Abstract: An improved data storage and retrieval system including a plurality of storage devices controlled by a storage controller. The storage controller includes an interface logic circuitry, a reconstruction logic circuitry, and a controller logic circuitry, all which reside within a single electronic chip. The storage controller receives a user request to retrieve data from the plurality of storage devices, identifies an unresponsive storage device, transmits a signal for reconstructing data associated with the unresponsive storage device, and reconstructs the data associated with the unresponsive storage device. The identifying, transmitting, and reconstructing of data associated with the unresponsive storage device occur in real-time via hardware mechanisms without the need to waste time in communicating and waiting for responses from components residing outside the chip.

Abstract: Modular disk storage modules are combined to form an expandable disk drive base data storage system. Additional modules containing disk drives can be added to the system as memory requirements increases. Data and parity information is distributed amongst three or more disk drives in order to enable data recovery if one of the disk drives ceases to function properly.

Abstract: An improved data storage and retrieval system including a plurality of storage devices controlled by a storage controller. The storage controller includes an interface logic circuitry, a reconstruction logic circuitry, and a controller logic circuitry, all which reside within a single electronic chip. The storage controller receives a user request to retrieve data from the plurality of storage devices, identifies an unresponsive storage device, transmits a signal for reconstructing data associated with the unresponsive storage device, and reconstructs the data associated with the unresponsive storage device. The identifying, transmitting, and reconstructing of data associated with the unresponsive storage device occur in real-time via hardware mechanisms without the need to waste time in communicating and waiting for responses from components residing outside the chip.

Abstract: A video server system having the ability to playback movies at a higher than recorded speed. A storage device stores one or more of the movies to be played back. The storage device has the ability to playback the movies in selected segments. A controller is connected to the storage device for causing the storage device to playback a sequential set of movie segments with an alternating series of intervening movie segments missing therefrom. In addition to Fast Forward and Fast Reverse commands, Pause, Slow, Play and Stop commands are also implemented.

Abstract: A host computer connected over a wide area network system to a client computer interleaves N groups of parity protected packets in order to recover from single or multiple error events of length T. Each of the N groups of data are comprised of M data packets plus one parity packer generated by the modulo-2 sum of data in like positions of the data packets within the group. An error event of length T affects only one packer in each of the N groups, allowing recovery of the lost data, assuming that N or less packets in succession are lost.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for adding a storage device to a storage array without requiring a time-consuming reorganization of the data blocks and parity blocks in the original array. At least initially, new data blocks are only placed on the added storage device. The parity blocks that protect these new data blocks at least initially remain at their original locations on the original storage device and are not placed on the new storage device. To avoid having to recalculate the parity blocks after the new storage device is added, the data blocks in the new storage device may be initialized to zeros.

Abstract: A multiple storage-device data storage system that utilizes parity data to enhance performance. In one embodiment, the system signals the availability of a needed segment of user data after all but one of its sub-segments become available. In another embodiment, the system Predicts which sub-segment is likely to take the longest to retrieve and never issues a command for the retrieval of that sub-segment.

Abstract: A plurality of movies are distributively stored in digital form on a mass storage unit such as a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Drives (RAID) disk drive system such that they can be viewed on demand by multiple users. A master controller receives movie requests from users, and generates designation commands through a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) bus that designates a retrieval controller at the requesting user's facility, and locations of the requested movie data in the RAID system. Successive designation commands are generated for successive blocks of the movie data. A designated retrieval controller reads a designated block of data from the RAID system through the SCSI bus, and converts the retrieved data into video picture and audio format to show the movie on a television receiver at the requesting user's facility. The movie data is preferably compressed on the RAID system in Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) format, and decompressed by the retrieval controllers.

Abstract: A physical drive divided into at least two logical volumes, each volume containing a plurality of data storage segments, at least some of the data storage segments in one volume being physically interleaved with at least some of the data storage segments in the other volume. The purpose of this configuration is to increase the average rate of data transfer between a computer and multiple logical volumes residing on a single physical drive.

Abstract: A plurality of movies are distributively stored in digitally encoded form on a mass storage unit such as a Redundant Array of Inexpensive Drives (RAID) disk drive array such that they can be viewed on demand by multiple users. A video server receives movie requests from users, and retrieves and transmits the requested movie data from the RAID array to processors at the respective user locations. The processors decode the retrieved data to produce video picture and audio information and display the corresponding movies on monitors. Temporal instantaneous digital data rate signatures for the movies are computed and stored, and a current composite signature is computed by summing the signatures for all movies currently being shown. When an additional movie is requested, the signature for the additional movie is combined with the current composite signature to produce a new composite signature.

Abstract: An efficient redundant array of mass storage devices includes a plurality of hard disk drives, a controller or processor associated with each hard disk drive for calculating partial parity data and parity data, a host computer and at least one bus for communications between the host computer and the plurality of hard disk drives. The controller of a drive calculates the partial parity, which is the Exclusive Or function of the old data and the new data which is to be stored into the drive. New data is written to the location in the disk drive from which the old data was obtained. The partial parity data is transferred to the controller of another drive which contains the old parity data for the location to which the new data was written, and that controller calculates the new parity which is the Exclusive Or of the partial parity and the old parity. The new parity is written to the location on that disk drive which formerly held the old parity.

Abstract: An implantable access system for infusion of liquids into a body or aspiration of liquid samples from the body. The system includes a septum/manifold (16) and catheter (10) connected thereto, both of specific design. The septum/manifold includes a pair of manifold chambers (24, 25) each closed with a self-sealing septum (20, 22) and each having a first access entry (19) and second access entry (26, 27) (35, 36). The catheter includes a pair of concentric inner and outer tubes (11, 12). The inner tube (11) is collapsible and closed at its distal end. The outer tube (12) closely engages the inner tube and defines a catheter lumen (28) therewith when the inner tube is collapsed by evacuation. The inner and outer tubes are joined together longitudinally over a small portion of the circumference of the inner tube.

Abstract: Catheters for long term implantation having polymer surfaces in face-to-face contact which are provided with a thin film coating of a glow discharge plasma polymerized fluorocarbon to prevent adhesion of the contacting surfaces. The polymerized fluorocarbon film, between about 50 and 1000 Angstroms in thickness, is bonded to the substrate material giving a low surface energy without changing its bulk properties. The low surface energy will prevent adhesion of cured polymer surfaces in contact and act as a lubricant. The smooth pinhole-free films will control or prevent diffusion into or out of the bulk material. These biocompatible films provide an alternative use for polymers whose bulk properties are unacceptable but whose surface properties are desirable.