Abstract: A data storage system can employ at least one data storage device having a supplemental processing bus that connects a first controller to a second controller with the supplemental bus being exposed to an exterior surface of a housing. The second controller may be positioned on a portable computing component connected to the supplemental bus while the portable computing component is positioned external to the housing. The computing capabilities of the portable computing component are identified with the first controller to allow a supplementation strategy to be generated with the first controller in response to connection of the portable computing component to the supplemental bus. The supplementation strategy can then be executed by assigning at least one processing task from the first controller to the second controller.

Abstract: A distributed data storage system can have an attestation module that is connected to the data storage device to disconnect the device from a distributed data storage network or prevent the data storage device from being initialized into the distributed data storage network. A first security evaluation of the data storage device can be conducted with the attestation module to verify an authenticity of the data storage device. The attestation module may then disconnect the network controller from the distributed data storage network and verify an authenticity of the network controller to allow the network controller and data storage device to service a data access request from a host of the distributed data storage network.

Abstract: A distributed data storage system can connect a customization module to at least one host and a second data storage device via a network controller. The customization module may disconnect the first data storage device from the host and second data storage device prior to assessing a security operation of the first data storage device with the customization module, generating an optimization strategy with the customization module based on the assessed security operation, implementing the optimization strategy in the first data storage device to alter at least one security parameter of the first data storage device, and then connecting the first data storage device to the host and second data storage device to allow at least one data access to be executed to the first data storage device with the altered at least one security parameter.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for implementing data security and privacy for a processing device. In some embodiments, the processing device is authenticated using a trusted authority. Self-authentication information is stored in a keystore of the processing device as a result of the authentication. The processing device subsequently operates in an untrusted mode by performing self-authentications using the self-authentication information in the keystore without further reference to the trusted authority. The trusted authority can be a remote server with which the processing device communicates over a network. The processing device can subsequently transition to a trust mode in which all authentications take place with the trusted authority without reference to the keystore. The processing device can be a data storage device such as a solid-state drive (SSD), a hard disc drive (HDD) or a hybrid drive (HDSD). The processing device can use untrust mode during manufacturing, and trust mode during field use.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, device, and system for communicating an impact of a financial decision or an investment strategy to a user through the use of virtual reality are provided. Providing a context for figuratively ‘seeing and feeling’ the results for a proposed financial strategy may assist the user in better understanding the impact of the financial strategy. Information provided in this context may educate the user with regards to the amount of income or savings required to achieve a goal over a time period. A goal for a user may be displayed as an image in a virtual reality scene based on gathered user information. The image representing the goal may be displayed according to a percent of clarity based on the financial amount needed to achieve the goal. The image may be changed based on the amount over a perceived virtual reality time period.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods to generate an inhalable vapor in an electronic vaporization device. The vaporization device may generate a vapor with one or more defined characteristics. In some cases, the vapor may have a predetermined aerosol number density and/or a predetermined average aerosol diameter. The vaporization device may generate a vapor from a vaporizable material. In some cases, the vaporizable material may be a liquid material housed in a cartridge. The vaporization device may comprise a rechargeable power storage device.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for local authentication of a collection of processing devices, such as but not limited to storage devices (e.g., SSDs, etc.). In some embodiments, an edge computing device is coupled between the collection of processing devices and an external network. The edge computing device performs a network authentication over the external network with a remote server using an edge token. The edge computing device further performs a local authentication of the collection using storage tokens of the respective processing devices, with the local authentication not utilizing the external network or the remote server. Both the edge token and the storage tokens may be generated from a client token of a client device.

Abstract: A data storage device can transition a functional data storage medium into a read only data surface. Data can be written to a data storage medium with a data writer of a transducing head prior to a security threat being identified. A write head of the transducing head is deactivated in response to the security threat by selecting a permanent deactivation mechanism.

Abstract: Vaporizer cartridges are provided. In some implementations, a cartridge includes a storage compartment having a longitudinal and two transverse dimensions, a mouthpiece at a proximal end of the storage compartment, exposed contact surfaces proximate to and accessible from a distal end of the storage compartment, and a heater proximate to the distal end. The heater includes extended plate contacts, a wick disposed between the plate contacts, and a heating element in contact with the plate contacts and the wick. Two opposed ends of the wick are disposed within the storage compartment and configured to contact the vaporizable material. The plate contact are electrically connected to the contact surfaces. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.

Abstract: A data storage system can employ at least one data storage device having a supplemental processing bus that connects a first controller to a second controller with the supplemental bus being exposed to an exterior surface of a housing. The second controller may be positioned on a portable computing component connected to the supplemental bus while the portable computing component is positioned external to the housing. The computing capabilities of the portable computing component are identified with the first controller to allow a supplementation strategy to be generated with the first controller in response to connection of the portable computing component to the supplemental bus. The supplementation strategy can then be executed by assigning at least one processing task from the first controller to the second controller.

Abstract: A data storage device can have one or more timestamps to indicate chronological information associated with data stored in the data storage device. A controller may be connected to a timestamp module and a transducing head to allow a timestamp to be written to a magnetic data storage medium as directed by the timestamp module. The timestamp can consist of chronological information relating to user-generated data stored on the data storage medium.

Abstract: A data storage device can employ a front end bus to optimize data storage performance. A first controller may be connected to a first memory via a first bus and to a second memory via a second bus with the first bus and first memory housed within an internal cavity of an enclosure while the second bus is exposed to an exterior surface of the housing and the second memory is separated from the internal cavity. The first controller can be configured to substitute the second memory for the first memory in response to a front end controller identifying a type of data storage of the second memory.

Abstract: A data storage system can provide device provenance with a storage device encoded with a key certificate and initialized into a distributed data system. A handshake module of the data storage device may derive a secure identifier and a provenance module of the data storage device can monitor data storage device activity to maintain an in-device provenance. A trusted data pathway between the data storage device and a host of the distributed data storage system can be formed with the secure identifier.

Abstract: A data storage device can employ a front end bus for boot operations. The physical connection of a secure boot assembly to the front end bus can provide efficient and reliable booting of the data storage device without a connection to a remote host or network. A secure boot assembly can provide a security module that connects to the boot module of the data storage device to authenticate a trustworthiness of the data storage device while the data storage device is disconnected from any remote host.