Patents Assigned to Imation Corp.
  • Publication number: 20120311258
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for maintaining immutable data in an archiving system using random access memory. To ensure data is immutable, novel pointers are maintained in the hardware/firmware of the drive ports and on the removable disk drives. For example, a hardware/firmware in a modular drive bay maintains a pointer to a memory address in the removable disk drive memory that cannot write to a memory block that precedes the pointer. Data may only be stored after the pointer in the removable disk drive. As such, once data is written to the removable disk drive, the data cannot be overwritten although the removable disk drive employs random access memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Bondurant, Mark Payne, S. Christopher Alaimo
  • Patent number: 8321353
    Abstract: A method of improving electronic security establishes a secure trusted path between a user and an institution seeking an electronic signature to verify a transaction before any request for signature and completing electronic transaction activities occurs. The secure trusted path providing the user with a first predetermined portion of a branded watermark, for instance an advertisement, provided from the institution in conjunction with the request, and a second predetermined portion of the branded watermark being provided upon a personalized device that cannot be intercepted or manipulated by malware, allowing the user to verify that the request as displayed upon the user's primary computing device is valid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Laurence Hamid, Darren Krahn
  • Patent number: 8321953
    Abstract: A system to authorize access to secured data storage can comprise a user interface configured to receive a user code offline from a user to allow access to stored data, circuitry configured to authorize access to the stored data based, at least in part, on the user code and provide access to the stored data, and a storage system configured to store the stored data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: David Alexander Jevans
  • Patent number: 8305706
    Abstract: Embodiments presented herein provide a removable disk library system. The removable disk library system, in embodiments, comprises an array of removable disk drive bays and a movable connector system. Each removable disk drive bay can hold a removable disk drive cartridge. The movable connector system can be positioned behind the array of removable disk drive bays where the movable connector system can access the connector of the removable disk drive cartridges. In embodiments, the movable connector system includes a movable connector assembly that can automatically connect to the connector at the rear of the removable disk drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Randy Kerns, Michael H. Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20120262817
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for creating a remnant magnetization on a magnetic tape medium. The magnetic tape is first substantially demagnetized, e.g., erased, by an erasure unit having multiple magnetic elements of alternating polarity. The erased magnetic tape is then passed by a bias magnet that creates a remnant magnetization on the magnetic tape. The remnant magnetized magnetic tape is then passed through a servo write head that writes servo patterns to the remnant magnetized magnetic tape. The bias magnet may be housed within the erasure unit or within a bias unit, and the distance between the bias magnet and the tape path of the magnetic tape may be adjustable to create the desired remnant magnetization on the magnetic tape. The remnant magnetization created on the magnetic tape may be greater than 20 percent to reduce defects in the servo pattern written to the magnetic tape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Wayne P. Schaefer, Thu D. DePuydt, Bruce H. Edwards, Gregory W. Visich
  • Patent number: 8291179
    Abstract: Embodiments of archival storage system are disclosed. The archival storage system includes one or more removable disk drives that provide random access and are readily expandable. In embodiments, some or all of the data within the removable disk drive(s) is immutable. The archiving system creates a designation for the data representing the data as having Write Once Read Many (WORM) protection. Actions associated with the data may be received and determined to be read accesses. If the actions are something other than a read access, the archiving system, in embodiments, prevents the action on the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Bondurant, Payman Dadashpour
  • Patent number: 8286158
    Abstract: According to the invention, a first executable environment is provided. The first executable environment is for execution within an operating system environment of a host computer system. The first executable environment is not an emulator for emulating any of another processor and another operating system. A software application is provided for installation and execution within the operating system environment. The software application is for fixed installation and not for installation in a portable fashion for being ported from one host computer system to another. The software application is then installed within the first executable environment, the installed software application installed within a removable peripheral memory storage device for execution within the first executable environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Laurence Hamid, Marc Charbonneau
  • Publication number: 20120238113
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, an exemplary locking mechanism for a USB connector comprises a hook, a hook bracket at least partially inserted within the hook to form a first assembly, a holder, the holder enclosing at least a portion of the first assembly to form a second assembly, and a button, the button enclosing at least a portion of the second assembly to form the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may further comprise a spring fitted around a protruding portion of the hook bracket, the protruding portion extending outward from the first assembly. The locking mechanism may further comprise one or more screws attaching the first assembly to the holder to form the second assembly. The locking mechanism may include a cap enclosing at least a portion of the button to form a locking cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Mark McSweeney, Chung-Sheng Chen
  • Publication number: 20120233358
    Abstract: A portable desktop device and method for host computer system hardware recognition and configuration are provided. The portable desktop device once authenticated provides access to a portable desktop application that provides a beat signal to the portable desktop device. In an absence of the beat signal, the portable desktop device prevents access to the portable desktop application and/or data associated therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: Imation Corp
    Inventor: Laurence Hamid
  • Patent number: 8266378
    Abstract: A detachable storage device can comprise a memory, circuitry, and a user interface. The memory may comprise a storage partition. The circuitry may be configured to authorize access to the storage partition to a digital device when the detachable storage device is coupled to the digital device based, at least in part, on a user code. The user interface may be configured to receive the user code while the detachable storage device is within a detached state and provide the user code to the circuitry to allow access to the storage partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: David Alexander Jevans, Gil Spencer
  • Patent number: 8266683
    Abstract: A method of secure communication involves determining that a remote system is trusted prior to authorizing secure communication therewith. A removable security device is coupled with a first system. When the first system communicates with a remote system securely, the remote system is evaluated to ensure that it is a trusted remote system prior to secure communication therewith being allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: Laurence Hamid
  • Patent number: 8266350
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for a portable peripheral memory storage device. The peripheral memory storage device is coupled with a workstation. In a first mode of operation, a portion of the peripheral memory storage device is mounted on the workstation for operation therewith as a storage medium in a first mode of operation. In a second other mode of operation data within the peripheral memory storage device is used to support a personal desktop on the workstation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: Laurence Hamid
  • Patent number: 8250088
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a unique and novel archiving system that includes two or more network storage systems, each network storage system including removable hard disk drives embedded in removable disk cartridges, referred to simply as removable disk drives. The removable disk drives allow for expandability and replacement such that the archiving system need not be duplicated to add new or more storage capacity. In embodiments, the archiving system accesses, writes, reads, or performs functions on data from one network storage system to another remote network storage system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Bondurant, S. Christopher Alaimo
  • Publication number: 20120198137
    Abstract: A method for making memory more reliable involves accessing data stored in a removable storage device by translating a logical memory address provided by a host digital device to a physical memory address in the device. A logical memory address is received from the host digital device. The logical memory address corresponds to a location of data stored on the removable storage device. A physical memory address corresponding to the local address is determined by accessing a lookup table corresponding to the logical zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: Arunprasad Ramiya Mothilal
  • Publication number: 20120188704
    Abstract: A removable hard disk drive storage system includes a data storage cartridge having a write protect switch, and a reader configured to couple to and read data from the data storage cartridge. The reader includes a physical block that aligns with the write protect switch of the data storage cartridge. The physical block aligns with the write protect switch of the data storage cartridge to prevent the reader from coupling to the data storage cartridge when the write protect switch is in a write protect position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: Robert C. Martin
  • Patent number: 8228637
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method for creating a remanence magnetization on a magnetic tape medium. The magnetic tape is first substantially demagnetized, e.g., erased, by an erasure unit having multiple magnetic elements of alternating polarity. The erased magnetic tape is then passed by a bias magnet that creates a remanence magnetization on the magnetic tape. The remanence magnetized magnetic tape is then passed through a servo write head that writes servo patterns to the remanence magnetized magnetic tape. The bias magnet may be housed within the erasure unit or within a bias unit, and the distance between the bias magnet and the tape path of the magnetic tape may be adjustable to create the desired remanence magnetization on the magnetic tape. The remanence magnetization created on the magnetic tape may be greater than 20 percent to reduce defects in the servo pattern written to the magnetic tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Wayne P. Schaefer, Thu D. DePuydt, Bruce H. Edwards, Gregory W. Visich
  • Publication number: 20120144102
    Abstract: A flash memory based storage device may utilize magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) as at least one of a device memory, a buffer, or high write volume storage. In some embodiments, a processor of the storage device may compare a logical block address of a data file to a plurality of logical block addresses stored in a write frequency file buffer table and causes the data file to be written to the high write volume MRAM when the logical block address of the data file matches at least one of the plurality of logical block addresses stored in the write frequency file buffer table. In other embodiments, upon cessation of power to the storage device, the MRAM buffer stores the data until power is restored, after which the processor causes the buffered data to be written to the flash memory under control of the flash memory controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: IMATION CORP.
    Inventors: Denis J. Langlois, Alan R. Olson
  • Publication number: 20120137071
    Abstract: According to the disclosure, a unique and novel archiving system that provides one or more application layer partitions to archive data is disclosed. Embodiments include an active archive including a fixed storage. The active archive can create application layer partitions that associate the application layer partitions with portions of the fixed storage. Each application layer partition, in embodiments, has a separate set of controls that allow for customized storage of different data within a single archiving system. Further, embodiments of methods for ensuring storage capacity in the active archive and the application layer partitions within the active archive is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Bondurant, S. Christopher Alaimo, Randy Kerns
  • Patent number: 8176295
    Abstract: A method for making memory more reliable involves accessing data stored in a removable storage device by translating a logical memory address provided by a host digital device to a physical memory address in the device. A logical memory address is received from the host digital device. The logical memory address corresponds to a location of data stored on the removable storage device. A physical memory address corresponding to the local address is determined by accessing a lookup table corresponding to the logical zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventor: Arunprasad Ramiya Mothilal
  • Patent number: 8171244
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for maintaining immutable data in an archiving system using random access memory. To ensure data is immutable, novel pointers are maintained in the hardware/firmware of the drive ports and on the removable disk drives. For example, a hardware/firmware in a modular drive bay maintains a pointer to a memory address in the removable disk drive memory that cannot write to a memory block that precedes the pointer. Data may only be stored after the pointer in the removable disk drive. As such, once data is written to the removable disk drive, the data cannot be overwritten although the removable disk drive employs random access memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Bondurant, Mark Payne, S. Christopher Alaimo