Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with compression and real-time decompression of executable code are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a memory that stores compressed blocks of data. The data is executable code for a processing element. The apparatus also includes a decompression logic. The decompression logic receives a request from the processing element for data and determines a compressed block that stores the data. The compressed block is decompressed to produce an uncompressed block. The decompression logic then provides the requested data to the processing element. In one embodiment an uncompressed block has a predetermined fixed block size. The predetermined fixed block size is selected based on at least one of an amount of uncompressed data, a desired compression ratio, and a desired access time.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with compression and real-time decompression of executable code are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a memory that stores compressed blocks of data. The data is executable code for a processing element. The apparatus also includes a decompression logic. The decompression logic receives a request from the processing element for data and determines a compressed block that stores the data. The compressed block is decompressed to produce an uncompressed block. The decompression logic then provides the requested data to the processing element. In one embodiment an uncompressed block has a predetermined fixed block size. The predetermined fixed block size is selected based on at least one of an amount of uncompressed data, a desired compression ratio, and a desired access time.

Abstract: Between data accesses to a storage medium, requested by an initiator, a logical unit may need to perform autonomous operations. The logical unit receives information from the initiator to allow the logical unit to estimate whether the stream buffer of the initiator is reaching a critical level. Based on this estimate, the logical unit can determine whether to perform or continue autonomous operations such as error recovery; physical maintenance of a drive mechanism or storage medium; or relative positioning between the drive mechanism and storage medium. The estimate also allows a flexible, rather than a fixed, time-out.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive (2) for use in a computer or a reproduction device for accessing a record carrier. According to the invention via a specific action, supervised by the drive (2), the drive mimics the presence of a disc by sending a disc insertion message to the host (3). After that the drive (2) will give the host (3) (the virtual) file system contents of the virtual disc, which, for instance, contains a link to an auto-run file. This auto-run file tells the host (3) to perform certain actions, such as going to the specified internet site or executing a file from the virtual disc.