Patents by Inventor Steven J. Valin

Steven J. Valin 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).

  • Network storage system with NVRAM and cluster interconnect adapter implemented in a single circuit module
    Patent number: 7895286
    Abstract: A network storage system includes a non-volatile memory to store data including a log of received data access requests, and a cluster interconnect adapter through which to send data to a cluster partner. The nonvolatile memory and the cluster interconnect adapter are implemented in a single device connected to an expansion bus in the network storage system. Communication with the nonvolatile memory is carried out using LDMA, and communication with the cluster partner is carried out using RDMA via the cluster interconnect adapter. LDMA and RDMA functionality are merged in a common software stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen J. Kilbourne, II, Steven J. Valin, Ravi K. Budhia
  • Method for converting a standalone network storage system into a disk drive storage enclosure
    Patent number: 7516537
    Abstract: An existing disk drive storage enclosure is converted into a standalone network storage system by removing one or more input/output (I/O) modules from the enclosure and installing in place thereof one or more server modules (“heads”), each implemented on a single circuit board. Each head contains the electronics, firmware and software along with built-in I/O connections to allow the disks in the enclosure to be used as a Network-Attached file Server (NAS) or a Storage Area Network (SAN) storage device. An end user can also remove the built-in head and replace it with a standard I/O module to convert the enclosure back into a standard disk drive storage enclosure. Two internal heads can communicate over a passive backplane in the enclosure to provide full cluster failover (CFO) capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Network Appliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad A. Reger, Steven J. Valin
  • Apparatus and method for placing memory into self-refresh state
    Patent number: 7200711
    Abstract: A circuit external to a memory controller in a processing system places a dynamic random access memory into a self-refresh state in response to a predetermined condition associated with a power-down or reset event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Network Appliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Valin, Brad A. Reger
  • Method for converting disk drive storage enclosure into a standalone network storage system
    Patent number: 7127798
    Abstract: An existing disk drive storage enclosure is converted into a standalone network storage system by removing one or more input/output (I/O) modules from the enclosure and installing in place thereof one or more server modules (“heads”), each implemented on a single circuit board. Each head contains the electronics, firmware and software along with built-in I/O connections to allow the disks in the enclosure to be used as a Network-Attached file Server (NAS) or a Storage Area Network (SAN) storage device. An end user can also remove the built-in head and replace it with a standard I/O module to convert the enclosure back into a standard disk drive storage enclosure. Two internal heads can communicate over a passive backplane in the enclosure to provide full cluster failover (CFO) capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Network Appliance Inc.
    Inventors: Brad A. Reger, Steven J. Valin
  • Standalone storage system with multiple heads in an enclosure providing cluster failover capability
    Patent number: 6948012
    Abstract: An existing disk drive storage enclosure is converted into a standalone network storage system by removing one or more input/output (I/O) modules from the enclosure and installing in place thereof one or more server modules (“heads”), each implemented on a single circuit board. Each head contains the electronics, firmware and software along with built-in I/O connections to allow the disks in the enclosure to be used as a Network-Attached file Server (NAS) or a Storage Area Network (SAN) storage device. An end user can also remove the built-in head and replace it with a standard I/O module to convert the enclosure back into a standard disk drive storage enclosure. Two internal heads can communicate over a passive backplane in the enclosure to provide full cluster failover (CFO) capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Network Appliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Valin, Brad A. Reger
  • Standalone newtork storage system enclosure including head and multiple disk drives connected to a passive backplane
    Publication number: 20040199719
    Abstract: An existing disk drive storage enclosure is converted into a standalone network storage system by removing one or more input/output (I/O) modules from the enclosure and installing in place thereof one or more server modules (“heads”), each implemented on a single circuit board. Each head contains the electronics, firmware and software along with built-in I/O connections to allow the disks in the enclosure to be used as a Network-Attached file Server (NAS) or a Storage Area Network (SAN) storage device. An end user can also remove the built-in head and replace it with a standard I/O module to convert the enclosure back into a standard disk drive storage enclosure. Two internal heads can communicate over a passive backplane in the enclosure to provide full cluster failover (CFO) capability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: Network Appliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Valin, Brad A. Reger
  • Apparatus and method for placing memory into self-refresh state
    Publication number: 20040034732
    Abstract: A circuit external to a memory controller in a processing system places a dynamic random access memory into a self-refresh state in response to a predetermined condition associated with a power-down or reset event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: Network Appliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Valin, Brad A. Reger