IBM Assigned Twenty One Patents

Data integrity mechanism for external storage devices
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,782,014) developed by William C. Shepard, Hyde Park, NY, and Harry M. Yudenfriend, Poughkeepsie, NY, for a “data integrity mechanism for external storage devices.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method for maintaining data integrity of a storage device is provided. A request is received to create an access monitoring session for a data range on a volume of the storage device. A session identification (ID) is determined for the access monitoring session for data range on the volume. An entry is created in an access monitoring session table for the session ID, and the entry adds the access monitoring session with session ID for the data range on the volume to the access monitoring session table. Request parameters are included in the request to create the access monitoring session. The request parameters denote access to the data range on the volume for the session ID and are stored in the access monitoring session table. Access is controlled to the data range on the volume for the session ID based on request parameters stored in the access monitoring session table.”

The patent application was filed on May 14, 2010 (12/780,662).

Preserving existing volume map in re-initializing storage volume
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,782,360) developed by James B. Cammarata, La Grange Park, IL, Gavin Stuart Johnson, San Jose, CA, and Michael John Koester, Hollister, CA, for “preserving an existing volume map in re-initializing a storage volume.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method, system and computer-program product for re-initializing a storage volume with an previously created volume map being preserved to allow access to previously stored data sets. The invention includes creating a new volume map in an unused volume area where the new volume map has pointers to new data sets. One of the new data sets contains the previously created volume map that points to previously created data sets. Each volume map is referenced by a volume label and includes a VTOC and an optional VTOC index. The pointers in the VTOC are data set control block (DSCB) records.”

The patent application was filed on May 13, 2010 (12/779,938).

De-dupe
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,781,800) developed by five co-inventors for “data de-duplication in computer storage systems.“

The co-inventors are Kavita Chavda, Roswell, GA, Eric W. Davis Rozier, Champaign, IL, Nagapramod S. Mandagere, Sandeep M. Uttamchandani, and Pin Zhou, San Jose, CA.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach that utilizes discrete event simulation to quantitatively analyze the reliability of a modeled de-duplication system in a computer storage environment. In addition, the approach described herein can perform such an analysis on systems having heterogeneous data stored on heterogeneous storage systems in the presence of primary faults and their secondary effects due to de-duplication. In a typical embodiment, data de-duplication parameters and a hardware configuration are received in a computer storage medium. A data de-duplication model is then applied to a set of data and to the data de-duplication parameters, and a hardware reliability model is applied to the hardware configuration. Then a set (at least one) of discrete events is simulated based on the data de-duplication model as applied to the set of data and the data de-duplication parameters, and the hardware reliability model as applied to the hardware configuration. Based on the simulation, a set of data reliability and availability estimations/estimates can be generated (e.g., and outputted/provided).”

The patent application was filed on Nov. 1, 2011 (13/286,490).

Transparent I/O switching between synchronously mirrored storage volumes
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,782,358) developed by six co-inventors for “transparent input/output switching between synchronously mirrored storage volumes.”

The co-inventors are Yakov Broido, Hod Hasharon, Israel, Daniel I. Goodman, Beit Shemesh, Israel, Haim Helman, Saratoga, CA, Leonid Kull, Yehud, Israel, Orit Nissan-Messing, Hod HaSharon, Israel, and Guy Rozendorn, Ramat Gan, Israel.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method for configuring transparent synchronous mirroring volume switching for a first volume and a second volume that are coupled, via a SAN, to a host computer, with the first volume mapped to the host computer. The method includes initiating synchronization of status data between the first volume and the second volume, and setting the first volume to an active state. The second volume is set to an inactive state, and an identifier associated with the active first volume is copied to a memory coupled to the inactive second volume. The copied identifier is retrieved from the memory by the host computer, and the inactive second volume is then mapped to the host computer.”

The patent application was filed on April 27, 2011 (13/095,646).

Storing downloadable content on plurality of enterprise storage system cells
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,782,372) developed by five co-inventors for a “method, system and program product for storing downloadable content on a plurality of enterprise storage system (ESS) cells.”

The co-inventors are Irwin Boutboul, White Plains, NY, Moon J. Kim, Wappingers Falls, NY, Dikran Meliksetian, Danbury, CT, Robert G. Oesterlin, Rochester, MN, and Anthony Ravinsky Jr., Poughkeepsie, NY.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “The present invention takes advantage of unused storage space within the ESS cells to provide for the efficient and cost effective storage of downloadable content. Specifically, the system of the present invention generally includes a download grid manager that communicates with the ESS cells. Content to be replicated to the ESS cells, and characteristics corresponding thereto, are received on the download grid manager from a content owner (or the like). Based on the characteristics, a storage policy, and storage information previously received from the ESS cells, the download grid manager will replicate the downloadable content to unused storage space within the ESS cells.”

The patent application was filed on Sept. 14, 2012 (13/617,052).

Standby server to improve redundancy in dual-node storage system
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,775,867) developed by three co-inventors for”a method and system for using a standby server to improve redundancy in a dual-node storage system.“

The co-inventors are Stephen L. Blinick, Scott A. Brewer, and Yu-Cheng Hsu, Tucson, AZ.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A standby server, a first main server, and a second main server to control shared input/output (I/O) adapters in a storage system are provided. The standby server is in communication with the first main server and the second main server, and the storage system is configured to operate as a dual node active system. The standby server is activated in response to receiving a communication from the first main server of a fail mode of the second main server. Systems and physical computer storage media are also provided.”

The patent application was filed on Feb. 6, 2013 (13/760,955).

Optimizing data remanence over hybrid disk clusters
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,782,343) developed by four co-inventors for a “system and method for optimizing data remanence over hybrid disk clusters using various storage technologies.”

The co-inventors are Abhinay R. Nagpal, Pune, India, Sandeep R. Patil, Pune, India, Sri Ramanathan, Lutz, Florida, and Matthew B. Trevathan, Roswell, Georgia.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method is implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions. The programming instructions are operable to optimize data remanence over hybrid disk clusters using various storage technologies, determine one or more storage technologies accessible by a file system, and determine secure delete rules for each of the one or more storage technologies accessible by the file system. The secure delete rules include a number of overwrites required for data to be securely deleted from each of the one or more storage technologies. The programming instructions are further operable to provide the secure delete rules to the file system upon a request for deletion of data for each of the one or more storage technologies a specific amount of times germane to secure delete data from the one or more storage technologies.“

The patent application was filed on June 20, 2013 (13/922,319).

Automatic unthread and store of storage device medium
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,780,483) developed by Arturo A. Mojica, Tucson, AZ, for an “automatic unthread and store of storage device medium.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “An apparatus, system, and method for automatic unthreading and storage of storage media helps prevent damage to the media, which can otherwise occur when the storage media is left threaded in a storage media drive over an extended period or under adverse conditions. A sensing device may generate a signal or a detector may receive a signal indicating that a predetermined period of time has lapsed or that some other criteria has been met indicating that the storage media should be removed from the storage media drive. An unthread module in the storage media drive receives the signal and automatically unthreads and stores the storage media. A location on the storage media can be marked by the unthread module prior to unthreading such that the media may be returned to the location upon rethreading.”

The patent application was filed on Jan. 28, 2013 (13/752,111).

Storage management using distributed cache scheme
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,782,323) developed by Alex Glikson, Shay Goikhman, Haifa, Israel, and Benny Rochwerger, Zichron Yaakov, Israel, for the “storage management using a distributed cache scheme.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method for accessing data stored in a distributed storage system is provided. The method comprises determining whether a copy of first data is stored in a distributed cache system, where data in the distributed cache system is stored in free storage space of the distributed storage system; accessing the copy of the first data from the distributed cache system if the copy of the first data is stored in a first storage medium at a first computing system in a network; and requesting a second computing system in the network to access the copy of the first data from the distributed cache system if the copy of the first data is stored in a second storage medium at the second computing system. If the copy of the first data is not stored in the distributed cache system, the first data is accessed from the distributed storage system.”

The patent application was filed on Oct. 30, 2009 (12/609,023).

Allocation and balancing of storage resources
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,793,372) developed by Rohith K. Ashok, Apex, NC, Roy F. Brabson, Raleigh, NC, and Wei L. Chan, Cary, NC, for the “allocation and balancing of storage resources.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method and technique for allocation and balancing of storage resources includes: determining, for each of a plurality of storage controllers, an input/output (I/O) latency value based on an I/O latency associated with each storage volume controlled by a respective storage controller; determining network bandwidth utilization and network latency values corresponding to each storage controller; responsive to receiving a request to allocate a new storage volume, selecting a storage controller having a desired I/O latency value; determining whether the network bandwidth utilization and network latency values for the selected storage controller are below respective network bandwidth utilization and network latency value thresholds; and responsive to determining that the network bandwidth utilization and network latency values for the selected storage controller are below the respective thresholds, allocating the new storage volume to the selected storage controller.”

The patent application was filed on Feb. 12, 2013 (13/765,619).

Switching visibility between virtual storage entities
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,799,596) developed by 13 co-inventors for “switching visibility between virtual storage entities.”

The co-inventors are Shay H. Akirav, Petach-Tikva, Israel, Shiri Alexander, Modiin, Israel, Yariv Bachar, Ma’abarot, Israel, Evgeny Budilovsky, Yehud, Israel, Elena Drobchenko, Raanana, Israel, Asaf K. Ekshtein, Petach-Tikva, Israel, Dov N. Hepner, Hertzelyia, Israel, Aharon Lazar, Kiryat Ono, Israel, Ofer Lenaman, Kfar Saba, Israel, Itay Maoz, Haifa, Israel, Gil E. Paz, Yehud, Israel, Tzafrir Z. Taub, Givaataim, Israel, and Neville Yates, San Jose, CA.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Visibility of a storage entity on a first storage system is switched to a replicated storage entity on a second storage system. Data from the storage entity is replicated from the first storage system to the second storage system using a common serial number. The storage entity is hidden from the first storage system by concealing the common serial number. An ejection of the storage entity from the first storage system is automated, and the replicated storage entity is introduced to the second storage system.“

The patent application was filed on Aug. 20, 2010 (12/860,113).

Magnetic head and storage system
having two inner and two outer arrays of writers
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,797,683) developed by Robert G. Biskeborn, Hollister, CA, and Jason Liang, Campbell, CA, for a “magnetic head and storage system having two inner and two outer arrays of writers.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A magnetic head in one embodiment includes a first outer array of writers; a second outer array of writers; a first inner array of writers positioned between the first and second outer arrays; a second inner array of writers positioned between the first inner array and the second outer array; and an array of readers, at least some of the readers being generally aligned with the writers of the first and second outer arrays in a direction of media travel relative thereto, wherein the writers of the first inner array are misaligned with the writers of the first outer array relative to the direction of media travel.”

The patent application was filed on Sept. 17, 2013 (14/028,995).

High density storage and imaging
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,792,318) developed by 12 co-inventors for a “method for high density storage and imaging.”

The co-inventors are Urs T. Duerig, Rueschlikon, Switzerland, Jane Elizabeth Frommer, San Jose, CA, Bernd Walter Gotsmann, Horgen, Switzerland, Erik Christopher Hagberg, Evansville, IN, James Lupton Hedrick, Pleasanton, CA, Armin W. Knoll, Zurich, Switzerland, Victor Yee-Way Lee, Teddie Peregrino Magbitang, Robert Dennis Miller, San Jose, CA, Russell Clayton Pratt, Los Gatos, CA, Charles Gordon Wade, Los Gatos, CA, and Johannes Windeln, Bodenheim, Germany.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “An approach is presented for designing a polymeric layer for nm scale thermo-mechanical storage devices. Cross-linked polyimide oligomers are used as the recording layers in atomic force storage device, giving improved performance when compared to previously reported cross-linked and linear polymers. The cross-linking of the polyimide oligomers may be tuned to match thermal and force parameters required in read-write-erase cycles. Additionally, the cross-linked polyimide oligomers are suitable for use in nano-scale imaging.”

The patent application was filed on Jan. 9, 2012 (13/345,889).

Cache management of tracks in first and second cache for storage
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,793,436) developed by four co-inventors for the “cache management of tracks in a first cache and a second cache for a storage.”

The co-inventors are Michael T. Benhase, Tucson, AZ, Binny S. Gill, Westford, MA, Lokesh M. Gupta, and Matthew J. Kalos, Tucson, AZ.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Provided a computer program product, system, and method for cache management of tracks in a first cache and a second cache for a storage. The first cache maintains modified and unmodified tracks in the storage subject to Input/Output (I/O) requests. Modified and unmodified tracks are demoted from the first cache. The modified and the unmodified tracks demoted from the first cache are promoted to the second cache. The unmodified tracks demoted from the second cache are discarded. The modified tracks in the second cache that are at proximate physical locations on the storage device are grouped and the grouped modified tracks are destaged from the second cache to the storage device.”

The patent application was filed on May 23, 2011 (13/113,974).

Maintaining mirror and storage system copies of volumes at multiple remote sites
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,788,768) developed by six co-inventors for “maintaining mirror and storage system copies of volumes at multiple remote sites.”

The co-inventors are Nicols M. Clayton, Warrington, UK, Robert F. Kern, Otter Rock, Oregon, David B. Petersen, Gaithersburg, MD, David M. Shackelford, Gail A. Spear, and John G. Thompson, Tucson, AZ.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Provided are a computer program product and system for maintaining mirror and storage system copies of volumes at multiple remote sites. A first server maintains a mirror copy relationship between a first storage system at a first site and a second storage system at a second site. The first server performs a first point-in-time copy operation from the first storage system to a first storage system copy, wherein the data for the first storage system copy is consistent as of the determined point-in-time. The first server transmits a command to a second server to create a point-in-time copy of the second storage system. The second server processes mirror data transferred from the first server as part of the mirror copy relationship to determine when to create a second point-in-time copy. The second server performs the second point-in-time copy operation.”

The patent application was filed on Sept. 29, 2010 (12/894,044).

Acquiring storage system into copy services management software
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,788,877) developed by four co-inventors for “acquiring a storage system into copy services management software.”

The co-inventors are Amy N. Blea, Round Rock, TX, David R. Blea, William D. Olsen, Tucson, AZ, and John J. Wolfgang, Midlothian, VA.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “In one embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, configured for: validating a replication of copy services between a first storage system and a second storage system, removing a plurality of existing copy relationships between the first storage system and a failed storage system, creating a plurality of copy relationships between the first storage system and the second storage system, and synchronizing a plurality of data between the first storage system and the second storage system. In more embodiments, a system includes logic for performing the above functionality, and a method includes steps for performing the above functionality.”

The patent application was filed on Aug. 3, 2011 (13/197,675).

Using attribute of write request to determine where to cache data
in storage system having multiple caches
including non-volatile storage cache in sequential access storage device
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,788,742) developed by four co-inventors for “using an attribute of a write request to determine where to cache data in a storage system having multiple caches including non-volatile storage cache in a sequential access storage device.”

The co-inventors are Michael T. Benhase, Tucson, AZ, Binny S. Gill, Westford, MA, Lokesh M. Gupta, Tucson, AZ, and Matthew J. Kalos, Tucson, AZ.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for using an attribute of a write request to determine where to cache data in a storage system having multiple caches including non-volatile storage cache in a sequential access storage device. Received modified tracks are cached in the non-volatile storage device integrated with the sequential access storage device in response to determining to cache the modified tracks. A write request having modified tracks is received. A determination is made as to whether an attribute of the received write request satisfies a condition. The received modified tracks for the write request are cached in the non-volatile storage device in response to determining that the determined attribute does not satisfy the condition. A destage request is added to a request queue for the received write request having the determined attribute not satisfying the condition.”

The patent application was filed on May 23, 2011 (13/113,949).

Managing storage providers in clustered appliance environment
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,812,900) developed by four co-inventors for “managing storage providers in a clustered appliance environment.”

The co-inventors are Sandip Amin, Austin, TX, Ajay K. Bargoti, Rishika Kedia, and Anbazhagan Mani, Bangalore, India.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Receiving a power off alert indicating a power off condition of a first processing system on which a first storage provider is installed, the first storage provider managing at least one storage controller. Responsive to the power off alert, issuing a first command to a second storage provider installed on a second processing system, the first command indicating to the second storage provider to assume management of the storage controller.”

The patent application was filed on June 30, 2011 (13/173,503).

Indication of destructive write via notification from disk drive
that emulates blocks of first block size within blocks of second block size
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,812,798) developed by Michael T. Benhase, Tucson, AZ, and Andrew B. McNeill Jr., Research Triangle Park, NC, for the “indication of a destructive write via a notification from a disk drive that emulates blocks of a first block size within blocks of a second block size.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A disk drive receives a request to write at least one block of a first block size, wherein the disk drive is configured to store blocks of a second block size that is larger in size than the first block size, and wherein the disk drive stores via emulation a plurality of emulated blocks of the first block size in each block of the second block size. The disk drive generates a read error, in response to reading a selected block of the second block size in which the at least block of the first block size is to be written via the emulation. The disk drive performs a destructive write of selected emulated blocks of the first block size that caused the read error to be generated. The disk drive writes the at least one block of the first block size in the selected block of the second block size. The disk drive sends a notification to indicate the performing of the destructive write.“

The patent application was filed on Aug. 18, 2011 (13/212,383).

Communication of conditions at primary storage controller to host
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,806,268) developed by David B. Petersen, Virginia Falls, VA, and Gail A. Spear, Tucson, AZ, for the “communication of conditions at a primary storage controller to a host.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A primary storage controller is maintained in a copy relationship with a secondary storage controller, wherein the primary and secondary storage controllers are coupled to a host that is configurable to use the secondary storage controller instead of the primary storage controller. The primary storage controller determines occurrence of at least one condition in the primary storage controller, wherein the at least one condition occurs prior to a failure of the host to perform an Input/Output (I/O) operation with respect to at least one storage volume of the primary storage controller. The primary storage controller communicates the occurrence of the at least one condition to the host, wherein in response to the communicating the host is configured to determine whether to use the secondary storage controller instead of the primary storage controller based on the occurrence of the at least one condition.“

The patent application was filed on Sept. 29, 2011 (13/249,000).

Intelligent storage provisioning within clustered computing environment
IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (8,806,121) developed by five co-inventors for “intelligent storage provisioning within a clustered computing environment.”

The co-inventors are Kavita Chavda, Roswell, GA, David P. Goodman, Longmont, CO, Sandeep Gopisetty, Morgan Hill, CA, Seshashayee S. Murthy, Yorktown Heights, NY, and Aameek Singh, University Place, Washington DC.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for intelligent storage planning and planning within a clustered computing environment (e.g., a cloud computing environment). Specifically, embodiments of the present invention will first determine/identify a set of storage area network volume controllers (SVCs) that is accessible from a host that has submitted a request for access to storage. Thereafter, a set of managed disk (mdisk) groups (i.e., corresponding to the set of SVCs) that are candidates for satisfying the request will be determined. This set of mdisk groups will then be filtered based on available space therein, a set of user/requester preferences, and optionally, a set of performance characteristics. Then, a particular mdisk group will be selected from the set of mdisk groups based on the filtering.”

The patent application was filed on June 18, 2013 (13/920,158).