Abstract: A cartridge handling system and method initialize a data storage cartridge having rewritable media for tamper resistant write once recording. A write once flag is written to a lockable section of a cartridge memory; the lockable section is locked to read-only; and a write once flag is written to a required data set of the rewritable media. Thus, write once flags are provided both at the locked read-only section of the cartridge memory, and at the required data set of the rewritable media.

Abstract: Authentication of an upgrade to computer readable program code of a target embedded device is accomplished by causing the computer processor of the embedded device to access an unique machine identifier; to access an identifier key associated with the upgrade; to process the identifier key and/or unique machine identifier, such as by decrypting the key and/or encrypting the identifier; to compare the identifier key with the unique machine identifier; and causing the computer processor, if the identifier key matches the unique machine identifier, to enable the upgrade; else, to fail the upgrade.

Abstract: A source data stream is distributed to two or more compression paths that provide a corresponding number of compressed data streams that are concurrently encoded onto a recording medium as a set of media tracks. In one embodiment, buffer space within each compression path is monitored and the source data stream is directed to a ‘starved’ compression path. Metadata is inserted into the compressed data streams to facilitate reconstruction of the source data stream from the compressed data streams. The source data stream may be reconstructed by concurrently decoding the media tracks, decompressing the compressed data streams to a corresponding set of decompressed data streams, and merging the decompressed streams into an output data stream as directed by the metadata. The present invention overcomes the bottlenecks and other issues previously associated with context-based compression within digital media recording systems.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system and article of manufacture for writing on a storage media. Data is received from a host. A determination is made whether the received data can potentially form a trailer record on the storage media. If the received data does not potentially form the trailer record, then the received data is written to the storage media.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for encoding data onto a storage medium. Host data is received and a plurality of device blocks are generated to include the host data. A directory is generated including entries for physical locations on the storage medium, wherein each entry identifies one device block at the physical location corresponding to the entry, and wherein the directory is used to access data on the storage medium. The directory entries are encoded in the device blocks written to the storage medium.

Abstract: Adjustment of a read detection equalizer filter of a magnetic tape drive is conducted utilizing a required control pattern signal which comprises a required portion of a normal recording format of the magnetic tape. An example comprises a data set separator signal. The sensed required control pattern signal is processed with respect to a target reference pattern signal to adapt the read detection equalizer filter to the target reference pattern signal.

Abstract: Data of a transaction to be synchronized is stored to a non-volatile store, and a Command Complete response is provided. Data of the transaction is supplied to a tape drive for writing to a magnetic tape. The storing, responding, and supplying operations are repeated for subsequent transactions. A Deferred Synchronize Command, specifying a previously supplied transaction, is provided to the tape drive, for writing data of the specified transaction. The tape drive, subsequent to writing all the data of the previously supplied transaction to magnetic tape, provides a Tape Command Complete, whereupon the data of the previously supplied transaction stored to the non-volatile store may be overwritten.

Abstract: Adjustment of a read detection equalizer filter of a magnetic tape drive is conducted utilizing a required control pattern signal which comprises a required portion of a normal recording format of the magnetic tape. An example comprises a data set separator signal. The sensed required control pattern signal is processed with respect to a target reference pattern signal to adapt the read detection equalizer filter to the target reference pattern signal.

Abstract: Special fields for error recovery are provided in data set information tables of data sets written with synchronized transactions. If a transaction only partially fills a data set, that data set is rewritten in a succeeding data set, appending the next transaction. A moving access point in the table identifies the appended transaction, allowing the rewritten transaction to be skipped during read recovery. The table provides recovery trails by providing a thread to tie the data sets together, the status of the data set, and pointers, such as identifying the wrap of the immediately succeeding data set.

Abstract: Provided is a method, system, and program for storing input groups of uncoded binary data on a storage medium. A plurality of uncoded data blocks in a data stream are received. An encoded data stream is obtained from concatenating successive encoded blocks such that the encoded data stream includes a predetermined bit pattern comprising a plurality of bits. The bit pattern always occurs within a first number of bits and two occurrences of a “1” or “0” occur within a second number of bits. The encoded data blocks are stored on the storage medium.

Abstract: Provided is a method, system, and program for providing synchronization in a binary data stream. A binary data stream is received. A synchronization mark having at least one isolated peak is generated into at least one point in the data stream. An encoded data stream is formed by concatenating the synchronization mark with the received binary data. During decoding, the synchronization mark is detected based on error propagation occurring adjacent to the at least one isolated peak of the synchronization mark.

Abstract: An adapter and a method for adapting a programmable digital maximum likelihood detector to a variable channel output and a calibration system for calibrating a programmable digital maximum likelihood detector from unknown data in a known code at a variable channel output, the maximum likelihood detector having a number of maximum likelihood states. A detector detects a digital sample of the recorded analog signals as corresponding to one of the maximum likelihood states. An accumulator partially accumulates the detected digital sample with prior detected digital samples corresponding to the one of the maximum likelihood states. Logic coupled to the accumulator employs the accumulated digital samples for the corresponding maximum likelihood state to determine at least one numerical metric coefficient matching the digital samples to the one of the maximum likelihood states, and updates or sets the numerical metric coefficient.

Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory storing either a portion of the same data as that to be written to the tape or at least control data sufficient to recover from a delaying tape drive operation or from a mechanical failure in the tape drive thereby permitting signaling to a central processing unit an assurance that the data transferring by the CPU will be correctly written onto the tape. The host data can be directly transferred to the cartridge memory if the cartridge memory is fast enough and large enough to handle the transfer. An intermediate high speed non-volatile memory in the drive is necessary if the cartridge memory is too slow to handle the direct transfer or too small to handle the data transferred by the CPU. The cartridge memory then will contain command data sufficient to control the transfer of the data from the non-volatile drive memory to the tape.

Abstract: Provided is a method, system, and program for encoding and decoding input data. A key is generated comprising a list of a plurality of binary values, wherein the key is available to a user to provide during decoding. The input data is encoded by using the key to initialize a replacement list. A determination is made whether to replace strings in the input data with a string reference to a matching string value, wherein the input data not replaced with reference to one matching string value comprises one or more literals. Each literal is replaced with a literal reference to one entry in the replacement list matching the literal. The encoded input data is decoded by accessing the generated key in response to user input and using the accessed key to decode the literals replaced with literal references to entries in the replacement list.

Abstract: Provided is a method, system, and program for enabling access to data in a storage medium within one of a plurality of storage cartridges capable of being mounted into a interface device. An association is provided of at least one coding key to a plurality of storage cartridges. A determination is made of one coding key associated with one target storage cartridge, wherein the coding key is capable of being used to access data in the storage medium within the target storage cartridge. The determined coding key is encrypted. The coding key is subsequently decrypted to use to decode and code data stored in the storage medium.

Abstract: A system and method for precisely registering and synchronizing data sets on a recording media having a prerecorded servo pattern. The recording media is subject to continuing movement for reading and/or writing the data sets, interrupted by stopping at the end of a selected data set and restarting. During the continuing movement of the recording media, a detector coupled to the servo system continuously reads linear position registration data modulated into the prerecorded servo pattern. An interpolator interpolates the prerecorded registration data to provide precision registration information for the data sets. Upon the drive stopping the recording media, then back hitching the media and the movement restarting, selected read and interpolated registration information is provided.

Abstract: Provided is a method, system, and program for storing data in a storage medium. A layout of a storage medium including a first and second user data sections is provided, wherein the first user data section comprises a faster access storage space than the second user data section. A determination is made of a first set of data to be accessed at a faster rate than a second set of data. The first set of data is written to the first user data section and the second set of data is written to the second user data section.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a detector for adaptively detecting servo gaps in a timing based servo pattern prerecorded on a variable velocity media. The timing based servo pattern has groups of repeated pairs of non-parallel transition stripes arranged in bursts, the bursts separated by servo gaps whose length is variable. A servo system sensor senses the transition stripes in the longitudinal direction of the media. A group interval detector coupled to the sensor detects the timing interval between the same slope transition stripes of two sequential groups of bursts. A divider divides the detected group timing interval by a predetermined divisor to provide a divided timing interval gap detection threshold. A sequential stripe interval detector coupled to the sensor measures the timing interval between stripes, and a comparator compares the divided timing interval and the timing interval, identifying a servo gap upon the measured timing interval at least equaling the gap threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting data written on a recording medium are disclosed. The recording medium, such as an optical or magnetic medium, is initially sensed by a transducer to produce an analog data signal waveform. The analog data signal waveform is then digitized by an analog-to-digital convertor to produce a set of digitized data samples. The set of digitized data samples may be equalized to reduce noise. Subsequently, a mid-point sample is inserted between each two samples within the set of equalized data samples utilizing a mid-point interpolation algorithm. With the additional points provided by mid-point interpolation, the absence or presence of a detection event, such as a peak or a transition, between every two samples within the set of equalized data samples are determined.

Abstract: A tamper-resistant Hard-WORM data storage system and a magneto-optical storage disk therefor is disclosed. The disk has a plurality of sectors thereon containing one or more uniquely formatted fields to provide an indication that the disk is a Write-Once Read Many (WORM) disk. A motor is provided in the storage system for rotating the disk at an operational rotational speed and a laser read/write (R/W) head unit is provided for reading and writing information in the sectors. A read/write (R/W) control unit within the storage system controls read and write operations on the disk in response to commands from an external data processing device, such as a computer. The R/W control unit is adapted to decode the one or more uniquely formatted fields in order to read and correctly interpret information contained therein.