Abstract: A hardware frame modifier apparatus where the functions of the virtual device and virtual host are combined so that a single processor may perform them is provided. The hardware frame modifier apparatus may virtualize command and status frames without a store and forward operation. The modified command and status frames are sent to the physical host and physical device. The hardware frame modifier apparatus used a virtual table, updated by the virtual device/virtual host, to determine the appropriate mapping of the logical storage device of the frames to a physical storage device. Based on this mapping, the hardware frame modifier changes the frame header to direct the frame directly to the physical storage device and to determine the appropriate conversion of command and status type. In this way, the number of store and forward operations required to send data frames to, or read from, the physical storage devices is reduced or eliminated, thus reducing the delay or latency.

Abstract: A leader connecting mechanism is for connecting a first leader to a second leader includes a guide member having a track. The mechanism further includes an engaging member that is engageable with the first leader. The engaging member is slidable along the track of the guide member for connecting the first leader to the second leader.

Abstract: A magnetic head assembly for writing multiple tracks to a tape that travels in a first direction is provided. The assembly includes a first head section for writing a first subset of the tracks, and a second head section for writing a second subset of the tracks. Furthermore, one head section is canted with respect to a plane that is transverse to the first direction, such that the head sections write two adjacent tracks at different angles with respect to the plane.

Abstract: The capacity of a rack-mounted storage library having a media element handling assembly is expanded by mounting a panel segment to a rack side such that the panel segment faces the rack interior. At least one of media element housing cells and a media player are supported on the panel segment such that the cells and the player face the rack interior. The library capacity is increased by mounting another panel segment having cells or a player to another rack side. The panel segments are mounted to the rack sides independent of one another or are connected together prior to being mounted to the rack sides. The handling assembly moves through the rack interior to load media elements held by cells into a player. The panel segments may be mounted to the rack sides at the same or different rack length positions.

Abstract: A method and system for transmitting tape cartridge information using a bi-axial tape cartridge antenna design. A contactless tape cartridge memory device is provided in which the memory device is accessible from multiple surfaces of the cartridge. A single flexible antenna surrounds the tape cartridge memory device. The antenna may be bent to fit within the corner of the tape cartridge, thus providing a parallel antenna surface to two locations on the cartridge, such as the front of the cartridge and the side or bottom of the cartridge. As a result, the memory device in the tape cartridge may be read when the cartridge is being inserted into the tape drive as well as while the cartridge is stored within the tape drive.

Abstract: A dual-stripe element magnetroresistive read head for reading information from a magnetic tape. The read head includes a first insulating layer, a first active magnetoresistive layer formed on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer formed on the first active magnetoresistive layer, a second active magnetoresistive layer formed on the second insulating layer, and a third insulating layer formed on the second active magnetoresistive layer. The second active magnetoresistive layer is magnetostatically coupled to the first active magnetoresistive layer. A periodic structure is formed on a surface of the first insulator layer. As the remaining layers are formed on the first insulating layer, the periodic structure is replicated throughout the read head. Thus, the periodic structure formed on the first insulator layer stabilizes both the first and second active layers via magnetic domain pinning for both layers along the edges of the periodic structure.

Abstract: A Viterbi decoder is used to provide erasure information to a symbol based decoder. In a preferred embodiment, a Viterbi decoder is used to provide either minimum distance path metric information or path probability information, which is summed over a symbol window to derive erasure information for the symbol based decoder.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a data storage cartridge. The apparatus includes a shuttle, a frame, and a lift mechanism. The shuttle is adapted to receive the data storage cartridge. The frame is adapted to receive the shuttle and has a stop. The lift mechanism is configured to move the shuttle between an unloaded position and a loaded position. The stop inhibits movement of the shuttle when the shuttle is in the unloaded position.

Abstract: For use in a data storage system, a method of dynamically controlling accesses to and from the storage device array.

Abstract: In a tape data storage arrangement, a magnetic detent is provided to maintain a tape read/write head in selected positions with respect to the tape, during data transfer. The tape is mounted on a carriage movable between first and second positions, with respect to a support structure, and a detent member is fixably joined to the support structure. First and second detent components mounted on the carriage engage the detent member by means of a magnetic force, when the carriage is moved to the first and second positions, respectively. Usefully, the detent member is a magnet and the first and second components comprise steel. Alternatively, the detent member comprises steel, and the first and second components are both magnets.

Abstract: A system for object-based archival data storage includes an object-based storage subsystem having respective data storage devices, at least one file presentation interface that interfaces to client platforms, an administration interface having graphical user interface (GUI) and a command line interface (CLI), a meta data subsystem for storing meta data about files, and includes a virtual file subsystem having a virtual file server (VFS), a policy subsystem that provides system rules predetermined by a user, and a scalable interconnect to couple the object-based storage subsystem, the at least one file presentation interface, the administration interface, the meta data subsystem, and the policy subsystem, wherein the meta data subsystem stores meta data about data files and object files including local file system location, object identification for data, hash, and presented file system information.

Abstract: A cartridge system uses a pluggable remotely accessible tag to store information related to the cartridge. These tags may be accessed by tape drives having pluggable remotely accessing receivers.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method and system for adjusting the rate of data transfer between a high-speed multi-channel tape drive and a slower-capability network interface. The present invention allows for selectively enabling/disabling active channels to adjust the data throughput to match the data transfer capabilities of the network interface. Such an adjustment optimizes the rate of data transfer between the system and the tape drive by reducing the amount of stop and start operations normally present in an environment where the network interface cannot support the high-speed data transfer rates of a tape drive. Such an enablement/disablement adjustment system allows for a greater range of varying data rates within the transfer.

Abstract: An optical disk device includes a format determination unit which determines a format causing an intersymbol interference ratio of not less than a preset value, as a format for power calibration performed on an optical disk, when an intersymbol interference ratio of data to be recorded on the optical disk is lower than a preset value, a power calibration unit which executes power calibration on the optical disk using the format determined by the format determination unit, an optimal power determination unit which determines optimal power for a laser beam used to record the data, based on a result of the power calibration by the power calibration unit, and a recording unit which records the data on the optical disk using a laser beam corresponding to the optimal power determined by the optimal power determination unit.

Abstract: A guide portion provided in parallel with a main shaft is formed integrally with a resin-made mechanism chassis. A slidable member is provided between a guide receiver portion of a pickup and the guide portion. The guide receiver portion is provided with a spring member which applies an energizing force to press the slidable member and the guide portion.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recorder for magnetically recording information onto a recording medium having a given recording coercive field includes an electron beam generator and a magnetic recording head. The electron beam generator directs an electron beam onto the recording medium in order to locally heat a portion of the recording medium such that the heated recording medium portion has a recording coercive field lower than the given recording coercive field. The magnetic recording head generates a magnetic recording field having an intensity greater than the recording coercive field of the heated recording medium portion in order to magnetically record information onto the heated recording medium portion. The electron beam generator includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) embedded in nanoholes of an anodic alumina template for generating the electron beam. A heat-assisted magnetic recording method is associated with the heat-assisted magnetic recorder.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program are disclosed for managing the distribution of optical power to a plurality of optical data devices. The devices can be data storage drives, data replicators, fast optical search devices, or other components that use optical or laser power for their operation. A power management system provides the increased flexibility of monitoring and redirecting optical power (e.g., to provide higher or lower power on demand), which increases the fault-tolerance and performance (e.g., through higher data transfer rates) of a data management system.

Abstract: System and method for providing gain and thresholding to a holographic data parallel recording and replication system incorporating independent angular address assignment. A plurality of information bearing light beams in an information bearing light beam arm of a data recording system and a plurality of reference light beams in a reference light beam arm of the data recording system are mutually interfered to store a plurality of spatially separate, spatially modulated light intensity patterns in a holographic data storage medium in a data recording operation. During the data recording operation, the plurality of information bearing light beams are repeatedly circulated through the holographic data storage medium using a resonant cavity formed along the information bearing light beam arm of the holographic recording system.

Abstract: A storage library includes cells supported within a frame for holding media elements. A robot assembly is operable for moving toward the cells and manipulating media elements held by the cells. The robot is containable within a module which is removably mountable to the frame to provide modular replacement and removal of the robot from the frame. The robot is contained within the module as the module is mounted to the frame and moves out from the module to move toward the cells and manipulate media elements held by the cells while the module is mounted to the frame. The module is removably dismounted out of the frame while the robot is contained within the module to provide the modular removal of the robot. The module is removably mounted into the frame while a new robot is contained within the module to provide the modular replacement of the robot.

Abstract: A system and method for improved power plane decoupling. In a preferred embodiment, two dielectric layers with different dielectric constants are separated by a first conducting layer. Second and third conducting layers are positioned outside the two dielectric layers, forming a conductor-dielectric-conductor-dielectric-conductor stack. The two outer conducting layers contact each other periodically through vias made in the conducting layers, adding high dielectric constant capacitance to the plane structure for short time intervals. The lower dielectric constant material provides high propagation speed coupling to the high dielectric constant material.