Storage tracks are destaged from the write cache if the host(s) is/are idle and are not destaged from the write cache if one or more of the hosts is/are not idle. The storage tracks are refrained from being destaged from the write cache if the at least one host is not idle. Each rank is monitored for write operations from the at least one host, and a determination is made if the at least one host is idle with respect to each respective rank based on monitoring each rank for write operations from the at least one host such that the at least one host may be determined to be idle with respect to a first rank and not idle with respect to a second rank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent C. Beardsley, Michael T. Benhase, Binny S. Gill, Lokesh M. Gupta, Sonny E. Williams
  • Patent number: 8996813
    Abstract: Destaging storage tracks from each rank that includes a greater than a predetermined percentage of a predetermined amount of storage space with respect to a current amount of storage space allocated to each rank until the current amount of storage space used by each respective rank is equal to the predetermined percentage of the predetermined amount of storage space. The destage storage tracks are declined from being destaged from each rank that includes less than or equal to the predetermined percentage of the predetermined amount of storage space rank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent C. Beardsley, Michael T. Benhase, Binny S. Gill, Lokesh M. Gupta, Sonny E. Williams
  • Publication number: 20150046668
    Abstract: In a network computing environment, in which data stored at a primary storage system, is mirrored from the primary storage system to a secondary storage system, a selection may be made to direct an input/output operation such as a read operation, for example, to the secondary storage system instead of the primary storage system in order to improve operations. For example, a read operation may be directed to the secondary storage to improve the read operation response time. In other aspects, a read or other input/output operation may be directed to the secondary storage to improve utilization of the resources of the secondary storage system. Other aspects are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph S. Hyde, II, Sonny E. Williams, Yan Xu, Harry M. Yudenfriend
  • Publication number: 20140156937
    Abstract: Storage tracks are destaged from the write cache if the host(s) is/are idle and are not destaged from the write cache if one or more of the hosts is/are not idle. The storage tracks are refrained from being destaged from the write cache if the at least one host is not idle. Each rank is monitored for write operations from the at least one host, and a determination is made if the at least one host is idle with respect to each respective rank based on monitoring each rank for write operations from the at least one host such that the at least one host may be determined to be idle with respect to a first rank and not idle with respect to a second rank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent C. BEARDSLEY, Michael T. BENHASE, Binny S. GILL, Lokesh M. GUPTA, Sonny E. WILLIAMS
  • Publication number: 20140156936
    Abstract: Destaging storage tracks from each rank that includes a greater than a predetermined percentage of a predetermined amount of storage space with respect to a current amount of storage space allocated to each rank until the current amount of storage space used by each respective rank is equal to the predetermined percentage of the predetermined amount of storage space. The destage storage tracks are declined from being destaged from each rank that includes less than or equal to the predetermined percentage of the predetermined amount of storage space rank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent C. BEARDSLEY, Michael T. BENHASE, Binny S. GILL, Lokesh M. GUPTA, Sonny E. WILLIAMS
  • Publication number: 20140136790
    Abstract: A system includes a cache and a processor coupled to the cache. The cache stores data in multiple storage tracks and each storage track includes an associated multi-bit counter. The processor is configured to perform the following method. One method includes incrementing the multi-bit counter on each respective storage track a predetermined amount each time the processor writes to a respective storage track. The method further includes decrementing each multi-bit counter each scan cycle, and destaging each storage track including a zero count.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent C. BEARDSLEY, Michael T. BENHASE, Lokesh M. GUPTA, Sonny E. WILLIAMS
  • Patent number: 8661202
    Abstract: A system includes a cache and a processor coupled to the cache. The cache stores data in multiple storage tracks and each storage track includes an associated multi-bit counter. The processor is configured to perform the following method. One method includes writing data to the plurality of storage tracks and incrementing the multi-bit counter on each respective storage track a predetermined amount each time the processor writes to a respective storage track. The method further includes scan each of the storage tracks in each of multiple scan cycles, decrementing each multi-bit counter each scan cycle, and destaging each storage track including a zero count. Also provided are physical computer storage mediums including a computer program product for performing the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent C. Beardsley, Michael T. Benhase, Lokesh M. Gupta, Sonny E. Williams
  • Patent number: 8661201
    Abstract: A system includes a cache partitioned into multiple ranks configured to store multiple storage tracks and a processor coupled to the cache. The processor is configured to perform the following method. One method includes allocating an amount of storage space in the cache to each rank and monitoring a current amount of storage space used by each rank with respect to the amount of storage space allocated to each respective rank. The method further includes destaging storage tracks from each rank until the current amount of storage space used by each respective rank is equal to a predetermined minimum amount of storage space with respect to the amount of storage space allocated to each rank. Also provided are physical computer storage mediums including code that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brent C. Beardsley, Michael T. Benhase, Binny S. Gill, Lokesh M. Gupta, Sonny E. Williams