US5129088A — Data processing method to create virtual disks fr…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 271 words

A data processing method executed by a computerized data processing system for storing groups of related information in a storage subsystem of said system in which the subsystem includes one or more storage devices having a plurality of block addressable storage locations, each of which stores a predetermined fixed number of bytes of said information, said method including the following combination of sequential steps; A) establishing a plurality of addressable physical partitions from at least one of said storage devices, each of which comprises a predetermined number of said storage locations. B) initially allocating a preselected number of said partitions for one of said groups of related information, from said plurality of established partitions including the step of, (1) determining the minimum number of partitions required to store said one group of related information by reference to said predetermined number and the byte size in bytes of said one group, C) storing said one group in said minimum number of partitions, D) repeating steps B and C for each said group of related information whereby any one of said groups of related information stored in said minimum number of partitions may have said minimum number of partitions on different ones of said storage devices, and E) automatically allocating additional said partitions located physically on any one of said storage devices including the step of dynamically logically combining said additional partitions with said previously allocated said group of partitions to store additional information related to said information stored in said group, without changing the storage locations of previously stored said groups; and wherein said storage locations are addressable in a non-sequential order.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 271 words

A data processing method executed by a computerized data processing system for storing groups of related information in a storage subsystem of said system in which the subsystem includes one or more storage devices having a plurality of block addressable storage locations, each of which stores a predetermined fixed number of bytes of said information, said method including the following combination of sequential steps; A) establishing a plurality of addressable physical partitions from at least one of said storage devices, each of which comprises a predetermined number of said storage locations. B) initially allocating a preselected number of said partitions for one of said groups of related information, from said plurality of established partitions including the step of, (1) determining the minimum number of partitions required to store said one group of related information by reference to said predetermined number and the byte size in bytes of said one group, C) storing said one group in said minimum number of partitions, D) repeating steps B and C for each said group of related information whereby any one of said groups of related information stored in said minimum number of partitions may have said minimum number of partitions on different ones of said storage devices, and E) automatically allocating additional said partitions located physically on any one of said storage devices including the step of dynamically logically combining said additional partitions with said previously allocated said group of partitions to store additional information related to said information stored in said group, without changing the storage locations of previously stored said groups; and wherein said storage locations are addressable in a non-sequential order.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method recited in claim 1 further including the step of F) establishing a Logical Volume data structure for identifying the plurality of said partitions that have been allocated to store individual files within the group of related information.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 210 words

A method executed by a computerized data processing system for storing groups of related information files in said system having a plurality of storage devices with block addressable storage locations, said method including the following combination of sequential steps; A) establishing a plurality of physically non-contiguous logically contiguous addressable identifiable physical partitions within said plurality of storage devices, each one of said partitions comprises a predetermined fixed number of said block addressable storage locations of said storage devices, said storage locations being addressable in non-sequential order, B) selecting said predetermined number in accordance with a size of individual files in a related group, C) assigning a least number of identified physical partitions, from any one of said storage devices, required for storing each said group of related information files, D) storing each said group in said least number of identified said partitions, whereby any one of said groups is stored in said least number of partitions on different ones of said storage devices, and E) automatically allocating additional said partitions located physically on any said device including the step of dynamically logically combining said additional partitions with said previously allocated partitions assigned to said group of partitions to store additional information related to said information files stored in said group.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 210 words

A method executed by a computerized data processing system for storing groups of related information files in said system having a plurality of storage devices with block addressable storage locations, said method including the following combination of sequential steps; A) establishing a plurality of physically non-contiguous logically contiguous addressable identifiable physical partitions within said plurality of storage devices, each one of said partitions comprises a predetermined fixed number of said block addressable storage locations of said storage devices, said storage locations being addressable in non-sequential order, B) selecting said predetermined number in accordance with a size of individual files in a related group, C) assigning a least number of identified physical partitions, from any one of said storage devices, required for storing each said group of related information files, D) storing each said group in said least number of identified said partitions, whereby any one of said groups is stored in said least number of partitions on different ones of said storage devices, and E) automatically allocating additional said partitions located physically on any said device including the step of dynamically logically combining said additional partitions with said previously allocated partitions assigned to said group of partitions to store additional information related to said information files stored in said group.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 62 words

The method recited in claim 3 in which said system has an operating system including an install system utility and a create system utility including the further step of F) creating a volume group by allocating one or more physical storage devices with an indication of the partition size and the identity of said volume group by executing said create system utility.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 68 words

The method recited in claim 3 in which said system has an operating system including an install system utility and a create system utility including the further step of G) creating a Logical Volume comprising a plurality of identified partitions for storing a said group of files by issuing a said create system utility with an indication of the identity of said group of files to be installed.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method recited in claim 4 including the further step of H) installing a said group of related information files on said devices by issuing an install system call with an indication of the identity of said group to be installed.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method recited in claim 5 including the further step of I) determining the least number of partitions required to store said one group of related information by reference to said predetermined number of blocks and the byte size in bytes of said one group.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 133 words

A method executed in a computerized data processing system for utilizing disk blocks on a plurality of physical storage devices in said system, said method comprising: A) creating a logical volume having a size of a least number of physical partitions, each having a predetermined fixed number of disk blocks, required for storing a plurality of files within a related group of information; and B) automatically increasing the size of said logical volume by allocating an additional at least one physical partition, from any one of said storage devices, to said created logical volume, when any one of said plurality of files increase in size, whereby said logical volume of said related group of information spans said plurality of physical storage devices; and where said storing of said files is in non-sequential order.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 133 words

A method executed in a computerized data processing system for utilizing disk blocks on a plurality of physical storage devices in said system, said method comprising: A) creating a logical volume having a size of a least number of physical partitions, each having a predetermined fixed number of disk blocks, required for storing a plurality of files within a related group of information; and B) automatically increasing the size of said logical volume by allocating an additional at least one physical partition, from any one of said storage devices, to said created logical volume, when any one of said plurality of files increase in size, whereby said logical volume of said related group of information spans said plurality of physical storage devices; and where said storing of said files is in non-sequential order.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 3 wherein said step of creating comprises the further step of establishing each of said plurality of partitions from physically contiguous addressable blocks within a single disk.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 107 words

A method executed in a computerized data processing system for non-sequentially utilizing storage space on a plurality of non-sequential, tapeless physical disks in said system, said method comprising: (A) creating a logical volume; (B) specifying an initial number of partitions from a first disk for said created logical volume; (C) automatically allocating at least one of a plurality of additional partitions for said created logical volume when additional storage space is needed, wherein said allocated additional partitions reside on different ones of said plurality of non-sequential, tapeless physical disk; and further comprising the step of (D) storing files of data in said storage space in non-sequential order.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 107 words

A method executed in a computerized data processing system for non-sequentially utilizing storage space on a plurality of non-sequential, tapeless physical disks in said system, said method comprising: (A) creating a logical volume; (B) specifying an initial number of partitions from a first disk for said created logical volume; (C) automatically allocating at least one of a plurality of additional partitions for said created logical volume when additional storage space is needed, wherein said allocated additional partitions reside on different ones of said plurality of non-sequential, tapeless physical disk; and further comprising the step of (D) storing files of data in said storage space in non-sequential order.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method of claim 9 wherein said step of creating said logical volume comprises the further step of creating a partition map for specifying one of said plurality of physical disks, and for specifying a location of each one of said plurality of partitions on a corresponding one of said plurality of physical disks.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 79 words

A method executed by a computerized data processing system of utilizing addressable block storage locations on a plurality of physical storage devices, said method comprising: (A) combining a plurality of non-contiguous groups of logically contiguous addressable block storage locations spanning said plurality of storage devices to create a virtual disk; and (E) addressing said non-contiguous groups of addressable block storage locations as if said non-contiguous groups were contiguous; and (C) accessing said addressable block storage locations in non-sequential order.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 79 words

A method executed by a computerized data processing system of utilizing addressable block storage locations on a plurality of physical storage devices, said method comprising: (A) combining a plurality of non-contiguous groups of logically contiguous addressable block storage locations spanning said plurality of storage devices to create a virtual disk; and (E) addressing said non-contiguous groups of addressable block storage locations as if said non-contiguous groups were contiguous; and (C) accessing said addressable block storage locations in non-sequential order.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 135 words

A data processing system having a plurality of physical storage devices, said data processing system comprising: means for creating a logical volume having a size of a least number of physical partitions, each having a predetermined fixed number of disk blocks, required for storing a plurality of files within a related group of information; and means for automatically increasing the size of said logical volume wherein said means for increasing said size includes means for allocating an additional at least one physical partition, from any one of said storage devices, to said created logical volume, when any one of said plurality of files increases in size, whereby said logical volume of said related group of information spans said plurality of physical storage devices; and means for non-sequential storing of said files in said storage devices.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 135 words

A data processing system having a plurality of physical storage devices, said data processing system comprising: means for creating a logical volume having a size of a least number of physical partitions, each having a predetermined fixed number of disk blocks, required for storing a plurality of files within a related group of information; and means for automatically increasing the size of said logical volume wherein said means for increasing said size includes means for allocating an additional at least one physical partition, from any one of said storage devices, to said created logical volume, when any one of said plurality of files increases in size, whereby said logical volume of said related group of information spans said plurality of physical storage devices; and means for non-sequential storing of said files in said storage devices.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 124 words

A method executed by a computerized data processing system for utilizing storage space on a plurality of physical disks in a processing system having a volume group, said method comprising (a) creating a logical volume; (b) specifying an initial number of partitions from a first disk for said created logical volume; (c) dynamically allocating on different ones of said plurality of disks at least one of a plurality of additional partitions for said created logical volume when additional storage space is needed, where said dynamic allocation comprises monitoring free space in said volume group; and installing a physical volume into said volume group as a function of said monitoring; and wherein said method further comprises storing files in said storage space in non-sequential order.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 124 words

A method executed by a computerized data processing system for utilizing storage space on a plurality of physical disks in a processing system having a volume group, said method comprising (a) creating a logical volume; (b) specifying an initial number of partitions from a first disk for said created logical volume; (c) dynamically allocating on different ones of said plurality of disks at least one of a plurality of additional partitions for said created logical volume when additional storage space is needed, where said dynamic allocation comprises monitoring free space in said volume group; and installing a physical volume into said volume group as a function of said monitoring; and wherein said method further comprises storing files in said storage space in non-sequential order.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 14 wherein said installing is in response to a system call.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 11 words

The method of claim 15 wherein said system call is INSALLPV.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 14 further including creating one of said logical volumes in response to said installing said physical volume.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 17 further including allocating physical space for said one of said logical volumes.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 17 wherein said step of creating said one of said logical volumes is in response to a system call.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 19 wherein said system call is create CREATELV.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 14 further including extending an existing one of said logical volumes in response to said installing said physical volume.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 14 wherein said system includes at least one file system and wherein data structures in said file system are modified in response to said installing of said physical volume.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 21 wherein said system includes at least one file system and wherein data structures in said file system are modified in response to said extending of said logical volume.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-07-07	1996-01-06	1996-07-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-07-07	2000-01-06	2000-07-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-07-07	2004-01-06	2004-07-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Data processing method to create virtual disks from non-contiguous groups of logically contiguous addressable blocks of direct access storage device

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