Patents by Inventor Nathan Christopher Thompson
Nathan Christopher Thompson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8682471Abstract: A storage library is described that includes a tape magazine that possesses at least one spare slot and a number of other addressable slots that each contains a tape cartridge. Each addressable slot is mapped and made known to a host when the host is linked to the storage library. One of the addressable slots contains a tape cartridge that prior to being mapped as an addressable slot was formerly a spare slot unmapped to the host and the current spare slot was formerly mapped as an addressable slot.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2010Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Spectra Logic CorporationInventors: Matthew Thomas Starr, Nathan Christopher Thompson, Mark Lorin Lantry, Daniel Spencer Zmolek
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Patent number: 8675301Abstract: A tape cartridge library that is equipped with a cleaning device is described. The tape cartridge library essentially includes a plurality of tape cartridges each possessing recording tape media. A plurality of tape drives that read and write data to and from each of the tape cartridges. A tape cleaning drive incapable of transferring data to and from the recording tape media which is independent of the tape drives, the tape cleaning drive disposed entirely within the tape cartridge library. The tape cleaning drive automatically receives one of the tape cartridges and cleans its respective recording tape medium when a predetermined reason for cleaning the tape cartridge is justified.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Spectra Logic, CorporationInventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr
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Patent number: 8615322Abstract: A storage library is described that includes a shelf system adapted to support a number of tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a tape drive adapted to read and write data to and from tape cartridges. The storage library further possesses a single tape picker device that is adapted to hold two tape cartridges at the same time facilitating an exchange of a first tape cartridge intended to be loaded in the tape drive with a second tape cartridge ready to be removed from the tape drive with a single tape picker device.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2011Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: Spectra Logic CorporationInventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr
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Publication number: 20130335858Abstract: A tape cartridge library that is equipped with a cleaning device is described. The tape cartridge library essentially includes a plurality of tape cartridges each possessing recording tape media. A plurality of tape drives that read and write data to and from each of the tape cartridges. A tape cleaning drive incapable of transferring data to and from the recording tape media which is independent of the tape drives, the tape cleaning drive disposed entirely within the tape cartridge library. The tape cleaning drive automatically receives one of the tape cartridges and cleans its respective recording tape medium when a predetermined reason for cleaning the tape cartridge is justified.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: SPECTRA LOGIC CORPORATIONInventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr, Peter L. Groel
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Patent number: 8553344Abstract: A method for maintaining paired data between tape cartridges and linking the paired data to through medium auxiliary memory devices is presented. One method includes providing a first tape cartridge possessing a first medium auxiliary memory device and a first tape medium and a second tape cartridge possessing a second medium auxiliary memory device and a second tape medium. Data maintained on the first tape medium can be copied to the second tape medium. A first record can be stored on the first medium auxiliary memory device indicating that data on the first tape medium was copied to the second tape medium. Likewise, a second record can be stored on the second medium auxiliary memory device indicating that data on the second tape medium originated from the first tape medium.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2010Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Spectra Logic CorporationInventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr, Michael Gerard Goberis
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Patent number: 8537484Abstract: A method for certifying data on tape cartridges for a library with a first tape cartridge that possesses a medium auxiliary memory device, a medium auxiliary memory reader/writer, a first tape drive and a second tape drive, a shelf system, and access to a memory device containing a media lifecycle management data base. After a period of time from when data was originally stored on the tape first cartridge, a portion of data residing on the first tape cartridge is read. The portion of data is assessed as to whether a percentage of the portion contains an expected data structure and if the percentage exceeds a predetermined threshold, a data recovery sequence is initiated.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2010Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Spectra Logic CorporationInventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr, Walter Wong
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Patent number: 8531924Abstract: Provided is a system and method for a organizing a robotic storage system. The robotic storage system includes a plurality of storage locations of varying priority and varying distance to a data read/write device. The robot storage system further includes a plurality of portable data storage elements each having at least three fields, a load field, a read/write field and a user determined field. A temporary storage location within the robotic storage system for each data storage element is determined at least in part by evaluating the data storage element's load field, read/write field and user determined fields to determine a heat value and correlating the heat value to the storage locations. An associated method of use is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2011Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Spectra Logic CorporationInventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr, Robert Edward Weber
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Patent number: 8477448Abstract: A tape cartridge library that is equipped with a cleaning device is described. The tape cartridge library essentially includes a plurality of tape cartridges each possessing recording tape media. A plurality of tape drives that read and write data to and from each of the tape cartridges. A tape cleaning drive incapable of transferring data to and from the recording tape media which is independent of the tape drives, the tape cleaning drive disposed entirely within the tape cartridge library. The tape cleaning drive automatically receives one of the tape cartridges and cleans its respective recording tape medium when a predetermined reason for cleaning the tape cartridge is justified.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Spectra Logic CorporationInventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr
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Patent number: 8453010Abstract: A method for recovering data from a failed tape cartridge is presented. The reliability of a tape cartridge is assessed via the number of read errors encountered. If the number or read errors is excessive, the tape cartridge is deemed unreliable and the tape cartridge is restricted from storing anymore data. A search is performed to look for duplicate data and if found a copy of the duplicate data is stored to a replacement tape cartridge. The replacement tape cartridge assumes all identity of the original failed tape cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2012Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Spectra Logic Corp.Inventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr, Walter Wong
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Publication number: 20130110287Abstract: Provided is a system and method for a organizing a robotic storage system. The robotic storage system includes a plurality of storage locations of varying priority and varying distance to a data read/write device. The robot storage system further includes a plurality of portable data storage elements each having at least three fields, a load field, a read/write field and a user determined field. A temporary storage location within the robotic storage system for each data storage element is determined at least in part by evaluating the data storage element's load field, read/write field and user determined fields to determine a heat value and correlating the heat value to the storage locations. An associated method of use is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2011Publication date: May 2, 2013Applicant: Spectra Logic CorporationInventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr, Robert Edward Weber
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Publication number: 20130101373Abstract: A magazine-based data storage library is described that includes plurality of chambers each adapted to hold a magazine, that in turn, is adapted to hold a plurality of tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a tape drive adapted to read and write data to and from tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a vacant chamber that shifts from a first chamber when a recently used magazine is disposed therein to a second chamber when a new magazine is withdrawn there from. The recently used magazine most recently being withdrawn from a different chamber than the first chamber where it is later disposed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2011Publication date: April 25, 2013Applicant: Spectra Logic CorporationInventors: Matthew Thomas Starr, Nathan Christopher Thompson, Daniel Spencer Zmolek, Mark Lorin Lantry
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Patent number: 8400728Abstract: A storage library is described that includes a shelf system adapted to support a number of tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a tape drive adapted to read and write data to and from tape cartridges. The storage library further possesses a temporary repository near the tape drive that is adapted to facilitate an exchange of a first tape cartridge intended to be loaded in the tape drive with a second tape cartridge ready to be removed from the tape drive with a single tape picker device.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2011Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Spectra Logic Corp.Inventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr
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Patent number: 8339729Abstract: A storage library is described that includes a shelf system adapted to support a number of tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a tape drive adapted to read and write data to and from tape cartridges. The storage library further possesses a temporary repository near the tape drive that is adapted to facilitate an exchange of a first tape cartridge intended to be loaded in the tape drive with a second tape cartridge ready to be removed from the tape drive with a single tape picker device.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Spectra Logic Corp.Inventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr
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Patent number: 8339721Abstract: Methods for certifying data retained by a tape cartridge in a tape library are shown. Error rates that are encountered when the tape cartridge is being read by a tape drive can be accounted for without actually reading data for data content retrieval. A record of the error rate can be stored in a medium auxiliary memory device associated with the tape cartridge. An older record containing a formerly accounted for error rate of read errors when the tape cartridge was formerly read can be accessed and compared with the record presently assessed. If there is a difference between the presently found error rate and the formerly found error rate an action can be executed if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2010Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Spectra Logic CorpInventor: Nathan Christopher Thompson
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Publication number: 20120320470Abstract: A tape cartridge library that is equipped with a cleaning device is described. The tape cartridge library essentially includes a plurality of tape cartridges each possessing recording tape media. A plurality of tape drives that read and write data to and from each of the tape cartridges. A tape cleaning drive incapable of transferring data to and from the recording tape media which is independent of the tape drives, the tape cleaning drive disposed entirely within the tape cartridge library. The tape cleaning drive automatically receives one of the tape cartridges and cleans its respective recording tape medium when a predetermined reason for cleaning the tape cartridge is justified.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: Spectra Logic CorporationInventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr
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Publication number: 20120320472Abstract: A tape cartridge library that is equipped with a cleaning device is described. The tape cartridge library essentially includes a plurality of tape cartridges each possessing recording tape media. A plurality of tape drives that read and write data to and from each of the tape cartridges. A tape cleaning drive incapable of transferring data to and from the recording tape media which is independent of the tape drives, the tape cleaning drive disposed entirely within the tape cartridge library. The tape cleaning drive automatically receives one of the tape cartridges and cleans its respective recording tape medium when a predetermined reason for cleaning the tape cartridge is justified.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: Spectra Logic CorporationInventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr
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Patent number: 8332686Abstract: A method for recovering data from a failed tape cartridge is presented. The reliability of a tape cartridge is assessed via the number of read errors encountered. If the number or read errors is excessive, the tape cartridge is deemed unreliable and the tape cartridge is restricted from storing anymore data. A search is performed to look for duplicate data and if found a copy of the duplicate data is stored to a replacement tape cartridge. The replacement tape cartridge assumes all identity of the original failed tape cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Spectra Logic Corp.Inventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr, Walter Wong
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Publication number: 20120300342Abstract: A storage library is described that includes a shelf system adapted to support a number of tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a tape drive adapted to read and write data to and from tape cartridges. The storage library further possesses a temporary repository near the tape drive that is adapted to facilitate an exchange of a first tape cartridge intended to be loaded in the tape drive with a second tape cartridge ready to be removed from the tape drive with a single tape picker device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: Spectra Logic CorporationInventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr
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Publication number: 20120300343Abstract: A storage library is described that includes a shelf system adapted to support a number of tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a tape drive adapted to read and write data to and from tape cartridges. The storage library further possesses a temporary repository near the tape drive that is adapted to facilitate an exchange of a first tape cartridge intended to be loaded in the tape drive with a second tape cartridge ready to be removed from the tape drive with a single tape picker device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: Spectra Logic CorporationInventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr
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Publication number: 20120287528Abstract: A method for recovering data from a failed tape cartridge is presented. The reliability of a tape cartridge is assessed via the number of read errors encountered. If the number or read errors is excessive, the tape cartridge is deemed unreliable and the tape cartridge is restricted from storing anymore data. A search is performed to look for duplicate data and if found a copy of the duplicate data is stored to a replacement tape cartridge. The replacement tape cartridge assumes all identity of the original failed tape cartridge.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2012Publication date: November 15, 2012Applicant: Spectra Logic CorporationInventors: Nathan Christopher Thompson, Matthew Thomas Starr, Walter Wong