| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080244196 | Method and apparatus for a unified storage system - A unified storage system for executing a variety of types of storage control software using a single standardized hardware platform includes multiple storage control modules connected to storage devices for storing data related to input/output (I/O) operations. A first type of storage control software is initially installed and executed on a first storage control module for processing a first type of I/O operations. A management module replaces the first type of storage control software by installing a second type of storage control software onto the first storage control module. When the second type of storage control software is installed and executed, the first storage control module processes a second type of I/O operation, different from the first type of I/O operation. Control of volumes originally accessed by the first storage control module may be transferred to a second storage control module having the first type of storage control software installed. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080282047 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO BACKUP AND RESTORE DATA FOR VIRTUALIZED STORAGE AREA - Information about management of virtualization (i.e. mapping between physical area/data/objects and logical area/data/objects) is provided by a storage system to a backup appliance (or common computer) that performs backup and restore of data. The backup appliance uses the information to recognize the mapping and to perform backup and restore process based on the mapping. Therefore the backup appliance handles only physical (really existing) area/data/objects to perform backup and restore rather than virtual ones. This realizes reducing the amount of data to be transferred and backed up, thus the problems mentioned above are solved. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20090043958 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CAPACITY ON DEMAND DYNAMIC CHUNK ALLOCATION - The system is composed of the storage apparatuses with dynamic chunk allocation capabilities, the centralized management computer. Some storage apparatuses have the extra HDDs or volumes for providing extra capacity (extra chunks), which are concealed by a secret key. The storage apparatus with the closed segment has the key management program and key management table. The centralized management computer has the storage on demand management program, the pending request table, the priority table and the master key table. The storage apparatus may connect to the other storage apparatuses for sharing the extra capacities in the closed segment. The storage apparatus issues the chunk addition request to the centralized management computer. The centralized management computer provides a key according to the priority table and the master key table. The centralized management computer may provide the key according to the chunk consumption rate reported by the storage apparatus and/or remaining capacity in the other storage apparatuses. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090079858 | IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE - Disclosed is a scanning image display device for displaying an image on a plurality of display screens. The image display device includes a light source, a scanner for two-dimensionally scanning with light from the light source, and a controller which is electrically connected with the light source and the scanner. The controller controls the light source and the scanner to form an image on the surfaces to be scanned. The scanner is configured to be capable of scanning the independent plurality of scanning surfaces with the light from the light source. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090210462 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO CONTROL TRANSITION OF BACKUP DATA - Disclosed is a system incorporating a management computer, host computers, a backup server and at least one storage system. Backup data generated in the system are stored in various storage system such as disk array, tape library and VTL (virtual tape library) with various methods such as continuous data protection and snapshot, and management information of the backup data is maintained by the management computer. The management computer conducts transition of mode of the backup data by detecting that a condition to perform the transition is satisfied, determining a plan of transition according to predetermined scenario, performing (instructing) the transition based on the plan and updating the management information of the backup data. By keeping the management information up to date, the management computer can provide a unified means to restore necessary data from the backup data even if the transition (moving and/or change) of the backup data has been performed. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090217061 | COMPUTER SYSTEM, STORAGE SYSTEM, AND DEVICE CONTROL METHOD - A computer system, storage system, and device control method which keep and operate long-term data stored in a disk device using its characteristics for a long time and at low cost, in a storage system or in a storage system using an external storage connection method. A computer system comprises a host computer, a storage system, and a management server, which are connected to one another via a network. The storage system receives a request to detach a logical device, specifies a logical device to be processed with information included in the request and a physical device corresponding to the relevant logical device, releases a definition of a host path of the logical device, and stops the physical device. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20110066803 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO UTILIZE LARGE CAPACITY DISK DRIVES - A method of utilizing storage in a storage system comprises prioritizing a plurality of storage areas in the storage system for data recovery with different priorities; and performing data recovery of the storage system at an occurrence of a failure involving one or more of the storage areas in the storage system based on the priorities. Data recovery for one storage area having a higher priority is to occur before data recovery for another storage area having a lower priority in the storage system. In various embodiments, the prioritization is achieved by monitoring the access characteristics, or the priority is specified by the host or management computer based on the usage and/or importance of data stored in the storage system, or the priority is determined by the storage system based on the area assignment/release (i.e., usage) of thin provisioned volumes. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110082977 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A UNIFIED STORAGE SYSTEM - A unified storage system for executing a variety of types of storage control software using a single standardized hardware platform includes multiple storage control modules connected to storage devices for storing data related to input/output (I/O) operations. A first type of storage control software is initially installed and executed on a first storage control module for processing a first type of I/O operations. A management module replaces the first type of storage control software by installing a second type of storage control software onto the first storage control module. When the second type of storage control software is installed and executed, the first storage control module processes a second type of I/O operation, different from the first type of I/O operation. Control of volumes originally accessed by the first storage control module may be transferred to a second storage control module having the first type of storage control software installed. | 04-07-2011 |
