Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more disc media cassettes configured to store multiple disc-based media. Multiple disc drives are configured to read and write data to the multiple disc-based media. A robotic delivery device is configured to transport a selected disc-based media to and from at least one disc drive of the multiple disc drives, and to transport the selected disc-based media directly to a spindle on the at least one disc drive.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first jaw device, a second jaw device, and a disc sensor configured to sense presence of a storage disc between the first jaw device and the second jaw device. The first jaw device and the second jaw device form a gripper device configured to clamp a particular portion of a storage disc including an arc segment along an outer edge of adjacent surfaces of the storage disc.

Abstract: A disc cassette includes a curved portion configured to hold multiple discs. A platform portion abuts the curved portion. A movable bale is configured to maintain discs securely in the disc cassette.

Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more disc media cassettes configured to store multiple disc-based media. Multiple disc drives are configured to read and write data to the multiple disc-based media. A robotic delivery device is configured to transport a selected disc-based media to and from at least one disc drive of the multiple disc drives, and to transport the selected disc-based media directly to a spindle on the at least one disc drive.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to data storage media, and reading data from the media and writing data to the media. A data structure is provided to identify storage location and/or media parameters. One or more parameters of storage media is pre-loaded and conveyed to an associated media accessor prior to transferring data across the storage media in support of an associated read or write request.

Abstract: Supporting of both reading and writing data to a storage media is provided. A data request is received and a storage medium to support the data request is identified. A parameter related to the data request is retrieved and pre-loaded to an associated media accessor prior to loading the storage media. The parameter includes a setting adjustment of the media accessor in support of the data request. The media accessor performs the data request in compliance with the setting adjustment.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a motor configured to drive a driving element within a housing. A caliper is connected to the housing and configured to force a first jaw device toward a second jaw device based on movement of the driving element. A disc sensor is configured to sense presence of a storage disc and to limit insertion travel of a storage disc between the first jaw device and the second jaw device. The first jaw device and the second jaw device form a gripper device configured to clamp a particular portion of a storage disc.

Abstract: A disc cassette includes a curved portion configured to hold multiple discs and a platform portion abuts the curved portion. The platform portion and the curved portion each include multiple rib pairs configured to separate adjacent discs from touching one another, and to form a disc slot between each rib pair. Disc slots of the platform portion of the disc cassette are configured to provide a guide for disc removal from the disc cassette.

Abstract: Embodiments relate a universal serial bus (USB) filter hub. An aspect includes receiving, by the USB filter hub that is in communication with a host computer system, a connection from a USB device at a USB port of the USB filter hub. Another aspect includes determining, by the USB filter hub, a type of the USB device. Another aspect includes determining whether the type of the USB device is valid. Yet another aspect includes, based on determining that the type of the USB device is valid, filtering commands that are communicated between the USB device and the host computer system via the USB filter hub based on a predetermined command set corresponding to the determined type of the USB device.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to data storage media, and reading data from the media and writing data to the media. A data structure is provided to identify storage location and/or media parameters. One or more parameters of storage media is pre-loaded and conveyed to an associated media accessor prior to transferring data across the storage media in support of an associated read or write request.

Abstract: A technique for storage and retrieval of objects is provided. A holding structure is configured to hold the objects, and the objects are stored in the holding structure such that the objects can slide in and out of the holding structure. An elastic mechanism is at the back of the holding structure, and the elastic mechanism pushes the objects toward the front of the holding structure such that the objects are accessible at the front of the holding structure. A selector mechanism is positionable to push the objects that are adjacent to a selected object to be retrieved toward the back of the holding structure, and the selector mechanism exposes a portion of the selected object so that the selected object can be engaged at the exposed portion. A gripper is configured to engage the exposed portion of the selected object and pull the selected object from the holding structure.

Abstract: A technique for storage and retrieval of objects is provided. A holding structure is configured to hold the objects, and the objects are stored in the holding structure such that the objects can slide in and out of the holding structure. An elastic mechanism is at the back of the holding structure, and the elastic mechanism pushes the objects toward the front of the holding structure such that the objects are accessible at the front of the holding structure. A selector mechanism is positionable to push the objects that are adjacent to a selected object to be retrieved toward the back of the holding structure, and the selector mechanism exposes a portion of the selected object so that the selected object can be engaged at the exposed portion. A gripper is configured to engage the exposed portion of the selected object and pull the selected object from the holding structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to erasure correcting codes for storage arrays. An aspect of the invention includes receiving a read stripe from a plurality of storage devices. The read stripe includes a block of pages arranged in rows and columns, with each column corresponding to one of the storage devices. The pages include data pages and parity pages, with the number of parity pages at least one more than the number of rows and not a multiple of the number of rows. The method further includes reconstructing at least one erased page in response to determining that the read stripe includes the at least one erased page and that the number of erased pages is less than or equal to the number of parity pages. The reconstructing is responsive to a multiple erasure correcting code and to the block of pages. The reconstructing results in a recovered read stripe.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a hard disk drive (HDD) formatted with at least two surfaces, each of the surfaces serviced a write head, each write head configured for the respective surface. At least one of the surfaces of the HDD is serviced by a random block overwrite (RBO) head for an associated surface. Similarly, at least one of the surfaces of the HDD is serviced by a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) head for an associated SMR surface. The properties of both the RBO and SMR surfaces are retained, and at the same time leveraged to maximize data density and write performance in a single HDD.

Abstract: A system includes a tape support surface configured to receive a plurality of tape spools, and a plurality of robotic accessors capable of picking the tape spools from the tape support surface, transporting the tape spools, and releasing the tape spools at a drop location. The accessors are capable of passing each other during the transporting. Another system includes a first tape support surface configured to receive a plurality of tape spools, a second tape support surface facing the first tape support surface, and a plurality of robotic accessors capable of picking the tape spools from the tape support surface, transporting the tape spools, and releasing the tape spools at a drop location. At least one of the accessors is capable of picking tape spools from both tape support surfaces.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to throttling accesses to a flash memory device. The flash memory device is part of a storage system that includes the flash memory device and a second memory device. The throttling is performed by logic that is external to the flash memory device and includes calculating a throttling factor responsive to an estimated remaining lifespan of the flash memory device. It is determined whether the throttling factor exceeds a threshold. Data is written to the flash memory device in response to determining that the throttling factor does not exceed the threshold. Data is written to the second memory device in response to determining that the throttling factor exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to throttling accesses to a flash memory device. The flash memory device is part of a storage system that includes the flash memory device and a second memory device. The throttling is performed by logic that is external to the flash memory device and includes calculating a throttling factor responsive to an estimated remaining lifespan of the flash memory device. It is determined whether the throttling factor exceeds a threshold. Data is written to the flash memory device in response to determining that the throttling factor does not exceed the threshold. Data is written to the second memory device in response to determining that the throttling factor exceeds the threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention enable a storage cache, comprising flash memory devices, to have direct block access to the flash such that the physical block addresses are presented to the storage system's cache layer, which thereby controls the storage cache data stream. An aspect of the invention includes a caching storage system. The caching storage system comprises a plurality of flash memory units organized in an array configuration. Each of the plurality of flash memory units includes at least one flash memory device and a flash unit controller. Each flash unit controller provides the caching storage system with direct physical block access to its corresponding at least one flash memory device. The caching storage system further comprises a storage cache controller.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention enable a storage cache, comprising flash memory devices, to have direct block access to the flash such that the physical block addresses are presented to the storage system's cache layer, which thereby controls the storage cache data stream. An aspect of the invention includes a caching storage system. The caching storage system comprises a plurality of flash memory units organized in an array configuration. Each of the plurality of flash memory units includes at least one flash memory device and a flash unit controller. Each flash unit controller provides the caching storage system with direct physical block access to its corresponding at least one flash memory device. The caching storage system further comprises a storage cache controller.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to throttling accesses to a flash memory device. The flash memory device is part of a storage system that includes the flash memory device and a second memory device. The throttling is performed by logic that is external to the flash memory device and includes calculating a throttling factor responsive to an estimated remaining lifespan of the flash memory device. It is determined whether the throttling factor exceeds a threshold. Data is written to the flash memory device in response to determining that the throttling factor does not exceed the threshold. Data is written to the second memory device in response to determining that the throttling factor exceeds the threshold.