Abstract: A device for executing an operation on a database is provided. The device comprises a C-queue configured to store a plurality of column-oriented operations, an R-queue configured to store a plurality of row-oriented operations, a scheduler configured to assign the operation to the C-queue or the R-queue based on whether the operation is row-oriented, a timing unit configured to alternate between C-type time slots and R-type time slots, an execution unit configured to execute operations from the C-queue in C-type time slots and/or operations from the R-queue in R-type time slots.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamic caching module selection for optimized data deduplication. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamic caching module selection for optimized data deduplication is provided. The method includes processing historically relevant byte streams in each of a multiplicity of byte caching modules to populate a table of associations between different classifications of the historically relevant byte streams and correspondingly optimal ones of the multiplicity of the byte caching modules. The method also includes receiving a request to retrieve data from a data source and classifying the request. The method yet further includes consulting the table to identify, from amongst the multiplicity of byte caching modules, a particular byte caching module associated with the classification of the request. Finally, the method includes deduplicating the data in the identified byte caching module.

Abstract: A high availability DAS system uses a solid state cache to provide near active-active performance in a DAS duster, while retaining the implementation simplicity of active-passive or dual active system. Each node in the duster may include a solid state cache that stores hot I/O in an active-active mode, which allows the data to be read from or written to the underlying dual-active or active/passive DAS RAID system only when access to the “hot Region” cools down or in the case of Cache Miss. The hot I/O data includes hot read data that accumulated dynamically regardless of ownership of the drives where the hot read data is permanently stored. The hot I/O data also includes hot write data that is mirrored across the solid state cache memories to avoid potential dirty write data conflicts and also to provide High Availability in case of server failures.

Abstract: An approach for automatically sharing a tape drive in a heterogeneous computing environment that includes a first computer and second computer is presented. The first computer receives a message that includes a shared tape drive identifier, a source port identifier of the second computer, and a reservation status change for the tape drive. Based on the tape drive identifier, the first computer determines that the tape drive is connected to the first computer. The source port identifier is determined to not identify any host bus adapter installed in the first computer. In response to the first computer determining that the reservation status change indicates a reservation or a release of the tape drive for the second computer, the first computer sets the tape drive offline or online, respectively, in an application executing in the first computer.

Abstract: An access control system (10) is disclosed for controlling access to data stored on at least one data storage medium (14) of a computing system. The access control system (10) comprises authentication means (25) to authenticate users permitted to access data stored in the at least one data storage medium (14) and database means (29) arranged to store data access profiles. Each data access profile is associated with a user permitted to access data stored in the at least one data storage medium (14), each data access profile includes information indicative of the degree of access permitted by a user to data stored in the at least one data storage medium (14), and each data access profile includes a master data access profile (M) and a current data access profile (C). The current data access profile (C) is modifiable within parameters defined by the master data access profile (M).

Abstract: A method and system for automatically sharing a tape drive in a heterogeneous computing environment that includes a first computer and second computer. The first computer receives a message that includes a shared tape drive identifier, a source port identifier of the second computer, and a reservation status change for the tape drive. Based on the tape drive identifier, the first computer determines that the tape drive is connected to the first computer. The source port identifier is determined to not identify any host bus adapter installed in the first computer. In response to the first computer determining that the reservation status change indicates a reservation or a release of the tape drive for the second computer, the first computer sets the tape drive offline or online, respectively, in an application executing in the first computer.

Abstract: Provided are a device and a method for identifying whether or not an information recording medium is a pre-formatted disc, and an information recording medium as a pre-formatted disc. In an information processing device that executes recording of data onto a disc, such as a video camera, a process of identifying which one of the following discs a loaded disc is, that is, whether the loaded disc is (a) an unrecorded blank disc, (b) a pre-formatted disc to which a padding process has been applied, or (c) an already-recorded disc, is executed as a process of recognizing the loaded disc. With this configuration, a padding process that needs to be executed during a formatting process or finalizing process in conventional devices becomes unnecessary, thus enabling quick processing without making the user wait during the start of recording or finalizing process.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for scalable deduplication, a data set is partitioned into multiple logical partitions, where each partition can be deduplicated independently. Each data block of the data set is assigned to exactly one partition, so that any two or more data blocks that are duplicates of each are always be assigned to the same logical partition. A hash algorithm generates a fingerprint of each data block in the volume, and the fingerprints are subsequently used to detect possible duplicate data blocks as part of deduplication. In addition, the fingerprints are used to ensure that duplicate data blocks are sent to the same logical partition, prior to deduplication. A portion of the fingerprint of each data block is used as a partition identifier to determine the partition to which the data block should be assigned. Once blocks are assigned to partitions, deduplication can be done on partitions independently.

Abstract: A method, a system, an apparatus, and a computer program product are presented for fragment caching. After a message is received at a computing device that contains a cache management unit, a fragment in the message body of the message is cached. Subsequent requests for the fragment at the cache management unit result in a cache hit. The cache management unit operates equivalently in support of fragment caching operations without regard to whether the computing device acts as a client, a server, or a hub located throughout the network; in other words, the fragment caching technique is uniform throughout a network. Cache ID rules accompany a fragment from an origin server; the cache ID rules describe a method for forming a unique cache ID for the fragment such that dynamic content can be cached away from an origin server.

Abstract: A method includes assigning each of a plurality of disk write and disk read requests to respective ones of a plurality of queues. Each queue has an occupancy level and a weight. A score is assigned to each of the plurality of queues, based on the occupancy and weight of the respective queue. An operation type is selected to be granted a next disk access. The selection is from the group consisting of disk write, disk read, and processor request. One of the queues is selected based on the score assigned to each queue, if the selected operation type is disk write request or disk read request. The next disk access is granted to the selected operation type and, if the selected operation type is disk write or disk read, to the selected queue.

Abstract: An information processing device includes: an interface to/from which a recording medium is attachable/detachable; a data storage device that stores data; a data extractor that extracts data recorded on the recording medium connected through the interface, with the data maintained in a data configuration of the recording medium; and a controller that controls the data storage device to store the data extracted by the data extractor together with an identifier which specifies the recording medium, with the data maintained in the data configuration extracted.

Abstract: An adapter that buffers received symbols and automatically determines and corrects for skew between lanes is disclosed. In one embodiment, the adapter is a part of a network that includes a first and second devices coupled together by a communications link having multiple independent serial lanes. The first device initiates communication by repeatedly transmitting a training sequence that includes a start symbol for each lane. An adapter in the second device includes a set of buffers each configured to receive the symbols conveyed by a corresponding serial lane. The buffers are coupled to a reconstruction circuit that removes one “symbol group” at a time from the buffers. A symbol group is made up of one symbol from each buffer. The reconstruction circuit removes symbol groups until a start symbol is detected. If the start symbol is not detected in all buffers, output from the buffers having start symbols is temporarily suspended.

Abstract: An automatically configuring storage array includes a plurality of media storage devices coupled together within a network of devices. Preferably, the network of devices is an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network of devices. The media storage devices are utilized to record and retrieve streams of data transmitted within the network of devices. The media storage devices communicate with each other in order to store and retrieve streams of data over multiple media storage devices, if necessary. When a record or playback command is received by any one of the media storage devices, the media storage devices send control communications between themselves to ensure that the stream of data is recorded or transmitted, as appropriate. Control of the record or transmit operation is also transferred between the media storage devices in order to utilize the full capacity of the available media storage devices. Preferably, streams of data are recorded utilizing redundancy techniques.

Abstract: An automatically configuring storage array includes media storage devices coupled together within a network. Preferably, the network is an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network. The media storage devices record and retrieve data transmitted within the network. The media storage devices communicate to store and retrieve data over multiple media storage devices. When a record or playback command is received by a media storage device, the media storage devices send communications between themselves to record or transmit the data. Control of operations is transferred between the media storage devices to utilize the capacity of available media storage devices. Preferably, data is recorded utilizing redundancy techniques. Object descriptors are stored within recorded streams of data to facilitate search and retrieval of recorded data. Preferably, the media storage devices accept control instructions directly from devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for backing-up data stored on storage means (MEMA1, MEMA2, MEMA3) of a data processing device (TERA). The invention further relates to a data processing device (TERA), a service provision server (SM), a back-up server (BA1) and a respective program module for a data processing device, for a service provision server and for a back-up server for the backing-up of data. Following the determination of the data in the storage means (MEMA1, MEMA2, MEAM3) which are to be backed-up, a first connection (VA, VBA1) between the data processing device (TERA) and a first back-up server (BA1) spatially remote from the data processing device (TERA) and at least one second connection (VA, VBA2) between the data processing device (TERA) and at least one second back-up server (BA2) spatially remote from the data processing device (TERA) are established via a telecommunications network (NET).

Abstract: Methods of updating an electronic device having an update agent employing preprocessing techniques is disclosed. The methods described permit an electronic device having a non-volatile memory to update a plurality banks in an efficient manner, by preprocessing the original contents of the non-volatile memory. The preprocessing may comprise shifting one or more banks before performing an update, so as to create a moving, unoccupied bank or “bubble” into which the updated version of a bank may be stored. An embodiment of the present invention provides a reduction in the processing of the original memory contents, and extends the life of the non-volatile memory devices used.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an information storage device. The storage device comprises a connector for interfacing the storage device with a host computing device and at least one solid-state memory device contained within the storage device, the memory device holding personal information of a user of the storage device. In a preferred arrangement, the storage device is small in size yet has a large storage capacity such that the user can carry with him or her a large volume of personal information.

Abstract: A computer system provides a unified password prompt for accepting a user power-on password or an administrator password. A password string entered by the system administrator at the unified password prompt is compared with a stored power-on password. If the user password string matches the stored power-on password, then access to system resources is granted. If the user password string does not match the stored power-on password, then the user password string is compared to a stored administrator password. If the user password string matches the stored administrative password, then access to system resources is granted. If the user password string does not match the stored administrative password, then the system administrator is given a predetermined number of times to enter a password string matching either the stored power-on password or the stored administrator password.

Abstract: An automatically configuring storage array includes a plurality of media storage devices coupled together within a network of devices. Preferably, the network of devices is an IEEE 1394-1995 serial bus network of devices. The media storage devices are utilized to record and retrieve streams of data transmitted within the network of devices. The media storage devices communicate with each other in order to store and retrieve streams of data over multiple media storage devices, if necessary. When a record or playback command is received by any one of the media storage devices, the media storage devices send control communications between themselves to ensure that the stream of data is recorded or transmitted, as appropriate. Control of the record or transmit operation is also transferred between the media storage devices in order to utilize the full capacity of the available media storage devices. Preferably, streams of data are recorded utilizing redundancy techniques.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing transfer data to be transferred in synchronism with one of an external write signal and an external read signal, includes a plurality of memories for storing the transfer data. A plurality of sync signal generators are provided in association with the memories, to generate one of a sync write signal and a sync read signal, which determine write and read timings for the memories, in response to one of the external write signal and the external read signal and an internal clock having a longer period than the one of said external write signal and the external read signal. A distribution circuit is connected to the plurality of sync signal generators, for receiving one of the external write signal and the external read signal and sequentially distributing the one of the external write signal and the external read signal to the sync signal generators.

Abstract: A processor having a modified Harvard architecture having first and second memories, an address register file divided into first and second sets of registers, first and second stream registers, and a general purpose register file for performing data streaming. The first and second sets of registers respectively address the first and second memories which, in turn, load data into the first and second stream registers. An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) accepts the stream registers and general purpose registers as inputs. Stream instructions are encoded such that a single instruction specifies an ALU operation performed on selected ALU inputs and where to store the results of the ALU operation, loads new values into the stream registers, and updates the address registers. A stream instruction has three operand fields respectively specifying two operands for the next ALU operation and a location to store the result of the current ALU operation.

Abstract: An improved multi-stage synchronizer. The inventive synchronizer includes a first memory for storing data, a second memory means connected to the output of the first memory means for storing data, and a third memory for storing data connected to the output of the second memory means. The second memory includes a plurality of multi-stage first-in, first-out memory devices. In a particular embodiment, the first and third memories are implemented with synchronous single stage first-in, first-out memories. In a preferred embodiment, the first-in, first-out memories are designed to allow data to be read and written during a single clock cycle after the memory is full. This is achieved by adding an external read signal to the `not full` signal generated by the device. The provision of single stage FIFO memories on either side of a multi-stage FIFO memory allows for lower set up time and output delay at higher operational speeds.

Abstract: An audio recording and reproducing apparatus includes a controller for controlling the entire behaviors, hard disc for write and read of audio data, audio compression/expansion circuit for expanding compressed audio data, and external I/O port. The audio recording and reproducing apparatus is connected to a network service center to obtain desired music data from storage of the network service center and to store it in the hard disc.

Abstract: An audio recording and reproducing apparatus includes a controller for controlling the entire behaviors, hard disc for write and read of audio data, audio compression/expansion circuit for expanding compressed audio data, and external I/O port. The audio recording and reproducing apparatus is connected to a network service center to obtain desired music data from storage of the network service center and to store it in the hard disc.