Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing, in an automated data storage system having a plurality of removable data storage devices, independent memory devices associated with and physically attached to respective removable data storage devices for storing volume identification, RAID bundle information where applicable, and other drive specific information about their respective removable data storage devices. The removable data storage devices are typically hard disk drives, and the independent memory devices are preferably serial electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (“EEPROM”) solid state memory devices. The EEPROM operates independently of the operation of its respective removable hard disk drive, does not require that the hard disk drive be powered up, and continues to operate in the presence of a catastrophic failure of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: A method and system including apparatus for detecting and blocking an invalid request to a target wherein fibre channels interconnect the data processing configuration. A request made from a hub such as a fabric switch to an internal fibre channel arbitrated loop is blocked by substituting IDLE characters for the frames of data included with the request. The substitution of IDLE signals can also occur within an internal fibre channel arbitrated loop system where access is blocked to a confidential data storage system. If the request is legitimate, the data frames are passed to the target and the requested data is transmitted back to the requester. If the request is refused as being an unauthorized request, the data frames are replaced with IDLE characters and no transfer of confidential data occurs.

Abstract: A disk drive having an optical signal connector and a magnetic power coupling is placed in a drive carrier. The bottom of the carrier has a recess with a transverse pin mounted in the recess. A pair of small magnets are mounted near the rear of the carrier. The carrier slidably mounts in the drawer of a disk drive library. The drawer has an optical signal connector and a magnetic power coupling that mate with those of the disk drive. The drawer also has a sensor for detecting the magnets on the carrier, and an eject button for manually ejecting the carrier. In addition, a drive mechanism is mounted in the bottom of the drawer for engaging the pin on the bottom of the carrier. Although the carrier may be manually inserted or removed from the drawer, the disk drive library can also perform these functions automatically. The automated sequence is accomplished by inserting the carrier into the drawer until the pin engages the drive mechanism.

Abstract: A picking tool for an automated library of disk drive carriers has a body with a large guide pin, and a pair of electromagnets. The guide pin has an optical service interface at its tip. A disk drive is mounted to a carrier having a front bezel with a tapered hole that is complementary to the guide pin. The hole provides access to an optical service interface linked to the disk drive. The bezel also has a pair of embedded magnets located adjacent to its front surface. The carrier is located in and interconnected with a slot in an automated disk drive library. The guide pin is inserted into the hole so that the interfaces interconnect. The carrier is removed from the slot by activating the electromagnets on the picking tool to attract the magnets in the bezel. The tool picker then pulls the carrier out of the slot while supporting the weight of the carrier on the guide pin. The carrier is released from the picking tool by reversing the current through the electromagnets to repel the magnets in the carrier.

Abstract: An automated disk drive library has a rack with drawers that are interconnected with a host computer. A drive carrier having a disk drive is mounted in each drawer. The drive carrier has a front bezel that senses whether the disk drive is latched within the drawer and communicates with the computer. The front bezel also has an optical sensor that may be coupled to an optical probe as an auxiliary data interface with computer. The main data interface for the disk drive is provided by a self-healing optical coupler at the back of the carrier and drawer. Power to the disk drive is supplied via a magnetic coupling with split core transformers on the drive carrier and drawer. The disk drive and carrier may be manually or automatically installed into and removed from drawer via a drive mechanism in the drawer.

Abstract: A portable carrier for a data storage medium is disclosed. An accessor which includes an electromagnet and a fixturing assembly is disclosed. A data storage and retrieval system which includes at least one of Applicants' carriers and at least one of Applicants' accessors is disclosed. A method to releaseably attach Applicants' carrier to Applicants' accessor is disclosed. A method to retrieve, transport, and place Applicants' carrier within a data storage and retrieval system is disclosed.

Abstract: A computing system implements a SAN attached automated Hierarchical Storage Library with diverse media types and media failover capability where storage communications destined for any one media type may be redirected to another media type for uninterrupted storage communications with a host system when a failover condition has occurred. A preferred embodiment comprises: a) a controller network interface for connecting the storage area to a network; b) at least one control unit for HDD and removable media emulation; c) a failover bridge for seamless protocol conversion between media types; d) an HDD interface for connection to a plurality of HDD's on at least one backplane; e) at least one dual redundant controller component with dual mirrored NVRAM's thereby providing dual primary and failover communications links for the plurality of HDD's and removable media drives; f) a removable media interface for a plurality of removable media or removable media emulators.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor suitable for use in a totally implanted hearing prosthesis is disclosed. The sensor uses an elongate member 36 and piezoelectric sensor 39 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 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 secure communication circuit for use with a data communication interconnect adapter and method of operation thereof. The secure communication circuit includes a first data buffer coupled to a data input terminal, an encoder/decoder coupled to the first data buffer, a second data buffer coupled to the encoder/decoder and a switching device coupled to a data output terminal. The switching device is couplable to either the first or second data buffers. A controller, coupled to the (switching device, selectively connects the switching device to the first or second data buffers. In a related embodiment, the secure communication circuit further includes a first serializer/deserializer (SERDES) coupled to the data input and a second SERDES coupled to the switching device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing, in an automated data storage system having a plurality of removable data storage devices, independent memory devices associated with and physically attached to respective removable data storage devices for storing volume identification, RAID bundle information where applicable, and other drive specific information about their respective removable data storage devices. The removable data storage devices are typically hard disk drives, and the independent memory devices are preferably serial electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (“EEPROM”) solid state memory devices. The EEPROM operates independently of the operation of its respective removable hard disk drive, does not require that the hard disk drive be powered up, and continues to operate in the presence of a catastrophic failure of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: A method for preserving data resident in a volatile memory of a data storage unit having at least one rotatable disk platter in the event of an interruption of a primary supply power. The method includes monitoring the status of the primary supply power to the data storage unit. Following the detection of a loss of the primary supply power, kinetic energy inherent in the spinning disk platter is converted into electrical energy. Electrical energy derived from the kinetic energy of the disk platter is then utilized to power the data storage unit to write the data in the volatile memory to an outer-most track of the rotatable disk platter.

Abstract: An optical fiber emulator. The emulator receives a digitally-encoded optical signal; demodulates the optical signal to produce serial electrical pulses representative of the digital signal; converts the serial pulses to parallel pulses; propagates the parallel pulses through a shift register whose propagation time is less than or equal to the time of a length of fiber to be emulated. The emulator then converts the parallel pulses at the output of the shift register to serial pulses; modulates an optical carrier with the serial pulses from the shift register; and attenuates the modulated optical signal an amount corresponding to the length of the fiber being emulated to produce an output optical signal whose propagation time is substantially equal to that of a section of optical fiber to be emulated. The shift register may be tapped at any point to obtain an output delayed by a desired amount corresponding to a selected section of optical fiber.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring data transmission activity through a port of a switch device interconnecting nodes of a storage area network, the port transmitting data as words of predetermined length, one data word indicating idle port activity. The method includes steps of: counting a number of transmitted words received from the port in a first counter device; and, for each word counted, comparing that word with a predetermined word indicating no (idle) port transmission activity. In response to the comparing, a number of matches are counted in a second counter device. In this manner, a ratio of a number of counted matches with a total amount of words counted indicates available bandwidth for transmitting additional data over that link. Preferably, this value is communicated to a processor device for controlling bandwidth over the link.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring data transmission activity through a port of a switch device interconnecting nodes of a storage area network, the port transmitting data as words of predetermined length, one data word indicating idle port activity. The method includes steps of: counting a number of transmitted words received from the port in a first counter device; and, for each word counted, comparing that word with a predetermined word indicating no (idle) port transmission activity. In response to the comparing, a number of matches are counted in a second counter device. In this manner, a ratio of a number of counted matches with a total amount of words counted indicates available bandwidth for transmitting additional data over that link. Preferably, this available bandwidth information is included in a link state record that the switch communicates to other switch devices interconnecting that link.

Abstract: A multiplexing system and method for servicing serially linked targets or RAID devices. The multiplexing system couples service interfaces from various targets and devices. The multiplexing system provides a single service link to a single service unit interface. The single service link allows easy access/communications or remote access/communications to an individual target or disk drive within the RAID system. A service unit is directly or remotely coupled to the service unit interface. The multiplexing system has an outgoing multiplexer, an in-going multiplexer, and a multiplexer controller. The service unit communicates with the multiplexing system to select the desired target or disk drive to be serviced. The multiplexer controller detects incoming select target commands and compares incoming target address information with a presently defined multiplexer controller target address information.

Abstract: A parallel read/write circuit for use with a plurality of transducer head assemblies and method of operation thereof. The parallel read/write circuit includes a parallel read/write cache, e.g., a bidirectional parallel-serial converter buffer in one advantageous embodiment. A byte-to-bit disassembler, coupled to the parallel read/write cache, receives parallel data from the parallel read/write cache and transmits each bit of the parallel data to a separate transducer head assembly, where each bit of the parallel data is written onto a different disk surface of a recording medium at substantially the same time. In an advantageous embodiment, the byte-to-bit disassembler is a parallel in/parallel out shift register.

Abstract: A disk drive has discrete, modular mechanical and electrical devices. The mechanical device includes a casing to which is mounted a drive motor, disks, and an actuator that is driven by a voice coil motor. The actuator supports transducers for interacting with the disks. The electrical device is attached to a backplane and provides various control and data communication functions for the mechanical device with a host computer. In addition, each of the mechanical and electrical components has a mating connector for detachably interfacing with each other.

Abstract: A serial differential link glitcher system and method which allow for verification of error recovery by an interfaced or linked architecture system. The system and method provide accurate, reliable, and more assured fault simulation, such as noisy interface and dirty link simulations, within an interfaced or linked architecture system for verification of such error recovery and verifies and checks data at a lower level between interfaced devices. The system and method verify disparity errors between interfaced devices and also perform verification of error recovery between electrically linked devices or optically linked devices. At least two devices are coupled together by communication lines. Normal mode allows for normal operation of and normal communication between the at least two devices, and glitch mode provides fault simulation and disparity errors and phase inversion between the at least two devices for testing error recovery of the system.

Abstract: A computing system implements a SAN attached automated Hierarchical Storage Library with diverse media types and media failover capability where storage communications destined for any one media type may be redirected to another media type for uninterrupted storage communications with a host system when a failover condition has occurred. A preferred embodiment comprises: a) a controller network interface for connecting the storage area to a network; b) at least one control unit for HDD and removable media emulation; c) a failover bridge for seamless protocol conversion between media types; d) an HDD interface for connection to a plurality of HDD's on at least one backplane; e) at least one dual redundant controller component with dual mirrored NVRAM's thereby providing dual primary and failover communications links for the plurality of HDD's and removable media drives; f) a removable media interface for a plurality of removable media or removable media emulators.