Abstract: An entertainment system using bio-response includes a narrative, which includes a plurality of narrative segments assembled into at least one of a plurality of sequences, depending on at least one of a user profile and user bio-response, to create a plurality of cogent narratives.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to operate a memory device. The method includes, prior to overwriting a first unit of data at a location in a memory device with a second unit of data, determining if more energy is required to write the second unit of data than to write the second unit of data with at least one sub-unit thereof having bits that are inverted. If it is determined that less energy is required to write the second unit of data with the at least one sub-unit thereof having bits that are inverted, the method further includes overwriting the first unit of data with a modified second unit of data with the at least one sub-unit thereof having bits that are inverted, in conjunction with writing at least one bit memory for indicating a location in the modified unit of data of the sub-unit of data having the inverted bits.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to operate a memory device. The method includes, prior to overwriting a first unit of data at a location in a memory device with a second unit of data, determining if more energy is required to write the second unit of data than to write the second unit of data with at least one sub-unit thereof having bits that are inverted. If it is determined that less energy is required to write the second unit of data with the at least one sub-unit thereof having bits that are inverted, the method further includes overwriting the first unit of data with a modified second unit of data with the at least one sub-unit thereof having bits that are inverted, in conjunction with writing at least one bit memory for indicating a location in the modified unit of data of the sub-unit of data having the inverted bits.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to operate a power advisor. The method includes, reading a first instruction set; reading a data bus; and reading register value(s) stored in at least one data register. This information is analyzed for energy usage purposes. If a set of instruction can provide the same result with a lower energy usage, the first instruction set is replaced with the lower power usage instruction set. An apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: An entertainment system using bio-response includes a narrative, which includes a plurality of narrative segments assembled into at least one of a plurality of sequences, depending on at least one of a user profile and user bio-response, to create a plurality of cogent narratives.

Abstract: Improvements in placement of timing patterns in self-servowriting include correcting for systematic errors due to geometric effects. A correction is made for varying systematic errors, such as when the recording head has spatially separate read and write elements. Further, servopattern rotation due to residual or unmeasured systematic errors is reduced by using a once per revolution clock index derived from the motor drive current waveform or any other sensor. In one aspect of correcting for systematic errors in the writing of timing patterns on a storage medium of a storage device, a time interval between a trigger pattern written at a first radial position of the storage medium and a rotational index is measured. The rotational index is related to the rotational orientation of the storage medium with respect to a fixed frame of the storage device.

Abstract: Products include autonomic logic to self-monitor one or more parameters associated with the products to provide product usage information. Data relating to the product usage information generated by the products is automatically disseminated to interested entities. The interested entities may analyze the provided data and automatically forward information relating to the provided data back towards the products. The interested entities may also effect changes to products based on the data.

Abstract: Storage media of a storage system are grouped into one or more groups based upon parameters associated with the storage media. Various parameters may be taken into consideration depending upon the criteria selected for the grouping. At least one grouping criterion is selected, and based on the grouping criterion, one or more parameters are measured. Then, using the measured data, a plurality of storage media are placed into one or more groups. The groups may then be used to form Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) arrays employed in the storage system.

Abstract: A system and method for improved self-servo-writing of multi-slot timing patterns is described. Individual timing marks are replaced with groups of timing mark slots. At each timing mark location, a time measurement is made by detecting a timing mark in one of the slots. Also, extensions to the existing timing marks are written in other slots. The combination of timing measurements at every timing mark and extensions to those timing marks written at every opportunity improves the overall precision of the timing propagation. The improved accuracy of timing mark placement produces a commensurate improvement in the placement of the concomitantly written servo-data. In addition, the alignment accuracy of the written pattern is less sensitive to variations in rotation speed and variations in the shape of written transitions. Moreover, only a single disk revolution is required at each servo radius to write servo data and propagate the timing marks to maintain timing alignment.

Abstract: An improved servowriting system and method whereby errors introduced into the written servo information are reduced or eliminated for greater servowriting accuracy. Accuracy is enhanced by one or more of the following improvements: 1) optimizing write current and write frequency to minimize write width modulation; 2) optimizing the RPM of the storage medium to minimize random mechanical vibration; and 3) providing a clip level check to eliminate the introduction of large errors in product servopattern. The proposed improvements provide substantial rejection of, for example, mechanical and magnetic disturbances, ensuring a robust servowriting process.

Abstract: An accurate and time-efficient method and system for self-servowriting wherein at least one reference value used to position the transducer is updated for some, but not all, of the tracks to be written. The reference value(s) is dependent upon a predefined indicium of transducer position, such as the amplitude of the readback signal obtained from a written track when the transducer is positioned on the track. In a first embodiment, updating of the reference value(s) is performed at every Nth track written, where N is a fixed number or range of numbers determined by an expected track-to-track variation of the indicium. The servowriting system may be designed to dynamically increase or decrease N during servowriting in response to actual variations in the indicium. According to a second embodiment, updating is only performed when needed, e.g. when the variation of the measured indicium between two written tracks (not necessarily adjacent tracks) exceeds a predefined threshold value.

Abstract: An accurate and time-efficient method and system for self-servowriting wherein at least one reference value used to position the transducer is updated for some, but not all, of the tracks to be written. The reference value(s) is dependent upon a predefined indicium of transducer position, such as the amplitude of the readback signal obtained from a written track when the transducer is positioned on the track. In a first embodiment, updating of the reference value(s) is performed at every Nth track written, where N is a fixed number or range of numbers determined by an expected track-to-track variation of the indicium. The servowriting system may be designed to dynamically increase or decrease N during servowriting in response to actual variations in the indicium. According to a second embodiment, updating is only performed when needed, e.g. when the variation of the measured indicium between two written tracks (not necessarily adjacent tracks) exceeds a predefined threshold value.

Abstract: A self-servowriting system and method for implementation in a storage device such as a disk drive are described. Two problems associated with self-propagation are greater mechanical disturbances and the growth of errors during many thousands of servowriting steps. Error growth is attributable to the special properties of servo loops as applied to a repetitive self-propagation process. Greater resistance to mechanical disturbances and reduction in error growth are achieved, in part, by adjusting a step amplification factor, S, at the initiation of servowriting to within desired parameters. However, S is known to vary with movement of the head in a direction transverse to the direction of the tracks. This problem is addressed by the present invention, wherein S is determined at a plurality of transverse transducer positions. S is dependent upon the closed loop response of the servo system C and upon a set of step-to-step correction factors f.