Abstract: A system for data storage including a removable memory element having a data storage device, and a docking station in communication with a host device and configured for receiving the removable memory cartridge so as to put the host system in communication with the data storage device.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a wireless handheld device that securely accesses one or more remote devices subject to locally authenticating a user via biometrics. The device may be implemented as a wireless mouse with a biometric sensor incorporated with a scroll wheel that captures a biometric from the user and authenticates the user to the device using the captured biometric. More specifically, the captured biometric is compared to a template stored in memory. The device transmits a wireless signal, such as a command stream including the user's user name and password, to access the remote devices when the captured biometric matches the template. However, the device does not operate when the user is not authenticated. Accordingly, the invention may be particularly useful to log-on and log-off a user who frequently leaves and returns to a personal computer or various remote devices during the course of a day.

Abstract: A physical and logical block search method and apparatus that also locates the end of data on a data tape written in a serpentine pattern. A physical address is decoded to determine the track location and physical block address of a physical block on a serpentine data pattern written on a data cartridge tape. The tape is manipulated in the forward and reverse direction depending on the location of the beginning of data on the track. The search algorithm exploits serpentine nature of the tape and the location of the physical blocks in each track to find the physical address. The logical address of a logical block is used to determine a target track number. A prediction is made as to the location of the target track. The prediction is verified by checking the block. If the logical block was not accurately predicted the method repredicts until the logical block is found. The end of tape is located using a binary search based on knowledge of the track assignment of the serpentine data pattern on the tape.