International Business Machines Corporation

Christopher Grunow

Kirby Grant Dahman

Ralph Thomas Beeston

Joel Kenneth Lyman

Wayne Erwin Rhoten

Jon Arthur Lynds

Kathryn Eileen Eldred

Robert Beverley Basham

Ronald David Martens

Gerard Grunow, Legal Representative

An apparatus and system are provided for communicating control messages between a first device and a second device. The apparatus and system include a communication module that directs control messages between a first device and a second device through an intermediate device. The intermediate device is coupled to the first device by a control path and to the second device by a data path. The apparatus and system also include a translation module and a transmission module that cooperate to translate control messages received over the control path at the intermediate device to transport data messages and transport data messages received over the data path at the second device to control messages. Transport data messages are sent over the data path to the second device and control messages from the second device are sent over the control path to the first device.

Apparatus, system, and method for communicating control messages between a first device and a second device

The present invention provides fast read performance for accessing a file from a multiplicity of files when its corresponding Block ID is unavailable, by furnishing new file-positioning commands, allowing access to data based on File Number, at the same fast locate speed as with Block Ids, thereby expanding the range of applications that can use certain tape drive systems effectively. The present invention includes both a device architecture for supporting the file oriented positioning and the appending, as well as a software system that can permit easy application access to the device facilities and system components which permit the advantages to accrue without any software application or operator changes, including a robust architecture for navigating residual data, e.g., for data recovery. The present invention comprises several device command innovations, a relative positioning command, an absolute positioning command, and other commands, e.g., for sensing current position.

System for fast tape file positioning

A data storage device having a fixed device architecture capable of operating in a first capacity mode or in a second capacity mode, and capable of switching between that first capacity mode and that second capacity mode. In certain embodiments, the first capacity mode utilizes a 22 bit blockid format and the second capacity mode utilizes a 32 bit blockid format. In other embodiments, the first capacity mode utilizes a 32 bit blockid format and the second capacity mode utilizes a 22 bit blockid format. A data storage device comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein for recording information in alternative information storage architectures. A data storage and retrieval system which includes one or more of Applicants' data storage devices. A computer code product comprising a data management system which supports the capability to record information on a data storage medium using alternative information storage architectures.

Data storage device and method for storing information using alternate information storage architectures

A data storage device comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein for writing information on a data storage medium using fast multiple file write operations. A data storage and retrieval system comprising one or more of Applicants' data storage devices. Computer program products embodied as program code stored in Applicants' storage device.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Christopher Grunow