Stephen A Byrd

US Patent:

7630955, Dec 8, 2009

Filed:

Aug 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/915133

Inventors:

Stephen A. Byrd - San Jose CA, US
Steven Czerwinski - Berkeley CA, US
J. Kristofer Fox - San Luis Obispo CA, US
Bruce Light Hillsberg - San Carlos CA, US
Bernhard Julius Klingenberg - Morgan Hill CA, US
Rajesh Francisco Krishnan - San Jose CA, US
Balaji Thirumalai - Newark CA, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 11/30
G06N 5/00

US Classification:

707 1, 707 10, 707100, 707103 X, 7071041, 707205, 702186, 706 45

Abstract:

An apparatus, system, and method are provided for analyzing the association of a resource to a business process. The invention includes an origination module, an evaluation module, and an identification module. The origination module receives an identifier and derives a seed resource associated with the identifier. The evaluation module applies heuristic routines to trace data and derives a set of candidate resources, and each heuristic routine assigns each candidate resource a probability value. The evaluation module further combines the probabilities for each candidate resource into a combined probability. The identification module identifies a resource associated to a business process by examining the combined probability of a candidate resource with a threshold value. The heuristic routines, thresholds, techniques for combining probabilities and the like are modifiable to accommodate user needs and system changes over time.

US Patent:

7661135, Feb 9, 2010

Filed:

Aug 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/915004

Inventors:

Stephen A. Byrd - San Jose CA, US
Steven Czerwinski - Berkeley CA, US
J. Kristofer Fox - San Luis Obispo CA, US
Bruce Light Hillsberg - San Carlos CA, US
Bernhard Julius Klingenberg - Morgan Hill CA, US
Rajesh Francisco Krishnan - San Jose CA, US
Balaji Thirumalai - Newark CA, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 12/14
G06F 17/00

US Classification:

726 22, 726 11

Abstract:

An apparatus, system, and method are provided for gathering trace data indicative of resource activity on a computer system. The present invention includes a monitoring module that initiates one or more activity monitors on a target computer system to detect different types of resource activity. A determination module determines activity indicators involving resources of the target computer system using the one or more activity monitors. The activity indicators may comprise a variety of information useful in identifying one or more separate resource activities. A collection module organizes the activity indicators into trace data representative of the resource activity. Preferably, the monitoring module, determination module, and collection module operate continuously on the target computer system. In this manner, the trace data includes an accurate set of both current activity indicators as well as historical activity indicators.

US Patent:

8326978, Dec 4, 2012

Filed:

Feb 5, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/701137

Inventors:

Sunil Bharadwaj - Beaverton OR, US
Stephen A. Byrd - San Jose CA, US
David L. Merbach - Rochester MN, US
Kevin J. Webster - Lake Worth FL, US
Li Zhou - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 15/173

US Classification:

709224, 709223

Abstract:

The present disclosure provides techniques for updating fabric alert definitions defined for a fiber channel or other fabric-based network within a storage management system. One embodiment provides techniques for detecting fabric merges, fabric segmentations, and principal switch changes of the fabric and modifying fabric alert definitions as a result of these changes. Thus, any alert definitions scoped by fabric will remain relevant even after fabric structural changes, and duplicate and/or redundant alerts may be reduced within the storage management system. In a further embodiment, detection of fabric changes is performed by first storing relationships between fabrics and switches, and comparing the current relationships between the fabrics and the switches against the stored relationships. Upon recognition of changes within the fabrics, the fabric alert definitions may be automatically analyzed and updated.

US Patent:

8443078, May 14, 2013

Filed:

Aug 20, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/860374

Inventors:

Sunil Bharadwaj - Portland OR, US
Stephen A. Byrd - Sunnyvale CA, US
David L. Merbach - Rochester MN, US
Sumant Padbidri - San Jose CA, US
William Tuminaro - San Jose CA, US
Kevin J. Webster - Lake Worth FL, US
Li Zhou - Fremont CA, US

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 15/173

US Classification:

709224, 709223, 709225, 709226, 370254

Abstract:

Techniques for identifying and selecting equivalent sets of agents with defined capabilities to perform certain actions are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, determining agents to gather information for a storage area network fabric may be performed through the use of fabric discovery operations which identify agents capable of performing various actions within the fabric. From the determined capabilities of the agents, a dynamic capability grid may be populated to assist with the generation of a list of equivalent subsets to perform the various actions. The most efficient set of agents from each equivalent subset may then be selected to perform actions, with other sets of agents in the equivalent subset available as secondary choices in case of an unexpected failure. For example, a fabric probe may be executed in a storage area network using discovered agents from a list of equivalent subsets to most efficiently accomplish network operations such as zoning and topology.

US Patent:

20060036579, Feb 16, 2006

Filed:

Aug 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/915132

Inventors:

Stephen Byrd - San Jose CA, US
Steven Czerwinski - Berkeley CA, US
J. Kristofer Fox - San Luis Obispo CA, US
Bruce Light Hillsberg - San Carlos CA, US
Bernhard Julius Klingenberg - Morgan Hill CA, US
Rajesh Francisco Krishnan - San Jose CA, US
Balaji Thirumalai - Newark CA, US

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707003000

Abstract:

An apparatus, system, and method are provided for associating resources using a time based algorithm. The apparatus comprises an initialization module, a query module, and a resource time module. The initialization module receives a seed identifier that identifies a seed resource. The seed resource may be a data file, an executable file, a directory, or another data structure associated with a logical application or business process. The query module accesses trace data and searches the trace data for a candidate resource that might be linked to the seed resource. The trace data describes a plurality of resource events that occur on a computer or network system. The resource time module selects a candidate resource based on a similar time attribute recorded in the trace data. The similar time attribute may refer to an access time of the candidate resource that is similar to, such as within a time range, an access time of a seed resource or otherwise linked resource. Based on the similar time attribute, the candidate resource may be associated or linked with the seed resource. Together the seed resource and one or more linked resources may form a resource group, which may be associated with a particular logical application or business process.

US Patent:

20060037022, Feb 16, 2006

Filed:

Aug 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/915146

Inventors:

Stephen Byrd - San Jose CA, US
Steven Czerwinski - Berkeley CA, US
J. Fox - San Luis Obispo CA, US
Bruce Hillsberg - San Carlos CA, US
Bernhard Klingenberg - Morgan Hill CA, US
Rajesh Krishnan - San Jose CA, US
Balaji Thirumalai - Newark CA, US

International Classification:

G06F 9/46

US Classification:

718104000

Abstract:

An apparatus, system, and method are provided for automatically discovering and grouping files and other resources used by a business process. The present invention includes a monitoring module that collects trace data representative of operational behavior of software applications. An analysis module analyzes the trace data to discover resources affiliated with the business process. A determination module defines a logical application corresponding to the business process and includes the resources discovered by the analysis module. The logical application is automatically defined such that business policies may be readily implemented on the logical application as a whole. Manual identification of resources for a business process is eliminated or substantially reduced.

US Patent:

20060059118, Mar 16, 2006

Filed:

Aug 10, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/914866

Inventors:

Stephen Byrd - San Jose CA, US
Steven Czerwinski - Berkeley CA, US
J. Fox - San Luis Obispo CA, US
Bruce Hillsberg - San Carlos CA, US
Bernhard Klingenberg - Morgan Hill CA, US
Rajesh Krishnan - San Jose CA, US
Balaji Thirumalai - Newark CA, US

International Classification:

G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707003000

Abstract:

An apparatus, system, and method are provided for associating resources using a behavior based algorithm. The apparatus comprises an initialization module, a query module, and a resource behavior module. The initialization module receives a seed identifier that identifies a seed resource. The seed resource may be a data file, an executable, file, a directory, or another data structure associated with a logical application or business process. The query module accesses trace data and searches the trace data for a candidate resource that might be linked to the seed resource. The trace data describes a plurality of resource events that occur on a computer or network system. The resource behavior module is configured to select a candidate resource based on a common resource event recorded in the trace data. The common resource event is an operation that involves both the seed resource and the candidate resource. Based on the common resource event, the candidate resource may be associated or linked with the seed resource. Together the seed resource and one or more linked resources may form a resource group, which may be associated with a particular logical application or business process.

US Patent:

20130163436, Jun 27, 2013

Filed:

Dec 4, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/693291

Inventors:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY, US
Stephen A. Byrd - San Jose CA, US
David L. Merbach - Rochester MN, US
Kevin J. Webster - Lake Worth FL, US
Li Zhou - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H04L 12/24

US Classification:

370241

Abstract:

For automatic updates to fabric alert definitions, a method monitors fabric alert definitions defined for a storage area network having a plurality of switches and a plurality of fabrics. The fabric alert definitions define alert conditions within the storage area network relevant to events occurring within one or more of the plurality of fabrics. The method further detects one or more changes to the plurality of fabrics by discovering relationships between each fabric and each switch within the storage area network and comparing current relationships against previous relationships. In addition, the method automatically modifies fabric alert definitions having a reference to changed fabrics responsive to detection of the one or more changes to the plurality of fabrics.