Abstract: A serialization management system consists of a job control host for assigning serial numbers to storage media, and for generating a job; a replication facility host communicatively coupled to the job control host, wherein the job control host communicates the job to the replication facility host; and a serialization writer communicatively coupled to the replication facility host, wherein the replication facility host controls the serialization writer in response to the job, and communicates status information to the job control host. In another embodiment, the invention can be characterized as method for operating the serialization management system.

Abstract: A near-field optical apparatus having one or more solid state lasers and an aerodynamically shaped slider which comprise a single integrated, monolithic device fabricated from the same base semiconductor material. The monolithic optical head can be quickly and easily attached to the read arm of an optical read/write device without requiring attachment of separate laser elements, and without micropositioning or use of optical microscopy for positioning the lasers. The optical head comprising a single semiconductor substrate including a first region which defines a slider having an air bearing surface, and at least one second, laser region which defines a diode laser, with the diode laser having an emission face which is substantially co-planar with the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A pipeline video decoder and decompression system handles a plurality of separately encoded bit streams arranged as a single serial bit stream of digital bits and having separately encoded pairs of control codes and corresponding data carried in the serial bit stream, A reconfigurable decode and parser processing means positioned in certain of the stages is responsive to a recognized control token and reconfigures a particular stage to handle an identified data token.

Abstract: A speaker cone is provided that contains a base portion, and the base portion has a front end and a rear end. The front end contains a plurality of discontinuities such that a first distance from a reference point on a longitudinal axis of the base portion to a first point on the front end is different than a second distance from the reference point to a second point on the front end. By creating the plurality of discontinuities in the front end of the base portion, the distortion or reduction in the amplitude of a flexural wave generated by the speaker cone is dramatically reduced.

Abstract: A first holographic data storage device has a first set of holograms stored thereon. A second holographic data storage device has a second set of holograms stored thereon. An opaque layer is disposed between and attached to one side of the first and the second holographic data storage devices. In the case of double reflective diffractive recording, the opaque layer is not necessary.

Abstract: An optical storage system and method having separate, independent format hologram writing and data writing mechanisms to allow optimization of data writing separately from format hologram recording. In its most general terms, the invention comprises an optical medium having a first, photoactive material responsive to a first, format hologram recording condition and a second photo-active material, responsive to a second, data writing condition, which is dispersed or dissolved in the first photoactive material. The second photoactive material may additionally be “erasable” under a third, erasing condition. The second photoactive material is preferably in the form of microparticles, microdroplets or microcapsules which are dispersed throughout the first photoactive material.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a technique to navigate a user interface for program selection. Program information of a plurality of program cells is displayed in a visible window. The plurality of program cells is in an electronic program guide (EPG) grid. A visual indicator is moved in the visible window from a current position in a current row to a next position in response to a user command. The next position corresponds to a program cell is the plurality of program cells. The next position is in one of the current and a next row. The visual indicator is moved in response to a user command. The command is one of a move right and a move left command.

Abstract: A pipeline video decoder and decompression system handles a plurality of separately encoded bit streams arranged as a single serial bit stream of digital bits and having separately encoded pairs of control codes and corresponding data carried in the serial bit stream. The pipeline system employs a plurality of interconnected stages to decode and decompress the single bit stream, including a start code detector. When in a search mode, the start code detector searches for a specific start code corresponding to one of multiple compression standards. The start code detector responding to the single serial bit stream generates control tokens and data tokens. A respective one of the tokens includes a plurality of data words. Each data word has an extension bit which indicates a presence of additional words therein. The data words are thereby unlimited in number.

Abstract: A time and work tracker that automatically collects and analyzes information about time and work performed on a wireless device is described herein. According to the present invention, a time and work tracking function is initiated on a wireless device. Thereafter, a user begins to perform work on the wireless device. As the user works, the tracking function on the wireless device collects data relating to the activities performed by the user. The collected data is then analyzed to determine what types of work the user has actually performed.

Abstract: A near-field optical system having one or more solid state lasers and an aerodynamically shaped slider which comprise a single integrated, monolithic device fabricated from the same base semiconductor material. The monolithic optical head can be quickly and easily attached to the read arm of an optical read/write device without requiring attachment of separate laser elements, and without micropositioning or use of optical microscopy for positioning the lasers. The optical head comprising a single semiconductor substrate including a first region which defines a slider having an air bearing surface, and at least one second, laser region which defines a diode laser, with the diode laser having an emission face which is substantially co-planar with the air bearing surface.

Abstract: An optical pickup is described with an electronically adjustable beam spot size for reading optical media. Two proximal light sources are impinged on a selected track of the media and the reflected light is registered by photodetector arrays. The electrical signal generated from the leading detector is delayed, based on a distance between beams and the speed of the media, to achieve a desired amount of temporal coincidence with the electrical signal associated with the lagging beam. The electrical signals are combined, such as in a multiplier circuit, to create a third electrical signal whose response to a data bit can be adjusted to a shorter duration than the responses from either first or second beams. Therefore, the effective spot size may be electronically controlled, wherein light sources of longer wavelengths may be utilized, and optical data storage systems may be configured for reading media having different optical characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for reading information from and recording information to a diffractive optics memory using symmetrical angular encoding. A coherent light source is split to form an object beam and a corresponding reference beam. An optical axis is defined by the object beam being aligned perpendicular to a plane of the diffractive optics memory. A steering mirror is configured to direct the reference beam received from the coherent light source to the memory. A first plurality of mirrors arranged around one side of the optical axis receives the reference beam from the steering mirror and directs the reference beam at a first angle towards the memory. A second plurality of mirrors arranged around the symmetrical side of the optical axis receives the reference beam from the steering mirror and directs the reference beam at a second angle towards the memory. The first angle is identical to the second angle but formed on the symmetrical side of the optical axis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for high-speed searching of an optical medium having a plurality of tracks. Light spots are directed by the apparatus onto the optical medium. As the spots traverse across the tracks in one of a first direction and a second direction, a photodetector unit receives reflected components of the light spots, thus forming respective electrical signals. Digital shaping circuitry converts the electrical signals into digital signals. A quadrature detector receives the digital signals which are arranged in quadrature relationship to each other, and produces an up-count signal indicating the light spots are traversing the tracks in the first direction and a down-count signal indicating the light spots are traversing the tracks in the second direction. A counter counts the up-count signal and the down-count signal to determine a number of tracks traversed by the light spots.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for suspending the operation of a rotating optical media player that uses simplified and efficient logic circuitry is described. When an operator initiates a pause operation, for example, by pressing a pause key, the current location of an optical pickup (e.g., a value of the current track ID) is stored. Then, a tracking servo loop is opened and a near zero offset is provided to the input of the tracking actuator. The condition of the optical disk system is then maintained in a “wait” state until the operator decides to end the pause process by selecting an alternate operation, such as “Play”, “Search”, or some other functions. When an alternate operation is received, the tracking servo loop is closed. The system then enters a search mode to reposition the optical head to the position indicated by the track ID, which was previously saved. Finally, the selected function command is activated.

Abstract: A near-field optical apparatus having one or more solid state lasers and an aerodynamically shaped slider which comprise a single integrated, monolithic device fabricated from the same base semiconductor material. The monolithic optical head can be quickly and easily attached to the read arm of an optical read/write device without requiring attachment of separate laser elements, and without micropositioning or use of optical microscopy for positioning the lasers. The optical head comprising a single semiconductor substrate including a first region which defines a slider having an air bearing surface, and at least one second, laser region which defines a diode laser, with the diode laser having an emission face which is substantially co-planar with the air bearing surface.

Abstract: Techniques for transmitting graphical images in a network environment are described. According to the techniques, the amount of data of the graphical images that is transmited is customized in accordance with client and/or server supplied information. The techniques enable graphical images to be transmitted more efficiently than previously possible, thus saving precious network bandwidth and reducing transmision time. The invention is particularly suitable for network (Internet or Internet) implementations wherein graphical images often need transferred.

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode system operates using virtual addresses VPI and VCI. Cells including these addresses are received. The data associated with these cells is stored in a table. The table contents are advantageously accessed according to a connection number. The proper connection number is more easily found by using two variables. A first variable is associated with a number of active connections. A second variable is associated with the last-used index in the table.

Abstract: A time and work tracker that automatically collects and analyzes information about time and work performed on a wireless device is described herein. According to the present invention, a time and work tracking function is initiated on a wireless device. Thereafter, a user begins to perform work on the wireless device. As the user works, the tracking function on the wireless device collects data relating to the activities performed by the user. The collected data is then analyzed to determine what types of work the user has actually performed.

Abstract: An optical disk has grooves and lands located on the disk. A predetermined distance between the grooves and lands is defined as a predetermined track pitch. The predetermined track pitch is defined in term of a laser wavelength used during an operation. The grooves have a depth “d” in relation to the lands. The depth is related to a parameter variable “a” and a refraction index “n” of a substrate.