Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main controller for controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, an operating section for setting print jobs, a scanner for reading a document, and a printer for printing print data. The main controller includes an HDD serving as a storage device and a main CPU serving as a data processing section. The HDD includes a data-storage region divided into multiple subregions for storing print data and a file-management region for storing file-management information on the print data stored in the data-storage region. The main CPU divides the print data to be stored in the HDD into multiple data units, stores the multiple data units into multiple subregions of the HDD in a distributed manner, stores the file-management information on the multiple data units into the file-management region, and erases the file-management information stored in the file-management region after completion of the print jobs.

Abstract: A virtualization switch virtualizes a data storage area provided by a server device and provides it to a server device. This virtualization switch processes a priority control and a bandwidth control also on the output side to packets which make an access to a virtual volume and which have different demands for a QoS but identical IP headers according to a discrimination result of a TCP connection. Here, the TCP connection is discrimination by managing a TCP source port on the side of the virtualization switch.

Abstract: When destinations of memory devices constituting one virtual volume increase, a relay device performs data transfer among plural memory devices such that a structure of the virtual volume can be changed so as to reduce the destinations of the memory devices as much as possible with this increase in the destinations as an opportunity for data transfer. In addition, when memory areas with a relatively small capacity increase among unused memory areas in which a virtual volume is not constituted, the relay device performs data transfer among the plural memory devices such that the number of the memory areas with a small capacity is reduced as much as possible with this increase in the memory areas as an opportunity for data transfer.

Abstract: In a storage device having redundant input/output paths, both a transmission data amount and a reception data amount are smoothed among paths. A storage device predicts not only a transmission data amount to be formed by an output request in a transmission queue but also a reception data amount to be formed by an input request in the transmission queue. The storage device stores a newly occurred output request in a queue having a minimum predicted transmission data amount and stores a newly occurred input request in a queue having a minimum predicted reception data amount. In a storage device having redundant input/output paths, transmission data amounts and reception data amounts can be smoothed among the paths.

Abstract: This invention provides masterbatch (MB) comprising at least a colorant and polyester resin, wherein the glass transition temperature (Tg) and the softening point (Sp) of such polyester resin satisfy the correlations defined by formulae (1) and (2): 4Tg?170?Sp?4Tg?110 (1); and 90?Sp?120 (2), and toner using such masterbatch. The toner prepared from such masterbatch comprising base resin having excellent heat resistance and good dispersibility can produce images having stable and even glossiness, brilliant color, and a wide fusing temperature range.

Abstract: A memory device system of the present invention is equipped with a memory device comprising a first memory unit for storing data, and a second memory unit for storing an access log regarding an access to the first memory unit; a port for inputting and outputting data; a control device for writing the access log in a memory area other than the area, where the access log is already written in the second memory unit, if an access request to the first memory unit is input through the port and the access log is written in the second memory unit according to the access request, and for prohibiting a write in the second memory unit if an information write request in the second memory unit is input through the port.

Abstract: Disclosed is a network interface which enables a storage device to be connected to multiple networks of different specifications. A storage device is connected to a network through which communications are done in accordance with one or more communication protocols, and contains a network interface. This network interface includes a Physical Layer process unit for handling a signal defined by Physical Layer, a clock supply unit for storing information on a plurality of relations between clock frequencies and communication protocols, a serial conversion unit for determining a communication protocol, based on the information and a clock frequency of a received frame, or for determining a clock frequency of a frame to be sent, based on the information and a communication protocol of the frame, and a multi-protocol process unit for handling the frame, in accordance with the determined communication protocol.

Abstract: A continuous casting method is demonstrated, in which a slab including a liquid core 11 is bulged and then reduced in its thickness with a reduction roll pair 7, in which case, the uppermost surface of the lower roll 7b in the reduction roll pair 7 is located at a higher level than the lower pass line 9 of the slab. With this method, the slab can be efficiently reduced in its thickness without any loss of reduction force and the generation of segregation can be suppressed at the center area of the slab in the thickness direction. A continuous casting apparatus according to the invention is suitable for carrying out the continuous casting method according to the invention. A slab produced by the method according to the invention has good quality, since the segregation at the center area can be improved over the entire width in which the liquid core 11 is included.

Abstract: In one embodiment of a method for controlling an exit tray according to the invention, a controller controls an extension tray drive motor and controls the effective length of an extension tray of an image forming apparatus or a finisher employed with the image forming apparatus, based on a signal from a sensor for detecting the position of an extension tray, a signal from a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a long size recording sheet of paper on an exit tray, and information on the size of a recording sheet of paper on which an image is printed.

Abstract: To provide a technique whereby a value of an error recovery level determined in negotiation processing between an initiator and a target can be set to a suitable value that is intended by a manager. A storage system comprises a storage section containing a target module that is connected to an initiator device; and a management section that manages the storage section. The target module carries out negotiation processing with the initiator device so as to determine a value of a first error recovery level. The first error recovery level is determined as the smaller of a value of a second error recovery level of the initiator device and a value of a third error recovery level of the target module. The management section carries out setting processing for allocating the initiator device that is to be connected to the target module to the target module, according to an instruction from a manager. In the setting processing, the value of third error recovery level is notified to the manager.

Abstract: The master comprises a polyester resin as a binder resin and a carbon black as a colorant having a primary particle size of 10 nm to 100 nm, is blended with 30 to 60 parts by weight of the carbon black, has a lightness L* of 20 or more; and the reflectance A at 400 nm thereof and the reflectance B at 700 nm thereof fall within the range satisfying the relation given by the following formula [1]: 0.5<B/A<5[1] The carbon black in the toner can be made to be present stably in the conditions such that the carbon black has a small primary particle size and is homogeneously dispersed.

Abstract: A virtualization switch virtualizes a data storage area provided by a server device and provides it to a server device with. This virtualization switch processes a priority control and a bandwidth control also on the output side to packets which make an access to a virtual volume and which have different demands for a QoS but identical IP headers according to a discrimination result of a TCP connection. Here, the TCP connection is discriminated by managing a TCP source port on the side of the virtualization switch.

Abstract: A method is provided with which a name of a virtual port is not changed when virtualized storage is moved among switches. Information about a creator and a borrower of name information is added to a table including name information and address information of a virtual port of a name server managing the name information and the address information. The name information is provided to plural switches and managed. In addition, name information, which can be used commonly among name servers managing the name information and the address information is pooled in advance, and the name information of the virtual port is borrowed from there.

Abstract: When destinations of memory devices constituting one virtual volume increase, a relay device performs data transfer among plural memory devices such that a structure of the virtual volume can be changed so as to reduce the destinations of the memory devices as much as possible with this increase in the destinations as an opportunity for data transfer. In addition, when memory areas with a relatively small capacity increase among unused memory areas in which a virtual volume is not constituted, the relay device performs data transfer among the plural memory devices such that the number of the memory areas with a small capacity is reduced as much as possible with this increase in the memory areas as an opportunity for data transfer.

Abstract: The master comprises a polyester resin as a binder resin and a carbon black as a colorant having a primary particle size of 10 nm to 100 nm, is blended with 30 to 60 parts by weight of the carbon black, has a lightness L* of 20 or more; and the reflectance A at 400 nm thereof and the reflectance B at 700 nm thereof fall within the range satisfying the relation given by the following formula [1]:

Abstract: A continuous casting method is demonstrated, in which a slab including a liquid core 11 is bulged and then reduced in its thickness with a reduction roll pair 7, in which case, the uppermost surface of the lower roll 7b in the reduction roll pair 7 is located at a higher level than the lower pass line 9 of the slab. With this method, the slab can be efficiently reduced in its thickness without any loss of reduction force and the generation of segregation can be suppressed at the center area of the slab in the thickness direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying molten steel and a continuous casting method therewith are described. The apparatus is equipped with a tundish 1 having an upper nozzle 2 at the bottom, a flow control mechanism 3 disposed below the upper nozzle 2, an immersion nozzle 4 formed by a refractory material having a good electrical conductivity, one electrode 5 disposed in the inner space of the tundish 1, the other electrode 6 disposed in the immersion nozzle 4, and a power supply 7 connected to the electrodes 5 and 6. In the method, the molten steel is supplied into a mold in the state of supplying an electric current between the inner surface of the immersion nozzle 4 and the molten steel 8 passing through the inside thereof by utilizing the apparatus for supplying molten steel. The deposition of the Al oxide or the like in the molten steel onto the inner surface of the immersion nozzle and others can be prevented, and thereby the generation of the surface defects in the products can also be prevented.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying molten steel and a continuous casting method therewith are described. The apparatus is equipped with a tundish 1 having an upper nozzle 2 at the bottom, a flow control mechanism 3 disposed below the upper nozzle 2, an immersion nozzle 4 formed by a refractory material having a good electrical conductivity, one electrode 5 disposed in the inner space of the tundish 1, the other electrode 6 disposed in the immersion nozzle 4, and a power supply 7 connected to the electrodes 5 and 6. In the method, the molten steel is supplied into a mold in the state of supplying an electric current between the inner surface of the immersion nozzle 4 and the molten steel 8 passing through the inside thereof by utilizing the apparatus for supplying molten steel. The deposition of the Al oxide or the like in the molten steel onto the inner surface of the immersion nozzle and others can be prevented, and thereby the generation of the surface defects in the products can also be prevented.

Abstract: Among the slab-supporting guide roll pairs disposed in the region in which a liquid core exists within the slab, at least four consecutive guide roll pairs are disposed under such conditions that the roll axis-to-axis distances on the fixed side and loose side of the guide roll pairs and the roll halfway-to-halfway distances on the fixed side and loose side are all different from one another. Casting is carried out while disposing the guide roll pairs under sucb conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the level of molten metal in a mold for continuous casting by using a molten metal level control system incorporating a molten metal level controller in the control loop thereof, which comprises damping selectively the predetermined frequency of frequencies of periodical molten metal level fluctuations through a notch filter installed in the control loop. The control loop preferably includes the phase compensation calculation part for compensating the phase delay of the stopper opening position control signal for adjusting the amount of the molten metal to be fed to the mold. The control apparatus in the control loop comprises a molten metal level senser, an FFT analyzer, an automatic tuning device for dealing with the results of the FFT analysis, a molten metal level controller and a notch filter.