Abstract: A plurality of processors of a disk controller are divided into a plurality of clusters. In normal operation, data is transferred between a host computer and a disk drive in a cluster non-restricted processing mode in which a job can be distributedly processed among processors belonging to any clusters without regard to cluster. In response to a program version upgrading command from an operator, the cluster mode is shifted from the cluster non-restricted processing mode to a cluster restricted processing mode in which the cluster to which processors which are permitted to distributedly process one job belong is restricted. When the shifting to the cluster restricted processing mode is completed, one cluster is selected as a cluster to be maintained and versions of the programs to be executed by the processors belonging to the cluster to be maintained are upgraded.

Abstract: A plurality of processors of a disk controller are divided into a plurality of clusters. In a normal operation, data is transferred between a host computer and a disk drive in a cluster non-restricted mode in which a job can be distributedly processed among processors belonging to any clusters without regard to cluster. In response to a program version-up command from an operator, the cluster mode is shifted from the cluster non-restricted mode to a cluster restricted mode in which the cluster to which processors which are permitted to distributedly process one job belong is restricted. When the shifting to the cluster restricted mode is completed, one cluster is selected as a cluster to be maintained and the programs to be executed by the processors belonging to the cluster to be maintained are versioned up by new programs.

Abstract: A plurality of processors of a disk controller are divided into a plurality of clusters. In normal operation, data is transferred between a host computer and a disk drive in a cluster non-restricted processing mode in which a job can be distributedly processed among processors belonging to any clusters without regard to cluster. In response to a program version upgrading command from an operator, the cluster mode is shifted from the cluster non-restricted processing mode to a cluster restricted processing mode in which the cluster to which processors which are permitted to distributedly process one job belong is restricted. When the shifting to the cluster restricted processing mode is completed, one cluster is selected as a cluster to be maintained and versions of the programs to be executed by the processors belonging to the cluster to be maintained are upgraded.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a protein-lipid complex which modifies the taste of a food, pharmaceutical or cosmetic, particularly has the effect of decreasing the bitterness thereof; and a method for modifying the taste of a food, pharmaceutical or cosmetic with the complex, particularly a method for decreasing the bitterness thereof with the complex.

Abstract: A plurality of processors of a disk controller are divided into a plurality of clusters. In normal operation, data is transferred between a host computer and a disk drive in a cluster non-restricted processing mode in which a job can be distributedly processed among processors belonging to any clusters without regard to cluster. In response to a program version upgrading command from an operator, the cluster mode is shifted from the cluster non-restricted processing mode to a cluster restricted processing mode in which the cluster to which processors which are permitted to distributedly process one job belong is restricted. When the shifting to the cluster restricted processing mode is completed, one cluster is selected as a cluster to be maintained and version of the programs to be executed by the processors belonging to the cluster to be maintained are upgraded.

Abstract: A disk controller itself performs the serial inspection process in the following way. It divides a track into a current track group directly available for an external computer and a spare track group available for the disk controller independently of the external computer before registering the groups in it. It also automatically selects a track available in the spare track group as an alternative track. It further copies to the alternative track data recorded on a current track to be inspected. In turn, the disk controller writes a test pattern on the current track. With this, it detects a defect position on a surface of a recording medium of the current track. It also registers the defect position detected on the surface of the recording medium to the current track. It further copies the data having been copied on the alternative track to the current track.

Abstract: A disc controller, which is connected to a plurality of channels for supplying access requests and discs. The controller includes a plurality of storage paths which control transfer of data between a cache, the channels and the discs, and a control memory which controls the respective operations of the plurality of storage paths. The control memory stores information which is used to select a storage path in accordance with predetermined standards for storage path selection. A disc or the cache is accessed using the selected storage path.

Abstract: In order for a disk control unit with built-in cache to write non-reflective data in the cache to a disk drive without stopping extension of a read/write command from host computer in the event of a fault in the cache or its backup memory, the track data in normal one of the cache and its backup memory is written to a certain physical track of the disk drive upon judging at read/write command execution that the accessed track is a non-reflective track, and a read/write command from the host computer is implemented for the physical track of the disk drive which has completed the non-reflective track write operation.

Abstract: An information medium storage and management system includes storage compartments for storing a plurality of information media; a plurality of recording/reproducing apparatus each capable of accessing each of a plurality of information media, each capable of recording at least one file; handling apparatus for mounting a mount information medium on a mount recording/reproducing apparatus and demounting a demount information medium from a demount recording/reproducing apparatus; and a controller for controlling the handling apparatus to select as the mount information medium one of the plurality of information media in accordance with the use history data of each information medium, to select as the mount recording/reproducing apparatus one of unoccupied recording/reproducing apparatus of the plurality of recording/reproducing apparatus, and to cause the mount information medium to use the mount recording/reproducing apparatus for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: When the mount and demount operation of information media are achieved between an information medium storage shelf and a plurality of recording/playback apparatuses by use of a plurality of handling devices, in order to execute the operations in a concurrent fashion without causing an interference between the handling devices for an increased operation efficiency, the area of the storage shelf and at least one of the recording/playback apparatuses are respectively subdivided into a plurality of subareas so as to process the obtained subareas by the plurality devices respectively associated therewith.

Abstract: In a scheduling system, constraints changing based on situations and scheduling know-how are implemented according to the knowledge engineering method, whereas computations for the concrete, optimal allocation are conducted according to the mathematical programming method. As a result, there can be achieved a scheduling which can easily cope with changes in the scheduling know-how and constraints and which has a high maintainability and a high computation speed.