William W Chow

Title: The Innovations of William W. Chow

Introduction

William W. Chow is a notable inventor based in Upland, California. He has made significant contributions to the field of computer systems, particularly in filesystem management within computer clusters. With a total of 2 patents to his name, Chow's work has had a lasting impact on the efficiency and reliability of data storage systems.

Latest Patents

Chow's latest patents include innovative methods for ensuring filesystem failover and data integrity in a single system image environment. The first patent, titled "Filesystem failover in a single system image environment," describes a method and apparatus for the transparent failover of a filesystem within a computer cluster. This invention allows for a filesystem to be physically connected to both an active server node and a standby server node. The cluster file system monitors operations on the filesystem, ensuring that if the active server node fails, processes are paused, and the filesystem is relocated to the standby node. This process ensures minimal disruption and maintains operational continuity.

The second patent, "Filesystem data integrity in a single system image environment," focuses on protecting filesystem data integrity within a computer cluster. This system utilizes redundant data caches at client and server nodes, optimizing the caching of filesystem data. By ensuring that non-shared files are cached at client nodes, the system enhances performance and safeguards against data loss during node failures. Shared files are cached at both the server node and a backup cache node, providing an additional layer of protection for modified filesystem data.

Career Highlights

William W. Chow has worked at Compaq Computer Corporation, Inc., where he has been able to apply his innovative ideas in a practical setting. His contributions to the company have helped advance the technology used in computer systems, particularly in the realm of data management and reliability.

Collaborations

Chow has collaborated with notable colleagues such as Bruce J. Walker and David B. Zafman. Their combined expertise has likely contributed to the successful development of Chow's patents and innovations.

Conclusion

William W. Chow's work in filesystem management has significantly advanced the reliability and efficiency of computer systems. His patents reflect a deep understanding of the challenges faced in data integrity and failover protection, making him a valuable contributor to the field of technology.