Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving tracking information which corresponds to an amount that at least one supplemental data storage drive of an automated data storage library was used during a period of time. The automated data storage library in turn includes: one or more primary data storage drives, and one or more robotic accessors physically configured to access each of the one or more primary data storage drives and the at least one supplemental storage drive. Accordingly, the tracking information is used to calculate a usage fee which corresponds to the amount that the at least one supplemental data storage drive was used during the period of time. Furthermore, the usage fee is sent to a user associated with the automated data storage library.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving tracking information which corresponds to an amount that at least one supplemental data storage drive of an automated data storage library was used during a period of time. The automated data storage library in turn includes: one or more primary data storage drives, and one or more robotic accessors physically configured to access each of the one or more primary data storage drives and the at least one supplemental storage drive. Accordingly, the tracking information is used to calculate a usage fee which corresponds to the amount that the at least one supplemental data storage drive was used during the period of time. Furthermore, the usage fee is sent to a user associated with the automated data storage library.

Abstract: A method to provide redundant accessor availabilty in an automated data storage library. The method provides a data storage and retrieval system comprising one or more data storage devices a robot accessor and a gripper. Either at the same time or at a later time, the user obtains a second gripper and/or a second accessor. The method allows selection and/or authorization for additional support from the second gripper and/or the second accessor upon request and authorization. The redundant accessor capabilities are provided on an honor system for payment for the additional capability, and/or uses a system for tracking the redundant accessor usage, and/or uses license keys or other controls that must be obtained prior to enabling redundant accessor capabilities.

Abstract: A method for modifying a logical library configuration from a remote management application which reduces the number of separate UI display panels a user has to view, and also reduces the number of pages requested from the server. A single UI display panel displays a configuration of all logical libraries of a similar media type in the single display panel. The configuration of all logical libraries of a similar media type can be modified within a configuration range, wherein a modification of one logical library results in the display panel displaying the effects of the modification on other defined logical libraries. For each separate logical library, the single UI display panel displays its allocated number of drives, its allocated number of storage slots, and its allocated number of control ports. The validity of a selected configuration is checked by automatically adjusting the hardware allocation of other effected libraries whenever the configuration of one logical library is changed.

Abstract: A method for modifying a logical library configuration from a remote management application which reduces the number of separate UI display panels a user has to view, and also reduces the number of pages requested from the server. A single UI display panel displays a configuration of all logical libraries of a similar media type in the single display panel. The configuration of all logical libraries of a similar media type can be modified within a configuration range, wherein a modification of one logical library results in the display panel displaying the effects of the modification on other defined logical libraries. For each separate logical library, the single UI display panel displays its allocated number of drives, its allocated number of storage slots, and its allocated number of control ports. The validity of a selected configuration is checked by automatically adjusting the hardware allocation of other effected libraries whenever the configuration of one logical library is changed.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling references to system storage. Milli-code mode provides a flexible technique for overriding storage controls associated with referencing system storage of a data processing system. The storage controls to be overridden are not replaced and therefore, a restore of the previous contents of those controls is not necessary. This allows for an increase in system performance and an increase in the efficiency and flexibility of the system. In addition to the above, a system request instruction is provided, which enables flexibility in the manner in which system requests are executed. The flexibility of the system request instruction reduces the number of instructions needed to perform system requests.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for creating and accessing data objects stored in a portion of the main memory of a data processing system which is inaccessible to programs. The data processing system includes a central processor for executing programs for processing data and a main memory for storing data and programs. The main memory is divided into a program accessible portion and a program inaccessible portion. Vector control objects and vector entries are stored in the program inaccessible portion of the main memory, with each vector entry having states the meaning of which are program defined. Tokens are generated to locate vector control objects in the program inaccessible portion of the main memory. Each vector control object includes a field for pointing to a vector entry for accessing and making observable to the central processor, the contents of a vector entry for indicating the status therein.

Abstract: A root disbursement element is provided around the root ball of a tree, being adapted to direct some of the roots from the root ball downwardly while permitting others to grow outwardly. In those numerous situations where there is a hardscape near the tree, a root-control barrier is provided between the root disbursement element and the hardscape, in spaced relationship from the root disbursement element. The root-control barrier directs downwardly those roots that emanate outwardly from the disbursement element, to a depth sufficiently great that damage to the hardscape is prevented.

Abstract: A hardware controlled pipelined processor having an interpretive storage and multiple execution units employs interpretive storage "milli-instructions" and an interpretive execution "milli-mode". Additional hardware controlled instructions that are exclusively used in milli-mode may be added to provide additional controls or to improve performance (they augment the architected instruction set). Milli-mode routines intermingle milli-mode only instructions with architected instructions to implement complex functions. One milli-instruction called the DRAIN INSTRUCTION PIPELINE (DIP) causes the pipeline to drain selectively so the milli-programmer determines when and and what type of pipeline drain to perform. A DRAIN INSTRUCTION PIPELINE causes suspension of decoding until a selected event occurs. This DIP instruction includes options for suspending decoding until one of the following events have occurred: 1. all conceptually previous macro-instructions have completed; 2.

Abstract: A single non-privileged instruction copies a page of data from a source virtual address in an electronic medium to a destination virtual address in the same or in a different electronic storage medium, and without the intervention of any supervisory program when each medium and the virtual addresses are previously determined. The instruction is not required to specify which medium it will use, does not require its user to know what backing medium it will access, does not require main storage (MS) to be its backing medium, and allows different types of physical addressing to be used by different media. The instruction can lock any page for use in a multi-processor (MP). No physical direction of data movement is provided within the non-privileged machine instruction, which only designates virtual direction of movement. The separation of virtual direction from physical direction is done by avoiding instruction control over selection of electronic media.

Abstract: A grass paving unit of honeycomb cell construction with side walls and underlying base surfaces contoured to provide complementary interlocking surfaces and cleat members to add positional stability to the units.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a superconducting member fine filaments of niobium or vanadium in a bronze matrix are formed by mechanical reduction, e.g. by drawing, and by solid state reaction the filaments are converted to superconducting filaments of a compound of niobium or vanadium with, typically, one or more of the elements aluminium, gallium, indium, silicon, germanium and tin included in the bronze. Phosphorus is included in the bronze but care is taken to ensure that the bronze in contact with the filaments is free of unwanted impurities and in particular has a very low concentration of phosphorus, desirably in the range 0.01 to 0.05 percent by weight.