International Business Machines Corporation

Daniel Scott Moore

Jonathan Edward Bosley

Aaron Lyle Herring

Shawn Michael Nave

Brian Gerard Goodman

Michael Philip McIntosh

Kamal Emile Dimitri

Diana Joyce Hellman

Robin Daniel Roberts

Robert LaMar Bingham

Jeremy Andrew Cohn

Hector E Mery

A tape library is provided with a fixed coupling mechanism so that the tape library includes discrete locations via which power and communication are provided to an accessor. The use of such a coupling mechanism in a vertical tape library allows for the use of gravity to ensure that the accessor can couple with the fixed coupling mechanism even when no power is present in the accessor.

Contactless method for power and communications in a tape library

A contactless power system for an automated data storage library having a plurality of storage shelves for storing data storage cartridges, at least one picker for accessing the data storage cartridges with respect to the storage shelves, and a transport system for guiding the picker(s) along at least one path with respect to the storage shelves. The contactless power system comprises a plurality of segmented coils arranged in parallel to the path(s), and in proximity to at least one induction receiver of the picker(s); and at least one power source supplying power to the segmented coils, for inductive transmission of power by the segmented coils to the induction receiver(s) of the picker(s). The power source(s) may switch the supplied power to selected segmented coils based on an indication of the position of the induction receiver(s) of the picker along the path.

Contactless power and/or data transmission in an automated data storage library employing segmented coils

A distributed nodal system with a source computer processor node storing program code for target node(s). A target node has an updatable firmware memory storing program code for operating a target processor. The target code comprises application code for controlling an embedded device, primary communication code for communicating with a network, backup communication code also having copy code for copying code between portions of the firmware memory, and primary boot code for booting the target processor and having check code. The check code determines whether the primary communication code is corrupted, and if it is corrupted, employs the copy code to overwrite the primary communication code with the backup code. If uncorrupted, the check code determines whether the application code is corrupted, and if corrupted, prevents execution of the code.

Updatable firmware having boot and/or communication redundancy

An apparatus, system and method for testing a peripheral device such that the device can remain installed in a housing and connected to a communication bus such as a SCSI bus. The apparatus, system, and method include a communication port that is connectable to a peripheral device connected to a terminated communication bus. The communication port is connected to a first transceiver and a second transceiver. A microcontroller is also connected to the first transceiver and the second transceiver. The microcontroller is programmed to detect an operation mode for the peripheral device and selectively activate the first transceiver or the second transceiver based on the detected operation mode. The microcontroller is further programmed to perform a logical diagnostic test on the peripheral device using the activated transceiver. A user interface is included to communicate to a user a result of the diagnostic test.

Multi-mode SCSI diagnostic tool, system, and method

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Daniel Scott Moore