Abstract: The present invention relates to a memory on a silicon microchip, comprising a serial input/output and an integrated memory array addressable under N bits. According to the present invention, the memory comprises means for storing a most significant address allocated to the memory within an extended memory array addressable with an extended address of N+K bits, an extended address counter for storing an extended address received at the serial input/output of the memory, the extended address comprising N least significant bits that are applied to the integrated memory array, and K most significant bits, means for comparing the K most significant bits with the most significant address allocated to the memory, and means for preventing the execution of a command for reading or writing the integrated memory array if the K most significant address bits are different to the most significant address allocated to the memory.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory is installed in an electronic device. A method for updating a firmware code stored in a non-volatile memory includes: providing an updating control unit having a command set; providing the updating control unit with a trigger signal to enable at least one command of the command set; and utilizing the updating control unit to read/write the non-volatile memory according to the enabled command to update the firmware code. Wherein each command of the command set is a memory read/write command. The method further includes updating at least one command of the command set in real time. The present invention further provides an electronic device corresponding to the method.

Abstract: Space is allocated on data storage devices in proportion to weights associated with the storage devices. The weights can be dynamically adjusted at any time in order to accommodate changes in the system and to better utilize the storage devices. The technique used to perform the allocating is independent of the weights used by the allocating. Further, the allocation technique can accommodate general purpose data streams having varying lengths and/or varying access patterns, as well as special purpose data streams, such as video streams.

Abstract: A method of serializing administrative operations on virtual volumes includes operating a storage system to maintain a plurality of virtual volumes that share a pool of block storage, where each of the virtual volumes containing data stored on one or more physical storage devices. Administrative access to each of the virtual volumes is controlled individually by imposing serialization on administrative operations directed to each virtual volume.

Abstract: A method and system for using XML for both a protocol layer and application data are described. The method comprises the steps of initiating a connection by a client to a server to form a session, responding by said server to said client indicating that said connection has been successfully completed, submitting a request by said client to said server for service, responding by said server to said client by providing said service and terminating the connection by said client. A session is maintained and a plurality of requests for service by a client and a server responds to those requests by providing the requested service or an error message. The session is maintained until all requests made by a client have been serviced and the requests made by a client may be either synchronous or asynchronous. The system comprises a client and a server coupled to said client by a communications link.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for executing a vendor specific command in a storage area network including a plurality of data storage volumes and at least one host. In one embodiment, a system includes an intelligent multi-protocol switch (IMPS) and a storage and switch controller that is coupled to the IMPS. The IMPS receives a command from the at least one host. The command includes a command byte field storing a vendor specific service action. The storage and switch controller receives the command from the IMPS. A processor included in the storage and switch controller interprets the vendor specific service action and executes the command.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for multiplexing pipelined data for backup operations. Various data streams are combined such as by multiplexing by a multiplexing module. The multiplexing module combines the data from the various data streams received by receiver module(s) into a single stream of chunks. The multiplexing module may combine data from multiple archive files into a single chunk. Additional modules perform other operations on the chunks of data to be transported such as encryption, compression, etc. The data chunks are transmitted via a transport channel to a receive pipeline that includes a second receiver module and other modules. The data chunks are then stored in a backup medium. The chunks are later retrieved and separated such as by demultiplexing for restoring to a client or for further storage as auxiliary copies of the separated data streams or archive files.

Abstract: There is disclosed a controller included in a flash memory system attachable to a memory interface of a host system. If a block in which new data is written and a block in which old data is written are present simultaneously, the controller determines in which block the newest data is written, based on version identifier stored in a redundant area of a flash memory. Specifically, the controller has an access control function for controlling access to the flash memory, an address managing function for managing correspondence between a logical block address supplied from the host system and a physical block address in the flash memory, a version identifier setting function for writing version identifier in the redundant area of the flash memory, and a version identifying function for identifying a block in which newest data corresponding to a same logical block address is written based on the version identifier.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer accessible medium comprises a plurality of instructions. When executed, the plurality of instructions modify at least a first attribute corresponding to a first volume, the first volume corresponding to a computer system's backup state. Subsequent to modifying the first attribute, the plurality of instructions, when executed, cause the first volume to be created on a first computer system to which the computer system's backup state is to be restored.

Abstract: A method of optimizing retention of signal information from a physiologically generated digital signal is provided. The method can comprise steps of generating a digital signal from a physiological source, storing the digital signal into a memory location as a stored digital signal, identifying within the stored digital signal a preferred digital signal event exclusive of a non-preferred digital signal event, wherein the preferred digital signal event has a first event compression level and the non-preferred digital signal event has a second event compression level, detecting a memory storage limitation in the memory location, and increasing the second event compression level of the non-preferred digital signal event as a result of detecting a memory storage limitation. Also, the portable monitor can detect the presence of an upload source to which the digital signal can be uploaded in order to minimize the need to compress the signal.

Abstract: A method for managing computer memory, in accordance with the present invention, includes maintaining multiple sets of free blocks of memory wherein a free block is added to a set based on its size. In response to a request for a block of a request size, a set of blocks is searched for a free block which is at least as large as the request size but smaller than the request size plus a threshold. If such a block is found, the block is allocated in its entirety.

Abstract: A controller for a random access memory includes an address and command queue that holds memory references from a plurality of microcontrol functional units. The address and command queue includes a read queue that stores read memory references. The controller also includes a first read/write queue that holds memory references from a core processor and control logic including an arbiter that detects the fullness of each of the queues and a status of completion of outstanding memory references to select a memory reference from one of the queues.

Abstract: A method for managing activity of a data storage system including a primary storage facility and a secondary storage facility. The method includes mirroring a first logical unit in the primary facility on a second logical unit in the secondary facility, and receiving a command to perform a data storage management activity on the first logical unit. The method further includes synchronizing the second logical unit with the first logical unit responsive to the command, and performing the command on the first logical unit and the second logical unit simultaneously following synchronization.

Abstract: A method of managing storage comprises connecting a number of virtual disks to a disk controller loop of a disk controller, and mounting a portion of the number of virtual disks to the disk controller wherein a storage map is loaded into a fixed-size memory of the disk controller for each virtual disk mounted. The method further comprises receiving a request for data contained on an unmounted virtual disk with the unmounted virtual disk having a storage map of certain size. A sufficient number of mounted virtual disks are dismounted to allow the fixed-size memory to accommodate the certain size of the unmounted virtual disk storage map. The unmounted virtual disk may be mounted.

Abstract: The disclosure is a data processing device with selective data cache architecture and a computer system including the data processing device. The data processing device is comprised of a microprocessor, a coprocessor, a microprocessor data cache, an X-data cache, and a Y-data cache. The microprocessor fetches and executes instructions, and the coprocessor carries out digital signal processing functions. The microprocessor data cache stores data provided from the microprocessor. The X-data cache stores a first group of data provided from the coprocessor while the Y-data cache stores a second group of data provided from the coprocessor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information-processing system, an information-processing apparatus and an information-processing method. At a step S1, a PDA transmits a request for purchase of a content to a server. At steps S11, S12 and S14, the server receives the request for purchase of a content from the PDA and transmits the content to the PDA. At a step S5, the PDA transmits a request for preservation of the content to the server. At a step S16, the server generates a preservation ID based on a user ID for identifying the user of the PDA and based on a content ID for identifying the content, and issues the preservation ID to the PDA. At the next step S17, the server stores the issued preservation ID in a preservation-ID database by associating the preservation ID with the content ID. At a step S6, the PDA receives the issued preservation ID from the server and stores the preservation ID in a memory. The present invention can also be applied to an information management system.

Abstract: An apparatus, as well as systems, methods, and articles can operate to record the address of write operations to a memory cached by a non-volatile cache prior to executing an operating system cache driver. In an embodiment, a non-volatile cache may be implemented by creating a device option read only memory (ROM), or modifying the associated computer basic input-output system (BIOS) to trap software interrupts associated with disk and other media access requests. Associated addresses, such as logical block addresses, can be stored in a log for data that is modified. The resulting log can be stored in a non-volatile medium, including the cache itself. If the available log space is not large enough to record all write activity prior to loading operating system drivers, a flag may be set to indicate the overrun condition.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for preserving the cache data of redundant storage controllers, by copying the recorded data blocks and the associated cache tags in the primary cache memory of a storage controller to a secondary cache memory of an alternate, redundant storage controller, wherein upon a failure occurring in the primary cache memory of any of the storage controllers, subsequent storage requests from a host, previously intended for processing by the failed storage controller, are processed through the secondary cache memory of a non-failed, redundant storage controller that contains the failed storage's controller cache data and cache tags.

Abstract: In order to manage the various types of attribute information within the storage system, the storage system includes the following databases within a file-access controlling memory: a database for managing index information for managing contents of the files, and an index retrieval program, a database for managing the attribute information on the files, and a database for managing storage positions of blocks configuring a file. When the storage system receives an access request to a file, the utilization of these databases allows the storage system to make the access to the access-target file.

Abstract: A technique enables efficient access to logical unit numbers (luns) or virtual disks (vdisks) stored on a storage system, such as a multi-protocol storage appliance. The technique allows a grouping of initiators by a “human friendly” logical name that is mapped to a lun or vdisk on the storage appliance. The initiators are clients operating in, e.g., a storage area network (SAN) environment that initiate requests for the vdisk using block-based access protocols, such as the Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) protocol encapsulated over TCP/IP (iSCSI) or over fibre channel (FCP). The technique enables access to the vdisk by all initiators that are members of the initiator group (igroup). An igroup is a logical named entity that is assigned to one or more addresses associated with one or more initiators. These addresses may comprise fibre channel (FC) world wide name (WWN) or iSCSI name identifiers (IDs).