Abstract: A method includes encoding data in accordance with a width parameter to produce a first set of data slices. Storage of the first set of data slices is maintained in a set of storage units of a storage pool. An expanded set of storage units of the storage pool is determined based on an additional subset of storage units added to the storage pool. Storage of the first set of data slices is maintained in the set of storage units after addition of the additional subset of storage units added to the storage pool. An updated width parameter is determined by increasing the width parameter based on the expanded set of storage units. The data is encoded in accordance with the updated width parameter to produce a second set of data slices. Storage of the second set of data slices is maintained in the expanded set of storage units.

Abstract: A method for execution in a storage network begins by performing a key derivation function on a password to produce a key and issuing a set of passwords based on the key to a set of storage units, where a data object is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce a set of encoded data slices and the set of encoded data slices are stored in the set of storage units. The method continues, by receiving at least a decode threshold number of confidential information responses from the set of storage units and regenerating a set of keys for the confidential information responses. The method then continues by decrypting the confidential information responses using the set of keys to reproduce a set of encoded data slices and dispersed storage error decoding a decode threshold number of the set of encoded data slices to produce recovered data.

Abstract: A head unit system for controlling an object includes a head unit device that include shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber configured to contain the STF. The chamber further includes a set of gates between a front channel and a back channel. The set of gates includes a bypass opening set. The head unit device further includes a cupped piston housed at least partially radially within the chamber. The set of gates is configured to control flow of the STF between the front channel and the back channel to control movement of the object.

Abstract: A head unit system for controlling an object includes a head unit device that include shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber configured to contain the STF. The chamber further includes a set of gates between a front channel and a back channel. The set of gates includes a bypass opening set. The head unit device further includes a cupped piston housed at least partially radially within the chamber. The set of gates is configured to control flow of the STF between the front channel and the back channel to control rotational movement of the object.

Abstract: A method includes storing a plurality of data in a storage system. A plurality of identifiers corresponding to the plurality of data is determined and the plurality of identifiers are stored in the storage system. A first set of integrity information corresponding to a first system storage level is generated for the plurality of data by performing a first set of cyclic redundancy checks and the first set of integrity information is stored in the storage system. A second set of integrity information corresponding to a second system storage level is generated for the plurality of data and the second set of integrity information is stored in the storage system.

Abstract: A processing system operates by: storing a data segment as a set of encoded data slices, wherein the set of encoded data slices are dispersed storage error encoded and stored in at least one storage unit of a storage network; receiving, from a requestor, an access request associated with the data segment; detecting an access anomaly associated with the access request, the access anomaly having one of a plurality of anomaly types; denying the access request in response to detecting the access anomaly; generating, based on the one of the plurality of anomaly types, an anomaly detection indicator identifying the requestor; and sending the anomaly detection indicator to other devices of the storage network.

Abstract: A method for execution in a storage network includes receiving a request pertaining to a data object, where the request is related to a specified contiguous data range within the data object and the data object is dispersed error encoded to produce a plurality of groups of encoded data slices. The method continues by converting the request into a plurality of partial requests, where each partial request of the plurality of partial requests includes at least one partial task and transmitting each partial request of the plurality of partial requests to a storage unit of a set of storage units. The method then continues by determining when a partial request response has been received for each partial request of the plurality of partial requests and when a partial request response has been received for each partial request of the plurality of partial requests, transmitting an indication that the request pertaining to the data object has been successfully executed.

Abstract: A method includes dispersed storage error encoding a data object to produce a set of encoded data slices. The method further includes obtaining routing path performance information for a plurality of routing paths from the computing device to a set of storage units. The method further includes selecting a first routing path for sending a first subset of the set of encoded data slices, where the first routing path has a performance level greater than a first performance threshold. The method further includes selecting a second routing path for sending a second subset of the set of encoded data slices, where the second routing path has a performance level less than or equal to the first performance threshold. The method further includes sending the first and second subsets of encoded data slices to the set of storage units via the first and second routing paths for storage therein.

Abstract: A method for execution by a storage network starts by maintaining loading and data access rate information for a storage node and estimating a future data access rate for the storage node. The method continues by determining a probability level of potential future data loss, based on the estimated future data access rate and in response to a determination that the probability level of potential future data loss compares unfavorably to a maximum probability of data loss threshold level the method continues by facilitating migration of at least a portion of data stored on the storage node for temporary storage in another storage node of the storage network.

Abstract: A method begins with a first group of computing devices of a plurality of computing devices of a storage network receiving data objects having a first data type identifier of a plurality of data type identifiers, where the plurality of data type identifiers correspond to a plurality of data types associated with the data objects. The method continues with the first group of computing devices interpreting the data objects having the first data type identifier to sort, based on sorting criteria the data objects into a first processing category and a second processing category. The method continues with the first group of computing devices error encoding the data objects in the second processing category based on short term storage error encoding parameters to produce pluralities of sets of encoded data slices and sending the pluralities of sets of encoded data slices to storage and execution units for storage therein.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining input encoded data slices from memory of the storage network, where the input encoded data slices include a set of encoded data slices interspersed with a set of auxiliary data slices, where a data segment was error encoded into the set of encoded data slices, and where auxiliary data was error encoded into the set of auxiliary data slices. The method further includes obtaining de-selection information associated with the input encoded data slices and de-selecting the sequence of input encoded data slices based on the de-selection information to produce deselected encoded data slices. The method further includes error decoding at least a decode threshold number of encoded data slices of the deselected encoded data slices in accordance with error decoding parameters to reproduce the data segment. The method further includes outputting the data segment to a requesting computing device of the storage network.

Abstract: A storage network operates by: encoding, via a dispersed error encoding, at least one data object as a write threshold number of encoded data slices; storing the write threshold number of the encoded data slices in a set of storage units of the storage network; determining when, due to a failure, less than a pillar width number of the encoded data slices are retrievable from the set of storage units: retrieving a decode threshold number of the encoded data slices from others of the set of storage units; decoding the decode threshold number of the encoded data slices to reproduce the at least one data object; restoring availability of the pillar width number of the encoded data slices of the common revision by: rebuilding at least a subset of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices, based on an encoding of the at least one data object; and storing the at least a subset of encoded data slices in the storage network.

Abstract: A head unit system for controlling motion of an object includes a secondary object sensor, shear thickening fluid (STF), and a chamber configured to contain a portion of the STF. The chamber further includes a front channel and a back channel. The head unit system further includes a piston housed at least partially radially within the piston compartment and separating the back channel and the front channel. The piston includes a first piston bypass and a second piston bypasses to control flow of the STF between opposite sides of the piston. The chamber further includes a set of fluid flow sensors and a set of fluid manipulation emitters to control the flow of the STF to cause selection of one of a variety of shear rates for the STF within the chamber.

Abstract: A method for execution by a computing entity includes interpreting a fluid flow response from fluid flow sensors to produce a piston position of a piston associated with a head unit device. The head unit device includes a chamber filled with a shear thickening fluid (STF). The method further includes determining a door position based on the piston position. The method further includes determining parameters for wireless signals based on the door position. The method further includes facilitating utilization of the parameters for the wireless signals to promote successful communication of status and/or control of the door via the wireless signals.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a storage unit of a storage network, a check request message from a computing device of the storage network, where the check request message includes a group of slice names of a plurality of sets of slice names associated with a plurality of sets of encoded data slices, where a plurality of data segments are dispersed storage error encoded into the plurality of sets of encoded data slices. The method further includes determining, by the storage unit, whether an error condition exists for an encoded data slice associated with the group of slice names. When no, the method includes sending, by the storage unit, a check response message to the computing device, where the check response message includes a group of slice information regarding the group of slice names. When yes, the method includes disregarding sending the check response message.

Abstract: A decentralized computer system operates by: storing encoded data blocks in an existing set of decentralized storage units of the decentralized computer system, wherein the decentralized computer system operates in accordance with a decentralized agreement protocol; assigning one or more additional decentralized storage units to the decentralized computing system, wherein the one or more additional decentralized storage units do not currently store the encoded data blocks; allocating the encoded data blocks to the one or more additional decentralized storage units, in accordance with the decentralized agreement protocol; and facilitating storage of the encoded data blocks from the existing set of decentralized storage units of the decentralized computer system to the at least one of the one or more additional decentralized storage units.

Abstract: In various examples, a computing device of a dispersed storage network (DSN) receives a store data request including a data object. The computing device identifies a storage unit pool associated with the store data request. The storage unit pool includes a plurality of storage sets, each of the storage sets associated with a plurality of address ranges that are associated with a respective set of memories of the storage set. The computing device identifies a first set of memories of a first storage set of the storage unit pool, and issues a set of write slice requests to the first set of memories to initiate storage of encoded data slices produced from the data object. When an unfavorable storage condition is detected, the computing device identifies a second set of memories of the first storage set and facilitates storage of the data object in the second set of memories.

Abstract: A method includes receiving data for storage and encoding the data to produce a plurality of data slices. Metadata is determined for a data slice of the plurality of data slices. The metadata is stored in a metadata storage tree. The metadata storage tree is stored via a first plurality of memory devices of a first memory type. The data slice is stored in a slice storage location in a second plurality of memory devices of a second memory type. The slice storage location is indicated by the metadata. The first memory type has a higher performance level than the second memory type based on a utilization approach.

Abstract: A method includes encoding a data segment into a set of encoded data slices using erasure coding; storing, in storage units of a storage network, the set of encoded data slices, in accordance with a shared key-based encryption system (SKBES) having keys shared with the storage units; retrieving, at a periodic rate and in accordance with the SKBES, the set of encoded data slices from the storage units of the storage unit to verify whether individual slices of the set of encoded data slices have been corrupted. When one of the set of encoded data slices stored in one of the storage units has been corrupted, rebuilding the one of the set of encoded data slices by: retrieving the decode threshold number of other slices of the set of encoded data slices, in accordance with the SKBES; reconstructing the one of the set of encoded data slices based on the erasure encoding, to generate a reconstructed data slice; and storing, in accordance with the SKBES, the reconstructed data slice in the one of the storage units.

Abstract: A method for execution by one or more computing devices of a storage network includes obtaining status information from a set of distributed storage units that is storing a set of encoded data slices, where the set of distributed storage units includes inactive storage units and active storage units that are rotated between active and inactive in accordance with a rotation scheme. The method further includes activating, based on the status information, a first storage unit of the inactive storage units in accordance with the rotation scheme. The method further includes determining an encoded data slice stored in the first storage unit needs rebuilding and rebuilding the encoded data slice utilizing other encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices. The method further includes deactivating, based on the status information, a second storage unit of the active storage units in accordance the rotation scheme.