Patents by Inventor Tomohiro Kawaguchi

Tomohiro Kawaguchi 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).

  • Publication number: 20200150866
    Abstract: A storage system which stores a plurality of volumes and performs an I/O process on the volume includes a processor. The volume includes a first volume and a second volume which is copied from the first volume by snapshot. In a case where a write request is received, the processor determines whether a volume of a copy source related to a target volume of the write request is a volume of which a storage region is a valid region where a data amount reduction process is applied. Depending on a case where the volume of the copy source is a volume of which the storage region is a valid region or a case where the volume of the copy source is a volume of which the storage region is not a valid region, the processor switches and performs a process of creating the second volume related to the snapshot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Ai SATOYAMA, Tomohiro KAWAGUCHI, Takaki MATSUSHITA
  • Patent number: 10628088
    Abstract: The storage system defines, a RAID group having one or more logical devices, and manages the logical devices by assigning them to a pool. When a data write request is received from the host for the virtual volume, the storage system allocates an unused logical storage area in the pool to the virtual volume and writes the data to the storage device having the allocated logical storage area. The storage device compresses the data, stores it in the physical area, and manages the physical area in association with the logical storage region. A computer system may increase the amount of the physical area assigned to the pool when a physical usage amount of the physical area belonging to the pool exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and increase the amount of the logical storage area assigned to the pool when the logical usage amount exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Takaki Matsushita, Tomohiro Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20200104151
    Abstract: Provided is a resource allocation determination method for a VM/container, volume, and the like created as a new VM/container or volume without exceeding an upper limit of a computer resource of a node in an HCI environment. In order to determine allocation of at least one of a virtual machine, a container, and a volume in a system of the HCI environment, a use state of a computer resource shared by a virtual machine and a storage controller operating on each node is managed, and an allocation destination node of the new virtual machine, container, or volume is determined based on the use state without exceeding an upper limit of a computer resource of the allocation destination node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsukasa SHIBAYAMA, Akiyoshi TSUCHIYA, Tomohiro KAWAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20200104153
    Abstract: Provided is a resource allocation determination method for a VM/container, volume, and the like created as a new VM/container or volume without exceeding an upper limit of a computer resource of a node in an HCl environment. In order to determine allocation of at least one of a virtual machine, a container, and a volume in a system of the HCl environment, a use state of a computer resource shared by a virtual machine and a storage controller operating on each node is managed, and an allocation destination node of the new virtual machine, container, or volume is determined based on the use state without exceeding an upper limit of a computer resource of the allocation destination node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Tsukasa SHIBAYAMA, Akiyoshi TSUCHIYA, Tomohiro KAWAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20200097204
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage control method is provided in which a plurality of volumes to be processed by a storage control unit are distributed and evacuated in a normal storage control unit without recovering redundancy of the storage control unit having decreased redundancy, and the storage control unit itself having the decreased redundancy is deleted after the evacuating is completed, and thus reservation information processing resources for guaranteeing recoverability of the redundancy become unnecessary and use efficiency of a physical server is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Kenta SATO, Akira DEGUCHI, Tomohiro KAWAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20200097180
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage system includes a first storage device and a second storage device. In a case where the first storage device performs writing or updating of data on a first primary volume, the first storage device transmits the data to a second storage device based on a first replication pair. In a case where the first storage device creates or updates a second primary volume that is a snapshot of the first primary volume, the second storage device creates or updates a second secondary volume that is a snapshot of the first secondary volume configuring the first replication pair with the first primary volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuei HIRONAKA, Tomohiro KAWAGUCHI, Takaki MATSUSHITA
  • Publication number: 20200097179
    Abstract: Provided is a storage controller that reduces a reference number to duplicate data even if there is duplicate data. The storage controller includes a memory and processor and is connected to a server and physical storage device. The memory stores a VOL management table, an address translation table, and a generation management table; registers a first provision volume and a first additional writing volume in the VOL management table; registers a reference destination of a first address of the first provision volume as a second address of the first additional writing volume in the address translation table. The processor receives a request for replication of the first provision volume; registers the second provision volume and the third provision volume in the generation management table as the child generation of the first provision volume; and processes the request to the first provision volume as a request to the third provision volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Takaki MATSUSHITA, Tomohiro KAWAGUCHI, Kazuei HIRONAKA
  • Patent number: 10592268
    Abstract: The management computer has a memory which stores management information and management programs, and a CPU which refers to the management information and executes the management programs; the management information includes storage management information for allowing determination as to whether the plurality of storage resources can be paired in a redundant configuration, and couplable configuration management information for determining whether the plurality of storage resources and the plurality of server resources can be connected to each other; and when the CPU deploys a virtual machine, the CPU first determines, by reference to the storage management information, storage resources to be paired in a redundant configuration, then selects, by reference to the couplable configuration management information, server resources each of which can be connected to a respective one of the storage resources that are to be paired in a redundant configuration, and pairs the selected server resources in the redundant c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nasu, Tomohiro Kawaguchi, Yoshinori Ohira, Shunji Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20200073572
    Abstract: A storage system includes a plurality of physical drives and a storage controller connected to the plurality of physical drives to provide one or more volumes. Two or more volume addresses, which are two or more logical addresses, belong to each of the one or more volumes. When copy target data, which is data to be copied, is copied in a volume or between volumes, the storage controller (A) determines whether a copy destination physical drive, which is a physical drive corresponding to a copy destination volume address, is identical to a copy source physical drive which is the destination physical drive corresponding to a copy source volume address, and (B) shifts a storage position of the copy target data such that the copy destination physical drive becomes a physical drive identical to the copy source physical drive if a determination result of (A) is false.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Akira DEGUCHI, Tomohiro KAWAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10579433
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage system includes a representative node and a plurality of general nodes including a plurality of resources. Each of the general nodes stores resource status information indicating respective statuses of the plurality of resources in a first storage unit thereof. The representative node stores resource status information collected from the plurality of general nodes in a second storage unit thereof, decides whether to acquire the resource status information from the first storage unit of the general node or to acquire the resource status information from the second storage unit based on a received request, and transmits the resource status information acquired from a decided acquisition destination to an issuing source of the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsukasa Shibayama, Hiroto Ebara, Akiyoshi Tsuchiya, Tomohiro Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 10572171
    Abstract: A storage system according to an aspect of the present invention includes one or more storage devices for storing write data to which a write request from a host computer is directed, and a storage controller that provides one or more volumes to the host computer. Further, the storage system manages the time when a write request is last received from the host computer for each partition within the volume. Then, the storage controller performs a deduplication process upon detecting the partition not receiving a write request for a predetermined time or more from the time when the write request is last received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobumitsu Takaoka, Akira Yamamoto, Tomohiro Kawaguchi, Yasuo Watanabe, Yoshihiro Yoshii, Kazuki Matsugami
  • Patent number: 10558383
    Abstract: A storage system includes a plurality of nodes connected with a network and configured to provide volumes, a plurality of drive units; and a management system. Each of the plurality of drive units consists of a plurality of storage drives and is accessible from one or more of the plurality of nodes without intervention of the other nodes. The management system or one of the plurality of nodes is configured to determine number of storage drives to be included in a new distribution range to distribute data of a first volume based on access frequency to the first volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Sakashita, Takeru Chiba, Sadahiro Sugimoto, Tomohiro Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20200042213
    Abstract: A virtual storage system according to an aspect of the present invention includes multiple storage systems each including: a storage controller that accepts a read/write request for reading or writing from and to a logical volume; and multiple storage devices. The storage system defines a pool that manages the storage device capable of allocating any of storage areas to the logical volume, and manages the capacity (pool capacity) of the storage areas belonging to the pool, and the capacity (pool available capacity) of unused storage areas in the pool. Furthermore, the storage system calculates the total value of the pool available capacities of the storage systems included in the virtual storage system, and provides the server with the total value as the pool available capacity of the virtual storage system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Akira YAMAMOTO, Hiroaki AKUTSU, Tomohiro KAWAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20200042416
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a redundant information processing system that can continue its operation without stopping as much as possible. To achieve this, the information processing system includes multiple storage nodes including processors, memories, and storage devices, as well as a network for connecting the storage nodes. The processor of at least one storage node performs the steps of: obtaining the configuration information of the information processing system; obtaining first failure information related to a first failure occurred in the information processing system; calculating the availability level of the information processing system when a second failure further occurs, based on the configuration information and the first failure information; and controlling the operation of the system based on the availability level. Then, the processor outputs a notification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Ai SATOYAMA, Tomohiro KAWAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20200019439
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage system includes a representative node and a plurality of general nodes including a plurality of resources. Each of the general nodes stores resource status information indicating respective statuses of the plurality of resources in a first storage unit thereof. The representative node stores resource status information collected from the plurality of general nodes in a second storage unit thereof, decides whether to acquire the resource status information from the first storage unit of the general node or to acquire the resource status information from the second storage unit based on a received request, and transmits the resource status information acquired from a decided acquisition destination to an issuing source of the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Tsukasa SHIBAYAMA, Hiroto EBARA, Akiyoshi TSUCHIYA, Tomohiro KAWAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20200019438
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage system includes a representative node and a plurality of general nodes including a plurality of resources. Each of the general nodes stores resource status information indicating respective statuses of the plurality of resources in a first storage unit thereof. The representative node stores resource status information collected from the plurality of general nodes in a second storage unit thereof, decides whether to acquire the resource status information from the first storage unit of the general node or to acquire the resource status information from the second storage unit based on a received request, and transmits the resource status information acquired from a decided acquisition destination to an issuing source of the request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Tsukasa SHIBAYAMA, Hiroto EBARA, Akiyoshi TSUCHIYA, Tomohiro KAWAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10528279
    Abstract: A storage management server includes a memory storing management information and a management program and a processor executing the management program with reference to the management information, and manages a storage resource allocated to a server resource. The management information includes group mapping information for converting a first parameter of the server resource into a second parameter of the storage resource. The processor receives an operation on the server resource and the first parameter and converts the operation on the server resource into an operation on the storage resource based on preset information. The processor converts the first parameter of the server resource into the second parameter of the storage resource with reference to the group mapping information, specifies the storage resource included in the second parameter, and gives an instruction to operate the storage resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nasu, Tomohiro Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 10503440
    Abstract: In a computer system, when a first high availability (HA) pair is configured with a first logical device of a first storage apparatus and a second logical device of a second storage apparatus, the first logical device is virtualized on a third storage apparatus and is set to correspond with a third logical device of the third storage apparatus. A fourth storage apparatus virtualizes the second logical device and sets the second logical device to correspond with a fourth logical device of the fourth storage apparatus. After a second HA pair is configured with the third logical device and the fourth logical device, the data on the first logical device is migrated to the third storage apparatus and managed as data on the third logical device. The data on the second logical device is migrated to the fourth storage apparatus and managed as data on the fourth logical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Saito, Hiroshi Nasu, Shunji Kawamura, Tomohiro Kawaguchi
  • Publication number: 20190332261
    Abstract: A storage system includes a first storage device and a second storage device having different performances. A processor manages a volume having a storage region to which a storage device is allocated and performs an input/output of data for the storage device via the volume, the processor calculates an input/output frequency relating to the input or/and the output of the data for each storage region and manages volume configuration relating to an allocation amount of each of the first and second storage devices to the volume, a management unit acquires the input/output frequency from the processor and generates distribution information of the input/output frequency for each volume, and the management unit determines performance of the volume on the basis of the distribution information of the input/output frequency in the volume and the volume configuration of the storage device of each performance to the volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki FUKATANI, Tomohiro KAWAGUCHI
  • Patent number: 10452293
    Abstract: A virtual storage system according to an aspect of the present invention includes multiple storage systems each including: a storage controller that accepts a read/write request for reading or writing from and to a logical volume; and multiple storage devices. The storage system defines a pool that manages the storage device capable of allocating any of storage areas to the logical volume, and manages the capacity (pool capacity) of the storage areas belonging to the pool, and the capacity (pool available capacity) of unused storage areas in the pool. Furthermore, the storage system calculates the total value of the pool available capacities of the storage systems included in the virtual storage system, and provides the server with the total value as the pool available capacity of the virtual storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Yamamoto, Hiroaki Akutsu, Tomohiro Kawaguchi