Abstract: A system, apparatus, and process creates a table of contents (TOC), including one or more table of contents (TOC) entries, to manage data in a hierarchical storage management system. Each TOC entry contains metadata describing the contents and attributes of a data object within an image, which is an aggregation of multiple data objects into a single object for storage management purposes. The TOC is stored in a storage hierarchy, such as magnetic disk, for fast access of and efficient operation on the aggregated TOC entries. The system, apparatus, and process also provide for aggregating the TOC entries from one or more TOCs into a TOC set in the storage management server database. The TOC set may be manipulated and queried in order to find a particular data object or image referenced by a TOC entry.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a scalable, composite, reconfigurable backplane. The backplane is made up of one or more blade aggregation modules which provide switching for attached devices. The blade aggregation module connects to transition cards that then connect with blade modules. The blade aggregation module provides connectivity to the connected modules, which may connect to a second blade aggregation module through the transition cards. The transition cards may additionally connect with unit aggregation modules to connect rows of blade modules together. Transition cards can also provide outside connectivity. The backplane, made up of blade aggregation modules, transition cards, and unit aggregation modules, is highly scalable and versatile, and also provides an unblocked airflow path to facilitate cooling the blades.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and process creates a table of contents (TOC), including one or more table of contents (TOC) entries, to manage data in a hierarchical storage management system. Each TOC entry contains metadata describing the contents and attributes of a data object within an image, which is an aggregation of multiple data objects into a single object for storage management purposes. The TOC is stored in a storage hierarchy, such as magnetic disk, for fast access of and efficient operation on the aggregated TOC entries. The system, apparatus, and process also provide for aggregating the TOC entries from one or more TOCs into a TOC set in the storage management server database. The TOC set may be manipulated and queried in order to find a particular data object or image referenced by a TOC entry.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for policy-based secure destruction of data. The method for policy-based secure destruction of data is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes storing a data destruction policy, wherein the data destruction policy defines at least one predetermined data destruction parameter. The method may also include referencing the data destruction policy to obtain the data destruction parameters in response to a predetermined data operation. In a further embodiment, the method may include executing a data destruction process in accordance with the data destruction parameters.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a modular blade. The blade has a first carrier card and a second carrier card. At least one of these cards connects into the backplane of a blade server and provides connectivity for the modular blade to the backplane. The carrier cards also provide connectivity between their respective attached devices. In order to increase the density available in a modular blade, the computing components on the first and second cards interleave with one another such that a maximum number of components fit in a minimal space. The modular blade also provides an airflow channel for air circulation necessary to provide cooling. The first carrier card and second carrier card may also be identical, with one of the identical pair rotated one-hundred and eighty degrees with respect to the other.

Abstract: The developments in mass storage devices show a fast increase of the storage capacity. This allows for the recording of huge digital archives with audio, video, text, still picture, etc. documents. It's getting more and more difficult for the user to keep an overview about all these archived documents and in particular to find the user preferred documents. The invention proposes to record a device profile in a reproduction device. The device profile is based on a number of document sets for classifying the documents. In the device profile it is recorded which document sets the user previously selected for reproduction in a given time of day slice. When the user is using the reproduction device in a given time of day slice, the reproduction appliance selects a document set for reproduction based on the previously recorded device profile. The user preferred document sets would thus be reproduced with higher priority.

Abstract: Ion sources and methods for generating an ion beam with a controllable ion current density distribution. The ion source includes a discharge chamber and an electromagnet adapted to generate a magnetic field for changing a density distribution of the plasma inside the discharge chamber and, thereby, to change the ion current density distribution.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for managing retention of stored objects. A modification request is received with respect to a stored object. A determination is made as to whether a retention protection mechanism is set and a storage policy associated with the stored object is processed to determine whether the stored object has expired according to the storage policy in response to determining that the retention protection mechanism is set. The modification request is allowed to proceed in response to determining that the stored object has expired.

Abstract: A charged particle apparatus, with multiple electrically conducting semispheric grid electrodes, the grid electrodes mounted in a dielectric mounting ring, with hidden areas or regions to maintain electrical isolation between the grid electrodes as sputter deposits form on the grid electrodes and mounting ring. The grid electrodes are mounted to the mounting ring with slots and fastening pins that allow sliding thermal expansion and contraction between the grid electrodes and mounting ring while substantially maintaining alignment of grid openings and spacing between the grid electrodes. Asymmetric fastening pins facilitate the sliding thermal expansion while restraining the grid electrodes. Electrical contactors supply and maintain electrical potentials of the grid electrodes with spring loaded sliding contacts, without substantially affecting the thermal characteristics of the grid electrodes.

Abstract: Pulseless reciprocating pumps that include a control valve that rotationally engages a wear plate, such as the pumps disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,718,570 and 5,733,105. The pumps include stiction-inhibiting structures and compositions that adapt the reciprocating pumps for use in delivering liquid streams that contain at least a modest carbon-containing feedstock component, such as one or more alcohols or hydrocarbons. The present disclosure is also directed to embodiments of the above-referenced and incorporated pumps that are adapted to have improved durability and leak-inhibiting structure. Fuel processing and fuel cell systems that include at least one of the disclosed reciprocating pumps are also presented.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing a substrate with a beam of energetic particles. The beam is directed from a source through a rectangular aperture in a shield positioned between the source and substrate to a treatment zone in a plane of substrate movement. Features on the substrate are aligned parallel to a major dimension of the rectangular aperture and the substrate is moved orthogonally to the aperture's major dimension. The beam impinges the substrate through the aperture during movement. The substrate may be periodically rotated by approximately 180° to reorient the features relative to the major dimension of the rectangular aperture. The resulting treatment profile is symmetrical about the sides of the features oriented toward the major dimension of the rectangular aperture.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for managing storage objects. Storage object information is provided for each storage object, wherein the storage object information indicates at least one of a plurality of groups associated with the storage object, and wherein each storage object is capable of being associated with a plurality of groups and different group types. Group information is provided for each group indicating a group identifier, storage objects associated with the group, and a group type.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and process creates a table of contents (TOC), including one or more table of contents (TOC) entries, to manage data in a hierarchical storage management system. Each TOC entry contains metadata describing the contents and attributes of a data object within an image, which is an aggregation of multiple data objects into a single object for storage management purposes. The TOC is stored in a storage hierarchy, such as magnetic disk, for fast access of and efficient operation on the aggregated TOC entries. The system, apparatus, and process also provide for aggregating the TOC entries from one or more TOCs into a TOC set in the storage management server database. The TOC set may be manipulated and queried in order to find a particular data object or image referenced by a TOC entry.

Abstract: An improved system and method of electronic check processing at an existing point-of-sale system. The system utilized to implement the present invention includes at least one point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a verification system, and an electronic settlement network. The POS terminal includes a printer, MICR scanner, and optical scanner. When a customer presents a check to pay for a transaction at the POS, the checker runs the check through an MICR scanner, which captures the MICR information from the check. The MICR information is forwarded to the verification system for approval of the check for ECC. Once the check is approved for ECC, the purchaser's contact information is scanned from the face of the check by the optical scanner, and the digitized contact information is utilized along with other information from the transaction to create an ECC Agreement slip, which is printed on the high speed receipt printer. The agreement slip includes a signature line for the purchaser sign.

Abstract: An improved system and method of electronic check processing at an existing point-of-sale system. The system utilized to implement the present invention includes at least one point-of-sale (POS) terminal, a verification system, and an electronic settlement network. The POS terminal includes a printer, MICR scanner, and optical scanner. When a customer presents a check to pay for a transaction at the POS, the checker runs the check through an MICR scanner, which captures the MICR information from the check. The MICR information is forwarded to the verification system for approval of the check for ECC. Once the check is approved for ECC, the purchaser's contact information is scanned from the face of the check by the optical scanner, and the digitized contact information is utilized along with other information from the transaction to create an ECC Agreement slip, which is printed on the high speed receipt printer. The agreement slip includes a signature line for the purchaser sign.

Abstract: An Adjacency Detection Protocol (ADP) whereby a node in a wireless network may collect information about its neighbors. The collected information enables the establishment of link layer connectivity between a node and its neighbors and also is useful for translating network layer addresses into link addresses. The collected information finds further use in preventing medium contention among adjacent nodes and in handling collisions.

Abstract: A Fishing Rod Holder for Bank and Coastal Fishing consisting of a 3-4 foot rigid rod secured with plastic tie wraps and adhesive to a rigid tube, the ends of which have been cut at parallel angles. The said rod, being of rigid material and extending to top of rod holder, can be hammered into hard ground. The said tube, being of sufficient inside diameter, accommodates all rod handles, even pistol grip. Angled cut of bottom of said tube allows rod holder to be inserted deep into ground, encompassing part of the said tube. In soft ground or beach situations this makes the rod holder very secure in all situations, even when a fish is hooked on the line and even after prolonged fighting. Angled cut at top of said tube secures rod and reel, preventing swiveling, and allowing a person who has the use of only one arm to reel in the fish.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for performing a point-in-time backup using a snapshot function. Work space on a work virtual volume is obtained to hold the snapshot copy of the source data being copied from a source virtual volume. Updates to the source virtual volume are suspended during the snapshot function, so as to provide a logically consistent view of the source virtual volume at a common point in time. Pointers are copied from a virtual track table of the source virtual volume to a virtual track table of the work virtual volume without actually moving any data on data storage devices referenced by those pointers. As a result, the snapshot function provides a method for copying the source virtual volume to the work virtual volume very quickly. Upon completion of the snapshot function, updates to the source virtual volume may be resumed.

Abstract: An Adjacency Detection Protocol (ADP) whereby a node in a wireless network may collect information about its neighbors. The collected information enables the establishment of link layer connectivity between a node and its neighbors and also is useful for translating network layer addresses into link addresses. The collected information finds further use in preventing medium contention among adjacent nodes and in handling collisions.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for performing a point-in-time backup using multiple copy technologies includes steps of suspending execution of updates to the source data; determining what point-in-time backup technology is supported by the device by determining the device and extents of the source data; processing each of the extents as determined by the backup technology supported and copying the source data in point-in-time; and backing up copied entire source data to a target media. If the backup process fails, the method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provides a restart function.