Abstract: The present invention is directed to minimizing the dependency of source code on the characteristics of a set-top box's in-band (streaming video or audio) hardware. The set-top box software consists of a device driver layer, which is intimately aware of hardware characteristics, an application layer, which is relatively unaware of any hardware details, a middleware layer which is also relatively unaware of any hardware details, and a device translation layer (DTL). In the DTL, all of the translation between device abstractions to device driver calls that were formerly made in middleware are moved down to an engine manager. Middleware thus becomes device-independent with respect to in-band devices, and porting Middleware to new hardware becomes trivial.

Abstract: A method of displaying Electronic Program Guide (EPG) data on a remote control in substantially a grid format, without using “channel” information as an axis. Instead of being presented by channel and time, the data is presented only by time. Thus, program information from multiple channels may be displayed in a single row. Various truncation algorithms allow program descriptions to be shortened, enabling placement of the descriptions into gaps or empty cells in an available row, whereas without the truncation the program description would not have fit into the gaps. For example, when there is a program X in the grid on a first line with at least one gap, and another program Y in the grid on a second line, where Y spans a time slot corresponding to at least one of the gaps on program X's line, either X's title or Y's title, or both, can be truncated, and Y's title can be moved to X's line.

Abstract: A near field optical apparatus comprising a conductive sheet or plane having an aperture therein with the conductive plane including at least one protrusion which extends into the aperture. The location, structure and configuration of the protrusion or protrusions can be controlled to provide desired near field localization of optical power output associated with the aperture. Preferably, the location, structure and configuration of the protrusion are tailored to maximize near field localization at generally the center of the aperture. The aperture preferably has a perimeter dimension which is substantially resonant with the output wavelength of the light source, or is otherwise able to support a standing wave of significant amplitude. The apparatus may be embodied in a vertical cavity surface emitting layer or VCSEL having enhanced nearfield brightness by providing a conductive layer on the laser emission facet, with, a protrusion of the conductive layer extending into an aperture in the emission facet.

Abstract: A single monolithic semiconductor substrate comprises a first side and a second side. The first side includes an air bearing surface. A laser integrates with the first side. The laser has an emission facet substantially co-planer with the air bearing surface. A contact pad on the second side electronically bridges to the laser.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for recording information on a multi-layer diffractive optics memory to extend storage capacity. A composite mirror device comprises a plurality of sets of mirror elements. Each one of the mirror elements of the sets is configured to direct a reference beam to a point of the multi-layer memory at one of a plurality of angles. A plurality of planes is associated with the plurality of sets. There is one plane per set, each plane being defined for each of the sets of mirror elements so that the paths formed from the mirror elements of the set to the point lie in the plane. Each of the planes is separated from its neighbor by an angle selected to avoid crosstalk.

Abstract: A petabyte diffractive storage system stores information on a diffractive storage tape. A light component generates a large reference beam to cover the plurality of points of the diffractive storage tape so as to simultaneously interfere with the plurality of object beams creating a plurality of packets of information at the plurality of points. Also disclosed is a terabyte diffractive storage that system reads information from a diffractice storage disk having a plurality of tracks. A plurality of micro-mirrors directs the read beam to one of said plurality of tracks.

Abstract: A master memory device that stores a plurality of pages of information. An unexposed memory device (190) is adjacent to the master memory device (180). The unexposed memory device and the master memory device are separated by a gap. An aperture unit (130) is disposed in the gap. The aperture has a plurality of aperture openings. Each opening corresponds, in size, to an individual page constitutes of a column with specific multiplexing angles of memory in the master memory device. The aperture unit is located across a face of the master memory device such that the openings correspond to selected ones of the pages of information. A light source (120) generates a beam that transfers memory data from the master memory device to the unexposed memory device.

Abstract: The present invention comprises method for making a multi-layer diffractive optics memory to extend storage capacity. A first layer is made by laying down a thin layer of polypeptide on a substrate. The substrate may be a glass substrate or plastic film substrate. One or more interference patterns are recorded on the first layer. For protection, a thin layer of optical glue is laid on the first layer. A second layer is made by laying down a thin layer of polypeptide onto the first and protective layers. One or more interference patterns are recorded on the second layer.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of the present invention employ solid state dynamic diffractive optical elements for reading information from a diffractive optics memory. The diffractive optics memory has stored therein information located at a plurality of points of the memory and at a plurality of angles at each one of the points so as to form a plurality of packets of information at each of the points. A matrix of the dynamic diffractive optical elements is configured to shape a laser beam to address the memory at one of the angles of one of the points to reconstruct one of the packets of information.

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: A parallel recording of diffractive storage system is provided. The recorded information is cellular for its designation. A laser beam is data modulated through a single reference beam and a plurality of object beams positioned at different angles. These object beams intersect the reference beam within a recording medium to form a plurality of data loaded pattern simultaneously.

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 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 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: 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: A near field optical apparatus comprising a conductive sheet or plane having an aperture therein, with the conductive plane including at least one protrusion which extends into the aperture. The location, structure and configuration of the protrusion or protrusions can be controlled to provide desired near field localization of optical power output associated with the aperture. Preferably, the location, structure and configuration of the protrusion are tailored to maximize near field localization at generally the center of the aperture. The aperture preferably has a perimeter dimension which is substantially resonant with the output wavelength of the light source, or is otherwise able to support a standing wave of significant amplitude. The apparatus may be embodied in a vertical cavity surface emitting layer or VCSEL having enhanced nearfield brightness by providing a conductive layer on the laser emission facet, with a protrusion of the conductive layer extending into an aperture in the emission facet.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing sector location pulses to a controller of a rotating disk data storage device having a counter clocked in proportion to the disk rotation rate and an accumulator for accumulating times to sectors on the disk. A comparator connected to the counter and the accumulator enables an accumulator clock for repetitive clocking of the accumulator at such times the contents of the accumulator do not exceed the contents of the counter. A sector location pulse generator connected to the comparator generates the controller pulses, when enabled, concurrently with the accumulator clock signals. A master reset generator resets the first counter and the accumulator each time an index location on the disk passes a transducer head used to read and write data to and from the disk and a partial reset generator resets the accumulator each time the transducer head is moved between tracks on the disk.