Patents by Inventor Stephen B. Peckham

Stephen B. Peckham 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: 10423440
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for an operating system (OS) to be modified on a running system such that running programs, including system services, so not have to be stopped and restarted for the modification to take effect. The techniques include detecting, by a processing thread, when the processing thread has entered a shared library; in response to the detecting, setting a thread flag corresponding to the thread in an operating system (OS); detecting an OS flag, set by the OS, indicating that the OS is updating the shared library; in response to detecting the OS flag, suspending processing by the processing thread and transferring control from the thread to the OS; resuming processing by the processing thread in response to detecting that the OS has completed the updating; and executing the shared library in response to the resuming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen B. Peckham
  • Patent number: 9626180
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for performing a live update of an operating system. The mechanisms receive an update to an operating system and clone a root volume group associated with an operating system instance executing in a first logical partition of the data processing system to generate a cloned root volume group. The mechanisms apply the update to the cloned root volume group to generate an updated and cloned root volume group and boot a second logical partition of the data processing system using the updated and cloned root volume group. Moreover, the mechanisms migrate application instances and application data to the second logical partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederic Barrat, Philippe Bergheaud, Luke M. Browning, Laurent Dufour, Khalid Filali-Adib, Christophe Lombard, John M. McConaughy, Guy Menanteau, Stephen B. Peckham, David W. Sheffield, Donald R. Stence, Sungjin Yook
  • Patent number: 9619223
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for performing a live update of an operating system. The mechanisms receive an update to an operating system and clone a root volume group associated with an operating system instance executing in a first logical partition of the data processing system to generate a cloned root volume group. The mechanisms apply the update to the cloned root volume group to generate an updated and cloned root volume group and boot a second logical partition of the data processing system using the updated and cloned root volume group. Moreover, the mechanisms migrate application instances and application data to the second logical partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederic Barrat, Philippe Bergheaud, Luke M. Browning, Laurent Dufour, Khalid Filali-Adib, Christophe Lombard, John M. McConaughy, Guy Menanteau, Stephen B. Peckham, David W. Sheffield, Donald R. Stence, Sungjin Yook
  • Publication number: 20170075683
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for an operating system (OS) to be modified on a running system such that running programs, including system services, so not have to be stopped and restarted for the modification to take effect. The techniques include detecting, by a processing thread, when the processing thread has entered a shared library; in response to the detecting, setting a thread flag corresponding to the thread in an operating system (OS); detecting an OS flag, set by the OS, indicating that the OS is updating the shared library; in response to detecting the OS flag, suspending processing by the processing thread and transferring control from the thread to the OS; resuming processing by the processing thread in response to detecting that the OS has completed the updating; and executing the shared library in response to the resuming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen B. Peckham
  • Patent number: 9558023
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for comparing a first fileset associated with a first operating system (OS) with a second fileset associated with a second OS; determining, based upon the comparing, that the second OS is a more current version of the first OS; in response to the determining that the second OS is a more current version of the first OS, moving, in conjunction with live application mobility, a virtual machine (VM) workload partition (WPAR) on the first LPAR to a second LPAR, the moving comprising determining a set of overlays associated with the WPAR corresponding to the second OS; removing from the WPAR any overlays associated with the first OS; applying to the WPAR a set of overlays corresponding to the second OS; check pointing processes associated with the WAPR; and copying live data associated with the LPAR from the first LPAR to the second LPAR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederic Barrat, Christine M. Briand, Laurent Dufour, Khalid Filali-Adib, Perinkulam I. Ganesh, J. Mark McConaughy, Stephen B. Peckham, David W. Sheffield, Marc J. Stephenson, Nathaniel S. Tomsic, Sungjin Yook
  • Patent number: 9535686
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for an OS to be modified on a running system such that running programs, including system services, so not have to be stopped and restarted for the modification to take effect. The techniques include detecting, by a processing thread, when the processing thread has entered a shared library; in response to the detecting, setting a thread flag corresponding to the thread in an operating system (OS); detecting an OS flag, set by the OS, indicating that the OS is updating the shared library; in response to detecting the OS flag, suspending processing by the processing thread and transferring control from the thread to the OS; resuming processing by the processing thread in response to detecting that the OS has completed the updating; and executing the shared library in response to the resuming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen B. Peckham
  • Patent number: 9535729
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for comparing a first fileset associated with a first operating system (OS) with a second fileset associated with a second OS; determining, based upon the comparing, that the second OS is a more current version of the first OS; in response to the determining that the second OS is a more current version of the first OS, moving, in conjunction with live application mobility, a virtual machine (VM) workload partition (WPAR) on the first LPAR to a second LPAR, the moving comprising determining a set of overlays associated with the WPAR corresponding to the second OS; removing from the WPAR any overlays associated with the first OS; applying to the WPAR a set of overlays corresponding to the second OS; check pointing processes associated with the WPAR; and copying live data associated with the LPAR from the first LPAR to the second LPAR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Frederic Barrat, Christine M. Briand, Laurent Dufour, Khalid Filali-Adib, Perinkulam I. Ganesh, J. Mark McConaughy, Stephen B. Peckham, David W. Sheffield, Marc J. Stephenson, Nathaniel S. Tomsic, Sungjin Yook
  • Patent number: 9529585
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for an OS to be modified on a running system such that running programs, including system services, so not have to be stopped and restarted for the modification to take effect. The techniques include detecting, by a processing thread, when the processing thread has entered a shared library; in response to the detecting, setting a thread flag corresponding to the thread in an operating system (OS); detecting an OS flag, set by the OS, indicating that the OS is updating the shared library; in response to detecting the OS flag, suspending processing by the processing thread and transferring control from the thread to the OS; resuming processing by the processing thread in response to detecting that the OS has completed the updating; and executing the shared library in response to the resuming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen B. Peckham
  • Patent number: 9075634
    Abstract: A symbol resolution unit can be configured for resolving conflicting operating system symbols. A default symbol resolution data structure can be accessed to resolve a symbol associated with a client of an operating system. A first data entry that corresponds to the symbol is located in the default symbol resolution data structure. It is determined that the first data entry indicates that the symbol is marked special (e.g., as a conflicting operating system symbol). A secondary symbol resolution data structure is accessed in response to determining that the first data entry indicates that the symbol is marked special. A second data entry that corresponds to the symbol is located in the secondary symbol resolution data structure based, at least in part, on an identifier of the client. A memory location indicated in the second data entry that corresponds to the symbol is provided to the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen B. Peckham, Donald R. Stence, Marc J. Stephenson
  • Publication number: 20150169317
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for performing a live update of an operating system. The mechanisms receive an update to an operating system and clone a root volume group associated with an operating system instance executing in a first logical partition of the data processing system to generate a cloned root volume group. The mechanisms apply the update to the cloned root volume group to generate an updated and cloned root volume group and boot a second logical partition of the data processing system using the updated and cloned root volume group. Moreover, the mechanisms migrate application instances and application data to the second logical partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Frederic Barrat, Philippe Bergheaud, Luke M. Browning, Laurent Dufour, Khalid Filali-Adib, Christophe Lombard, John M. McConaughy, Guy Menanteau, Stephen B. Peckham, David W. Sheffield, Donald R. Stence, Sungjin Yook
  • Publication number: 20150169329
    Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for performing a live update of an operating system. The mechanisms receive an update to an operating system and clone a root volume group associated with an operating system instance executing in a first logical partition of the data processing system to generate a cloned root volume group. The mechanisms apply the update to the cloned root volume group to generate an updated and cloned root volume group and boot a second logical partition of the data processing system using the updated and cloned root volume group. Moreover, the mechanisms migrate application instances and application data to the second logical partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frederic Barrat, Philippe Bergheaud, Luke M. Browning, Laurent Dufour, Khalid Filali-Adib, Christophe Lombard, John M. McConaughy, Guy Menanteau, Stephen B. Peckham, David W. Sheffield, Donald R. Stence, Sungjin Yook
  • Publication number: 20140331228
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for comparing a first fileset associated with a first operating system (OS) with a second fileset associated with a second OS; determining, based upon the comparing, that the second OS is a more current version of the first OS; in response to the determining that the second OS is a more current version of the first OS, moving, in conjunction with live application mobility, a virtual machine (VM) workload partition (WPAR) on the first LPAR to a second LPAR, the moving comprising determining a set of overlays associated with the WPAR corresponding to the second OS; removing from the W PAR any overlays associated with the first OS; applying to the WPAR a set of overlays corresponding to the second OS; check pointing processes associated with the WAPR; and copying live data associated with the LPAR from the first LPAR to the second LPAR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Frederic Barrat, Christine M. Briand, Laurent Dufour, Khalid Filali-Adib, Perinkulam I. Ganesh, J. Mark McConaughy, Stephen B. Peckham, David W. Sheffield, Marc J. Stephenson, Nathaniel S. Tomsic, Sungjin Yook
  • Publication number: 20140282463
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for generating a patch corresponding to a shared library; determining that the patch fits within the shared library; generating a signature corresponding to the shared library and an offset corresponding to the patch; identifying an instantiation of the shared library stored in a memory; and overlying the patch in the instantiation at a position corresponding to the offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Stephen B. Peckham
  • Publication number: 20140282462
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for an OS to be modified on a running system such that running programs, including system services, so not have to be stopped and restarted for the modification to take effect. The techniques include detecting, by a processing thread, when the processing thread has entered a shared library; in response to the detecting, setting a thread flag corresponding to the thread in an operating system (OS); detecting an OS flag, set by the OS, indicating that the OS is updating the shared library; in response to detecting the OS flag, suspending processing by the processing thread and transferring control from the thread to the OS; resuming processing by the processing thread in response to detecting that the OS has completed the updating; and executing the shared library in response to the resuming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen B. Peckham
  • Publication number: 20140282461
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for generating a patch corresponding to a shared library; determining that the patch fits within the shared library; generating a signature corresponding to the shared library and an offset corresponding to the patch; identifying an instantiation of the shared library stored in a memory; and overlying the patch in the instantiation at a position corresponding to the offset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen B. Peckham
  • Publication number: 20140282568
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for an OS to be modified on a running system such that running programs, including system services, so not have to be stopped and restarted for the modification to take effect. The techniques include detecting, by a processing thread, when the processing thread has entered a shared library; in response to the detecting, setting a thread flag corresponding to the thread in an operating system (OS); detecting an OS flag, set by the OS, indicating that the OS is updating the shared library; in response to detecting the OS flag, suspending processing by the processing thread and transferring control from the thread to the OS; resuming processing by the processing thread in response to detecting that the OS has completed the updating; and executing the shared library in response to the resuming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen B. Peckham
  • Patent number: 8677354
    Abstract: A kernel extension associated with a first instance of an operating system can be detected. The kernel extension is configured to extend functionality of the kernel when loaded in a kernel managed by a second instance of the operating system. Some embodiments are further directed to detecting symbols for the kernel extension, where the symbols specify one or more functions associated with the kernel extension. Some embodiments are further directed to generating a first namespace that is assigned only to the first of the plurality of instances of the operating system. The first namespace is separate from a second namespace for the second of the plurality of the instances of the operating system. Some embodiments are further directed to storing the symbols in the first namespace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen B. Peckham, Donald R. Stence
  • Patent number: 8412691
    Abstract: A method includes atomically reading a next field of a current element of the linked list to determine a first value that encodes a first pointer to the first element and a first indication of an owner of the first element. The first indication of the owner is stored in a first of a plurality of multi-field reservation data structures. The operation includes determining whether the next field of the current element still indicates the first value. The operation includes reading the first element of the linked list via the first pointer if the next field of the current element still indicates the first value. If the next field of the current element indicates a current value different than the first value, the first indication of the owner is removed from the first multi-field reservation data structure, and storing and determining with the second value is repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Hepkin, Stephen B. Peckham
  • Patent number: 8341183
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements of representing the allocation of integers are discussed. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to represent the allocation of integers. An embodiment may involve representing a first allocation of integers via a set of nodes of a tree. In the representation, a data structure in a node may represent, for each integer in a set of integers, whether the integer is allocated or free. The embodiment may also involve representing a subsequent allocation. The representing may include adding a new node to the nodes of the tree for the first allocation. The subsequent allocation may consist of freeing of an integer allocated in the first allocation. The data structure of the new node may represent that the integer is free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen B. Peckham
  • Publication number: 20120066192
    Abstract: A method includes atomically reading a next field of a current element of the linked list to determine a first value that encodes a first pointer to the first element and a first indication of an owner of the first element. The first indication of the owner is stored in a first of a plurality of multi-field reservation data structures. The operation includes determining whether the next field of the current element still indicates the first value. The operation includes reading the first element of the linked list via the first pointer if the next field of the current element still indicates the first value. If the next field of the current element indicates a current value different than the first value, the first indication of the owner is removed from the first multi-field reservation data structure, and storing and determining with the second value is repeated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Hepkin, Stephen B. Peckham