Abstract: An access operation performed by a tape drive is detected. The access operation is performed on a tape medium. The access operation has one or more performance characteristics. The performance characteristics of the detected access operation are compared with one or more predefined performance thresholds. The comparison is in response to detecting the access operation. An operation performance of the tape medium is determined. The determination is based on comparing the performance characteristics with the predefined performance thresholds. A table associated with the tape medium is updated based on the operational performance of the tape medium. The table is stored in a non-volatile storage.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for key-value stores with partial data access. An interface module is configured to receive a data object for storage in a key-value store. The data object may include a key and a value. A block object module is configured to generate a plurality of block objects smaller than the data object. A block object may include a new key and a new value. The new key may be based on the key for the data object and on metadata for the new value. The new value may be based on at least a portion of the value for the data object. A storage module is configured to store the block objects in the key-value store.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a guide layout creating apparatus includes a selection module that selects a first point as a point on which a guide to array a plurality of particles in a first array is arranged. The apparatus further includes a calculation module that calculates first free energy when the plurality of particles are arrayed in the first array by the guide arranged on the first point, and second free energy when the plurality of particles are arrayed in a second array by the guide arranged on the first point, a type of the second array being different from a type of the first array. The apparatus further includes a determination module that determines whether the first point is employed as the point on which the guide is arranged on the basis of the first free energy and the second free energy.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a disk having a first region to which data is written by normal recording and a second region to which data is written by shingled recording, a head configured to write the data to the disk and read the data from the disk, and a controller configured to, when first data and second data is to be sequentially written to a third region of the second region, reserve a fourth region corresponding to the first data and the second data in the first region, write the first data to the fourth region, write the second data after the first data in the fourth region, and sequentially write the first data and the second data read from the fourth region to the third region.

Abstract: A magnetic tape reading apparatus comprises an acquisition unit that acquires information on linearity of a servo pattern to be recorded on a servo band of a magnetic tape, a reading element unit in which at least two reading elements each of which reads data from a specific track region included in the magnetic tape are disposed, a servo reading element that reads the servo pattern, a control unit that performs control of positioning the reading element unit, a derivation unit that derives a deviation amount, and an extraction unit that extracts data recorded on the reading target track by performing a waveform equalization process on each reading result for the reading elements in accordance with the deviation amount.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a non-volatile storage medium. A plurality of access commands are received from a host and sored in a host queue and a pending queue. A first access command is selected from the host queue, wherein the first access command having a first execution time needed to execute the first access command. When a second access command in the pending queue can be executed within the first execution time, the second access command is executed, and after executing the second access command, the first access command in the host queue is executed. After selecting the first access command from the host queue, a third access command is transferred from the pending queue to the host queue based on a first-in-first-out (FIFO) order of the pending queue.

Abstract: A magnetic tape and servo elements of a magnetic head for reading and writing to the magnetic tape can ascertain servo band signals from different servo bands that are vertically aligned and adjacent to one another. When operating in a write or read mode, at least two servo elements can be activated to respond to a write/read operation based on a determined position across a width of the servo bands in the magnetic tape. The determined position is based on various pattern combinations from different servo band identifiers from the servo band signals.

Abstract: Disclosed are a communication method and communication apparatus using an ambient backscatter communication. A transmission apparatus may include generating a plurality of bitsets by fragmenting data based on a predetermined bitset length, mapping the plurality of bitsets to a plurality of switching patterns based on a data size, and controlling a reflection of a background radio frequency (RF) signal based on a corresponding mapped switching pattern, a total number of the plurality of switching patterns may be determined based on the bitset length, and each of the plurality of switching patterns may have a different length.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a disk including a first servo sector including a first preamble, a first servo mark, a first gray code, and first burst data, a head including a write head which writes data to the disk and a read head which reads data from the disk, and a controller which stops write processing, based on a write mask gate different from a first servo gate executing read processing of the first servo sector and a write gate executing the write processing to the disk.

Abstract: A data transmission method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: generating a plurality of MPUs, reference clock time information, and leading clock time information indicating a leading PTS that is a clock time at which a leading access unit in the MPU is presented, transmitting the generated plurality of MPUs, reference clock time information, and leading clock time information, wherein the leading clock time information indicates the leading PTS of the plurality of MPUs of which presentation is started after the leading clock time information is transmitted in the generated plurality of MPUs, and each of the generated plurality of MPUs indicates a time point at which each access unit that does not exist in a head of the MPU is presented as a relative value to a time point of another access unit in the MPU.

Abstract: Data set groups are determined, wherein each data set group includes a plurality of data sets and each data set includes error-correcting information for content user data of the data set. One or more versions of data set group level error-correcting information for each data set group are calculated. The data set groups on stored a tape storage media. After the data set groups are stored, an amount of storage available on one or more regions of the tape storage media associated with one or more tape edges is identified. An instruction is provided to store at least a partial amount of the calculated one or more versions of data set group level error-correcting information for the data set groups able to be stored in the amount of storage available on the one or more regions of the tape storage media associated with the one or more tape edges.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for detecting and handling volume creation failures. In one implementation, a request to create a new volume in a volume chain for a virtual machine is received. A processing device creates a first metadata file for the new volume, where the first metadata file has a first filename indicating that creation of the new volume has not completed. A reference to a parent volume of the new volume is stored in the first metadata file, along with an indication that the new volume is a leaf of the volume chain. A second metadata file that is associated with the parent volume is updated in view of the new volume. The processing device creates a data file for the new volume and renames the first metadata file to a second filename indicating that creation of the new volume has completed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for incrementing a tape write pass (WP) value includes identifying an action that requires incrementing a tape WP value on a magnetic tape storage device. The computer-implemented method further includes, in response to identifying the action that requires incrementing the tape WP value on the magnetic tape storage device: assigning a new tape WP value to a dataset based, at least in part, on a partition number corresponding to the data partition in which the dataset is written to.

Abstract: The magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support and a magnetic layer, in which the magnetic layer has a timing-based servo pattern, an edge shape of the timing-based servo pattern, specified by magnetic force microscopy is a shape in which a difference between a value L99.9 of a cumulative distribution function of 99.9% and a value L0.1 of a cumulative distribution function of 0.1% in a position deviation width from an ideal shape of the magnetic tape in a longitudinal direction is 180 nm or less, and a difference between a spacing S0.5 measured, after n-hexane cleaning, on a surface of the magnetic layer under a pressure of 0.5 atm by optical interferometry and a spacing S13.5 measured, after n-hexane cleaning, under a pressure of 13.5 atm is 3.0 nm or less, and S0.5 is 5.0 nm or more.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a magnetic disk drive comprising a magnetic disk, a magnetic head configured to read/write data from/to the magnetic disk, a signal processing circuit configured to convert data to be recorded on the magnetic disk into a write signal, and to output the write signal to the magnetic head that generates a recording magnetic field corresponding to the write signal, and a recording control circuit configured to control the signal processing circuit and the magnetic head to record, in a target recording area of the magnetic disk, first data in the target recording area with a recording magnetic field having a first frequency, and to write, second data different from the first data over the first data with a recording magnetic field having a second frequency higher than the first frequency.

Abstract: A storage device includes a disk, a head configured to write data to and read data from the disk, and a controller. The controller is configured to, for each of a plurality of unexecuted commands, carry out a calculation of an amount of time that is required for the head to start accessing the disk to begin execution of the non-executed command upon completion of a currently-executed command, until the earlier of i) a number of unexecuted commands for which the calculation has been carried out reaches a threshold value or ii) the completion of the currently-executed command, select a next command to be executed from one or more unexecuted commands for which the calculation has been carried out, based on the calculated amount of time for each of the one or more unexecuted commands, and execute the selected next command.

Abstract: Systems and methods for servo zone transition optimization are described. In one embodiment, the storage system device includes a disk drive and a controller. In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to assess at least one operation of a read/write head of the disk drive; and format, based at least in part on the assessing of the read/write head, a disk surface of the disk drive with a first servo zone, a second servo zone, and an overlap region extending between a start point of the second servo zone and an end point of the first servo zone. In some cases, the overlap region starts towards a disk inner diameter (ID) and ends towards a disk outer diameter (OD).

Abstract: An implementation of a system disclosed herein provides a method for managing data streams of sequential nature, wherein the method provides for determining that a sequence of incoming write commands are associated with an LBA range mapped to a source band and writing data of the incoming write commands to physical blocks of a destination band assigned to the LBA range of the source band such that the data of the incoming write commands is written according to a sequential order of data receipt and in a forward write direction to sequentially fill physically-consecutive blocks in the destination band.

Abstract: Computer image clustering systems and methods for conducting effective media searches by grouping multimedia documents tagged by keywords into a hierarchy of images configured to: (1) maintain a first database, (2) maintain an initial occurrence matrix, (3) maintain an occurrence matrix, (4) maintain a media file activation score for each media file in the first database, (5) generate a log version of the occurrence matrix, (6) maintain an inverse media file frequency value for each descriptive term in the first database, (7) generate a descriptive term frequency matrix and generate a list of document vectors in multidimensional space (list), and (8) organize and process each media file in the list into a high activation score category and a low activation score category.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method may include obtaining position information of a susceptible zone of a tape. The susceptible zone may be a section of the tape where a stress value of the tape exceeds a threshold. The method may further include storing a block of data to the tape in a first storage zone. The method may further include determining that the first storage zone is positioned within the susceptible zone. The method may further include storing, based at least in part on the determining, a duplicate block of data in a second storage zone.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes aspects of pulse-based writing for magnetic storage media. In some aspects, a pulse-based writer of magnetic storage media determines that a string of data bits having a same polarity corresponds to a magnet longer than a threshold associated with a magnetic media writer. The pulse-based writer inserts, into the string of data bits, a transition to a polarity opposite to the same polarity of the string of data bits. The string of data bits including the inserted transition is then transmitted to the magnetic media writer to cause a write head of the writer to pulse while writing the magnet to magnetic storage media. Various aspects may also implement a control signal to mask a transition or control polarity of the magnetic media writer. By so doing, magnets may be written to the magnetic storage media more efficiently or with less distortion to neighboring tracks.

Abstract: The method, computer program product, and computer system may include a computing device which may generate a list of data to be copied from a plurality of source media to a target medium. The computing device may identify a first type of data in the generated list of data with the first type of data being pre-migrated data. The computing device may reclaim the first type of data from a primary storage tier to the target medium with the target medium being associated with the first drive. The computing device may identify a second type of data in the generated list of data, the second type of data being migrated data, and reclaim the second type of data from at least one secondary source medium to the target medium using the first drive and a second drive. The secondary source medium may be associated with the second drive.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a number of notifications of one or more activities relevant to a user. Each notification has an associated receipt time and type of notification. The method also includes aggregating one or more of the notifications based on the type of notification; determining a sending time to send the aggregated notifications based at least in part on determining that a pre-determined amount of time that has elapsed from a receipt time of a most recent one of the aggregated notifications; and sending the aggregated notifications to the user based on the sending time.

Abstract: A method includes writing first data to a first track of a magnetic recording medium of a storage device. First parity sectors corresponding to the first data are written. The first parity sectors have a first size. Second parity sectors corresponding to the first data are written. The second parity sectors have a second size. Second data is written to a second track of the magnetic recording medium. The second track is adjacent to the first track. It is determined whether an unrecoverable data error has occurred on the second track. After writing to the second track and determining that no unrecoverable data error has occurred, the first and second parity sectors corresponding to the first data are released.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a data storage system includes a tape drive configured to: write a plurality of files to a first partition of a magnetic recording tape; and write an index to a second partition of the magnetic recording tape, the index including information about locations of data of the plurality of files in the first partition of the magnetic recording tape. In another embodiment, a magnetic recording tape includes: a plurality of files to written to a first partition of the magnetic recording tape using a tape drive; and an index written to a second partition of the magnetic recording tape using the tape drive, the index including information about locations of data of the plurality of files in the first partition of the magnetic recording tape.

Abstract: A system for performing a computation includes a tenant associated processor; a commingling associated processor; an interface; and a processor. The interface is configured to receive an indication of a computation. The processor is configured to determine a set of computational steps for performing the computation; determine a preprocessing subset, wherein the preprocessing subset comprises a subset of the set of computational steps for execution by the tenant associated processor; and determine a main processing subset, wherein the main processing subset comprises the set of computational steps for execution by the commingling associated processor.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems to make compressed backup copies of in-use compressed database indices are described. In general, an “oldest” time at which index pages in working memory had been updated is identified. Compressed index pages may be directly copied without the need to bring them into working memory or uncompressing them. The identified “oldest” time is then associated with the compressed backup copy. In some embodiments, an entire compressed backup copy may be associated with a single point in time (e.g., the identified “oldest” time). In other embodiments, a compressed backup copy may be associated with multiple points in time (e.g., one time for each portion of the compressed index that is being backed-up). Compressed indices copied in accordance with the invention may be used during restore operations to reconstruct database indices using the identified “oldest” time and database log files.

Abstract: A technique for managing cache in a data storage system is disclosed. Data storage system cache memory is arranged into multiple input/output (IO) cache macroblocks, where a first set of IO cache macroblocks are configured as compressed IO cache macroblocks, each compressed IO cache macroblock storing a plurality of variable sized compressed IO data blocks, and a second set of IO cache macroblocks are configured as non-compressed IO cache macroblocks, each non-compressed IO cache macroblock storing a plurality of fixed sized non-compressed IO data blocks. A write request is receive at the data storage system. If the IO data associated with the write request is determined to be compressible, the IO data is compressed in-line and written to an IO data block in a compressed IO cache macroblock, otherwise non-compressed IO data is written to an IO data block in a non-compressed IO cache macroblock.

Abstract: Concurrent standard/high resolution logging of critical performance metrics and functional data for various functional areas including servo system, dataflow, channel, read/write, speed matching, and error recovery is achieved by segregating one or more rows of the tape map array for the purpose of logging only high resolution data. As performance data is logged to the standard resolution tape map by wrap and regional offset down tape, the reserved high resolution row logs data sequentially in the order it was processed on magnetic tape and not by its position on magnetic tape. The high-resolution performance data is concurrently logged with normal-resolution performance data as a supporting view with more detailed tape processing data should the normal-resolution performance data have inconclusive or insufficient content. High-resolution storage is structured for shorter regional logging or per-dataset logging of critical performance metrics and functional data, referred to herein as performance data.

Abstract: Operations include storing and/or accessing data in tape volume containers. A system receives a request to access a tape block in a data storage tape. The system maps the requested tape block in the data storage tape to an object in a container. The system then retrieves data from the object in the container. The system generates, from the retrieved data, a data stream in tape archive format. The system transmits the data stream, in tape archive format, in response to the request to access the tape block in the data storage tape.

Abstract: A magnetic tape includes: a servo band on which servo patterns are repeatedly formed in a longitudinal direction thereof, each of the servo patterns including a first magnetization region formed to be tilted with respect to a width direction of the servo band by a predetermined angle along the width direction of the servo band, and a second magnetization region not parallel to the first magnetization region along the width direction of the servo band, wherein at least one of the first magnetization region or the second magnetization region is formed by decreasing the number of linear patterns from a predetermined plural number of linear patterns and changing a position of the linear pattern to be removed, in accordance with information that is an embedding target so that the information is embedded.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetic tape, in which servo patterns, each including a first magnetization region formed to be tilted with respect to a width direction of a servo band by an angle ? along the width direction of the servo band and a second magnetization region not parallel to the first magnetization region along the width direction of the servo band, are repeatedly formed in a longitudinal direction of the servo band, the magnetic tape is used in a recording and reproducing system which uses a reproducing element for reproducing the servo pattern, a width of which satisfies W1?(1/tan ?)×stripe width T of the servo pattern, and the angle ? is greater than 25° and equal to or smaller than 45°.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined record player, wherein analog audio players are positioned on a top portion or a side portion of a cabinet, a digital audio player is positioned on a front portion of the cabinet, a first PCB is positioned on a front portion or a bottom portion of the cabinet, a second PCB is positioned on a rear portion of the cabinet, and an analog audio output interface is positioned on a rear surface of the cabinet; the first PCB contains an analog-to-digital signal converter, the second PCB contains a digital-to-analog signal converter, the analog audio players are electrically connected to the analog-to-digital signal converter, the digital audio player is electrically connected to the digital-to-analog signal converter, the analog-to-digital signal converter is electrically connected to the digital-to-analog signal converter, and the digital-to-analog signal converter is electrically connected to the analog audio output interface.

Abstract: A system is described allowing a virtual desktop to be booted directly from a desktop image stored in a backup database without requiring content from the desktop image to be copied into the virtual disk of the virtual machine hosting the virtual desktop. The hosting virtual machine contains a synthetic virtual disk acting as a stub disk by redirecting read requests targeted for the synthetic disk from the guest operating system to corresponding locations of the storage where the desktop image is kept.

Abstract: A high performance computing system including processing circuitry and a shared fabric memory is disclosed. The processing circuitry includes processors coupled to local storages. The shared fabric memory includes memory devices and is coupled to the processing circuitry. The shared fabric memory executes a first sweep of a stencil code by sequentially retrieving data stripes. Further, for each retrieved data stripe, a set of values of the retrieved data stripe are updated substantially simultaneously. For each retrieved data stripe, the updated set of values are stored in a free memory gap adjacent to the retrieved data stripe. For each retrieved data stripe, the free memory gap is advanced to an adjacent memory location. A sweep status indicator is incremented from the first sweep to a second sweep.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving a first write request on a front-end computing system within a storage system. The first write request concerns writing a first data portion to a storage array within the storage system. A first log entry is generated within a journal file. The first log entry identifies a first differential storage quantity associated with storing the first data portion in the storage array within the storage system.

Abstract: Track-and-hold charge pumps and PLL are provided. A track-and-hold charge pump includes a track-and-hold circuit, a transconductance amplifier, a pulse width modulator (PWM), and a pumping switch coupled to the transconductance amplifier. The track-and-hold circuit samples an input signal according to a reference clock. The transconductance amplifier converts the sampled input signal into a current. The PWM provides a PWM signal according to the reference clock. The pumping switch is controlled by the PWM signal, to provide an output current according to the current.

Abstract: First tracks are read via a first head that is moved via a first actuator over a first, radially-defined, zone of a disk surface. Second tracks are read via a second head that is moved via a second actuator over a second zone of the disk surface that is separate from the first zone. The first and second heads are optimized to read data within first and second skew angle ranges associated with the first and second zones. The first and second skew angle ranges are each less than a total skew angle range of the disk surface.

Abstract: A storage system such as a hard disc drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD), hybrid drive (SSHD), storage rack, set of storage racks, JBOD, array of discs, etc. may include a variety of storage media. Failures may be detected in the storage media of the storage system. Such a failure may affect the physical capacity of the storage system. A storage controller of the storage system initiates a media conversion that converts a portion of the storage media from media storing data according to a first recording scheme to a media storing data according to a second recording scheme. The second recording scheme stores data at a higher density compared to the first recording scheme.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a first controller and a second controller. The first controller includes a first communication circuits and a first buffer and configured to control a first actuator, and the second controller includes a second communication circuit and a second buffer and configured to control a second actuator. The first controller is configured to receive the data from outside by the first buffer and configured to be able to communicate with the second controller through the first and the second communication circuit.

Abstract: A method for managing data bands within an interlaced magnetic recording (IMR) architecture includes transmitting read/write characteristics of a logical block address space, the read/write characteristics including coupling information characterizing a physical arrangement of data blocks associated with different logical zones in the logical block address space, where each of the logical zones spans a continuous range of logical block addresses mapped to a series of data blocks physically interlaced with another series of data blocks corresponding to another one of the logical zones. The method further provides for executing a write command instructing a data write to a target logical zone of the logical zones, the write command being generated based on the transmitted coupling information.

Abstract: Superseding a prior version of a document, to which prior version a retention policy or other requirement has been applied, is disclosed. In some embodiments, an attribute of a retention policy indicates whether a document to which the retention policy has been applied is to be superseded by a subsequently created and/or saved version of the document. In some embodiments, the attribute is set by a logic or process configured to apply the retention policy to the document. If the retention policy indicates that supersede is enabled, in various embodiments when a subsequent version is created and/or saved, the prior version is promoted to the final phase of the retention policy that has been applied to it and automatically “qualified” for disposition as indicated in the final phase of the retention policy, without regard to intervening requirements, processes, phases, approvals, retention, waiting, or other periods, etc.

Abstract: A request for changing data of a file system data structure stored on a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) drive is received. The data change is logged in a log entry of a log structure stored in a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). The log entry is added as a new entry at an end of the log structure. The log entry is marked within the NVRAM as modified and a predetermined criterion is determined to be satisfied. Responsive to determining that the predetermined criterion is satisfied, the NVRAM is searched for log entries marked as modified. The modified log entries are stored to the SMR drive.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a first disk surface comprising a plurality of data tracks, and a first head actuated over the first disk surface. First data is written to the first disk surface based on a first format. At least part of the first disk surface is reformatted based on a second format, wherein the second format defines a lower recording density for the first disk surface as compared to a recording density defined by the first format. After reformatting the at least part of the first disk surface, second data is written to the first disk surface based on the second format and the first data is read from the first disk surface based on the first format.

Abstract: A request for changing data of a file system data structure stored on a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) drive is received. The data change is logged in a log entry of a log structure stored in a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). The log entry is added as a new entry at an end of the log structure. The log entry is marked within the NVRAM as modified and a predetermined criterion is determined to be satisfied. Responsive to determining that the predetermined criterion is satisfied, the NVRAM is searched for log entries marked as modified. The modified log entries are stored to the SMR drive.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes writing a data set to a sequential access medium. The method also includes reading the data set immediately after being written to the sequential access medium in a read-while-write process to identify one or more faulty encoded data blocks, each of the one or more faulty encoded data blocks including at least one faulty codeword having symbols at least 10 bits in size. Moreover, the method includes rewriting a first of the one or more faulty encoded data blocks within a first encoded data block set to a particular logical track in the rewrite area of the sequential access medium selected from a predetermined subset of logical tracks. The predetermined subset of logical tracks includes D1+D2+1 logical tracks. Only one faulty encoded data block from a particular sub data set is rewritten in a single encoded data block set in the rewrite area.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, wherein the head comprises a spin torque oscillator (STO). A first bias signal is applied to the STO during a first interval preceding a write operation to write data to the disk, wherein the first bias signal causes the STO to protrude toward the disk. After the first interval, a second bias signal is applied to the STO during a second interval spanning at least part of the write operation, wherein an amplitude of the first bias signal is in the range of 1.1 to 1.5 times an amplitude of the second bias signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing data in a hybrid data storage device. The device has a first non-volatile memory (NVM) of solid state memory cells arranged into a first set of garbage collection units (GCUs), and a second NVM as a rotatable data recording medium arranged into a second set of GCUs each comprising a plurality of shingled magnetic recording tracks. A control circuit combines a first group of logical block units (LBUs) stored in the first set of GCUs with a second group of LBUs stored in the second set of GCUs to form a combined group of LBUs arranged in sequential order by logical address. The control circuit streams the combined group of LBUs to a zone of shingled magnetic recording tracks in a selected one of the second set of GCUs. A combined media translation map identifies physical addresses in both the first and second NVMs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transforming a logical data object for storage in a storage device operable with at least one storage protocol, creating, reading, writing, optimization and restoring thereof. Transforming the logical data object comprises creating in the storage device a transformed logical data object comprising and one or more allocated storage sections with a predefined size; processing one or more sequentially obtained chunks corresponding to the transforming logical data object, wherein at least one of said processed data chunks comprises transformed data resulting from said processing; sequentially storing the processed data chunks into said storage sections in accordance with an order the chunks received. The method further includes reading a data range from the transformed logical object in response to a read request specifying desired point in time to be read.

Abstract: A surgical cassette/pack usage tracker for tracking a number of uses for a cassette/pack to prohibit uses from exceeding a maximum amount. A usage tracker system engages with or scans a portion of the cassette/pack to determine the number of uses. In illustrative embodiments, an implement interacts with a film in the cassette after each use and determines remaining uses for the cassette/pack. In other embodiments, an implement interacts with a rotatable wheel that rotates with each use, the implement configured to permit the tracker to identify the number uses and determine remaining uses for the cassette/pack. When a maximum usage amount is reached, the tracker system may issue a warning, eject or reject the cassette/pack and/or disable the surgical device from further use.