International Business Machines Corporation

Lenovo (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Kamal Emile Dimitri

Rodney Jerome Means

John Edward Kulakowski

Daniel James Winarski

Jerry Walter Hammar

Chi-Hung Dang

Robert LaMar Bingham

Craig Anthony Klein

Robert George Emberty

Masaki Hasegawa

Timothy Jay Dell

Wayne Alan McKinley

Jesse Lee Thrall

Francisco Antonio Baca

Robert Lamar Bingham

Martin Aureliano Hassner

Raymond Yardy

Douglas William Dewey

Bruce G Hazelzet

Frank David Gallo

Marc Raymond Faucher

Paul H Siegel

Robin Daniel Roberts

Chi-Thanh Dang

Dennis L Willson

Kent A Dramstad

Jeremy Andrew Cohn

Daniel Scott Moore

Hector E Mery

Bruce W Singer

Daniel James Winarksi

Rod J Means

Barbara Ann McNaughton

Erik E A Bengds

Scott Richard Lockaby

Erik E Bengds

An accessor moveably disposed within a data storage and retrieval system, where that accessor includes an information input/output device and a power supply connector disposed on a gripper mechanism such that the information input/output device and the power supply connector can be releaseably coupled/connected to an information input/output port and a power port, respectively, disposed on a hard disk drive unit disposed in a storage slot within the data storage and retrieval system. A data storage and retrieval system which includes one or more of Applicants' accessors, one or more hard disk disposed in one or more hard disk drive units each of which includes an information input/output port in communication with that hard disk, and an information transfer station in communication with a host computer, wherein that information transfer station can communicate with Applicants' accessor(s). A method to transfer information between one or more hard disks disposed in Applicants' data storage and retrieval system and a host computer using a memory device disposed on one or more accessors moveably disposed within Applicants' data storage and retrieval system. Applicants' data storage and retrieval system includes computer useable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein, where that computer readable program code comprises a series of computer readable program steps to implement Applicants' method.

Method and apparatus to transfer information between a host computer and one or more hard disks disposed in a data storage and retrieval system

Applicants' automated data storage system includes a first media storage library having a first rail system, a garage having a movable rail system, said garage being disposed adjacent the media storage library, and a plurality of accessors movably disposed on either the first rail system or the movable rail system. In another embodiment, Applicants' automated data storage system further includes a second media storage library, having a second rail system, disposed adjacent the garage, such that the plurality of accessors is movably disposed on the first rail system, the second rail system, or the movable rail system. Applicants' invention further includes a method to move an accessor from the first media storage library into the garage, or from the first media storage library, through the garage, and into the second media storage library. Applicants' invention further includes a method to balance the workload of a plurality of data drives disposed within Applicants' automated data storage system.

Automated data storage system including a moveable rail system and garage

An apparatus and a method for the cleaning of magnetic tape cartridge drive, particularly such as removable data-storage media tapes, and especially an arrangement and method of providing a disposable cartridge retention spring cleaning tool.

Disposable LTO cartridge retention spring cleaner tool

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

A data storage and retrieval system which includes one or more hard disks individually housed in a portable hard disk drive unit, a first information transfer station capable of communicating with one or more first servers, and a second information transfer station capable of communicating with one or more second servers. A method to transfer information between those first servers, second servers, and hard disks. A data storage and retrieval system comprising computer useable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein, where that computer readable program code comprises a series of computer readable program steps to implement Applicants' method.

Method and apparatus to transfer information between different categories of servers and one or more data storage media

A modified disk drive that includes means for selectively and permanently disabling the write mode of the hard disk drive by the use of programmable read only memory (PROM) circuitry is provided. One method of use employs selectively blowing a PROM fuse in the arm electronics of the hard disk drive to prevent further writing to a respective disk surface in the hard disk drive. A second method of use employs selectively blowing a PROM fuse in processor-accessible memory, to prevent further writing to a section of logical block addresses (LBAs) corresponding to a respective set of data sectors in the hard disk drive.

Write-once read-many hard disk drive

Applicants' invention includes a hard disk drive library which includes a plurality of hard disk drive storage slots, a plurality of backplane connectors, wherein a backplane is disposed in or adjacent to each of the hard disk drive storage slots. Applicants' hard disk drive library further includes one or a plurality of hard disk drives removably disposed in the plurality of storage slots, and a controller in communication with each hard disk drive removably disposed within the hard disk drive library. Applicants' invention further includes a data storage and retrieval system which includes Applicants' hard disk drive library in combination with one or more external servers. Applicants' invention further includes a method to insert additional hard disk drives into Applicants' hard disk drive library. Applicants' invention further includes a method to store data in, and to retrieve data from, the hard disk drives removably disposed in Applicants' hard disk drive library.

Hard disk drive library

A cleaning system for cleaning a picker in an automated media library includes a removable cleaning cartridge. The cleaning cartridge contains cleaning tape that is automatically advanced. The cleaning cartridge has a window through which access to the cleaning tape is provided. The picker has rollers that must be periodically cleaned of debris. The picker is aligned with a designated cleaning bin and one of the rollers is placed in contact with the cleaning tape. The roller then wipes against the cleaning tape. After the roller is cleaned, the cleaning tape advances so that a clean, unused portion of the cleaning tape is available through the window. The cleaning cartridge is extracted from the bin so that another roller can be cleaned. After each roller is cleaned, the cleaning cartridge is returned to the bin, and the picker returns to picking and placing media cartridges until another cleaning operation is required.

System and method of cleaning an automated tape library with a pass-through cleaning tool using cleaning tape

A housing for an information storage medium where at least one surface of that housing includes a plurality of grooves. A locomotion apparatus to move Applicants' housing within an information storage and retrieval system, where that apparatus includes at least one rotatable shaft and at least one drive member disposed on that shaft, where each such drive member has the shape of a truncated cone, and where each such drive member includes a drive surface which includes a plurality of ribs. Applicants' drive member contacts the grooved surface of Applicants' housing such that one or more of the ribs disposed on the drive surface intermeshes with one or more of the grooves in the housing. Rotation of the rotatable shaft in a first direction causes the housing the move in a second direction. Rotation of the rotatable shaft in a third direction causes the housing to move in a fourth direction.

Housing for information storage medium and apparatus to move same

Disclosed is a system, method, and program for writing data to a storage medium formatted into a plurality of zones. Each zone comprises at least one circumferential track, each track comprises a plurality of addressable sectors, and the innermost zones have fewer sectors than outermost zones. A request is received to write a file to the storage medium. A determination is made of a utilization factor for the file and one zone for the file based on the determined utilization factor. The file is written to the determined zone.

Method, system, and program for writing files to zone formatted storage media to improve data transfer rates

An accessor moveably disposed in a data storage and retrieval system, where that accessor includes an accessor controller, a work queue stored in the accessor controller, and an inventory stored in the accessor controller. Applicants' work queue comprises each work request provided to the data storage and retrieval system, and each work entry created by the accessor controller to perform a work request. Work requests may be received from attached host computer systems, from an operator input station, and/or from an import/export controller. A data storage and retrieval system which includes at least two of Applicant's accessors. A method to provide failover protection to Applicant's data storage and retrieval system in the event of a failure of one or more of Applicant's accessors.

Method to provide failover protection to a data storage and retrieval system

Disclosed is a library of hard disk drives with transparent emulating interface. The hard disk drives are shelved in associated storage locations in the library. A library controller translates the logical address of a requested hard disk drive known to the requesting host computer to a physical address or location within the library. A picker preferably mounts the requested disk drive to a destination receptacle which may be part of a backplane of the library, and the controller accesses the hard disk drive. Library operation is transparent to the host computer, the library emulating a selected type of storage device.

Library of hard disk drives with transparent emulating interface

A disk drive has discrete, modular mechanical and electrical devices. The mechanical device includes a casing to which is mounted a drive motor, disks, and an actuator that is driven by a voice coil motor. The actuator supports transducers for interacting with the disks. The electrical device is attached to a backplane and provides various control and data communication functions for the mechanical device with a host computer. In addition, each of the mechanical and electrical components has a mating connector for detachably interfacing with each other.

Removable disk drive with separable electrical and mechanical components

Applicants' invention includes an automated data storage system which includes one or more data storage libraries each of which includes one or a plurality of accessors which retrieve data storage media from a plurality of storage slots and deliver that retrieved data storage media to a data storage drive unit, where each of the plurality of accessors includes one or more attachment slots and a plurality of retractable wheels, and a maintenance robot which includes a plurality of wheels and an attachment device which is capable of insertion into, and subsequent removal from, the attachment slot(s) located on each of the accessors. Applicants' invention further includes a method utilizing Applicants' maintenance robot to remove one of Applicants' accessors from a data storage library.

Automated data storage system and apparatus and method for removing an accessor from same

A bit is provided in each Digital Video Disk memory sector header to indicate the type of information contained in the main data portion of the frame. A vector of video clips are stored on the DVD disk and the DVD drive examines the bit to determine whether to play a movie or to employ logic provided by the present invention that allows the DVD drive to determine which included video clip to play instead. The video clips may include cartoons, commercials, movie previews, etc. and the logic employed by the DVD drive allows for random or specific selections to be played at predetermined times, such as displaying a clip during the flipping process of a dual-sided DVD disk. Additionally, the method and apparatus may be applied to DVD disks to determine whether commercials are played before, after or during the movie or the movie is played commercial free.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Kamal Emile Dimitri