Abstract: A computer memory system (20) which comprises a media module (22); a host computer (24) configured to accommodate the media module (22) in removable fashion; and a display unit (26). The media module (22) is configured to store electronic data. The host computer (24) comprises a docking station (30) configured to accommodate the media module (22); an interface (32) through which electronic signals representing the electronic data are transmitted between the host computer (24) and the media module (22); an optical indicator (34); and a host processor (36). The host processor (36) is configured to control a read/write operation over the interface between the host computer (24) and the media module (22) and to activate the optical indicator (34) whereby the optical indicator (34) provides a first optical signal depicting transmission of electronic signals over the interface in the read/write operation.

Abstract: A computer memory system (20) which comprises a media module (22); a host computer (24) configured to accommodate the media module (22) in removable fashion; and a display unit (26). The media module (22) is configured to store electronic data. The host computer (24) comprises a docking station (30) configured to accommodate the media module (22); an interface (32) through which electronic signals representing the electronic data are transmitted between the host computer (24) and the media module (22); an optical indicator (34); and a host processor (36). The host processor (36) is configured to control a read/write operation over the interface between the host computer (24) and the media module (22) and to activate the optical indicator (34) whereby the optical indicator (34) provides a first optical signal depicting transmission of electronic signals over the interface in the read/write operation.

Abstract: A cartridge transport robot transports a cartridge of information storage media between differing locations in a cartridge library. The cartridge robot comprises a robot carriage; a robot tray; and a carriage motive system. The robot tray comprises a guide configured to facilitate linear motion of the robot carriage, the robot carriage being situated on a first side of the robot tray. The robot carriage comprises cartridge engagement elements configured to selectively engage and release the cartridge. The carriage motive system is configured to provide linear motion to the robot carriage along the robot tray from a carriage retracted position to a carriage extracted position and thereby linearly displace the cartridge engaged by the cartridge engagement elements.

Abstract: A cartridge library (30) comprises at least one drive (60); a cartridge magazine (52); and, a transport mechanism (54) configured to transport the cartridge between the magazine and the drive. The transport mechanism (54) is configured to transport the cartridge between, e.g., cells of the magazine (52) and/or between the magazine (52) and the drive (60). The transport mechanism (54) comprises a robot (300) and a robot motive system. The robot comprises a robot carriage (308) and a robot tray (302). The robot carriage (308) carries or comprises cartridge engagement elements (310) configured to selectively engage and release the cartridge. The robot tray (302) facilitates linear motion of the robot carriage, the robot carriage being situated on a first side of the robot tray. The robot motive system comprises three robot motive subsystems (312, 360, 450) and a (robot) carriage motive subsystem (380).

Abstract: A barcode reader comprises a housing (1); plural light emitting elements (3) mounted on the housing (1) for illuminating a barcode (L) in a target area; and optical elements (5, 7) mounted on the housing (1) for receiving light reflected from the barcode (L). The plural light emitting elements (3) are mounted on the housing (1) whereby illumination axes of the plural light emitting elements (3) form respective non-right angles to a plane of the barcode (L) and whereby illumination footprints of the plural light emitting elements have an elliptical shape.

Abstract: An information transducing drive performs information transducing operations with respect to transducable media. In an example embodiment the drive comprises an information transducer (30); a cartridge handler (32); a media transport system (35); and a controller (36). The transducer (30) is configured to perform the information transducing operations with respect to the media (24). The cartridge handler (32) opens a lid (28) of the cartridge (26) and selectively extracts the media at least partially from the cartridge and selectively retracts the media into the cartridge. The media transport system (35) transports the media extracted from the cartridge in a transport path whereby the transducer can perform the information transducing operations with respect to the media.

Abstract: A cartridge library (30) comprises at least one drive (60); a cartridge magazine (52); and, a transport mechanism (54) configured to transport the cartridge between the magazine and the drive. The transport mechanism (54) is configured to transport the cartridge between, e.g., cells of the magazine (52) and/or between the magazine (52) and the drive (60). The transport mechanism (54) comprises a robot (300) and a robot motive system. The robot comprises a robot carriage (308) and a robot tray (302). The robot carriage (308) carries or comprises cartridge engagement elements (310) configured to selectively engage and release the cartridge. The robot tray (302) facilitates linear motion of the robot carriage, the robot carriage being situated on a first side of the robot tray. The robot motive system comprises three robot motive subsystems (312, 360, 450) and a (robot) carriage motive subsystem (380).

Abstract: A cartridge transport robot transports a cartridge of information storage media between differing locations in a cartridge library. The cartridge robot comprises a robot carriage; a robot tray; and a carriage motive system. The robot tray comprises a guide configured to facilitate linear motion of the robot carriage, the robot carriage being situated on a first side of the robot tray. The robot carriage comprises cartridge engagement elements configured to selectively engage and release the cartridge. The carriage motive system is configured to provide linear motion to the robot carriage along the robot tray from a carriage retracted position to a carriage extracted position and thereby linearly displace the cartridge engaged by the cartridge engagement elements.

Abstract: A data recording/recovery device (20) comprises a packet generator (34) for including recordable information into a packet (44), the packet initially having a nominal run length limited (RLL) sequence if it were RLL encoded. A randomizer (38) uses a randomizer input value (50) to obtain a modified packet (46) which, when encoded, will at least partially have a different run length limited sequence than the nominal run length limited sequence. A write channel (40) records the modified packet (46) as a track packet at a destination physical location (42) on a storage medium (22). The randomizer input value (50) used to obtain the modified packet (46) is related to a predetermined physical location on the storage medium. In one example embodiment the randomizer input value is related to the destination physical location on the storage medium.

Abstract: An operating-system-independent modular programming method is disclosed, which includes providing one or more tasks, one or more task queues, and zero or more condition queues. Each task is a program that is run in sequence. Each task queue includes a task queue program and a queue containing zero or more tasks. Each condition queue includes a condition queue program and a queue containing zero or more tasks and associated conditions. Each task includes task ending code that refers to zero, one, or more than one successor task, and the task queue program or the condition queue program handles each such successor task by either running it or placing it in a task queue or a condition queue. The programming method further includes providing a fan and an end fan construct to enable a parent task to generate a plurality of child sequences.

Abstract: A helical scan drum design for use in non-tracking tape devices which assures 70% coverage of a track to be read by overscanning with at least two read heads at approximate 1X speed. The present invention further provides a simulation method for evaluating potential drum designs for such overscan applications. The preferred drum design uses pairs of read heads having identical azimuth angles and positioned on the rotating drum such that in combination they overlap the scan of a track by 130% the track width. These dimensions assure at least 70% coverage of each track by at least one of the pair of heads at up to 1X speed while assuring no overlap with another recorded track recorded along an identical azimuth angle. The simulation method allows for evaluation of potential drum designs by accepting parameters describing the intended drum application and then simulating track read operations over a plurality of simulated tracks to determine the efficacy of the design over a range of tape speeds and gap widths.

Abstract: An improved and extended Reed-Solomon-like method for providing a redundancy of m?3 is disclosed. A general expression of the codes is described, as well as a systematic criterion for proving correctness and finding decoding algorithms for values of m?3. Examples of codes are given for m=3, 4, 5, based on primitive elements of a finite field of dimension N where N is 8, 16 or 32. A Horner's method and accumulator apparatus are described for XOR-efficient evaluation of polynomials with variable vector coefficients and constant sparse square matrix abscissa. A power balancing technique is described to further improve the XOR efficiency of the algorithms. XOR-efficient decoding methods are also described. A tower coordinate technique to efficiently carry out finite field multiplication or inversion for large dimension N forms a basis for one decoding method.