Abstract: A processing system operates by: detecting an access anomaly associated with an access request from a requestor for a set of encoded data slices, the access anomaly having an unfavorable access pattern, wherein the set of encoded data slices is dispersed storage error encoded and stored in at least one storage unit of the storage network; denying the access request in response to detecting the access anomaly; generating, based on the unfavorable access pattern, an anomaly detection indicator identifying the requestor; and sending the anomaly detection indicator to other devices of the storage network.

Abstract: A method includes error encoding data to produce a plurality of data slices. Metadata is determined for a data slice of the plurality of data slices. The metadata is stored in a metadata storage tree. The data slice is stored in a slice storage location indicated by the metadata. Based on determining to access the data slice, the metadata for the data slice is accessed in the metadata storage tree to determine the slice storage location for the data slice, and the data slice is accessed in the slice storage location based on determining the slice storage location for the data slice via accessing the metadata storage tree.

Abstract: A storage network operates by: encoding, via a dispersed error encoding, at least one data object as a write threshold number of encoded data slices; storing the write threshold number of the encoded data slices in a set of storage units of the storage network; determining when, due to a failure, less than a pillar width number of the encoded data slices are retrievable from the set of storage units: retrieving a decode threshold number of the encoded data slices from others of the set of storage units; decoding the decode threshold number of the encoded data slices to reproduce the at least one data object; restoring availability of the pillar width number of the encoded data slices of the common revision by: rebuilding at least a subset of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices, based on an encoding of the at least one data object; and storing the at least a subset of encoded data slices in the storage network.

Abstract: A processing system of a storage network operates by receiving a write request associated with a data object; identifying dispersed storage error encoding parameters; and determining a number of available storage units. When the number of available storage units is determined to exceed a first number, the processing system operates by: determining a first write threshold number in accordance with the dispersed storage error encoding parameters; dispersed error encoding the data object to produce a first write threshold number of encoded data slices; and writing, to available storage units, the first write threshold number of encoded data slices.

Abstract: A head unit system for controlling an object includes a head unit device that include shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber configured to contain the STF. The chamber further includes a set of gates between a front channel and a back channel. The set of gates includes a bypass opening set. The head unit device further includes a piston housed at least partially radially within the chamber. The set of gates is configured to control flow of the STF between the front channel and the back channel to control rotational movement of the object. An accessory module assists in control of the object.

Abstract: A head unit system for controlling an object includes a head unit device that include shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber configured to contain the STF. The chamber further includes a set of gates between a front channel and a back channel. The set of gates includes a bypass opening set. The head unit device further includes a piston housed at least partially radially within the chamber. The set of gates is configured to control flow of the STF between the front channel and the back channel to control rotational movement of the object. An accessory module assists in control of the object.

Abstract: A head unit system for controlling an object includes a head unit device that include shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber configured to contain the STF. The chamber further includes a set of gates between a front channel and a back channel. The set of gates includes a bypass opening set. The head unit device further includes a piston housed at least partially radially within the chamber. The set of gates is configured to control flow of the STF between the front channel and the back channel to control rotational movement of the object.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for replication of data in storage networks. In an embodiment, a processing module(s) of a computing device identifies a first storage set and a second storage set for replicated storage of data. The processing module(s) maintains a synchronization log for the first storage set and the second storage set. After initiating storage of a data object in the first storage set and the second storage set, the processing module(s) detects an unavailability of one or more storage units of the second storage set. In response to detecting a return to availability of the one or more storage units, the processing module(s) determines, based on the synchronization log, that the second storage set requires at least a portion of the data object to maintain synchronization with the first storage set, and facilitates storage of the at least a portion of the data object in the second storage set.

Abstract: A distributed storage integrity system in a dispersed storage network includes a scanning agent and a control unit. The scanning agent identifies an encoded data slice that requires rebuilding, wherein the encoded data slice is one of a plurality of encoded data slices generated from a data segment using an error encoding dispersal function. The control unit retrieves at least a number T of encoded data slices needed to reconstruct the data segment based on the error encoding dispersal function. The control unit is operable to reconstruct the data segment from at least the number T of the encoded data slices and generate a rebuilt encoded data slice from the reconstructed data segment. The scanning agent is located in a storage unit and the control unit is located in the storage unit or in a storage integrity processing unit, a dispersed storage processing unit or a dispersed storage managing unit.

Abstract: A computing device of a storage network, the computing device including memory, an interface, and at least one processing module operably coupled to the memory and the interface, where the at least one processing module is operable to error encode a data segment in accordance with error encoding parameters to produce a set of encoded data slices. The at least one processing module also sends via the interface, a first subset of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices via a first routing path of a plurality of routing paths to a set of storage units, where the first routing path has a performance level greater than a first performance threshold, and sends, via the interface, a second subset of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices via a second routing path of the plurality of routing paths to the set of storage units.

Abstract: A device for use in a storage network including storage network memory distributed amongst a plurality of storage units. The device includes a processing module operably couple to a memory that stores operational instructions. The processing module is configured to execute the operational instructions to determine storage parameters associated with encoded data slices generated from data to be stored in the plurality of storage units. The storage parameters include information indicating a read threshold number of encoded data slices required to recover the data. The method further includes facilitating distributed storage of the encoded data slices among the plurality of storage units such that the number of the error-encoded data slices stored in any particular storage unit is chosen so that in the event of an unavailability of any individual storage unit, at least a read threshold number of encoded data slices are still accessible from the remaining storage units.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for identifying multiple resources of a storage network for data retrieval are disclosed. In various embodiments, a determination is made to retrieve an encoded data slice from the storage network. Based on configuration information for the storage network, one or more configurations are identified, including a current configuration. For the identified configurations, ranked scoring information relating to the encoded data slice is determined for a plurality of resources associated with the identified configurations. Based on the ranked scoring information, a resource is selected for each of the identified configurations. In addition, a retrieval likelihood level for the data slice is determined for each of the selected resources. Based on the likelihood levels for the selected resources, one or more of the selected resources are identified for encoded data slice retrieval and read slice requests are issued to the one or more selected resources.

Abstract: A computing device of a storage network includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with a set of storage, memory that stores operational instructions and processing circuitry operably coupled to the interface and to the memory. The processing circuitry is configured to execute the operational instructions to select a set of storage network storage units and divide the set of storage network storage units into pairs of storage units, where each storage unit of the set of storage units is configured to communicate with every other storage unit of the set of storage units. The processing circuitry is further configured to generate an encryption key for each pair of storage units and distribute the encryption key to each pair of storage units.

Abstract: A power coupler for transferring rotary power from a rotary power device to a load device includes a shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber that contains the STF. The power coupler further includes a drive shaft housed radially within a drive side section of the chamber and protruding outward from an end of the chamber for coupling to the rotary power device. The power coupler further includes a load shaft housed radially within a load side section of the chamber and protruding outward from another end of the chamber for coupling to the load device. The power coupler further includes a drive turbine housed radially within the drive side section and coupled to the drive shaft. The power coupler further includes a load turbine housed radially within the load side section at a fixed operational distance from the drive turbine and coupled to the load shaft.

Abstract: A method for execution by a storage network starts by maintaining loading and data access rate information for a storage node and estimating a future data access rate for the storage node. The method continues by determining a probability level of potential future data loss, based on the estimated future data access rate and in response to a determination that the probability level of potential future data loss compares unfavorably to a maximum probability of data loss threshold level the method continues by facilitating migration of at least a portion of data stored on the storage node for temporary storage in another storage node of the storage network.

Abstract: A method for a storage network begins by receiving, from a requestor, an access request for metadata associated with a data object, where the data object is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed storage error encoding parameters to produce a set of encoded data slices and distributedly stored among a plurality of storage units, where a decode threshold number of encoded data slices are needed to recover the data object. The method continues, by generating a metadata lookup for the data object and then receiving metadata from one or more storage units associated with the storage network. The method then continues, by mapping, based on the metadata, a file path and a storage location for accessing each encoded data slice of the set of encoded data slices.

Abstract: A storage network operates by: encoding at least one data object in the storage network as encoded data slices that include one or more locally decodable code segments; detecting at least one storage error associated with storage of at least one of the encoded data slices in the storage network; and recovering the at least one of the encoded data slices utilizing the one or more locally decodable code segments.

Abstract: A method for storage units of a storage network begins by determining whether a first memory compares favorably to a predetermined performance level and determining whether a data access response activity associated with the first memory compares favorably to a data access response activity threshold. The method continues when the first memory compares unfavorably to the predetermined performance level and the data access response activity associated with the first memory compares unfavorably to a data access response activity threshold, by determining to migrate a set of encoded data slices stored in a first format from the first memory to a second memory, where a data object is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce the set of encoded data slices. The method then continues, by selecting a second format for storing the set of encoded data slices and migrating the set of encoded data slices from the first memory to the second memory.

Abstract: A head unit system for controlling motion of an object includes a secondary object sensor, shear thickening fluid (STF), and a chamber configured to contain a portion of the STF. The chamber further includes a front channel and a back channel. The head unit system further includes a piston housed at least partially radially within the piston compartment and separating the back channel and the front channel. The piston includes a first piston bypass and a second piston bypasses to control flow of the STF between opposite sides of the piston. The chamber further includes a set of fluid manipulation emitters to control the flow of the STF to cause selection of one of a variety of shear rates for the STF within the chamber.

Abstract: A method for execution by a computing entity includes interpreting a fluid flow response from fluid flow sensors to produce a piston position of a piston associated with a head unit device. The head unit device includes a chamber filled with a shear thickening fluid (STF). The method further includes determining a door position based on the piston position. The method further includes determining parameters for wireless signals based on the door position. The method further includes facilitating utilization of the parameters for the wireless signals to promote successful communication of status and/or control of the door via the wireless signals.