Abstract: A multi-city wavelength link architecture is used to distribute spectral bands received on input optical signals among output optical signals. Such an architecture may include an optical wavelength cross connect having multiple input ports, multiple output ports, and a wavelength routing element that selectively routes wavelength components between one optical signal and multiple optical signal. Such an optical wavelength cross connect will generally receive cross-connect-input optical signals at the input ports and transmit cross-connect-output optical signals from the output ports. Methods are used to increase the number of cities that may be accommodated by the architecture without disrupting through traffic between the existing cities.

Abstract: An archiving system including one or more removable disk drives embedded in removable disk cartridges, referred to simply as removable disk drives. The removable disk drives allow for expandability and replacement such that the archiving system need not be duplicated to add new or more storage capacity. In embodiments, the removable disk drives store metadata that contain information about the data stored on the removable disk drive. The metadata allows the system to retrieve the correct data from the random access memory and establishes controls on the data stored on the removable disk drive. In embodiments, the metadata is stored in two locations, such that, if the metadata in one location is corrupted, the second copy of the metadata may be retrieved.

Abstract: Systems and methods for storing and accessing data on a removable media having a changeable data set and an immutable data set. In one embodiment, a system can comprise a removable media storage system adapted to determine whether a host system running one or more applications is configured to enforce Write Once Read Many (WORM) policies. The host system can be communicatively coupled with the removable media storage system and configured to execute instructions causing the host system to determine whether to allow or deny a request to access data on the removable media. The host system can use rules to determine if an access request is to access data of a changeable data set or a immutable data set. If the request is to access data of the changeable data set, access is allowed. If the request is to access data of the immutable data set, reads are allowed, as well as writes of new data. Access requests to rename, delete, and/or write to existing data of the immutable data set are denied.

Abstract: A data storage system for removably storing information is disclosed. The data storage system includes a cartridge receptacle adapted to electrically and mechanically engage a removable data cartridge. The cartridge receptacle includes a second electrical connector and a conductive member. The second electrical connector is adapted to electrically engage a first electrical connector of the removable data cartridge. The conductive member is configured to engage a resistive portion of the removable data cartridge before the first and second electrical connectors engage. The conductive member is coupled to a ground of the cartridge receptacle.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for maintaining immutable data in an archiving system using random access memory. To ensure data is immutable, novel pointers are maintained in the hardware/firmware of the drive ports and on the removable disk drives. For example, a hardware/firmware in a modular drive bay maintains a pointer to a memory address in the removable disk drive memory that cannot write to a memory block that precedes the pointer. Data may only be stored after the pointer in the removable disk drive. As such, once data is written to the removable disk drive, the data cannot be overwritten although the removable disk drive employs random access memory.

Abstract: Data are stored on a random-access storage medium. A user set of data is received. The user set of data is mapped to multiple frames. For each frame, error-correction bytes are generated over the data mapped to that frame. In addition, the data mapped to that frame are written to a number of data blocks of that frame and the error-correction bytes generated for that frame are written to a number of error-correction blocks of that frame. At least one of the number of error-correction blocks and the number of data blocks differs among at least some of the frames.

Abstract: According to the disclosure, a unique and novel archiving system that provides one or more application layer partitions to archive data is disclosed. Embodiments include an active archive including a fixed storage. The active archive can create application layer partitions that associate the application layer partitions with portions of the fixed storage. Each application layer partition, in embodiments, has a separate set of controls that allow for customized storage of different data within a single archiving system. Further, embodiments of methods for ensuring storage capacity in the active archive and the application layer partitions within the active archive is also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for storing data on two or more removable disk drives. The two or more removable disk drives are inserted into a modular drive bay having two or more drive ports. Embodiments of the modular drive bay include a switch to redirect operations to a drive port. By arraying the drive ports, the removable disk drives may be replaced without needing to readdress the removable disk drives when new removable disk drives are inserted. Thus, the modular drive bay does not require configuration changes when new removable disk drives are inserted.

Abstract: According to the disclosure, embodiments of archival storage system are disclosed. The archival storage system includes two or more removable disk drives that provide random access and are readily expandable. One or more application servers can store archival data to the one or more removable disk drives. Further, the archival storage system provides intelligent archiving by adapting storage requirements to the type of data being archived by the application servers. Methods for storing archival data are also provided that store archival information in removable disk drives.

Abstract: According to the disclosure, a unique and novel archiving system that allows the digital shredding of archived data is disclosed. Embodiments of the archiving system include removable disk drives that store data, which may be erased such that the data is considered destroyed but that allows the removable disk drive to be reused. The archiving system can determine which data should be erased. Then, the data is digitally shredded such that the removed data cannot be retrieved or deciphered. In alternative embodiments, a protection may be placed on the data required to be kept because the data is associated with a legal suit. This “legal hold” prevents the data from being digitally shredded. As such, the archiving system can provide a system that can dispose of data on a file-by-file or granular level without physically destroying the media upon which the data is stored.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a unique and novel archiving system that includes two or more network storage systems, each network storage system including removable hard disk drives embedded in removable disk cartridges, referred to simply as removable disk drives. The removable disk drives allow for expandability and replacement such that the archiving system need not be duplicated to add new or more storage capacity. In embodiments, the archiving system accesses, writes, reads, or performs functions on data from one network storage system to another remote network storage system.

Abstract: An archiving system including one or more removable disk drives embedded in removable disk cartridges, referred to simply as removable disk drives. The removable disk drives allow for expandability and replacement such that the archiving system need not be duplicated to add new or more storage capacity. In embodiments, the removable disk drives store metadata that contain information about the data stored on the removable disk drive. The metadata allows the system to retrieve the correct data from the random access memory and establishes controls on the data stored on the removable disk drive. In embodiments, the metadata is stored in two locations, such that, if the metadata in one location is corrupted, the second copy of the metadata may be retrieved.

Abstract: Apparatus for diversely routing optical wavelengths across a point-to-point subnetwork. An optical network includes a first optical ring having at least first, second, and third nodes adjacently positioned; a second optical ring having at least fourth, fifth, and sixth nodes adjacently positioned, pairs of optical fibers link the adjacent nodes; a point-to-point subnetwork having at least first, second, third, and fourth optical fibers optically coupling the first and second optical rings. The first node is configured to route working bands across the first optical fiber to the fifth node and to route a copy of the working bands to the second node. The second node is configured to route either the copy of the working bands or a select subset of the copy of the working bands across the third optical fiber to the fourth node.

Abstract: A multi-city wavelength link architecture is used to distribute spectral bands received on input optical signals among output optical signals. Such an architecture may include an optical wavelength cross connect having multiple input ports, multiple output ports, and a wavelength routing element that selectively routes wavelength components between one optical signal and multiple optical signal. Such an optical wavelength cross connect will generally receive cross-connect-input optical signals at the input ports and transmit cross-connect-output optical signals from the output ports. Methods are used to increase the number of cities that may be accommodated by the architecture without disrupting through traffic between the existing cities.

Abstract: A tunable demultiplexer accepts an input optical signal that has multiple spectral bands and provides multiple output signals. Each of the output signals corresponds to a selected one of the spectral bands. The tunable demultiplexer has at least one wavelength routing element and at least one optical arrangement disposed to exchange light with the wavelength routing element. The wavelength routing element is of the type adapted for selectively routing wavelength components of a first optical signal onto multiple second optical signals according to a configurable state.

Abstract: A modular multi-service telecommunication access device includes a controller card and card slots for six peripheral cards and a power supply. Any of several types of peripheral cards can be inserted into the six card slots. A card present/protocol scheme allows an inserted card to recognize its address and communicate same as well as its communication protocol to the controller card via a PCM highway. The controller card sends both signaling information and management information to the peripheral cards via another PCM highway. A unique communication protocol allows for both real time signaling information and non-real time management information to be sent on the same channel. A microprocessor on the controller card includes an algorithm for managing messages to the various peripheral cards in the various card slots. A unique tributary addressing scheme allows for a simplified address used by external users to be converted to a more detailed internal address.

Abstract: A telecommunication device for receiving and transmitting DS1 level signals that includes a 1/0 digital cross-connect switch, a GR-303 concentrator, and a frame relay aggregator switch in a single integrated device in one housing that fills less than two standard rack units. The device includes both active and standby/backup controller cards that communicate with eight quad framer cards through a bus located in the backplane. The communication through the backplane is via a 8.192 Mbps signal to and from each quad framer card, passed along a bus. The 8.192 Mbps signal is generated by multiplexing the four DS1 (E-1) signals on the quad framer card. The controller card that is active monitors the status of the DS1 channel associated with each framer and stores historical data about the status in spare buffer registers on each framer. Whenever a transition occurs to the standby/backup controller card, that card can obtain the historical status information from the framers to make the transition more seamless.

Abstract: A multiplexer for multiplexing and demultiplexing signals between a low-speed network and a higher speed network includes 7 quad DSX-1 cards and 1 spare card. The spare card is connected to the DSX-1 cards to allow the spare card to automatically be switched in for one of the DSX-1 cards or to allow interface electronics on the spare card to replace selected ones of interface electronics on different DSX-1 cards simultaneously. A pair of controller cards, a primary card and a secondary card, perform M1-3 multiplexing and demultiplexing and the DS-3 framing and transceiving. The controller cards can be selected or deselected in a short time period alarms are not set off and so that the transition is hitless by electronically enabling and disabling the transceiver. The multiplexer is connectable to 2 different T-3 links to provide network redundancy. An array of relays connected either controller card to either of the T-3 links.

Abstract: A multiplexer device for multiplexing and demultiplexing signals between a low-speed network including 28 DSX-1 signals and a relatively higher speed network including a DS-3 signal. The multiplexer device includes 7 quad DSX-1 cards and 1 spare card. The spare card is connected to the other 7 DSX-1 cards in a fashion that allows the spare card to automatically be switched in for one of the DSX-1 cards or to allow interface electronics on the spare card to replace selected ones of the interface electronics on various different DSX-1 cards simultaneously. A pair of controller cards, a primary card and a secondary card, perform the M1-3 multiplexing and demultiplexing and the DS-3 framing and transceiving. The controller cards can be selected or deselected by distributed logic in a sufficiently short time period so that alarms are not set off and so that the transition is hitless. This is accomplished by electronically enabling and disabling the transceiver.