Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Crawford

Timothy J. Crawford 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: 8438303
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for managing logging data communications in a computer system. The computer system is configured with a proxy agent in communication with a client machine and storage, and an embedded agent in communication with the proxy agent and the client machine. All inbound communications from the client machine to the storage are maintained in a log local to the proxy agent. However, all outbound communications are split between two different communications paths, with one outbound path from the storage directly to the client machine and a second outbound path from the storage to the client machine via the proxy agent. One of the two outbound paths is selected based upon one or more of the characteristics of the associated communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur J. Colvig, Timothy J. Crawford, Krishna Harathi, Martine B. Wedlake
  • Patent number: 8087032
    Abstract: A Common Information Model (CIM) agent notifies a CIM consumer that the CIM agent is able to receive notifications from the CIM consumer relating to errors within data relating to a CIM managed component and sent by the CIM agent to the CIM consumer. The CIM consumer receives the data relating to the CIM managed component from the CIM agent. The CIM managed component is a hardware component or a component. In response to the CIM consumer detecting that the data relating to the CIM managed component contains errors, the CIM consumer notifies the CIM agent. In response, the CIM agent initiates an automated recovery process in relation to the CIM managed component, without manual user interaction. The CIM agent may then continue to send data relating to the CIM managed component to the CIM consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Amauba, Ross E. Hagglund, Martine B. Wedlake, Timothy J. Crawford
  • Publication number: 20100017536
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for managing logging data communications in a computer system. The computer system is configured with a proxy agent in communication with a client machine and storage, and an embedded agent in communication with the proxy agent and the client machine. All inbound communications from the client machine to the storage are maintained in a log local to the proxy agent. However, all outbound communications are split between two different communications paths, with one outbound path from the storage directly to the client machine and a second outbound path from the storage to the client machine via the proxy agent. One of the two outbound paths is selected based upon one or more of the characteristics of the associated communication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arthur J. Colvig, Timothy J. Crawford, Krishna Harathi, Martine B. Wedlake
  • Patent number: 7607043
    Abstract: A system for analyzing mutually exclusive conflicts among a plurality of redundant devices in a computer system includes a data management module operable on the computer system. The data management module parses through status data generated by the plurality of redundant devices to identify an error condition in one of the plurality of redundant devices, generate metadata describing the error condition, and take action to resolve the error condition. A method of analyzing mutually exclusive conflicts among redundant devices in a computer system includes collecting status data from the redundant devices, identifying an error condition, generating metadata describing the condition, analyzing the metadata to determine a lowest-level or least impacting redundant device that is the root cause of the condition, and taking an action to resolve the condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Crawford, Michael R. Groseclose, Jr., David A. Larson
  • Publication number: 20090249361
    Abstract: A Common Information Model (CIM) agent notifies a CIM consumer that the CIM agent is able to receive notifications from the CIM consumer relating to errors within data relating to a CIM managed component and sent by the CIM agent to the CIM consumer. The CIM consumer receives the data relating to the CIM managed component from the CIM agent. The CIM managed component is a hardware component or a component. In response to the CIM consumer detecting that the data relating to the CIM managed component contains errors, the CIM consumer notifies the CIM agent. In response, the CIM agent initiates an automated recovery process in relation to the CIM managed component, without manual user interaction. The CIM agent may then continue to send data relating to the CIM managed component to the CIM consumer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Aaron Amauba, Ross E. Hagglund, Martine B. Wedlake, Timothy J. Crawford
  • Patent number: 7581046
    Abstract: A computer system includes a communication adapter that connects a plurality of virtualized servers to one or more support system devices. The communication adapter includes a master lock register, a processing device, a queue, and a multitude of adapter access registers. Upon initialization, a virtual server asserts ownership over the communication adapter by writing its identification into the master lock register, if the register is empty. Service requests by images are transmitted to the communication adapter with an origination identification (“ID”). This ID is placed in one of the adapter access registers and the service request is placed in the queue. When a support system device responds to the service request, the response is married to the ID and broadcast back to all connected virtualized servers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Crawford, Brandon L. Hunt, Brian A. Rinaldi
  • Patent number: 7496701
    Abstract: A computer system includes a support system that report events, faults, and failures to a master virtual server. While the support system may be accessed and used by a multitude of virtual servers, only the master virtual server can manage the support system. The support system include a master lock register, a heartbeat timer, and a digital processing device (“processor”). Upon initialization and if the master lock register is empty, a virtual server asserts ownership over the support system by writing its identification into the master lock register, becoming the master virtual server. The master virtual server transmits periodic heartbeats to the support system to communicate that it is still viable and in control. If the heartbeat timer expires without communication from the master virtual server, the processor clears the master lock register and transmits a broadcast message inviting all connected virtual servers to attempt to assert control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy J. Crawford, Brandon L. Hunt, Brian A. Rinaldi, Richard A. Ripberger