International Business Machines Corporation

Richard W Vanderpool, Iii

Justin Monroe Pierce

Julie Anne Morris

Shreyas Abhay Kale

David John Steiner

William R Capps

Thomas J Howard

An apparatus comprising a single memory device providing data storage, a controller for controlling data transfer to and from the data storage, and first and second bus connector plugs, wherein each plug has contacts for connecting with the power, ground, and data contacts of a port of a host system. The power and ground contacts of the first and second plugs are coupled together to provide power to the apparatus through either or both plugs. Data from either or both plugs is communicated with the controller depending upon which plugs are coupled to a port. The controller is responsible for controlling the read and write operations of the data storage. The apparatus may be any type of external memory device, such as a flash drive, or a peripheral device having a high data transfer rate, such as a digital video camera.

Peripheral device enabling enhanced communication

Method and computer program product for identifying a primary disk storage medium that is higher in a boot order than a secondary disk storage medium in a software RAID, and testing for a hardware failure of the primary disk storage medium during the BIOS power-on self test. The boot order of the disk storage mediums in the software RAID is automatically changed to position the secondary disk storage medium in the RAID higher in the boot order than the primary disk storage medium in response to detecting a hardware failure in the primary disk storage medium. The operating system is then booted from the disk storage medium that is highest in the boot order. A hardware failure may be detected by reading and verifying a predetermined portion of the boot partition of the disk storage medium. Optionally, the predetermined portion of the boot partition may be less than the entire primary disk storage medium, but is preferably sufficient to allow loading of software RAID drivers for the primary and secondary disk storage mediums.

Resilient software-controlled redundant array of independent disks (RAID)

An apparatus including first and second memory devices, wherein each memory device includes data storage, a controller for controlling data transfer to and from the data storage, and a plug with contacts for connecting with the power, ground, and data contacts of an independent port of a host system. Additionally, the first and second memory devices are interconnected to share power and communicate data directly between the first and second memory devices. The memory devices may be any type of external memory device, such as a flash drive, or a peripheral device having a high data transfer rate, such as a digital video camera.

Disclosed is a printer paper spooler with error condition detector including a first slot structure and a second slot structure, a bobbin disposed between the first slot structure and the second slot structure, a light emitting diode, and a phototransistor that receives a detecting light beam emitted by the light emitting diode. Also included is a take-up reel that is powered by a take-up motor, associable with the bobbin via printed receipt paper, and disposed on a take-up tower. Further included is a base structure, on which the first slot structure, the second slot structure, and the take-up tower are disposed, and a spooler control program, associable via a data exchange connection with the phototransistor, the take-up motor, and a printer control program, which is associated with, and controls, a receipt paper printer that is printing the printed receipt paper.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Richard W Vanderpool, Iii