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: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for implementing protected partitions in storage media. The apparatus includes a control module configured to communicate with a host and receive read/write commands for a storage device, and a protection module operating within the control module and configured to maintain a plurality of protection states for the partition and a plurality of allowable transitions between the protection states. The system includes the apparatus, a host device, and a storage device coupled with the host, the storage device including an enclosure having storage media and a control module. The method includes communicating with a host device and receiving read and write commands for a storage device having at least one partition, and maintaining a plurality of protection states for the partition and a plurality of allowable transitions between the protection states on a control module located within the storage device.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for setting protection states of protected partitions in storage media. The apparatus includes a control module configured to receive protection state transition commands from a host for a target partition, a check module configured to verify a protection state for the target partition, and a write module configured to perform the protection state transition according to a plurality of defined allowable state transitions. 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 receiving protection state transition commands from a host for a target partition, verifying a protection state for the target partition, and performing the protection state transition according to a plurality of defined allowable state transitions.

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 medium, system, and method are disclosed for a common data storage medium depression depth. An optical data storage medium comprises a plurality of spacer layers and data surfaces. A wavelength for a radiation beam such as the emission of a laser diode is identified. The index of refraction for a first spacer layer or substrate is also identified. The substrate is configured to transmit the radiation beam. The index of refraction of a second spacer layer that is configured to transmit the radiation beam is also identified. A depression depth for a plurality of pits for ROM media, or sector headers for recordable media, or grooves for recordable media on each data surface is substantially equal to the radiation beam wavelength divided by four times the average of the indexes of refraction of each spacer layer. In one embodiment, the average is an arithmetic mean of the indexes of refraction. In an alternate embodiment, the average is a harmonic mean of the indexes of refraction.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for aberration compensation. In one embodiment, a first compensation lens used in conjunction with a second compensation lens to produce a conical beam used to read from, or write to, an optical medium. An Nth order compensation equation is used to optimize aberration errors associated with accessing the optical medium. The present invention may include a displaceable focus lens positioned relative to an optical medium. The focus lens may be displaced when the conical beam's focal length is adjusted. A displacement equation is presented to determine the preferred placement of the focus lens. By compensating for aberration, read/write errors may be reduced while accessing optical media thus increasing system robustness and facilitating the use of additional layers on optical media.

Abstract: A data management method is disclosed. The method provides a plurality of data storage media, where each data storage media comprises one of (M) media types. The method establishes, for each of the (M) media types, a Media Quality Threshold, an Access Threshold, an Age Threshold, and an Environmental Threshold. The method optionally also establishes a Data Management Policy for each of the (M) media types. In examining the (i)th data storage medium, if none of the applicable Thresholds are exceeded, and if the Data Management Policy does not require data refreshing, then the (i)th data storage medium is returned to storage. If the Data Management Policy requires data refreshing, then the method reads the information encoded on the (i)th data storage medium and writes that information to the (i)th data storage medium.

Abstract: A method to store data is disclosed. The method provides a plurality of data storage media, an automated data library comprising one or more data storage devices, a first plurality of storage cells, and a robotic accessor. The method further provides a storage vault comprising a second plurality of storage cells but no data storage devices. The method selects the (i)th data storage medium and sets the (i)th data state, where that (i)th data state is selected from the group consisting of online, offline, and vault. If the method sets the (i)th data state is set to online, then the method mounts that (i)th data storage medium in one of the data storage devices. If the method sets the (i)th data state to offline, then the method removeably places the (i)th data storage medium in one of the first plurality of storage cells. If the method sets the (i)th data state is set to vault, then the method places the (i)th data storage medium in one of the second plurality of storage cells.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for autonomically configuring a data storage device. A storage module stores configuration data on a remote storage system that may include operating systems, applications, updates, and an index. A boot module boots a computer system from a program other than the regular boot program to provide access to a network in communication with the remote storage system. A device configuration module autonomically downloads and installs the operating systems, applications, and updates in response to data stored in an index on the remote storage system.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for the storing convolution-encoded data on a redundant array of independent storage devices (RAID) is described. The convolution-encoded data comprises error correction coded data to eliminate the need for parity as used in conventional RAID data storage. The number of storage devices may vary to accommodate expansion of storage capacity and provide on demand storage.

Abstract: A Redundant Array of Independent Devices uses convolution encoding to provide redundancy of the striped data written to the devices. No parity is utilized in the convolution encoding process. Trellis decoding is used for both reading the data from the RAID and for rebuilding missing encoded data from one or more failed devices, based on a minimal, and preferably zero, Hamming distance for selecting the connected path through the trellis diagram.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a data storage apparatus with a secondary optical memory. The data storage apparatus includes a data storage cartridge, a primary data storage medium in the data storage cartridge, and a secondary optical storage medium attached to the data storage cartridge. The data storage apparatus, in one embodiment, includes a beam splitter attached to the data storage cartridge. The beam splitter may be positioned at approximately a 45 degree angle in relation to a data storage surface of the secondary optical storage medium.

Abstract: A rotary switch rotates about an axis which is at acute angles to a lower cartridge surface and a cartridge end so that a first display surface and a second display surface may be independently accessed by disparate components residing in disparate planes. The display surfaces are generally orthogonal to each other and can have multiple facets, with each facet containing a subset of information. To aid this optical interrogation, the display surfaces may be generally orthogonal to the disparate interrogating components.

Abstract: A system, a method, and article of manufacture are employed to clean the input/output transducers on tape drives, verified by the tape drives reading alphanumeric information from data tracks and servo tracks of a cleaner tape. An aggressive cleaning frontcoat section of the cleaner tape can be used to provide additional cleaning action, and the cleanliness of the data read elements, data write elements, and the servo heads. A less-abrasive cleaning section may be used to clean less difficult types of contaminants. In this manner, the cleanliness of the data read elements, the data write elements, and the servo heads can be verified. A cleaning section may also be used as a leader section of a self-characterization section. Alternatively, a magnetic data tape section may be included for self-characterization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to identity SPAM emails is disclosed. The method sets a misspelling rejection ratio. Upon receipt of an email comprising (X) words, the method determines the number (Y) of misspelled words comprising that email. The method then calculates a misspelling ratio by dividing (Y) by (X), and then determines if the misspelling ratio is greater than or equal to the misspelling rejection ratio. If the method determines that the misspelling ratio is greater than or equal to the misspelling rejection ratio, then the method reports the email as SPAM. In certain embodiments, the detection of words used to trigger the rejection of SPAM is based on a fuzzy search of alternate spellings. These alternate spellings may come from a spell checker.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for quick access of stored removable storage media. The apparatus includes an automated data storage library, a communications processor, and a media interface module. The automated data storage library has a plurality of storage cells, each storage cell having a media interface module for communicating with removable storage media. The communication processor module communicates with the media interface module of each storage cell. A grid bus couples the media interface module and the communication processor module. The system includes a storage area network coupling multiple hosts to at least one automated data storage library. The method includes communicating with the removable storage media, communicating with the media interface modules, and coupling the media interface modules to the communication processor module.

Abstract: A system, a method and an article of manufacture for uncentering an image of a video stream on a video display is provided. The image of the video stream is displayed uncentered on a video display at a position that depends on the aspect ratio of the video stream and the aspect ratio of the display used to view the video stream. Once uncentered, the image of the video stream is not shifted for the duration of the video session unless a user provides input to change the position. Various positions of the image of a video stream are available to accommodate user preferences or to prolong the life of the video display.

Abstract: A disk drive data storage device and a method for implementing a sector selectable write-once read-many (WORM) functionality on the disk drive storage system are disclosed. Data stored in a sector on magnetic storage media or on rewritable optical media are protected from being overwritten by having additional (WORM) bits in the sector header to denote the protection status of the data in that sector. When data is to be written to a sector of a disk drive of the storage system, the sector header for that sector is read and the WORM bits are examined. If the value of the WORM bits indicates that the sector is protected, the write command will not be executed and an appropriate error condition is posted to the host system. If the WORM bits for the sector indicates no WORM protection, the data is written to the sector.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for writing WORM data to a data storage device by use of a WORM LBA indicator. A WORM memory is used to maintain an inventory of logical block addresses (LBAs) where WORM data is written on the data storage media of the data storage device. The WORM memory is a tamper proof memory device to maintain data integrity with respect to WORM data. Before writing any data to the disk the WORM memory for each LBA where data will be written is examined to determine if writing is allowed at the LBA. If writing is allowed, the data is written, otherwise no data is written.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system, a method, and article of manufacture to provide for microcode updates for devices and libraries attached to Storage Area Networks. Exemplary embodiments include updating microcode residing in nonvolatile memory using Logical Unit Numbers assigned to specific storage components. Components receiving microcode updates include data storage devices, docking stations, removable hard disk drives, robotic accessors and library controllers.