Abstract: An apparatus for improved version updates in data deduplication includes a baseline module that stores a baseline referrer link in a first cohort of baseline referrer links pointing to a first location in storage where a baseline version data block is stored. The apparatus includes a signpost module that stores to metadata a signpost that points to an updated referrer link in a second cohort of updated referrer links that points to a second location in the deduplicating storage device where an updated version data block is stored in response to the updated version data block being generated. The apparatus includes a cohort update module that replaces the baseline referrer link with the updated referrer link in response to determining that an additional updated version data block matches the updated version data block pointed to by the signpost. A method and a system implement functions of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for printing multicolored three-dimensional objects. The method includes: selectively exposing a photosensitive thermoplastic feedstock to light within an extrusion nozzle, the feedstock comprising a thermoplastic base mixed with a photosensitive material; extruding the exposed feedstock into a deposit to print an object; and photo-chemically developing the deposit to provide color to the deposit. An apparatus is provided for three-dimensional printing with an extrusion nozzle including a light exposing component for selectively exposing the photosensitive thermoplastic feedstock to light within the extrusion nozzle.

Abstract: Operating a data storage system comprising a plurality of disk drives and a storage controller connected to the disk drives. A first subset and a second subset of the plurality of disk drives are operated as short stroked disk drives and non-short stroked disk drives, respectively. Priority storage spaces are defined including a high priority storage space, a medium priority storage space, and a low priority storage space. Data is received including associated access rates for each portion of the data. One of the priority storage spaces is identified to store a portion of the data, based on the access rates for each portion of the data. Data accessed most frequently is stored in the high priority storage space, data accessed least frequently is stored in the low priority storage space, and the remaining data is stored in the medium priority storage space.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for cabling a set of enclosures. Using a set of cables that comprises eight physical layers (PHYs), the set of enclosures are coupled together such that: for a first enclosure and each intermediate enclosure in the set of enclosures, at least four PHYs of the eight PHYs terminate within a Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) (SAS) expander of the first enclosure and a SAS expander of each intermediate enclosure white passing through a remaining four PHYs of the eight PHYs without connecting to the respective SAS expander; and, for a last enclosure in the set of enclosures, all of the eight PHYs terminate in the SAS expander of the last enclosure.

Abstract: A data storage system comprises physical storage, cache memory and a processor connected to the physical storage and the cache memory. The processor is arranged to maintain a set of active regions in the cache memory, each active region having a size equal to an integer multiple of an update size of a flash chip within the physical storage, where the integer could be 1. The processor receives requests for one or more blocks of the cache memory from components within the storage system and allocates one or more blocks from an active region in response to a received request. If the processor determines that all blocks in an active region have been allocated and that all allocated blocks within this region have been written to, then the processor destages the content of this region to the physical storage.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes receiving, by a target system from a source system, a description of a set of data updates that are to be written to the target system. For each given portion of data of the target system that is to be rewritten during performance of the set of data updates, forward lookup is performed on the target system for determining a physical storage address of the given portion of data. The method further includes marking each of the determined physical storage addresses of the portions of data of the target system in a copy of a reverse lookup table of the target system. The marked-up reverse lookup table is used for determining an ordering in which the performance of the set of data updates would result in a least amount of garbage collection being performed while performing the set of data updates.

Abstract: The various embodiments relate to a storage system, storage system method and computer program product including: providing a distributed collection of drives, each drive having logical blocks, each logical block being assignable to a segment with an associated volume and being configurable to RAID characteristics associated with that volume; assigning a first group of logical blocks to a segment with an associated volume and configuring the first group of logical blocks to RAID characteristics associated with that volume; and wherein a further group of logical blocks is ready to be assigned to any segment but is not yet assigned.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of creating an artificially tiltable image display from an image containing Z distance values, the method comprising: separating the image into a plurality of layers using the Z distance values; expanding the plurality of layers by a factor dependent on the Z distance values, a layer closer to a viewer being enlarged by a larger factor than a layer further from a viewer, to create information in the layer further from a viewer that is occluded by the layer closer to a viewer; and responsive to a request to tilt the image display, moving the plurality of layers relative to each other so as to display the occluded information.

Abstract: A nozzle follower assembly is provided which is co-operable with a 3D printer. The nozzle follower assembly includes a surface portion modification apparatus. The follower assembly is co-operable with a 3D printer head nozzle assembly and is operable to cause the surface portion modification apparatus to modify at least a portion of a surface of a material most recently printed by the head nozzle assembly of the 3D printer. The surface portion modification apparatus may be used to smooth the surface of the material most recently printed by the head nozzle assembly of the 3D printer.

Abstract: A RAID controller may update a RAID array by receiving updated data for a first data strip in a set of data strips in the RAID array. The RAID controller may then determine that the first data strip is stored on a device that is experiencing a slow condition. The RAID controller may then force, based on the determining, a promoted stripe write.

Abstract: A RAID system, RAID controller, method, and computer program product for reducing the number of reads of XOR data in a multi-storage-enclosure RAID array includes a RAID array controller that implements a selected distributed RAID scheme. The RAID array controller determines a set of drives and logical block addresses corresponding to a parity group and divides the set of drives into subsets of drives that are located within each individual storage enclosure of the multiple storage enclosures. The controller issues a single EnclosureXOR Read to each storage enclosure corresponding to the subsets of drives to read enclosure-level intermediate XOR data calculated by each storage enclosure for each subset of drives and in response to receiving the enclosure-level intermediate XOR data results from all storage drives in the parity group, and calculates an array level XOR result by XORing the enclosure-level intermediate XOR data results from the storage enclosures.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes receiving, by a target system from a source system, a description of a set of data updates that are to be written to the target system. For each given portion of data of the target system that is to be rewritten during performance of the set of data updates, forward lookup is performed on the target system for determining a physical storage address of the given portion of data. The method further includes marking each of the determined physical storage addresses of the portions of data of the target system in a copy of a reverse lookup table of the target system. The marked-up reverse lookup table is used for determining an ordering in which the performance of the set of data updates would result in a least amount of garbage collection being performed while performing the set of data updates.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of creating an artificially tiltable image display from an image containing Z distance values, the method comprising: separating the image into a plurality of layers using the Z distance values; expanding the plurality of layers by a factor dependent on the Z distance values, a layer closer to a viewer being enlarged by a larger factor than a layer further from a viewer, to create information in the layer further from a viewer that is occluded by the layer closer to a viewer; and responsive to a request to tilt the image display, moving the plurality of layers relative to each other so as to display the occluded information.

Abstract: An apparatus for improved version updates in data deduplication includes a baseline module that stores a baseline referrer link in a first cohort of baseline referrer links pointing to a first location in storage where a baseline version data block is stored. The apparatus includes a signpost module that stores to metadata a signpost that points to an updated referrer link in a second cohort of updated referrer links that points to a second location in the deduplicating storage device where an updated version data block is stored in response to the updated version data block being generated. The apparatus includes a cohort update module that replaces the baseline referrer link with the updated referrer link in response to determining that an additional updated version data block matches the updated version data block pointed to by the signpost. A method and a system implement functions of the apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide techniques for implementation of a photographic effect. An image is acquired while in a zoom configuration. The image is divided into pixel groups. A distance is determined for each group of pixels. The groups of pixels are based on the detected distance of the group of pixels from the camera. The detected distance can be based on the autofocus module within the camera. The detected distance can be a relative distance or an absolute distance. An expansion factor is determined for each group of pixels based on the corresponding determined distance. Expanded pixel groups are created for each pixel group based on the expansion factor. The expanded pixel groups are composited together to create the processed image.

Abstract: A RAID controller may update a RAID array by receiving updated data for a first data strip in a set of data strips in the RAID array. The RAID controller may then determine that the first data strip is stored on a device that is experiencing a slow condition. The RAID controller may then force, based on the determining, a promoted stripe write.

Abstract: A system comprises a video hosting subsystem configured to access a database of video streams. The video hosting subsystem comprises a processor for processing data associated with the video streams, and memory for storing data. The processor is configured to receive a user request to access a selected primary video stream. The processor is further configured to identify other video streams captured at substantially the same time and location as the selected primary video stream and in which a person specified in the user request appears. The processor is configured to select, from the identified other video streams, an alternative video stream. The processor is further configured to provide the user with access to the selected primary video stream, together with an option to access the alternative video stream.

Abstract: Mechanisms are provided for cabling a set of enclosures. Using a set of cables that comprises eight physical layers (PHYs), the set of enclosures are coupled together such that: for a first enclosure and each intermediate enclosure in the set of enclosures, at least four PHYs of the eight PHYs terminate within a Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) (SAS) expander of the first enclosure and a SAS expander of each intermediate enclosure white passing through a remaining four PHYs of the eight PHYs without connecting to the respective SAS expander; and, for a last enclosure in the set of enclosures, all of the eight PHYs terminate in the SAS expander of the last enclosure.

Abstract: Operating a data storage system comprising a plurality of disk drives and a storage controller connected to the disk drives. A first subset and a second subset of the plurality of disk drives are operated as short stroked disk drives and non-short stroked disk drives, respectively. Priority storage spaces are defined including a high priority storage space, a medium priority storage space, and a low priority storage space. Data is received including associated access rates for each portion of the data. One of the priority storage spaces is identified to store a portion of the data, based on the access rates for each portion of the data. Data accessed most frequently is stored in the high priority storage space, data accessed least frequently is stored in the low priority storage space, and the remaining data is stored in the medium priority storage space.

Abstract: A storage drive array with available storage space for user data with storage capacity in the array allocated to distributed spare space. The distributed spare space spreads portions of a spare drive across multiple storage drives in the array. By monitoring the amount of spare space available in the array, a determination may be whether the amount of spare space falls below a threshold number of drives. If there is un-used space in the available storage space which is greater than one drive of space, a drive of space to spare space may be dynamically re-allocated in a distributed pattern across the drives of the array.