Abstract: A method for processing a point-in-time copy of data associated with a logical storage volume where the data to be copied is stored in a striped or parallelized fashion across more than one physical source volume. The method includes receiving a point-in-time copy command concerning a logical volume and distributing the point-in-time copy command in-band to each of the physical source volumes containing a portion of the striped data. The method also includes establishing a point-in-time copy relationship between each physical source volume and one of a corresponding set of multiple physical target volumes. The method further includes copying the data stored on each physical source volume to the corresponding physical target volume. The in-band copy command and the striped data may be distributed over I/O channels between a server and the physical storage and processed sequentially.

Abstract: A method for generating an optimal number of spare devices within a RAID storage system having multiple storage device technology classes is disclosed. Each hard drive within the RAID storage system is assigned to a respective spare coverage group according to its attributes. From each of the spare coverage groups, at least one hard drive having a predetermined characteristics is selected as a spare device. A determination is then made as to whether or not an assigned spare device in one of the spare coverage groups is eligible to act as a spare device for another one of the spare coverage groups. In response to a determination that the assigned spare device in one of the spare coverage groups is also eligible to act as a spare device for another one of the spare coverage groups, a hard drive previously selected as a spare device for the other spare coverage group is removed as spare device.

Abstract: A battery backup system includes a control device including a power sensing device, a discharge circuit, a charging circuit, and a plurality of battery packs. A lower threshold is established representative of a minimum acceptable effective energy capacity. Each battery pack is recharged if its effective energy capacity falls below the lower threshold. Additionally, an upper threshold is established representative of the minimum acceptable effective energy capacity plus a performance margin. In a two battery-pack system, if both battery packs fall below the upper threshold, the battery with the least effective energy capacity is discharged to the minimum acceptable effective energy capacity and then recharged to the battery pack's maximum energy capacity. In this way, both battery packs are prevented from approaching the minimum acceptable effective energy capacity at the same time. This reduces the size or number of battery packs and reduces their associated cost and volume.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to selectively provide power to a component disposed in an information storage and retrieval system. Applicants' method supplies a controller comprising a control portion in combination with a plurality of components comprising one or more host adapters, one or more device adapter ports, and a Fibre Channel switch. The method monitors the performance of each of those components. The method discontinues the supply of power to first component while continuing to provide power to the remaining plurality of components. The method then resumes providing power to the first component while continuing the supply of power to the remaining plurality of components.

Abstract: A self-contained backup power source such as a battery is provided for components within an electrically powered device such as a storage controller, photocopier or the like, to maintain diagnostic status data and to power a service indicator aid, or diagnostic indicator, such as an LED. A switch selects the backup power source when a primary power source of the electrically powered device is no longer available to the component, such as when the component is removed from the electrically powered device, the primary power source is disconnected as a safety precaution when servicing or replacing the component, or a higher-level assembly, in which the component is provided, is removed from the electrically powered device. The diagnostic indicator may be powered separately from the data storage device.

Abstract: A back-up power source and a back-up storage device are utilized to power a processor and a volatile memory device during a primary power failure. An emergency data-storage algorithm is invoked to create a table of modified data analogous to data residing in a non-volatile memory device associated with a different processor. This table of modified data is written to the back-up storage device.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed to convert data from a first sector format to a second sector format. The sector format conversion device includes a processor, and microcode which causes the processor to overlay (N) first sectors having a first sector format onto (M) second sectors having a second sector format, where that sector format conversion device does not include an operating system comprising a user mode and a kernel mode.

Abstract: A method to convert a plurality of sectors from a first sector format to a second sector format is disclosed. The method provides (N) contiguous first sectors comprising a first sector format to a sector format conversion device which includes a buffer and a data queue, where those (N) first sectors comprise a first number of bytes, and determines that (M) contiguous second sectors, comprising a second sector format, comprise at least the first number of bytes. The method overlays the (i)th first sector onto part or all of the (j)th second sector, and enqueues the newly-overlain (j)th second sector. The method then transmits the newly-overlain (j)th second sector to a data storage device, and writes that (j)th overlain second sector to an information storage medium.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to preserve data integrity during loss of power to an information storage and retrieval system. Applicants' method converts a plurality of sectors having a first sector format to a plurality of sectors having a second sector format. If a power failure warning is received during the sector format conversion process, the method prefetches the next second sector, overlays the next first sector onto part of all of that prefetched second sector, and saves the newly-written second sector before loss of utility power. After restoration of utility power to the information storage and retrieval system, Applicants' method writes that newly-written second sector to an information storage medium.

Abstract: A method to convert a plurality of sectors from a first sector format to a second sector format is disclosed. The method provides (N) contiguous first sectors to a sector format conversion device, where those (N) first sectors include a beginning first sector and a first number of bytes, and determines that (M) contiguous second sectors comprise at least the first number of bytes, where those (M) contiguous sectors include a beginning second sector and an ending second sector. The method overlays the beginning first sector onto the beginning second sector, and overlays the (i)th first sector onto part or all of the (j)th second sector. The method then transmits the newly-formed (j)th second sector to a data storage device, and writes that (j)th second sector to an information storage medium.

Abstract: A portable deer pole for releasable attachment to the rear bumper of a pickup truck comprising a substantially vertical boom attachable to the bumper with its upper free end fitted with a pulley and a cable wound on a winch adjacent the lower end with the cable extending over the pulley to a spreader adapted to hold an animal carcass for skinning, and two supporting cable portions attachable at one end to the side panels of a truck and at the other end to the boom adjacent its upper free end.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically forming stacks of mechanically interlocked laminated members comprises a punch and die assembly for forming one or more stacks of laminates of the same or different shapes and means associated with one of the laminate dies for measuring stack height to a predetermined dimension. When the desired stack height is reached, the measuring means, which is preferably an optical sensor, transmits a signal to responsive means which, in turn, activates an air cylinder and a slide cam carried by the punch assembly to recycle the operation by commencing the formation of a next stack of laminated members. Improved mechanical interlocking and stacking density is obtained by coining the areas of the mechanical interlocks prior to formation of bow tie shaped interlocks within the punch and die assembly.