Abstract: Scalable storage cluster mirroring is disclosed. A compute instance comprising a processor device determines that storage segments have been modified on a first storage node of a plurality of storage nodes in a first cluster of storage nodes at a first data modification rate. In response to determining that the storage segments have been modified on the first storage node at the first data modification rate, a first mirror process that is configured to copy storage segments from an identified storage node to a mirrored cluster of storage nodes is initiated, and a storage node identifier that identifies the first storage node is communicated to the first mirror process.

Abstract: A multimedia device and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which heterogeneous devices are controlled under at least two different communication protocols. The present invention includes displaying a guide message for controlling at least one function of the electronic device, receiving a remote control signal corresponding to a 1st function among the at least one function from a 1st remote controller of the electronic device, saving data for identifying the 1st function and the received remote control signal in a memory by mapping the data and the received remote control signal to each other, displaying a graphic image including the data for identifying the 1st function, if the data for identifying the 1st function is selected by a 2nd remote controller of the multimedia device, extracting the remote control signal mapped to the 1st function, and transmitting the extracted remote control signal to an external device.

Abstract: A method for more efficiently utilizing storage space in a set of storage drives is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method implements, in a set of storage drives, a first RAID utilizing data striping with distributed parity values. The method further implements, in a subset of the set of storage drives, a second RAID using residual storage space in storage drives belonging to the subset. Storage drives belonging to the subset may have a storage capacity that is larger than storage drives not belonging to the subset. In certain embodiments, the method adaptively alters a parity rotation of the first RAID to provide an increased concentration of parity values in certain storage drives of the first RAID compared to other storage drives of the first RAID. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A microphone and speaker all-in-one machine includes a microphone assembly, a speaker assembly and a handle assembly; the microphone assembly, the speaker assembly and the handle assembly are stacked in sequence along a same axis; the speaker assembly includes at least two horns, a speaker stand and a speaker enclosure, wherein the at least two horns are disposed symmetrically on the speaker stand, and the speaker stand is fixed in the speaker enclosure; sounding surfaces of the at least two horns are disposed at a preset angle with respect to a central axis of the speaker stand, and the sounding surfaces face away from the microphone assembly. For the microphone and speaker all-in-one machine, the output volume is increased by providing the at least two horns in the speaker assembly, and the at least two horns are disposed symmetrically.

Abstract: An apparatus for chemical mechanical polishing includes a platen having a surface to support a polishing pad and an electromagnetic induction monitoring system to generate a magnetic field to monitor a substrate being polished by the polishing pad. The electromagnetic induction monitoring system includes a core positioned at least partially in the platen and a coil wound around a portion of the core. The core includes a back portion and a multiplicity of posts extending from the back portion in a first direction normal to the surface of the platen. The core and coil are configured such that the multiplicity of posts include a first plurality of posts to provide a first magnetic polarity and a second plurality of posts to provide an opposite second magnetic polarity, and the first plurality of posts and the second plurality of posts are arranged in an alternating pattern.

Abstract: An audio device includes a casing, a handle frame downwardly extended from a bottom side of the casing, a speaker assembly and a PCB board are received in the casing, and a microphone supported on the casing in a dynamic manner for preventing a vibration of the casing directly transmitted to the microphone. The microphone and the speaker assembly are electrically connected to the PCB board, such that the speaker assembly is adapted for instantly play back a sound signal collected by the microphone. The audio device of the present invention has an advantages of high impedance, good sound quality, and strong omni-directional ability, such that the electro-acoustic conversion effect and overall performance of the audio device is enhanced. At the same time, the audio device has a built-in speaker to instantly play back the sound collected by the microphone so as to fulfill different applications.

Abstract: Techniques manage a storage system. The techniques involve: in response to determining that a rebalance operation is to be performed, determining a source storage device and a destination storage device associated with the rebalance operation based on distribution information of segments included in stripes of the storage system across a plurality of storage devices in the storage system. The techniques further involve: determining a target segment from the source storage device, based on access information of segments in the source storage device. The techniques further involve: moving the target segment to the destination storage device. Accordingly, the rebalance operation can be performed more efficiently, and the overall performance of the storage system can be optimized.

Abstract: A crystal resonator includes a crystal element and excitation electrodes. The crystal element has a pair of principal surfaces parallel to an X?-axis and a Z?-axis. The X?-axis is an axis of rotating an X-axis as a crystallographic axis of a crystal in a range of 15 degrees to 25 degrees around a Z-axis as a crystallographic axis of the crystal. The Z?-axis is an axis of rotating the Z-axis in a range of 33 degrees to 35 degrees around the X?-axis. The excitation electrodes are formed on the respective principal surfaces of the crystal element. Elliptical mesa portions or elliptical inverted mesa portions are formed on the respective principal surfaces. The mesa portions project from outer peripheries of the principal surfaces. The inverted mesa portions are depressed from the outer peripheries of the principal surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus for magnetic recording having a barrier layer. One embodiment includes a magnetic head having an array of sensors, each of the sensors having a media facing surface. A barrier layer is positioned above at least the media facing surfaces of the sensors. The barrier layer includes at least one at least partially polycrystalline layer.

Abstract: Mechanisms for splitting and spanning a single file across a plurality of tape media in a tape drive file system are provided. The mechanisms format the tape media so as to store an index of the file and data on the file in the tape media in a predetermined format; splitting the single file into separate portions and managing at least one of IDs identifying the plurality of tape media that sequentially store the portions of the file in association with the file; and storing a generation number indicating the number of storing and updating each of the file portions as the index in each of the tape media. Upon receiving a request to read the stored split file, the system obtains an index on a tape medium storing a file portion whose generation number is the highest and reads a time stamp related to the size and update of the single file.

Abstract: A device for processing electronic transactions is disclosed. The device includes a processor configured to receive, from a client processing device, a request for information to complete an electronic transaction by a user at an access device affiliated with an educational institution. The processor is further configured to transmit, to the client processing device, a response to the request, the response configured to be transmitted by the client processing device to the access device. The request for information is triggered at the access device by an identification carrier. The response to the request includes at least one of a permission or denial whether to provide, to the user, access to an educational space or item, access to electronic educational information, or determining at least one of the price and availability of an educational item to the user. A client-side device is also disclosed. Methods and machine-readable mediums are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a printing system is described having a first printer including a fuser employing fuser oil, and a coater disposed upstream or downstream from the first printer and being configured to deposit a wax coating on a portion of the substrate. A corresponding method and a substrate also are described. The system, method and substrate are useful for preparing MICR encoded documents such as checks.

Abstract: A method to read information from an information storage medium using a read channel, where that read channel includes a data cache, where the method generates an analog waveform comprising the information, provides that analog waveform to a read channel generates a digital signal from that analog waveform using one or more first operating parameters, corrects that digital signal at an actual error correction rate, determines if the actual error correction rate is greater than an error correction rate threshold. If the actual error correction rate exceeds the error correction rate threshold, then the method captures the digital signal, stores that captured data in a data cache, reads that digital signal from the cache, generates one or more second operating parameters, provides those one or more second operating parameters to the read channel.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for decoding data stored on a data storage medium. A disclosed decoding method and decoder include a radial incoherence (RI) detector that increases the probability of detecting RI and improves the decoding performance in terms of the bit error rate of the decoded signal. RI is detected by comparing an input signal to the decoder against a RI threshold value and generating a RI-type signal. The RI detector may include a filter for filtering out noise and error in the RI-type signal, an adaptive threshold unit that adjusts the RI threshold value based upon the RI-type signal, a transition-based threshold unit that adjusts the RI threshold value based upon each transition in the input signal, or a path-based threshold unit that adjusts the RI threshold value based upon a best surviving path corresponding to the input signal, in combination or alone.

Abstract: A method for recording a digital broadcast, and a digital broadcast recording using the method, includes: recording start location data of a plurality of programs recorded during a recording mode of the digital broadcast; and indicating start locations of the individual programs using the start location data during an edition mode of the recorded digital broadcast.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to read information from an information storage medium using a read channel, where that read channel includes a data cache. The invention generates an analog waveform comprising the information, and provides that analog waveform to a read channel, and generates a digital signal from that analog waveform using one or more first operating parameters. The method error corrects that digital signal at an actual error correction rate, and determines if the actual error correction rate is greater than an error correction rate threshold. If the actual error correction rate exceeds the error correction rate threshold, then the method captures the digital signal, stores that captured data in a data cache, reads that digital signal from the cache, generates one or more second operating parameters, and provides those one or more second operating parameters to the read channel.

Abstract: After a reception start request of contents is issued, the presence or absence of a PD connected to a PC is discriminated. If no PD exists, the received contents is recorded into only the PC. If the PD exists, a media type of PD is discriminated. If it is a built-in type, the received contents is recorded into the PC, also transferred to the PD, and recorded into a storing medium in the PD. If it is a media type, whether or not the storing medium has been loaded into the PD is discriminated. If it has been loaded, the received contents is recorded into the PC, also transferred to the PD, and recorded into the storing medium in the PD. If it is not loaded, the user is urged to load the storing medium. Since the recording of the received contents into the PC and the recording into the PD are automatically executed, there is no need to individually execute those processes.

Abstract: A mobile event data recorder is described providing a contained environmental control system for a hard drive module for use in, or with, a vehicle. A hard drive housing with multiple hard drives and a vibration isolation system are provided within a hard drive module chassis. The vibration isolation system simultaneously provides triaxial isolation in each of two different orientations of the hard drive module. First and second vibration isolators connect the hard drive housing with adjoining walls of the chassis, the first and second vibration isolators positioned to achieve a natural resonant frequency suitable to isolate frequencies in the hard drive operating range, taking into account the forces that will be applied to the vehicle. The natural resonant frequency can be about 10 Hz or less, in order to isolate the hard drives from frequencies of greater than about 10 Hz.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to read information from an information storage medium using a read channel, where that read channel includes a data cache. The invention generates an analog waveform comprising the information, and provides that analog waveform to a read channel, and generates a digital signal from that analog waveform using one or more first operating parameters. The method error corrects that digital signal at an actual error correction rate, and determines if the actual error correction rate is greater than an error correction rate threshold. If the actual error correction rate exceeds the error correction rate threshold, then the method captures the digital signal, stores that captured data in a data cache, reads that digital signal from the cache, generates one or more second operating parameters, and provides those one or more second operating parameters to the read channel.

Abstract: A signal reconstruction technique is used to correct for wow and flutter in analog audio recordings. Elements of the recording are used to generate a signal for correcting the output. Involves locating modulated entities such as bias signal (e.g. frequency-modulated, amplitude-modulated, or phase-modulated entities) in the recording, extracting them, and utilizing them as a carrier to synchronize to a master clock, using the irregularity of the anomaly to indicate the speed and pitch information to be corrected. A carrier frequency is determined and applied to a digitized form of the recording. This may be performed even in the absence of a prescribed reference code or tone, such as a pilot tone laid down purposefully at the moment of recording. In the case of signals presumed to have an error in the carrier, a corresponding signal is buffered, and in the case of a presumed error, a last known signal is used for the duration of the error.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a device for scanning data stored on a recording medium. The device comprises a reading head and further comprises: means to calculate an error rate of the data read by said reading head, said data being arranged as groups of data, means to align the reading head in respect with the next data to be read according to said error rate of the data read, the reading head reads at least twice some of said groups, changing position in respect with the group of data from one reading to the other, means to compare the calculated error rate corresponding to each position of the said reading head, means to align the reading head with the relative position in respect with the groups of data giving the lowest error rate in order to read the following groups of data, and the means to align the reading head adjust the frequency of the groups of data read at least twice.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to read information from an information storage medium using a read channel, where that read channel includes a data cache. The invention generates an analog waveform comprising the information, and provides that analog waveform to a read channel, and generates a digital signal from that analog waveform using one or more first operating parameters. The method error corrects that digital signal at an actual error correction rate, and determines if the actual error correction rate is greater than an error correction rate threshold. If the actual error correction rate exceeds the error correction rate threshold, then the method captures the digital signal, stores that captured data in a data cache, reads that digital signal from the cache, generates one or more second operating parameters, and provides those one or more second operating parameters to the read channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data processing apparatus comprising a first additional information acquisition unit for acquiring the first additional information with regard to a first processing target data; a second additional information acquisition unit acquiring the second additional information with regard to a second processing target data that is processed in relation to the first processing target data; and a selecting unit selecting at least one second processing target data from among the plural second processing target data on the basis of the first additional information, the second additional information, and a selection condition that has been set in advance. The data processing apparatus can easily select at least one processing target data from among a plurality of processing target data and is excellent in the aspect of a pastime.

Abstract: A data storage cartridge comprises data storage media configured to store data for read and/or write access, wherein the data may be arranged in a plurality of partitions; and a plurality of cartridge memories. Each cartridge memory comprises a communication interface and a memory, wherein the information of the memory is formatted to allow association with at least one of the plurality of partitions of the data storage media. Thus, each of the cartridge memories may have a separate user and provide access for that user to a separate partition or subset of partitions.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided that includes a housing having an upper slider portion and a lower slider portion. The upper slider portion and the lower slider portion are slidably engaged to permit relative sliding motion therebetween along a sliding axis. The electronic device further includes an upper printed circuit board and upper ground plane housed within the upper slider portion, the upper printed circuit board having circuitry assembled thereon. In addition, the electronic device includes a lower printed circuit board and lower ground plane housed within the lower slider portion, the lower printed circuit board having additional circuitry assembled thereon. Furthermore, the electronic device includes at least one of a radio transmitter or receiver within the housing for transmitting/receiving communications via the electronic device, and an antenna housed within the lower slider portion generally laterally adjacent a first edge of the lower ground plane.

Abstract: A PVR is selectively granted access to a hard disk drive. The HDD generates a random number, encrypts it with a key known to the PVR, and sends it to the PVR, which decrypts the number and increments it by one to render a new number. The new number is encrypted with the key and sent back to the HDD, which decrypts the new number, decrements it by one, and compares the result to the original number, granting the PVR access only when a match occurs.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing method and an apparatus for carrying out the same are disclosed wherein a cesium atomic clock, a hydrogen atomic clock or a mercury atomic clock (1) is used as a digital audio reference oscillator so as to minimize jitter which may occur during a recording process performed after analog-to-digital conversion or digital-to-digital conversion, or during digital-to-analog conversion. With the jitter thus minimized, acoustic characteristics including jitter noise and sound resolution are greatly improved, and a sound can be reproduced with high sound quality and high fidelity that are comparable to those achieved in an analog audio system.

Abstract: Driver circuit that generates a drive waveform with a static bit swing and a pre-emphasis bit swing. The driver circuit includes an input (IN) node, a complementary input (INB) node, an output (OUT) node and a complementary output (OUTB) node. The driver circuit includes a fundamental swing determination mechanism (FSDM) that is coupled to the output (OUT) node and a complementary output (OUTB) node. The fundamental swing determination mechanism (FSDM) determines or sets the fundamental swing of the drive waveform by generating a fundamental current. The fundamental swing determination mechanism (FSDM) includes at least one switched resistor circuit. The driver circuit also includes a modulation swing determination mechanism (MSDM) that is coupled to the output (OUT) node and a complementary output (OUTB) node. The modulation swing determination mechanism (MSDM) determines or sets the modulation swing of the drive waveform by generating a modulation current.

Abstract: A magnetic write control apparatus transports a medium having a magnetic stripe, until the magnetic stripe reaches a magnetic write position. The apparatus moves a magnetic head and the medium relative to each other, thereby to perform magnetic writing on the magnetic stripe. The magnetic head magnetically writes prescribed data on the magnetic stripe, asynchronously with the relative motion of the magnetic head and the medium.

Abstract: A circuit board 3 is mounted in a cabinet 2 in which a disk 60 is housed. A treatment for preliminarily releasing ammonia possibly causing fogging of the disk 60 from the circuit board 3 is performed by allowing the circuit board 3 to stand at 70° C. outside the cabinet 2 for 24 hours before the circuit board 3 is mounted in the cabinet 2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved structure of a multi-purpose thumb-like hard disk device especially one very small and easy to carry along. The present invention mainly consists of a digital music playing module, a battery stand and a laser source assembled in a thumb-like shell designed with recording, playing, information transmission and laser operating buttons as well as indicating lights for operation of different functions. The present invention therefore provides a very convenient small sized MP3, recorder, laser pen drive and surface file transmission device.

Abstract: A method and magnetic device for improving the desirable properties of a magnetic device, e.g., magnetization uniformity and reproducibility. Moreover the invention provides magnetic cells that are more magnetically homogeneous, with smaller amount of end domain magnetization canting from the average cell magnetization direction. The invention may provide a magnetic memory cell with less variation in switching fields, more spatially coherent dynamical magnetic properties for high speed and processional or coherent magnetic switching, and higher signal due to the increased uniformity. It may provide a magnetic sensor with more spatially coherent magnetic properties for high speed and processional or coherent magnetic switching, and increased signal. It may provide a read head element with more spatially coherent magnetic properties for high speed and processional or coherent magnetic sensing, and increased signal.

Abstract: A disc centering device includes a base plate, a chuck which is installed on the base plate, a hub unit which is detachably engaged to the chuck and receives discs and spacers to be stacked, disc pushers which are slidably provided outside the hub unit and include corresponding pressure members which center the discs by pushing circumferences of the discs, a driving unit which slides the disc pushers, and biasing units which are slidably provided outside the hub unit and push circumferences of the spacers. Accordingly, by performing a spacer biasing along with a disc centering, the accuracy of a centering is increased, thereby providing the discs having data recorded thereon with a uniform quality. Additionally, vibration of a rotation body can be minimized due to the simple configuration of the disc centering device. Furthermore, the productivity and manufacturability of HDDs are improved in view of the simplified maintenance and repair of the same.

Abstract: Various methods and apparatus for simultaneously cleaning two single-sided hard memory disks is provided. The two disks are placed in concentric contact merge orientation such that the outwardly facing surface of each disk, which has memory storage capabilities, may be simultaneously cleaned by equipment designed to clean one double-sided disk. Conversely, no effort is expended in cleaning the abutting inactive surfaces of the disks.

Abstract: The invention relates to equipment for reading and/or recording audiovisual data on a disk intended to be read and/or recorded at constant angular speed, such as a hard disk (12), this equipment comprising a permanent memory (16) containing data for controlling the equipment and a random access memory (18) intended for loading with data contained in the permanent memory (16) for operating the equipment. The data needed to operate the equipment are stored in outer zones of the disk (12) and this equipment comprises means for loading these data in the random access memory (18) during an initialization period.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording digital broadcasts on an exchangeable storage medium are provided for automatically recording broadcast contents desired by a user on the exchangeable storage medium. When recording the digital broadcast contents on exchangeable storage media MS1 to MS3, a recording condition of the broadcast contents is written in the exchangeable storage medium, and then the digital broadcast with n channels data multiplexed therein is received. At this time, it is checked whether or not the recording condition in the exchangeable storage medium is satisfied, with reference to information included in each channel data. If predetermined channel data satisfies the recording condition, the broadcast contents included in the predetermined channel data are recorded on the exchangeable storage medium.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for the recordation an audio message, whereby the system converts the recorded message to a digital format, and stores the message on a record medium (18) integrally associated with the system. The record medium (18) with recorded message can be removably affixed to a wide range of objects. The system easily facilitates read, decode, and playback functionality for the recorded message without necessitating removal of the record medium (18) from the object to which it is affixed. Further, the system provides the functionality to store and forward audio messages in digital format to various computer systems (56) and computer-related devices.

Abstract: The tape cut-out apparatus, having: a control unit for storing a defect positional information showing a position of a defective portion of magnetic tape and, for outputting a predetermined winding length in accordance with the defect positional information; a winding device for drawing out the magnetic tape by an input predetermined winding length, winding it onto a reel and cutting it, and detecting a winding length to the reel and outputting the winding length to the control unit; and, a correcting unit for correcting the input predetermined winding length according to an accuracy of detecting the winding length of the winding device, and correcting an actually measured winding length when the magnetic tape is wound according to an accuracy of detecting the winding length and for outputting the corrected value of the actually measured winding length to the control unit.

Abstract: A hybrid data storage system that includes a controller that communicates with an outside source of information, and at least one holographic drive engine that communicates with controller. The information is transmitted between the controller and the outside source of information and between the holographic drive engine and the controller.

Abstract: A dynamically scalable storage system is described. The system includes a first plurality of disk drives for storing distributed parity groups. Each distributed parity group includes storage blocks arranged as one or more data blocks and a parity block. Each storage block is stored on a separate disk drive such that no two storage blocks from a given distributed parity group reside on the same disk drive. File system metadata is used to describe a location of each of said storage blocks by specifying a disk identifier and a logical block identifier of a first logical block of each storage block. A processor manages the file system metadata. The processor recognizes when a new disk drive is added to the plurality of disk drives and causes one or more existing storage blocks to be moved to the new disk drive to balance usage of all drives. The processor also updates the file system metadata.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording medium containing moving picture data and additional information thereof and to reproducing method and apparatus of the recording medium. The present recording medium has script files including additional information about moving picture data, e.g., scene descriptive text and introduction of characters, etc. In addition, information linking each script file with a section of moving picture data to be presented with contents of the script file is included in a link data file or is contained in a filename of the script file. In reproduction of the recording medium, a script file linked with presently reproduced moving picture data section is determined and searched for based on the link data file or every filename of the script files, and contents of the found script file are presented together with the presently reproduced moving picture data. Furthermore, previously presented additional information is removed depending on data or filename of the found script file.

Abstract: Methods and devices for producing images on coated articles are provided. The methods generally comprise applying a layer of magnetizable pigment coating in liquid form on a substrate, with the magnetizable pigment coating containing a plurality of magnetic non-spherical particles or flakes. A magnetic field is then applied to selected regions of the pigment coating while the coating is in liquid form, with the magnetic field altering the orientation of selected magnetic particles or flakes. Finally, the pigment coating is solidified, affixing the reoriented particles or flakes in a non-parallel position to the surface of the pigment coating to produce an image such as a three dimensional-like image on the surface of the coating. The pigment coating can contain various interference or non-interference magnetic particles or flakes, such as magnetic color shifting pigments.

Abstract: A system with one or more server accelerator (SA) switches provides accelerated or faster response to a network user. The SA switches may send data directly to a user, i.e., an initiating computer, without further intervention or post-processing of retrieved data by an origin server, thereby reducing the load on an origin server. The requirements from an origin server are thereby reduced, thus, also enabling an origin server to handle more user requests.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for the recordation an audio message, whereby the system converts the recorded message to a digital format, and stores the message on a record medium (18) integrally associated with the system. The record medium (18) with recorded message can be removably affixed to a wide range of objects. The system easily facilitates read, decode, and playback functionality for the recorded message without necessitating removal of the record medium (18) from the object to which it is affixed. Further, the system provides the functionality to store and forward audio messages in digital format to various computer systems (56) and computer-related devices.

Abstract: In this recording media cartridge, a reel around which a recording medium is wound is rotatably received within a case body constituted by coupling upper and lower halves in a face-to-face relationship, the reel is urged toward the lower half by a planar reel presser spring supported on an inner surface of the upper half as in a cantilever, and the reel presser spring is detachably mounted on the inner surface of the upper half, so that the reel presser spring can be collected without damaging components of the cartridge such as the case body, the reel presser spring and a reel lock member. As a result, in this cartridge, the waste materials can be reduced and the impact on the environment can be reduced. The cartridge is effective when different materials are sorted, and the disassembling work can be simplified.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording an information on magnetic recording tracks, called camera tracks, formed on a photographic negative film while relative movement is caused between the photographic negative film and a magnetic head. When the magnetic head is located in an information recording region of the camera tracks, a signal of the information representing photographing conditions of each image frame such as the aspect ratio of each frame, exposure amount at the time of photographing, information on a light source, etc., is output to the magnetic head via a modulator and a recording current amplifier. When the magnetic head is located in an non-recording region of the camera tracks, direct current having a magnitude substantially equal to the optimal recording current of the magnetic head or alternating current having the frequency which is not less than 5 times the frequency of the signal is output to the magnetic head via the modulator and the recording current amplifier.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a method and apparatus to transfer data from a peripheral device directly to a disc drive storage system. In one aspect, the disc drive uses a transfer protocol that determines the types, sizes and data location structure for each file. In another aspect, the disc drive includes a file allocation table that stores the file location for the peripheral devices on the disc drive to increase the file transfer efficiency and speed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a digital audio layer and an audio content file management method of a digital audio player. This method writes address of an recording area containing descriptive information such as title of a song and a singer's name for each stored audio file in a file management information area for a corresponding audio file. Then, descriptive information can be directly searched and displayed more quickly using the written address if an audio file is selected.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a method and apparatus to transfer specific data files from a disc drive storage system to an output device such as a printer. In one aspect, the disc drive uses a transfer protocol that determines the files stored from a peripheral device and sent to the output device. In another aspect, the transfer program compares the files sent to the output device to a file structure stored on the disc drive and presents the unsent files to the output device for processing.

Abstract: A reader for interrogating a magnetic tag, e.g. for reading data stored in the tag, is described. The reader comprises a field generating device the magnetic field produced by which defines an interrogation zone, wherein said field generating device comprises: (a) means for generating a magnetic field: (b) a transmit coil for transmitting an interrogating electromagnetic signal into the interrogation zone so as to interact with a magnetic tag, when present in said interrogation zone; and (c) at least one receive coil for receiving an electromagnetic signal generated by a tag in response to said interrogating signal and the magnetic field produced by said magnetic field generating means. The field generating means can take the form of a pair of hollow cylinders, giving rise to a “loop” reader, or it can be a flat magnet, giving rise to a “side pass” reader.