Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Branch

Stephen M. Branch 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).

  • Protecting unallocated data within a storage volume
    Patent number: 10216439
    Abstract: In one general embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes initializing a storage volume, receiving a request to secure unallocated data within the storage volume, sending a bit map to a hardware portion of the storage volume, in response to receiving the request, identifying unallocated data within the hardware portion of the storage volume utilizing the bit map, and marking the unallocated data as read inhibited within the hardware portion of the storage volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen M. Branch, Harold S. Huber, Michael J. Koester, Kevin L. Miner
  • PROTECTING UNALLOCATED DATA WITHIN A STORAGE VOLUME
    Publication number: 20170220272
    Abstract: In one general embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes initializing a storage volume, receiving a request to secure unallocated data within the storage volume, sending a bit map to a hardware portion of the storage volume, in response to receiving the request, identifying unallocated data within the hardware portion of the storage volume utilizing the bit map, and marking the unallocated data as read inhibited within the hardware portion of the storage volume
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Stephen M. Branch, Harold S. Huber, Michael J. Koester, Kevin L. Miner
  • Method, system, and program for allocating storage units to a data set
    Patent number: 7089392
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for allocating physical storage units to a data set, wherein one or more extents of storage units are assigned to the data set. A request is received to allocate additional storage units to the data set and a determination is made of a range of available storage units to allocate to the data set in response to the request. A determination is made of one pre-existing extent allocated in the data set before receiving the request and of whether at least one storage unit in the determined range can be allocated to the determined pre-existing extent. At least one storage unit in the determined range is allocated to the determined pre-existing extent if the at least one storage unit can be allocated to the determined pre-existing extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen M. Branch
  • Method, system, and program for allocating storage units to a data set
    Publication number: 20040225855
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for allocating physical storage units to a data set, wherein one or more extents of storage units are assigned to the data set. A request is received to allocate additional storage units to the data set and a determination is made of a range of available storage units to allocate to the data set in response to the request. A determination is made of one pre-existing extent allocated in the data set before receiving the request and of whether at least one storage unit in the determined range can be allocated to the determined pre-existing extent. At least one storage unit in the determined range is allocated to the determined pre-existing extent if the at least one storage unit can be allocated to the determined pre-existing extent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen M. Branch