Abstract: A method to provide information from a first information storage and retrieval system to a second information storage and retrieval system. Applicants' method provides a first information storage and retrieval system, where that first information storage and retrieval system comprises (N) PPRC adapters and information, and provides a second information storage and retrieval system. The method generates and saves an Established Path Bitmap which recites each of the (N) PPRC adapters, and generates an Available Path Bitmap. If a PPRC adapter is in communication with the secondary information storage and retrieval system, then the method adds that adapter to the Available Path Bitmap. The Established Path Bitmap and the Available Path Bitmap are used for subsequent PPRC operations.

Abstract: A method to rebuild an NVS image is disclosed. The method provides information to a first cluster of an information storage and retrieval system, and writes that information to a non-volatile storage device disposed in a second cluster. Upon losing utility power to all or part of the information storage and retrieval system, the method provides back-up power to a processor and a data cache, and determines if the information written to the second non-volatile storage device is accessible. If the information written to the second non-volatile storage device is accessible, then the method copies the image of that second non-volatile storage device to an external storage device. If the information written to said second non-volatile storage device is not accessible, then the method creates a virtual NVS image using the information disposed in a local data cache, and copies that virtual NVS image to an external storage device.

Abstract: A method to provide information from a first information storage and retrieval system to a second information storage and retrieval system, where the first information storage and retrieval system comprises (N) PPRC adapters and information. The method generates and saves an Established Path Bitmap which recites the (N) PPRC adapters, and generates an Available Path Bitmap. If a PPRC adapter is in communication with the secondary storage system, then the method adds that adapter to the Available Path Bitmap. The primary information storage and retrieval system generates a PPRC task comprising a flag set to “off”. The method copies the Available Path Bitmap as a Working Bitmap, and generates a PPRC request comprising a flag set to “on”, selects one of the adapters recited in the Working Bitmap, and provides the PPRC request to that selected adapter. The method then once attempts to provide information to the second information storage and retrieval system using the selected adapter.

Abstract: The method forms a plurality of DMA data payloads each comprising a plurality of first sectors, and sends to a sector format conversion device one or more of those DMA data payloads. The method then overlays the (i)th DMA data payload onto part or all of a plurality of second sectors to form the (i)th converted DMA data payload, enqueues that (i)th converted DMA data payload in a data queue, transmits that (i)th converted DMA data payload to a data storage device, and writes the (i)th converted DMA data payload to an information storage medium.

Abstract: A method to copy information to two data storage devices. The method provides a first data storage device and a second data storage device, where the first data storage device is capable of communicating with the second data storage device. The method provides first information and a write command to the first data storage device at a first time. The method determines if the write command comprises a synchronous copy attribute. If the write command comprises a synchronous copy attribute, then the method synchronously provides the first information to the second data storage device. Alternatively, if the write command does not comprise a synchronous copy attribute, then the method provides the first information to the second data storage device at a second time, where that second time is later than the first time.

Abstract: A three-dimensional page protector comprising a pocket defining a partially-enclosed space, where that pocket comprises a first length, a first width, a height, and a first side. The three-dimensional page protector further includes a longitudinal edge continuously attached to the first side of the pocket, where that longitudinal edge has the first length and a second width, where the first width is greater than said second width, and where the longitudinal edge is formed to include one or more through-bores.

Abstract: A power supply module removably disposed within an automated data storage and retrieval system. An automated data storage and retrieval system which includes one or more power supply modules removably disposed therein. An accessor movably disposed with an automated data storage and retrieval system comprising a gripper mechanism which can be releaseably attached to a power supply module. A method to supply power to an automated data storage and retrieval system. A method to monitor the operation of a power supply module removably disposed within an automated data storage and retrieval system.

Abstract: A method to resolve the stereoisomers of an optically active compound comprising an amine moiety. The method provides a mixture comprising two stereoisomers of a compound comprising a amine moiety. The method supplies l-fenchyloxyacetic acid, treats the mixture of stereoisomers with that l-fenchyloxyacetic acid, and collects one of those two stereoisomers having greater than a 99 percent enantiomeric excess.

Abstract: A method to convert a plurality of sectors from a first sector format to a second sector format is disclosed. The method provides (N) contiguous first sectors comprising a first sector format to a sector format conversion device which includes a buffer and a data queue, where those (N) first sectors comprise a first number of bytes, and determines that (M) contiguous second sectors, comprising a second sector format, comprise at least the first number of bytes. The method overlays the (i)th first sector onto part or all of the (j)th second sector, and enqueues the newly-overlain (j)th second sector. The method then transmits the newly-overlain (j)th second sector to a data storage device, and writes that (j)th overlain second sector to an information storage medium.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed to convert data from a first sector format to a second sector format. The sector format conversion device includes a processor, and microcode which causes the processor to overlay (N) first sectors having a first sector format onto (M) second sectors having a second sector format, where that sector format conversion device does not include an operating system comprising a user mode and a kernel mode.

Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation emitting bulb, comprising a housing; one or more power input terminals disposed on that housing; a voltage converter disposed within the housing, where the voltage converter is electrically connected to the one or more power input terminals; and one or more electromagnetic radiation emitting devices disposed within the housing, where those one or more electromagnetic radiation emitting devices are electrically connected to the voltage converter. A method to emit electromagnetic radiation from a hand-carried device comprising an electromagnetic radiation emitting bulb and one or more battery cells. The method supplies first DC power having a first voltage from the one or more battery cells to the bulb, converts within the bulb the first DC power to second DC power having a second voltage, supplies within the bulb the second DC power to one or more electromagnetic radiation emitting /devices, and emits electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to preserve data integrity during loss of power to an information storage and retrieval system. Applicants' method converts a plurality of sectors having a first sector format to a plurality of sectors having a second sector format. If a power failure warning is received during the sector format conversion process, the method prefetches the next second sector, overlays the next first sector onto part of all of that prefetched second sector, and saves the newly-written second sector before loss of utility power. After restoration of utility power to the information storage and retrieval system, Applicants' method writes that newly-written second sector to an information storage medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to dynamically adjust the amplitude of a signal comprising information read from an information storage medium. The method first forms (N) digital signals comprising information read from an information storage medium. The method provides a first signal comprising information read an information storage medium, wherein that first signal is one of the (N) digital signals. The method provides a first gain level, and calculates a first gain adjusted signal comprising the multiplication product of the first signal and the first gain level. To dynamically adjust that gain level, Applicants' method determines a gain error. Using that gain error, Applicants' method then calculates a second gain level by multiplying the gain error times a multiplier coefficient, and adding that multiplication product to the first gain level.

Abstract: An accessor moveably disposed within a data storage and retrieval system, where that accessor includes an information input/output device and a power supply connector disposed on a gripper mechanism such that the information input/output device and the power supply connector can be releaseably coupled/connected to an information input/output port and a power port, respectively, disposed on a hard disk drive unit disposed in a storage slot within the data storage and retrieval system. A data storage and retrieval system which includes one or more of Applicants' accessors, one or more hard disk disposed in one or more hard disk drive units each of which includes an information input/output port in communication with that hard disk, and an information transfer station in communication with a host computer, wherein that information transfer station can communicate with Applicants' accessor(s).

Abstract: A method for peer-to-peer system recovery, where the peer-to-peer system comprises a plurality of virtual tape controllers in communication with a first virtual tape server and with a second virtual tape server. The method generates a shutdown key, saves that shutdown key in each of the plurality of virtual tape controllers, and takes both virtual tape servers out of operation. Subsequently, the method returns one of the virtual tape servers to operation. Each virtual tape controller decides whether to place that operational virtual tape server on-line, and determines if the number of virtual tape controllers electing to place the operational virtual tape server on-line is greater than a pre-determined VTC agreement threshold. If the number of virtual tape controllers electing to place the operational virtual tape server on-line is greater than the VTC agreement threshold, then the method places the peer-to-peer system on-line using only the operational virtual tape server.

Abstract: A method to convert a plurality of sectors from a first sector format to a second sector format is disclosed. The method provides (N) contiguous first sectors to a sector format conversion device, where those (N) first sectors include a beginning first sector and a first number of bytes, and determines that (M) contiguous second sectors comprise at least the first number of bytes, where those (M) contiguous sectors include a beginning second sector and an ending second sector. The method overlays the beginning first sector onto the beginning second sector, and overlays the (i)th first sector onto part or all of the (j)th second sector. The method then transmits the newly-formed (j)th second sector to a data storage device, and writes that (j)th second sector to an information storage medium.

Abstract: A method to treat an animal, including a human, having a solid tumor. The method provides a lipophilic lathyrogen. The method administers a therapeutically effective amount of the lipophilic lathyrogen within the solid tumor.