Abstract: An optically assisted magnetic recording head causes light to be efficiently incident on a near-field light generating element and is thereby capable of efficiently generating near-field light. The optically assisted magnetic recording head, according to one embodiment, has a waveguide and a thin metal film. The waveguide has a core and a clad at least partially surrounding the core and serves as near-field light generating device. The core has a plate-shaped portion that has a small width and protrudes from an edge of the core. The edge of the core is located on the air bearing surface side. The thin metal film is provided on an upper portion and side portions of the plate-shaped portion to cover the edge of the core at the air bearing surface side. Other systems and methods are disclosed as well to achieve efficient incident light on a near-field light generating element.

Abstract: Z-buffer rendering of three-dimensional scenes is made more efficient through a method for occlusion culling by which occluded geometry is removed prior to rasterization. The method uses hierarchical z-buffering to reduce the quantity of image and depth information that needs to be accessed. A separate culling stage in the graphics pipeline culls occluded geometry and passes visible geometry on to a rendering stage. The culling stage maintains its own z-pyramid in which z-values are stored at low precision (e.g., in 8 bits). The efficiency of hierarchical z-buffering is improved through hierarchical evaluation of line and plane equations.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for controlling a shader to gather statistics. In use, instructions are received utilizing a programmable interface. A shader is then controlled to gather statistics based on the instructions. Such statistics are further output to memory utilizing the shader.

Abstract: A method for of accelerating database log hardening using specific per block data protection and damage control is provided. A per write specification is implemented to determine when database log data is mirrored synchronously or asynchronously. Synchronous mirroring is performed upon reaching a predetermined threshold, based on one or more parameters such as transaction value, both individual and cumulative, and the quantity of data written since the last synchronous mirroring. As data is added to the database log, it is written specifying asynchronous mirroring to the primary log file. Once a threshold is met, a write specifying synchronous mirroring is performed to both the primary and secondary log files, thereby hardening the log file in both primary and secondary storage subsystem.

Abstract: A tape head has first and second beams each having a recess in a tape bearing surface thereof, a face where the faces of the beams either face each other or face away from each other. A first chip is positioned in the recess of the first beam, and a second chip is positioned in the recess of the second beam. Each chip has circuitry selected from a group consisting of read elements, write elements, and combinations thereof. A tape bearing surface of each chip is generally aligned with the tape bearing surface of the associated beam. Also, an end of each chip is generally aligned with the face of the associated beam. Where closures are used, this eliminates the need to aligning the closure to skiving edges of the beam.

Abstract: One purpose of the invention according to one embodiment is to provide a magnetic recording apparatus of high recording density in which magnetization transition curvature amount of a recording pattern is small. In one embodiment, the center of a heating area is arranged at a track edge side of a recording pattern as compared with the width-direction center position of a main magnetic pole of a recording head, and a recording magnetic field is applied while a medium is locally heated at the time of signal recording. A switching magnetic field of the medium is locally reduced by heating, so that a line where the switching magnetic field of the medium is equal to the recording magnetic field from the head approaches the heating center position, and a desired recording pattern in which the transition curvature amount is reduced can be realized. Other systems and methods are also presented.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for organizing a plurality of rays. In operation, a plurality of rays is identified. Additionally, the rays are organized, utilizing a bounding volume.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for programmable processing in a computer graphics pipeline. Initially, data is received from a source buffer. Thereafter, programmable operations are performed on the data in order to generate output. The operations are programmable in that a user may utilize instructions from a predetermined instruction set for generating the same. Such output is stored in a register. During operation, the output stored in the register is used in performing the programmable operations on the data.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for generating a custom report using an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for generating an on-demand database service custom report can enable embodiments to generate reports that reflect a relationship between at least two different objects. The ability of embodiments to provide such additional insight into database contents may lead to more efficient and effective reporting.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for decomposing a sampling task into a plurality of jobs. In operation, a sampling task is identified. Additionally, the sampling task is decomposed into a plurality of jobs. Further, each of the plurality of jobs are processed in parallel. Still yet, each of the plurality of jobs are allowed to terminate independently of the other plurality of jobs.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for generating and securing a program, and secrets including confidential keys, capable of being executed utilizing a processor to decrypt content. In operation, a second party's program for decrypting content from a third party is generated by a second party, and then secured in a process involving the second party in such a manner that it can be subsequently executed on the processor, without revealing the contents of the second party's program, nor any secrets provided by third party, or used by the second party, in securing the program, nor any portion of the third party's content while being handled by the program.

Abstract: A heating element for use in a thermal fly height control magnetic recording head of a magnetic data recording system. The heating element has a centrally disposed portion with a straight front edge that is recessed by a substantially constant distance, and has first and second side portions that taper away from the air bearing surface. The side portions preferably taper away from the air bearing surface by an angle of 20 to 45 degrees. The center portion of the front edge is spaced from the air bearing surface by a distance D and has a width W, such that W is 1.5 to 2.5 (or about 2) times D. D is typically 2-6 um to have good heater efficiency while being large enough to not over heat the heater. The heating element has an overall width WW and a overall depth HH from the air bearing surface such that WW is 1.5-2.5 (or about 2) times HH.

Abstract: A content capability clearing house that can act as a trusted and neutral mediator among network providers to manage rich content capabilities among multiple networks is provided. Content capabilities that can be brokered include, but are not limited to, quality of service and content screening. In an embodiment, a content capability clearing house includes a receiver that receives content capability request messages and other messages from network providers. A content capability request message includes a quality of service request and/or a subscriber profile request for use with content screening and subscriber specific advertisements. The present invention includes a series of methods for determining content capabilities for data transmission over a transaction between a content provider and a subscriber in which a content capability clearing house is used to efficiently broker and manage the capability among multiple network providers.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for allowing access to backup data resulting from performance of one or more recovery point backup operations and one or more full backup operations. This is accomplished by associating recovery point backup operations with full backup operations and allowing access to backup data resulting from performance of the recovery point backup operations and the full backup operations. In this way, logs corresponding to the backup operations may be associated with a backup path, such that the logs may be accessed during a restore operation. Furthermore, the recovery point operations may be configured to provide a user defined granularity for data recovery. To this end, in various embodiments, backup data may be stored at a granularity defined by a user and recovered based on a user selection of a recovery point.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide patterned media in which the center and the direction of the disk can be detected. According to one embodiment, patterned media has a bit pattern including convex portions of a magnetic material on one surface or both surfaces of a nonmagnetic substrate having a central hole. A diffraction grating pattern is formed as an alignment pattern in the inner circumference (or outer circumference) of the patterned media. The diffraction grating pattern is a pattern having a repetitive configuration, and includes a pattern with a repetitive pitch different from that in other portions, or a portion having no pattern, at least one region on a circumference. The diffraction grating pattern is irradiated with detection light and diffracted light is detected, thereby a center and a direction of the disk can be detected.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for managing transaction billing across a plurality of billing sources utilizing an interface. In use, information associated with a transaction is received. Additionally, billing of the transaction is managed utilizing an interface accessible to a plurality of billing sources. Further, a billing response is returned, based on the management of the billing of the transaction.

Abstract: A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for programmable processing in a computer graphics pipeline. Initially, data is received from a source buffer. Thereafter, programmable operations are performed on the data in order to generate output. The operations are programmable in that a user may utilize instructions from a predetermined instruction set for generating the same. Such output is stored in a register. During operation, the output stored in the register is used in performing the programmable operations on the data.

Abstract: A spin torque oscillation magnetoresistive sensor for measuring a magnetic field. The sensor uses a change in precessional oscillation frequency of a magnetization of a magnetic layer to determine the magnitude of a magnetic field. The sensor can include a magnetic free layer, a magnetic pinned layer and a non-magnetic layer sandwiched therebetween. Circuitry is connected with these layers to induce an electrical current through the layers. Spin polarization of electrons traveling through the device causes a spin torque induced precession of the magnetization of one or more of the layers. The frequency of this oscillation modulates in response to a magnetic field. The modulation of the oscillation frequency can be measured to detect the presence of the magnetic field, and determine its magnitude.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for compiling code adapted to execute utilizing a first processor, for executing the code utilizing a second processor. In operation, code adapted to execute utilizing a first processor is identified. Additionally, the code is compiled for executing the code utilizing a second processor that is different from the first processor and includes a central processing unit. Further, the code is executed utilizing the second processor.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a write pole having an end region positioned towards an air bearing surface, a first flare point, and a second flare point positioned between the air bearing surface and the first flare point; and a shield positioned above the write pole, wherein a cross sectional area of the write pole at a point between the first and second flare points along a plane passing through the write pole and oriented about parallel to the air bearing surface is greater than a cross sectional area of the end region of the write pole along a plane oriented parallel to the plane passing through the second flare point. Additional systems and methods are also presented.