Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for repairing a defective storage device in a physical storage-device array having a plurality of storage devices. The method comprises the steps of identifying a disk error associated with the defective storage device; effecting an error recovery pause based on the disk error; processing one or more outstanding data storage or retrieval requests; and generating a new data storage request instructing the physical disk device array having the defective storage device to store valid data associated with the data storage or retrieval request corresponding to the disk device error, whereby the defective storage device is repaired.

Abstract: Various apparatus and methods for controlling data for a redundant array of inexpensive/independent disks (RAID) are presented. For example, in one illustrative embodiment, a controlling apparatus can include a translation device capable of reading data from a plurality of N disks, wherein the data of the N disks has a format consisting of a sequence of block stripes with each block containing one or more sector stripes, and wherein each sector stripe is formatted such that N?1 of the sectors contain contiguous target data and the remaining sector contains parity data for the other N?1 target data sectors.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for accessing a physical storage-device array comprising a plurality of storage devices. The method includes (1) obtaining at least one parameter from a profile selected from two or more profiles concurrently defining two or more virtual arrays, each profile defining (i) a different virtual array associated with a corresponding set of storage devices and (ii) a parameter set of one or more parameters used for accessing the virtual array; and (2) generating an instruction, based on the at least one parameter, for accessing, or disallowing access to, information in the virtual array defined by the selected profile, wherein a parameter in each the parameter set defined by each profile indicates whether two or more storage devices in the corresponding virtual array are degraded.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for administering combination annuity products and to combination annuity products themselves. Certain embodiments of the invention can be used in connection with variable universal life insurance and variable life insurance contracts.

Abstract: Various apparatus and methods for controlling data for a redundant array of inexpensive/independent disks (RAID) are presented. For example, in one illustrative embodiment, a controlling apparatus can include a translation device composed substantially entirely of gate-level electronic hardware, wherein the translation device includes a sector sequencer capable of arranging sector units of target data and parity data on a plurality of N disks as a function of block location.

Abstract: Various apparatus and methods for controlling data for a redundant array of inexpensive/independent disks (RAID) are presented. For example, in one illustrative embodiment, a controlling apparatus can include a translation device capable of reading data from a plurality of N disks, wherein the data of the N disks has a format consisting of a sequence of block stripes with each block containing one or more sector stripes, and wherein each sector stripe is formatted such that N?1 of the sectors contain contiguous target data and the remaining sector contains parity data for the other N?1 target data sectors.

Abstract: Earmuffs for use with headphones of the type having two speakers connected by a headband including two speaker receiving pouches. A headband receiving pouch is connected between the two speaker receiving pouches. Closing means are provided for closing the two speaker receiving pouches around the two speakers and for closing the headband receiving pouch around the headband. The two speaker receiving pouches can warm a listener's ears while using headphones.

Abstract: An ambulatory cardiac monitoring system (10) to event record and monitor ECG signals (20) from a patient (12) for a predetermined time interval. The ambulatory cardiac monitoring system (10) includes a recorder system (18) which is carried by the patient (12). The recorder system (10) is coupled to the patient through leads (16) and electrodes (14) positionally located contiguous to the patient (12). The recorder system (18) includes an analog pre-processor (32), a first microcomputer (34) coupled in a feedback manner to analog pre-processor (32), and a cassette recorder (38). The analog pre-processor (32) has incorporated both automatic gain control and conditioning circuitry that normalizes and filters the basic ECG signal (20). The analog pre-processor (32) produces a plurality of extraction signals which are input to microcomputer (34).