Abstract: Database content changes are asynchronously remotely copied from a primary site to a remote site by associating sequential identification with each respective log record write and each corresponding data record write received at the primary site. Each respective log record write is asynchronously remotely copied from the primary site to the remote site, and an acknowledgement corresponding to a log record write that has been completed at the remote site is received at the primary site. Each data record write having a sequential identification that is prior to or equal to the sequential identification of the log record write corresponding to the received acknowledgement is then asynchronously remotely copied to the remote site. A log record write is asynchronously remotely copied from the primary site to the remote site before a data record write is asynchronously remotely copied from the primary site to the remote site.

Abstract: A filing system controls block-level storage and selects a required level of performance and reliability for a file stored on a storage system on a file-by-file basis. A policy manager contains at least one rule relating to a RAID level of protection for a file stored on the storage system and the RAID level of protection is selected from a plurality of RAID levels of protection. At least one rule is based on an access pattern of files stored on storage systems. An access manager provides the policy manager with information relating to access patterns of files stored on the storage system. At least two files can be stored on the storage system having different RAID levels of protection, and at least two files can be stored on a same storage unit of the storage system can have different RAID levels of protection.

Abstract: A data storage subsystem that includes three data storage units, three check storage units, and an array controller coupled to the three data and three check storage units can tolerate failure of any three data and check storage units failures can be occur before data stored on the data storage subsystem is lost. Information is stored on the data storage subsystem as a symmetric Maximum Distance Separation code, such as a Winograd code, a Reed Solomon code, an EVENODD code or a derivative of an EVENODD code. The array controller determines the contents of the check storage units so that any three erasures of the data storage units and the check storage units can be corrected by the array controller. The array controller updates a block of data contained in any one of the data storage units and the check storage units using only six IO operations.

Abstract: Network latencies are reduced by detecting a metadata access call for filesystem metadata contained in a filesystem node of remotely located filesystem. The metadata corresponding to the metadata access call is fetched when the metadata corresponding to the metadata access call is not contained in a local filesystem cache that has a hierarchical structure corresponding to a hierarchical structure of the remotely located filesystem. Metadata related to the metadata corresponding to the metadata access call from the remotely located filesystem is prefetched when the related metadata is not contained in the local filesystem cache. The metadata related to the metadata corresponding to the access call can be contained in a child node or a parent node of the node containing the metadata corresponding to the access call, or the descendants of such nodes.

Abstract: Error tolerance is increased for a storage system having a plurality of arrays by making local redundancy in a selected array globally available throughout the storage system. To achieve the increased error tolerance, a donor array is selected from the plurality of arrays when the difference between a minimum distance of the donor array and a minimum distance of a recipient array is greater or equal to 2. A donor storage unit is selected in the donor array and recipient information is then rebuilt from the recipient array on the selected storage unit. The selected storage unit is indicated to the donor array as having been donated before the lost information is rebuilt on the selected storage unit. Preferably, the minimum Hamming distance of the recipient array is d?2 before the donor array is selected from the plurality of arrays.

Abstract: A system and method for interfacing a non-SCSI device to a computer network for communicating with a SCSI device attached to the computer network is disclosed. An interface receives a SCSI-based communication message from the network that is intended for the non-SCSI device. The SCSI-based communication can be formatted for transport over, for example, a TCP/IP transport stream and includes, for example, a command descriptor block and accompanying data. A translator device converts a first SCSI-based communication message to a corresponding first non-SCSI communication message that is recognizable by the non-SCSI device. A translator device also receives a second non-SCSI communication message from the non-SCSI device and converts the second non-SCSI communication message into a corresponding second SCSI-based communication message. The interface device, responsive to the second SCSI-based communication message, sends the second SCSI based communication message to the network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating source data between a source device and a listener device are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, source data is encoded by organizing at least a selected portion of source data into a data block having rows and columns. Encoded columns are formed by appending to each column error correction data derived from that column using a selected error correction code. Encoded rows are formed by appending to each row error correction data derived from that row using a selected error correct code. In an exemplary embodiment, encoded rows of source data (together with appended FEC data) and a first predetermined number of rows of FEC data are transmitted together, such that the first predetermined number of rows is less than all rows of error correction data. In an exemplary embodiment, source data is organized using interleaving.

Abstract: A three-dimensional solid-state memory is formed from a plurality of bit lines, a plurality of layers, a plurality of tree structures and a plurality of plate lines. Bit lines extend in a first direction in a first plane. Each layer includes an array of memory cells, such as ferroelectric or hysteretic-resistor memory cells. Each tree structure corresponds to a bit line, has a trunk portion and at least one branch portion. The trunk portion of each tree structure extends from a corresponding bit line, and each tree structure corresponds to a plurality of layers. Each branch portion corresponds to at least one layer and extends from the trunk portion of a tree structure. Plate lines correspond to at least one layer and overlap the branch portion of each tree structure in at least one row of tree structures at a plurality of intersection regions.

Abstract: A micro-fabricated chip having a stationary structure and a movable structure with a gimbal structure allows pitch and roll motion of the movable structure with respect to the stationary structure. One embodiment of the gimbal structure includes a dimple surface making a rolling-type contact with the stationary structure, and a center bar and a plurality of bar members. An alternative embodiment of the gimbal structure includes a plurality of torsion bar members. Another alternative embodiment of the gimbal structure includes a plurality of flexible members. The micro-fabricated chip can be a passive chip structure or, alternatively, a microactuator having a movable structure that moves in a rotational direction or a translational direction with respect to the stationary structure.

Abstract: A technique for setting the initial servo track pitch for a servo system of a hard disk drive (HDD) is based on using a secondary actuator, such as a microactuator or a milliactuator. The actuator of the HDD is positioned against a crash stop and a burst pattern is written on a hard disk while the read/write head is in a first position. A bias voltage of the secondary actuator is incrementally changed to change the position of the read/write head and a burst pattern is written for each change. The overlap is determined as a sum of the averaged amplitudes of the burst patterns that are adjacent to a selected burst pattern divided by the averaged amplitude of the selected burst pattern. The process is terminated when the determined overlap for each selected burst pattern is within a selected criterion of a target overlap value.

Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) uses a technique for setting the initial servo track pitch for a servo system by using a secondary actuator, such as a microactuator or a milliactuator. The actuator of the HDD is positioned against a crash stop and a burst pattern is written on a hard disk while the read/write head is in a first position. A bias voltage of the secondary actuator is incrementally changed to change the position of the read/write head and a burst pattern is written for each change. The overlap is determined as a sum of the averaged amplitudes of the burst patterns that are adjacent to a selected burst pattern divided by the averaged amplitude of the selected burst pattern. The process is terminated when the determined overlap for each selected burst pattern is within a selected criterion of a target overlap value.

Abstract: Channel parameters for a magnetic readback channel are optimized by detecting a readback signal that is recorded on a magnetic medium. The readback signal contains a plurality of predetermined-length control fields. Each control field is arranged between two user data fields and contains at least one transition. At least one selected readback parameter, such as a frequency of a readback channel system clock, a gain of the readback channel, a equalization response of the readback signal, and/or an amplitude asymmetry of the readback channel, is optimized based on information contained in at least one control field.

Abstract: A read head for use with an interconnect transmission line having a characteristic impedance of Z0 includes a tunnel valve device and a shunt resistor RS that is connected in parallel across the tunnel valve device. The tunnel valve device has a device resistance RT corresponding to a predetermined resistance-area (RA) product. The value of the shunt resistance is based on the parallel combination of RT and RS substantially equaling the characteristic impedance Z0 of the interconnect transmission line. The predetermined resistance-area (RA) product is about equal to at least about 10 Ohms-?m2. Alternatively, the predetermined resistance-area (RA) product is about equal to a “corner” value of RAc for the tunnel valve device.

Abstract: A data stream received by a hard disk drive (HDD) is organized into at least one cluster having data blocks and spare data blocks and that is equal in size to an integer multiple of the number of sectors in a track of a disk of the HDD. A variable-index writing technique is used to write each data block of a cluster to a corresponding sector of a track that is encountered by a head when the sector is not defective. A sector of the track is skipped during writing when the sector is defective. The number of spare data blocks in a portion of a cluster corresponding to a single track is reduced by the number of sectors that are skipped in the track so that the number of data blocks plus the number of remaining spare data blocks equals the number of sectors in a track.

Abstract: A write-inhibit signal is generated by a head-disk interaction sensor during a write process that is integrated with a suspension of a hard disk drive (HDD) when fly-height modulation of the slider is detected during a write process The suspension load beam includes a dimple and a laminated flexure. The laminated flexure includes a surface that is adapted to receive a slider and a surface that is adapted to contact the dimple. The head-disk interaction sensor is fabricated as part of the laminations of the flexure. The head-disk interaction sensor can be an accelerometer that senses an acceleration of the flexure when the slider contacts the disk of the disk drive and/or a pressure sensor that senses a pressure between the flexure and the dimple when the slider contacts the disk. A write-inhibit circuit is responsive to the sensor signal by inhibiting the write process.

Abstract: A control system for an actuator arm assembly of a hard disk drive reduces the Non-Repeatable Run-out (NRRO) caused from external sources exciting higher-frequency actuator arm assembly modes. The actuator arm assembly includes a primary actuator and a secondary actuator. The control system includes a primary control loop controlling the primary actuator and a secondary control loop controlling the secondary actuator. The secondary control loop includes at least one peak filter at a frequency corresponding to at least one frequency that is greater in frequency than the primary mode of the actuator arm assembly. The primary actuator can be any type of primary actuator. Similarly, the secondary actuator can be any type of actuator that is located between the primary actuator and a read/write head.

Abstract: The performance capability of different heads that are part of the same hard disk drive (HDD) are utilized by an adaptive format that includes a plurality of storage zones and at least one reset zone that are distributed along a radius of the hard disk such that a reset zone is disposed between two adjacent storage zones. Each storage zone has a plurality of associated data tracks and each reset zone includes a plurality of data tracks. The number of data tracks associated with each respective storage zone is based on a performance capability of a head associated with the hard disk and includes at least one data track of at least one reset zone adjacent to the storage zone when the number of data tracks associated with the storage zone exceeds the number of data tracks that are between each reset zone adjacent to the storage zone.

Abstract: An electrode for use in a ferroelectric device includes a bottom electrode; a ferroelectric layer; and a top electrode formed on the ferroelectric layer and formed of a combination of metals, including a first metal take from the group of metals consisting of platinum and iridium, and a second metal taken from the group of metals consisting of aluminum and titanium; wherein the top electrode acts as a passivation layer and wherein the top electrode remains conductive following high temperature annealing in a hydrogen atmosphere.

Abstract: A metal induced crystallization process is provided which employs an amorphous silicon film precursor deposited by physical vapor deposition, wherein the precursor film does not readily undergo crystallization by partial solid phase crystallization. Using this physical vapor deposition amorphous silicon precursor film, the amorphous silicon film is transformed to polysilicon by metal induced crystallization wherein the crystalline growth occurs fastest at regions that have been augmented with a metal catalyst and proceeds extremely slowly, practically zero, at regions which bear no metal catalyst. Accordingly, by use of the physical vapor deposition amorphous silicon precursor film in the process of the present invention, the metal induced crystallization process may take place at higher annealing temperatures and shorter annealing times without solid phase crystallization taking place.

Abstract: A method is provided to deposit niobium monoxide gates. An elemental metal target, or a composite niobium monoxide target is provided within a sputtering chamber. A substrate with gate dielectric, for example silicon dioxide or a high-k gate dielectric, is provided in the sputtering chamber. The sputtering power and oxygen partial pressure within the chamber is set to deposit a film comprising niobium monoxide, without excess amounts of elemental niobium, NbO2 insulator, or Nb2O5 insulator. The deposition method may be incorporated into a standard CMOS fabrication process, or a replacement gate CMOS process.