Abstract: A system and managing method for cluster-type storage is provided. In one example of the system, the storage system is configured so as to expand from small to large configurations at a reasonable cost with performance decided appropriately to the target system scale. The storage system has an interface with a server or hard drives, a plurality of protocol transformation units, each used for transforming a read or write protocol of the data to be exchanged with the server or hard drives and a plurality of data caching control units, each having a cache memory unit for storing data to be read from or written in the server or hard drives and a function for controlling the cache memory unit. An interconnection is used for the connection between the plurality of the protocol transformation units and the plurality of the data caching control units.

Abstract: A layered computer system is described in which a central storage system is mirrored to multiple local storage systems for use by thin clients. The system enables the distribution and management of data from a central storage to the multiple local computer systems by using storage-based remote copy technology. The local storage systems provide operating system software, application software, and data to the thin clients. Mirroring of the data between the central storage and the local storages enables a more efficient management of the distributed computer system.

Abstract: A system which serves both as a host and a device cannot be realized with a single connector due to the constitution of hardware in the prior art. The prior art system only detects the existence of a device and cannot distinguish between a host and a device while a power source is turned on and switch its function. The information processing apparatus of the present invention separates the data lines of a host communication controller and the data lines of a device communication controller and activates the selected controller by means of selecting the data lines of the controllers and means of determining which is connected to a connector, a host or a device.

Abstract: A recording device which is capable of preventing alteration of a generated digital picture data and suitable for improving the reliability of the digital picture data as an evidence. The recording device includes a related information embedding unit for embedding a related information on the digital picture data stored in a related information storing unit in the digital picture data obtained by a picture receiving unit by means of the digital watermarking technique, a digital signature generating unit for generating a digital signature of the digital picture data in which the related information has been embedded, and a recording unit for adding the digital signature to the digital picture data in which the related information has been embedded and storing it in a memory unit.

Abstract: In a virtualization system, physical volumes are virtualized between servers and storage systems such that even when high-performance functions including a remote copy are provided, a virtualization unit does not become a bottleneck of processing. For this purpose, a virtualization node to conduct virtualization includes at least one virtualization switch which receives data from a server and converts the data into data for a real volume to send the data to an associated storage and which receives data from a storage and converts the data into data from a virtualized volume to send the data to a server and at least one virtualization server which receives data requiring processing such as a remote copy from the virtualization switch, performs a particular processing for the data, and then transmits the data via the switch to a server or a storage.

Abstract: A computing system and an exclusive access control method are provided for preventing degraded performance of a network caused by exclusive access control, and for permitting a computer to exclusively access a storage area irrespective of whether a storage has an exclusive access control function. In the computing system in which a plurality of computers and an external storage device storing shared data are connected through a relay, exclusive access control is executed by a device other than the storage. Specifically, the relay having a virtualizing function is instructed to execute exclusive access control. The relay has information indicating whether a storage area on the storage is an exclusive access area, so that the relay determines based on this information whether an access request received from a computer requests an access to an exclusive access area, and executes exclusive access control when it is an access request.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved techniques for managing storage resources, such as disk drives, I/O ports, and the like in a network based storage system according to a user position within the network. Embodiments according to the present invention can provide a relatively high performance storage access environment for the mobile users moving around a wide area. For example, in one applicable environment, there are several data centers in the wide area, and each data center has a local storage system that is connected to the other storage systems through a network. Copies of a user's volume can be made in some of the storage systems. A remote copy function is utilized for making real time copies of the user's volume.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for managing access to storage resources. In specific embodiments, storage devices provide storage resources to users using a system of virtual addresses and virtual volume identifiers. In select specific embodiments, a storage service provider (SSP) can make volumes available to a user, which may be a company, for example, in the user's network via the Internet or other kinds of network connections. In specific embodiments, the SSP and the user's data center can conceal the identity of the storage devices, volumes, and equipment of the SSP, as well as that of the user's data center in order to provide privacy to both user and storage provider.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus which provides a part of an additional interface in the power module and makes connection to an external device through the power module. The body of the apparatus is made to be lightweight and miniaturized. If installation of another interface is necessary, this can be realized by changing the power module.

Abstract: This invention provides techniques for guaranteeing data access speed of storage connected by a network having guaranteed QoS (Quality of Services). In a representative specific embodiment, communication speed and storage disks are assigned in order to accommodate user requested data access speed. The communication speed of data paths is assigned in order to accommodate the speed of storage system resources, such as the storage disks connected by these data paths. The storage disks are assigned in order to accommodate the speed of communication links that connect the storage system to other devices. Specific embodiments include a storage system that connects to a host computer system, and a storage system that connects with other storage systems. Specific embodiments provide guaranteed data access speed for storage, and use resources more efficiently.

Abstract: A voice communication system, which is connected to LAN to which communication terminals are connected and to a public network to which telephones are connected, is provided with a communication server between the LAN and public network having different protocols from each other. The communication server enables a voice communication between a telephone on the public network and a communication terminal connected to the LAN by performing processing similar to that for a voice communication between two communication terminals connected to the LAN. The communication server determines whether an address of the other party inputted by a user is a communication terminal address or a telephone number, and transmits a voice communication request to a communication terminal of the other party when the address is a communication terminal address.

Abstract: A voice communication system, which is connected to LAN to which communication terminals are connected and to a public network to which telephones are connected, is provided with a communication server between the LAN and public network having different protocols from each other. The communication server enables a voice communication between a telephone on the public network and a communication terminal connected to the LAN by performing processing similar to that for a voice communication between two communication terminals connected to the LAN. The communication server determines whether an address of the other party inputted by a user is a communication terminal address or a telephone number, and transmits a voice communication request to a communication terminal of the other party when the address is a communication terminal address.

Abstract: A communication system which can communicate with a party user even when an originator user of a communication terminal does not know the terminal address of a communication terminal of the party user with whom the originator user wants to communicate. When its own user A does not know the terminal address of a communication terminal of a user B, a communication terminal of the user A sends an outgoing file having its own terminal address stored therein as an electronic mail directed to the user B. When receiving the outgoing file as the electronic mail, the communication terminal of the user B displays an icon on its display unit to prompt the user B to enter an instruction of performing reply communication. In response to it, when the user B clicks a mouse on the icon, the communication terminal of the user B can perform the reply communication to the communication terminal corresponding to terminal address stored in the outgoing file.

Abstract: A multimedia mail system and a method thereof generates a message including comments or notes on a background picture using voice and drawing data. The message is sent to a destination terminal using a mail system, and then is regenerated. The voice and drawing data of the received message is synchronized in the same time relation as that used for generation of the message.

Abstract: A communication system having a plurality of communication terminals which perform data communication with each other through a communication network. Each communication terminal includes a refusing time zone registration unit for registering a time zone in which the communication terminal will not accept a communication request from the other communication terminals, a present time acquisition unit for acquiring a present time when a communication request is received from a communication request transmitting terminal, and a judgment unit for judging whether the communication request has been received during the registered time zone by comparing the acquired present time to the registered time zone. The communication terminal further includes a communication refusing signal issuance unit for issuing a communication refusing signal automatically to the communication request transmitting terminal when it is judged that the communication request has been received during the registered time zone.

Abstract: In mail terminal equipment for receiving and reproducing a mail which has been produced using multi-media data containing a plurality of continuous audio data and a plurality of drawing data synchronized with at least a part of the audio data and has been transmitted thereto. Where reproduction of the drawing data is later than that if the audio data, the drawing data is synchronized with the audio data without interrupting reproduction of the audio data. When the drawing data still remains which at certain timing (e.g., timing when supplementing the audio data to a audio buffer for storing the audio data waiting for reproduction), should be reproduced until that time point, but is not reproduced resulting from the delay of reproduction of the drawing data due to the drawing processing, the loading situation and the like, the drawing data of interest is skipped so as not to be reproduced, and the next drawing data is reproduced.

Abstract: A voice communication system, which is connected to a LAN to which communication terminals are connected and to a public network to which telephones are connected, is provided with a communication server between the LAN and public network having different protocols from each other. The communication server enables a voice communication between a telephone on the public network and a communication terminal connected to the LAN by performing processing similar to that for a voice communication between two communication terminals connected to the LAN. The communication server determines whether an address of the other party inputted by a user is a communication terminal address or a telephone number, and transmits a voice communication request to a communication terminal of the other party when the address is a communication terminal address.

Abstract: In a video communication system including a sending terminal and a receiving terminal connected via a packet switching network, a receiving terminal which has detected loss of a video packet sets a video output into a freeze status and transmits a refresh request command to the sending terminal. Upon receiving the refresh request command, the sending terminal requests a video coder unit to execute refreshing and transmits a series of video packets beginning from an INTRA frame. Upon receiving a packet of the INTRA frame, the receiving terminal releases the freeze status and restarts video information decoding.

Abstract: A system in which multimedia information communication is performed between two terminal stations connected to each other through a packet switching network, each of the terminal stations having a control device for performing send control for sending a video packet including coded video data and a voice packet including coded voice data to the packet switching network and supply control for supplying the video packet and voice packet received from the packe switching network to a video codec and a voice codec respectively.

Abstract: An address management system which is integrally compatible to an plurality of communication services and a plurality of communication application programs, and a communication terminal which utilizes such an address management system are disclosed.