Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a scanner, a hard disk drive in which a region at which data is stored is divided into a plurality of regions by partitions, a pointer setting unit in which a first pointer for storing image data generated on the basis of an image read by the scanner at one region of the plurality of regions, and a plurality of second pointers which are provided so as to correspond to the regions other than the region in order to store data other than the image data at regions other than the region are set, and a pointer replacing unit configured to replace the first pointer with one pointer of the plurality of second pointers in predetermined timings.

Abstract: Sensitive data structures, such as type data structures, can be used by untrusted application programs without necessarily exposing the sensitive data structures directly. For example, untrusted components, such as application programs that may or may not be type safe, can be allowed to operate in a lower-privilege mode. In addition, the application programs can be associated with an address space with limited permissions (e.g., read-only) to a shared memory heap. Requests by the untrusted components for sensitive data structures can then be handled by trusted components operating in a higher-privilege mode, which may have broader permissions to the shared memory heap. If the requests by the untrusted components are deemed to be valid, the results of the requests can be shared with the lower-privilege mode components through the shared memory heap.

Abstract: Data in less than all of the pages of a non-volatile memory block are updated by programming the new data in unused pages of either the same or another block. In order to prevent having to copy unchanged pages of data into the new block, or to program flags into superceded pages of data, the pages of new data are identified by the same logical address as the pages of data which they superceded and a time stamp is added to note when each page was written. When reading the data, the most recent pages of data are used and the older superceded pages of data are ignored. This technique is also applied to metablocks that include one block from each of several different units of a memory array, by directing all page updates to a single unused block in one of the units.

Abstract: Even when a host does not give a write time to write data, consistency can be kept among data stored in secondary storage systems. The present system has plural primary storage systems each having a source volume and plural secondary storage systems each having a target volume. Once data is received from a host, each of the plural storage systems creates write-data management information having sequential numbers and reference information and sends, to one of the primary storage systems, the data, sequential number and reference information. Each of the secondary storage systems records reference information corresponding to the largest sequential number among serial sequential numbers and stores, in a target volume in an order of sequential numbers, data corresponding to reference information having a value smaller than the reference information based on the smallest value reference information among reference information recorded in each of the plural secondary storage systems.

Abstract: A flash-memory cache card caches data that a host writes to a hard disk drive. A flash-memory array has physical blocks of flash memory arranged into first and second data areas having M blocks each, and a wear-leveling-counter pool. An incoming logical sector address (LSA) from a host is mapped to one of M entries in a RAM lookup table using a hash of modulo M. The RAM entry stores a mapping to a physical block in a foreground area that is either the first or the second data area. Pages in the physical block are read for a matching LSA that indicates a cache hit. Full pages are written back to the hard disk and erased in the background while the other data area becomes the foreground area. A new physical block with a low wear-level count is selected from blocks in the new foreground area.

Abstract: A method includes storing first and second sets of parameters in a register. Each set of parameters defines a storage transaction to store data to a computer readable medium or a retrieval transaction to retrieve data from the computer readable medium. The first storage or retrieval transaction is performed according to the first set of parameters. The second set of parameters is retrieved from the register automatically when the first storage or retrieval transaction is completed, without waiting for a further command from a control processor. The second storage or retrieval transaction is performed according to the retrieved second set of parameters. A system for performing the method and a computer readable medium containing pseudocode for generating an application specific integrated circuit that performs the method are provided.

Abstract: Host environment information of the host is acquired from an environment management section that manages the host environment information, a designation of a volume condition constituting a condition related to the logical volume is received from the user, a logical volume that conforms to the designated condition among a plurality of logical volumes is sought, an internal path which is a logical path in the storage system is constructed by allocating the logical volume thus found to any of the plurality of communication ports, and the acquired host environment information is allocated to at least one of the communication ports and logical volumes in the internal path thus constructed.

Abstract: A controller and operation method for RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) is provided. The controller includes a receiving module, a splitting module, a sorting module and a transceiver. And the operation method includes the following steps. First, at least one read/write command is received from a command source. Next, the read/write command is translated into a plurality of instructions. Sequentially, the instructions are sorted after the execution sequence of the instructions is analyzed. And then, the instructions are transmitted to a plurality of data storages correspondingly. Finally, an IRQ (Interrupt Request) signal is received from each of the data storages.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an HDD functional test apparatus which can test an HDD in a shorter time by increasing the amount of transfer per command without using a larger memory resource. In one embodiment, a data storage device test apparatus comprises a storage section to store original data; a data generating section which generates transfer data, larger in size than the original data, for each command to a data storage device by repeatedly using the original data; and a transfer section which transfers the generated transfer data to the data storage device.

Abstract: A method includes assigning each of a plurality of disk write and disk read requests to respective ones of a plurality of queues. Each queue has an occupancy level and a weight. A score is assigned to each of the plurality of queues, based on the occupancy and weight of the respective queue. An operation type is selected to be granted a next disk access. The selection is from the group consisting of disk write, disk read, and processor request. One of the queues is selected based on the score assigned to each queue, if the selected operation type is disk write request or disk read request. The next disk access is granted to the selected operation type and, if the selected operation type is disk write or disk read, to the selected queue.

Abstract: A defragmentation method and system to overcome fragmentation of virtual volumes in storage area networks (SANs). The method includes combining and migrating fragments of data spread over multiple storage areas in order to increase storage space utilization and optimize access time to storage. By defragmenting virtual volumes both performance and storage utilization is significantly improved.

Abstract: Accessing memory in an array includes performing a first instruction, including by determining whether an index used by the first instruction is within a valid range and in the event that the index is within a valid range, determining a memory address related to an array element that corresponds to the index. Accessing memory in the array further includes, in the event that the index is within a valid range, performing a second instruction to access the array element, the access being based at least in part on the memory address determined by the first instruction.

Abstract: Described are dynamic memory systems that perform overlapping refresh and data-access (read or write) transactions that minimize the impact of the refresh transaction on memory performance. The memory systems support independent and simultaneous activate and precharge operations directed to different banks. Two sets of address registers enable the system to simultaneously specify different banks for refresh and data-access transactions.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product for optimizing handling of guest code in a Virtual Machine include code for identifying, in the guest code, a predetermined pattern that includes privileged but unsafe instructions and an instruction that raises an exception; code for executing the guest code in a native mode; code for, upon encountering the instruction that raise the exception, transferring control to a Virtual Machine Monitor; code for emulating the pattern in the Virtual Machine Monitor; and code for rolling back the effects of privileged but unsafe instructions and any intervening instructions to ensure correct Virtual Machine Monitor context. The pattern can include, for example, a privileged but unsafe instruction, followed by safe instructions, followed by an exception raising instruction, followed by safe instructions, followed by a privileged but unsafe instruction.

Abstract: A real-time reproduction determination unit determines whether or not AV data recorded in recording areas on an optical disc can be reproduced in a real-time manner. If the AV data recorded on the optical disc cannot be reproduced in a real-time manner, a compile simulation unit and a compile execution unit respectively select extents from the AV data recorded on the optical disc and relocate the extents to a relocation area.

Abstract: A method, system, computer system, and computer-readable medium that enable a secondary host that is not the file system host to create a backup of a clone file set that shares at least one data block on a storage device with an active file set. Start and end locations are identified for a set of contiguous storage locations (referred to as a “chunk”) on the storage device. Physical location information is obtained for each portion of a file contained in the chunk. The start and end locations and physical location information for portions of files contained in the chunk are provided to the secondary host, which sequentially reads data from the set of contiguous storage locations and constructs a copy of the file(s) making up the clone file set. The file(s) are written by the secondary host to a storage device to create a backup of the clone file set.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article for caching security records for access by a hardware offloading device are disclosed. A method for updating security record entries in a hardware table is disclosed that includes marking every security record entry in the hardware table as a replacement candidate based upon passage of a determined time interval, each security record entry having a set of security parameters. Upon receiving a packet having a security record, the hardware table is checked for a security record entry corresponding to the security record. A check is done to determine whether there is a replacement candidate in the hardware table if there is no security record entry corresponding to the security record. The security record entry containing the replacement candidate is replaced with the security record if there is a replacement candidate. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: A digital data file storage system is disclosed in which original data files to be stored are dispersed using some form of information dispersal algorithm into a number of file “slices” or subsets in such a manner that the data in each file share is less usable or less recognizable or completely unusable or completely unrecognizable by itself except when combined with some or all of the other file shares. These file shares are stored on separate digital data storage devices as a way of increasing privacy and security. As dispersed file shares are being transferred to or stored on a grid of distributed storage locations, various grid resources may become non-operational or may operate below at a less than optimal level. When dispersed file shares are being written to a dispersed storage grid which not available, the grid clients designates the dispersed data shares that could not be written at that time on a Rebuild List.

Abstract: A storage system connected to a host device from which IO commands are sent comprises a plurality of load devices that act as loads including a plurality of storage devices, a current measuring unit that measures a current value flowing into the plurality of load devices, a power calculating unit that calculates at each time a power consumption value consumed by the plurality of load devices based on the measured current value, and a controller that receives an IO command from the host device, and accesses a storage device that follows the IO command out of the plurality of storage devices. The controller carries out power consumption control such that the calculated power consumption value is not more than a predetermined allowed power value and a difference between the power consumption value and the allowed power value is as small as possible.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a block and a reading portion. In the block, a plurality of memory cells are arranged in rows and in columns, and the block includes blocks including a plurality of pages. Each page is configured by a plurality of memory cells which are arranged in rows. The reading portion reads data of said plurality of pages in the block as a logical product for each column direction.