Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for writing data to protected partitions of storage media. The apparatus includes a control module configured to communicate with a host device and receive write commands for a storage device, a parse module configured to extract logical block addresses, a check module configured to verify a protection state, and a protection module configured to allow write commands according to the protection state. The system includes a host device, a storage device coupled with the host, the storage device comprising an enclosure having storage media and a control module, and the apparatus. The method includes communicating with a host device and receiving write commands for a storage device, extracting logical block addresses from the write commands, verifying a protection state of the extracted logical block addresses, and allowing write commands according to the protection state of the extracted logical block address.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for reducing the collective power consumption of a plurality of storage devices including a plurality of associated storage volumes is provided. The storage volumes are grouped by a last access time according to a plurality of ranks. The plurality of ranks corresponds to a level of power consumption based on device activity. A volume of the plurality of storage volumes is moved between the plurality of ranks according to an access pattern of the volume.

Abstract: A portable data storage assembly, comprising a holographic data storage layer, and an optical tracking layer comprising addressing information for the holographic data storage layer, wherein that addressing information defines a first storage band comprising a first plurality of storage addresses and a second storage band comprising a second plurality of storage addresses, wherein said second plurality of storage address is greater than said first plurality of storage addresses.

Abstract: A method to set a communication speed in a Serial-Attached Small Computer System Interface (“SAS”)/Serial-ATA (“SATA”) distance extender apparatus comprising a plurality of supported communication speeds and a local communication speed, a fibre channel interface, a memory, a processor, and a communication bus interconnecting the SAS/SATA Interface, the Fibre Channel interface, the memory, and the processor. The method detects traffic received by the Fibre Channel interface, and determines if the traffic comprises a SAS/SATA Open Address frame If the traffic comprises a SAS/SATA Open Address frame, the method then determines if the local communication speed matches a communication speed utilized by an interconnected remote SAS/SATA Interface. If the local communication speed matches a communication speed utilized by an interconnected remote SAS/SATA Interface, the method transmits the traffic using the local SAS/SATA Interface.

Abstract: A first special character encoded in a first protocol is transmitted across a first communications link. The transmitted first special character is received at a first interface between the first communications link and a second communications link. The first special character is converted to a second special character encoded in a second protocol, wherein the first special character is also defined for encoding in the second protocol. The second special character is transmitted across the second communications link. The second special character is received at a second interface between the second communications link and a third communications link. The second special character is converted back to the first special character. The first special character is transmitted across the third communications link.

Abstract: Network traffic encoded in a first protocol is transmitted across a first communications link, wherein the first protocol allows a first plurality of simultaneous logical connections. The transmitted network traffic is received at a first interface between the first communications link and a second communications link. The received network traffic is encapsulated within frames at the first interface, wherein the frames are generated in accordance with a second protocol, and wherein the second protocol does not allow any plurality of simultaneous logical connections that are allowed by the first protocol. The frames are transmitted from the first interface to a second interface across the second communications link. The frames are received and then unencapsulated network traffic is generated from the frames at the second interface, wherein the second interface is between the second communications link and a third communications link.

Abstract: A method to select a deduplication protocol for a data storage library comprising a plurality of data storage devices configured as a RAID array, by establishing a normal deduplication protocol, a RAID failure deduplication protocol, and a multiple storage device failure deduplication protocol. The method receives host data comprising a plurality of interleaved data blocks. If the system is operating without any storage device failures, then the method processes the host data using the normal deduplication protocol. If the system is operating with a storage device failure, then the method processes the host data using the RAID failure deduplication protocol. If the system is operating with multiple storage device failures, then the method processes the host data using the multiple storage device failure deduplication protocol.

Abstract: Data that is to be deduplicated and compressed is received. The data is compressed then deduplicated to generate first compressed then deduplicated data. The data is deduplicated then compressed to generate first deduplicated then compressed data. The first compressed then deduplicated data is stored if the first compressed then deduplicated data is smaller in size than the first deduplicated then compressed data. The first deduplicated then compressed data is stored if the first deduplicated then compressed data is smaller in size than the first compressed then deduplicated data.

Abstract: Data for deduplication is received. The received data is deduplicated if selected conditions corresponding to the deduplication are satisfied, wherein the selected conditions include a deduplication ratio, a data deduplication threshold, and a data quiescence measure. Deduplication of the received data is discontinued if the selected conditions corresponding to the deduplication are not satisfied.

Abstract: The present invention is a hitching system for attaching a trailer to a tractor. The tractor includes a frame, a front axle, and rear axle. The trailer includes a frame and a gooseneck arm extending from the frame. A hitch-receiver pair is provided to fixedly attach the trailer to the tractor. One of the hitch and the receiver is attached to the gooseneck arm, and the other of the hitch and the receiver is attached to the tractor frame above and ahead of the rear axle. The hitch is configured to freely rotate with respect to the receiver by freely pivoting, pitching, and oscillating.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor, suitable for use in a totally implanted hearing prosthesis, uses an elongate member and piezoelectric sensor to detect acoustic signals when the sensor is implanted so as to be in fluid communication with the perilymph. The sensor may be applied in systems which are not totally implanted.

Abstract: A method to allocate resources in a data storage library comprising a plurality of data storage devices configured as a RAID array, by establishing a normal operation resource allocation, a RAID failure resource allocation, and a multiple storage device failure resource allocation. The method receives host I/O requests, and enqueues those host I/O requests. If the system is operating without any storage device failures, then the method processes host I/O requests using the normal operation resource allocation. If the system is operating with a storage device failure, then the method processes host I/O requests using the RAID failure resource allocation. If the system is operating with multiple storage device failures, then the method processes host I/O requests using the multiple storage device failure resource allocation.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a cable management system, a computer program product, a cable, a method for manufacturing a cable, and a method for guiding a user in identifying a connection location for a cable of interest. A processor, in a data processing system, receives a cable identification from the cable of interest. The processor then matches at least one connection location with the cable of interest based on the cable identification. Responsive to matching the at least one connection location with the cable of interest, the processor activates an indicator that identifies the at least one connection location for connecting the cable of interest.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to locate a group of units of digital information in a volume, optical-storage disk. The apparatus includes a first optical recording layer, a second optical recording layer, and an optical disk reading sled. The first optical recording layer stores a first group of units of digital information in a distinct region of the optical disk. The second optical recording layer stores a first locator for the first group of units of digital information in substantially the same distinct region of the optical disk. A first laser in the optical disk reading sled reads the first locator stored in the second optical recording layer, which indicates the contents of the units of digital information stored in the first optical recording layer being read by a second laser, also in the optical disk reading sled.

Abstract: A method to access a data in a RAID array comprising a plurality of data storage media, wherein information is written to said plurality of data storage media using a RAID configuration, wherein the method receives from a requester a command comprising a data access priority indicator. If a RAID rebuild is in progress, the method determines if the data access priority indicator is set. If the data access priority indicator is set, the method executes a command selected from the group consisting of writing information to the target logical block array range, and returning to the requestor information read from the target logical block array range.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for converting between serial data and encoded holographic data. The apparatus for converting between serial data and encoded holographic data is provided with a logic unit containing a plurality of modules configured to functionally execute the necessary steps of reading data signals from and writing data signals to a data bus on a computing device, converting between a serial data stream and an encoded data image, and reading data from and writing data to a holographic storage medium. From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an apparatus, system, and method for converting between serial data and encoded holographic data. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would encode backup information directly with the data as it is written to the storage medium.

Abstract: The illustrative embodiments provide a cable management system, a computer program product, a cable, a method for manufacturing a cable, and a method for guiding a user in identifying a connection location for a cable of interest. A processor, in a data processing system, receives a cable identification from the cable of interest. The processor then matches at least one connection location with the cable of interest based on the cable identification. Responsive to matching the at least one connection location with the cable of interest, the processor activates an indicator that identifies the at least one connection location for connecting the cable of interest.

Abstract: A power supply module removably disposed within an automated data storage and retrieval system. An automated data storage and retrieval system which includes one or more power supply modules removably disposed therein. An accessor movably disposed with an automated data storage and retrieval system comprising a gripper mechanism which can be releaseably attached to a power supply module. A method to supply power to an automated data storage and retrieval system. A method to monitor the operation of a power supply module removably disposed within an automated data storage and retrieval system.

Abstract: A method to encode information holographically, wherein the method provides information, and generates a plurality of data images, wherein each data image comprises a portion of the information. The method holographically encodes each of the plurality of data images in a holographic data storage medium, generates a plurality of identifiers, and associates a different one of the plurality of identifiers with a different one of the plurality of data images. The method forms a directory image reciting each of plurality of identifiers, encodes the directory image in a non-holographic data storage medium, and holographically encodes the directory image in the holographic data storage medium.

Abstract: A power supply module removably disposed within an automated data storage and retrieval system. An automated data storage and retrieval system which includes one or more power supply modules removably disposed therein. An accessor movably disposed with an automated data storage and retrieval system comprising a gripper mechanism which can be releaseably attached to a power supply module. A method to supply power to an automated data storage and retrieval system. A method to monitor the operation of a power supply module removably disposed within an automated data storage and retrieval system.