Abstract: The present invention is directed to a distributed data migration and storage system and method configured for fully parallel writing and retrieval of data objects to (and from) the Web Object Scaler (WOS) object storage system with highly efficient accessibility and using a simplified set of filing commands. The data objects migrate between data generating entities and the WOS object storage through an intermediate Burst Buffer tier (supported by the Infinite Memory Engine) without the utilization of a serial process substantially simultaneously through parallel channels. The metadata for each object is captured with appropriate pointers for efficient finding of the object in the WOS storage system. The WOS nodes return the stored objects' ID (OIDs) corresponding to the objects storage address which are used for the object access.

Abstract: A control processor manages the power budget in a drive enclosure and is within the drive enclosure which monitors in real time a redundantly configured power supply unit, drives, interposers, and temperature sensors, and determines the power settings for each drive to avoid overload and overheating in the system. The control processor dynamically adjusts the mode of operation as needed during operation through the SAS interposer. A localized monitoring and control mechanism eliminates the need for extraneous coordination of information across various entities that access the storage. Data tunneling takes place directly between the compute nodes and target drives through the SAS expander and interposer, and does not need buffering the pending IO requests in the DRAM.

Abstract: A system for data migration between a compute cluster and disk drives by inclusion of a buffer node coupled to the compute cluster to store data received therefrom in a random fashion. The buffer node signals the computer nodes to promptly return from the I/O cycle to the computing state to improve the duty cycle of the device. The system further includes a storage controller which is coupled between the buffer node and the disk drives to schedule data transfer activity between them. The data transfers are actuated in the sequence determined based on minimization of seeking time and tier usage, and harvest priority, when the buffer node either reaches a predetermined storage space minimal level or a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous I/O cycle. The storage controller deactivates the disk drives which are not needed for the data transfer.

Abstract: An improved duty cycle, increased effective bandwidth, and minimized power consumption are attained in a system for data migration between a compute cluster and disk drives by inclusion of a buffer node coupled to the compute cluster to store data received therefrom in a random fashion. The buffer node signals the computer nodes to promptly return from the I/O cycle to the computing state to improve the duty cycle of the device. The system further includes a storage controller which is coupled between the buffer node and the disk drives to schedule data transfer activity between them in an optimal orderly manner. The data transfers are actuated in the sequence determined based on minimization of seeking time and tier usage, and harvest priority, when the buffer node either reaches a predetermined storage space minimal level or a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous I/O cycle. The storage controller deactivates the disk drives which are not needed for the data transfer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which control the gain of the key signal dynamically and thereby compensate for the effects of an unevenly lit backing or lens vignetting. This dynamic control occurs over a video frame and has the effect of modulating the key signal. In this connection, there are four possible gain controls as follows: a) a horizontal ramp to increase the level of either side (left or right) of the key signal; b) a vertical ramp to increase the level of the top or bottom of the key signal; c) a horizontal parabola to raise or lower the gain of both sides of the key signal simultaneously to nullify lens effects; and d) a vertical parabola to raise or lower the gain of both the top and bottom of the key signal simultaneously to nullify lens effects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to cause a colored backing to be replaced by a background scene, such that the composite scene shows no loss of detail, no edge anomalies, no evidence of a colored backing having been present, and no evidence that the final scene is a composite, even when the foreground scene contains fine strands of hair, glassware, smoke, fog, or other semitransparent subjects. Control signals E.sub.b and E.sub.c are created to cause the foreground and background scenes to mutually interact in a natural manner, so that shadows on the colored backing appear as shadows on the background scene, and the luminance of the background selectively causes back and edge lighting of foreground subjects. The hue and luminance of the colored backing are continuously and automatically tracked and removed by a subtraction process. The background level is automatically held constant even though backing illumination changes.