Abstract: A method for holographic data recording and simultaneous data readout without requiring additional optical power for readout illumination is provided. The method comprises reflecting a transmitted portion of a data light beam or of a reference light beam used for holographic recording of data in a holographic data storage medium. The reflected beam is configured to illuminate the holographic data storage medium from the opposite side with a polarization orthogonal to that of the recording beams, such that it provides a counter-propagating readout beam for real-time readout of currently being recorded hologram. Readout beam may also be configurable for accessing any one of the at least one previously recorded holograms. Systems using the methods of the invention are also provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus for a remote monitoring device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a casing to fit at least one of a storage location for storage media and handling mechanisms for the storage media, the storage location and the handling mechanisms being part of a media storage library, one or more monitoring devices within the casing to obtain from the media storage library at least one of environmental measurements and images of components in the media storage library, and a communication transmitter within the casing and communicatively coupled to the one or more monitoring devices to transmit at least one of data signals representing the at least one of environmental measurements and images of the components in the media storage library. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A media cartridge including a first substantially rectangular surface, a second substantially rectangular surface, and one or more side surfaces, where the first substantially rectangular surface and the second substantially rectangular surface are connected by the one or more side surfaces. Further, a disk drive assembly is enclosed by the first substantially rectangular surface, the second substantially rectangular surface, and the one or more side surfaces. In addition, the media cartridge includes a cooling component is configured to cool the disk drive assembly.

Abstract: A media drive system includes a housing and a drive unit at least partially disposed within the housing. A media handler arrangement defines a plurality of queuing positions for media objects, and a receiving area within the housing receives storage units defining at least one other queuing position. The drive system reduces latency through the use of the queuing positions to speed transfer and access to media objects.

Abstract: A system for tracking locations of portable data storage media. The system includes media with a wireless tag storing metadata pertaining to its stored data. The tag is adapted to respond to an interrogatory signal by wirelessly transmitting a signal comprising the metadata, e.g., is a high frequency radio frequency identification (RFID) tag powered inductively to transmit contents of its memory. The system includes a stationary and mobile locators that includes tag readers transmitting the interrogatory signals to the media and receiving the metadata signals from the wireless tags. Mobile ones of the locators include a communication module receiving location data (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS) data) and sending wireless signals made up of the received location data and the received metadata signals. The system includes a media tracker that receives signals from the mobile locator and determines and stores locations of the media typically along with a time stamp.

Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring degradation of a data storage medium. Multiple reactive elements are provided in the data storage medium. Properties of each one of these elements is determined, prior or subsequent to data being stored in the medium, to generate a baseline map of the medium. Updated properties of at least one of the elements are determined in order to generate an updated map of the medium. A determination can then be made as to whether degradation of the medium has occurred by comparing the baseline map to the updated map.

Abstract: A holographic storage system records digital data to a holographic recording medium at recording locations that are strategically left open. A controller determines whether or not a predetermined event has occurred or a predetermined condition is present. If either the event occurs or the condition is present, the opened recording locations are closed. Subsequent data may be holographically recorded in open recorded locations as data appended to previously recorded data. The holographic storage system optionally includes an interim storage device. Controller may comprise a virtual storage controller.

Abstract: System and method for content-addressable holographic data storage, primarily optimized with respect to search performance. A structured representation of original data, such as represented by metadata, is provided and stored in a holographic data storage medium on which a search can be performed using a holographic correlator. Phase encoding of both data storage and search pages provides improvement of correlator system signal to noise ratio and dynamic range. Heterodyne detection is also used to provide amplification to a plurality of correlation signals by modulation thereof by a plurality of reference beams. In another aspect, increase in the storage density of the holographic data storage medium and the throughput of a holographic correlator is achieved by employing a content-addressable storage scheme, using a priori knowledge of content provided by metadata to organize data according to a selectable content relationship and store related data as a contiguous cluster.

Abstract: A sensor and method for page-based optical data storage. The sensor includes a partially-reflective mirror, a reflective mirror disposed substantially collinear with and spaced apart from the partially-reflective mirror, and an active layer disposed substantially collinear with and between the partially-reflective mirror and the reflective mirror. The partially-reflective mirror has a first and second side and transmits a portion of light incident on the first side. The reflective mirror reflects light incident on the reflective mirror toward the partially-reflective mirror. The active layer absorbs at least a portion of the light oscillating at the resonant frequency.

Abstract: For use in a storage area network (SAN), a virtualization layer including at least one virtual engine having a respective local cache and a secondary cache layer, wherein the secondary cache layer includes the local caches coupled together, the local caches individually including a first cache layer, and at least one of a data transfer command and data corresponding to the transfer command are multicast to the secondary cache layer through an interconnection bus, the interconnection bus coupling the at least one virtual engine and at least one physical storage device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible storage system through the use of portable, removable canisters holding multiple storage subsystems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a thermally conductive packaging technique for cooling electronic systems. A heat source is partially surrounded by a set of thermal transfer media. A set of thermal transfer shells partially surround the set of thermal transfer media. The heat source connection means are left exposed and utilized for connection to the electronic system. The heat source, the set of thermal transfer media configured to partially surround the heat source, and the thermal transfer shell partially surrounding the set of thermal transfer media form a thermal transfer module. Thermal transfer modules may be placed in thermally conductive cells. A set of thermal transfer sheets are placed in contact with both or either of the thermal transfer module and the thermally conductive cell, facilitating a heat exchange with an environment external to the thermal transfer module.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and data processing system for continuously writing new data to a redundant array of independent storage devices without interrupting the writing of new data to the array to reconstruct missing data from a failed device or failed media is disclosed. A fault-tolerance scheme using multiple independent parity values is used to record data to the array. In the event that one of the volumes in the array fails, the remaining volumes continue being written to, but with fewer data or parity values being employed. The failed volume can then be reconstructed following the completion of writing the media set currently being written.

Abstract: System and method for content-addressable search of holographically stored data primarily optimized with respect to search performance. A search is performed, by a holographic correlator system, on a structured representation of original data, stored in a holographic data storage medium. In a first aspect, orthogonal phase encoding of both data storage and search pages provides improvement of correlator system signal to noise ratio and dynamic range. In a second aspect, correlator incorporates heterodyne detection of a plurality of correlation signals, obtained by modulation and amplification thereof by a plurality of frequency-shifted reference beams. In a third aspect, the invention provides a method whereby multiple searches can simultaneously interrogate a single data storage location.

Abstract: A media cartridge including a first substantially rectangular surface, a second substantially rectangular surface, and one or more side surfaces, where the first substantially rectangular surface and the second substantially rectangular surface are connected by the one or more side surfaces. Further, a disk drive assembly is enclosed by the first substantially rectangular surface, the second substantially rectangular surface, and the one or more side surfaces. In addition, the media cartridge includes a cooling component is configured to cool the disk drive assembly.

Abstract: A media cartridge for use with data storage libraries. The cartridge includes a housing having an opening through which a carrier tray can be loaded and extracted to reveal a media element. A number of baffles are included to limit exposure of the media elements to contamination.

Abstract: A system for tracking locations of portable data storage media. The system includes media with a wireless tag storing metadata pertaining to its stored data. The tag is adapted to respond to an interrogatory signal by wirelessly transmitting a signal comprising the metadata, e.g., is a high frequency radio frequency identification (RFID) tag powered inductively to transmit contents of its memory. The system includes a stationary and mobile locators that includes tag readers transmitting the interrogatory signals to the media and receiving the metadata signals from the wireless tags. Mobile ones of the locators include a communication module receiving location data (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS) data) and sending wireless signals made up of the received location data and the received metadata signals. The system includes a media tracker that receives signals from the mobile locator and determines and stores locations of the media typically along with a time stamp.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible storage system through the use of portable, removable canisters holding multiple storage subsystems.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program are disclosed for managing the distribution of optical power to a plurality of optical data devices. The devices can be data storage drives, data replicators, fast optical search devices, or other components that use optical or laser power for their operation. A power management system provides the increased flexibility of monitoring and redirecting optical power (e.g., to provide higher or lower power on demand), which increases the fault-tolerance and performance (e.g., through higher data transfer rates) of a data management system.

Abstract: System and method for providing gain and thresholding to a holographic data parallel recording and replication system incorporating independent angular address assignment. A plurality of information bearing light beams in an information bearing light beam arm of a data recording system and a plurality of reference light beams in a reference light beam arm of the data recording system are mutually interfered to store a plurality of spatially separate, spatially modulated light intensity patterns in a holographic data storage medium in a data recording operation. During the data recording operation, the plurality of information bearing light beams are repeatedly circulated through the holographic data storage medium using a resonant cavity formed along the information bearing light beam arm of the holographic recording system.