Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6772302 | Virtual copy method for data spanning storage boundaries Instant virtual copy operations are adapted for data objects that span storage boundaries such as logical and/or physical DASD subsystems. Initially, a data storage system receives a request to copy a data object contained in the system. The storage system includes ... | 08/03/2004 |
| 6615318 | Cache management system with multiple cache lists employing roving removal and priority-based addition of cache entries In a cache management system multiple cache lists are utilized, where each entry in a list names at least one corresponding data item in cache. A cache manager always demotes cache list entries from a "current removal list" (and demotes or destages the co... | 09/02/2003 |
| 6604854 | Thin film thermometer with sensors that appear and disappear from respective concealing features according to temperature A thin film thermometer has multiple temperature sensors that individually appear within certain concealing features of the decal under different temperature ranges, otherwise blending into the concealing features and thereby disappearing into the design.... | 08/12/2003 |
| 6604160 | Computing system arbitrating and selectively providing resource-seeking tasks with takeaway of non-shareable resources In a computing system with non-shareable resources, use-arbitrating processes are executed on behalf of each task seeking or having access to non-shareable resource. The processes compete according to prescribed rules and priority guidelines, the resoluti... | 08/05/2003 |
| 6584676 | Method for manufacturing a pole tip trimmed read/write head structure A method for finishing a pole tip trimmed read/write heat that includes a substrate with a pole tip structure having a shield, a shield/pole, and an outer pole. A gap region separates the pole and the shield/pole. First, pole tip trimming is performed to ... | 07/01/2003 |
| 6558720 | Method for automatically sizing and positioning filling material upon randomly spaced tortillas advancing upon conveyor A manufacturing apparatus produces defined lengths of meat or other filling materials for taquitos, enchiladas, burritos, and other rolled, wrapped, or folded tortilla foods. This apparatus includes a small, upper, filling conveyor that operates in parall... | 05/06/2003 |
| 6557089 | Backup by ID-suppressed instant virtual copy then physical backup copy with ID reintroduced A backup copy of a source data volume is created by first performing an instant virtual copy with source volume identifier (ID) suspended, then creating a physical tape backup copy from the instant virtual copy with the source volume ID being reintroduced... | 04/29/2003 |
| 6542930 | Distributed file system with automated file management achieved by decoupling data analysis and movement operations A computer-driven file management technique is applied to a distributed file system with multiple storage "aggregates" to improve file distribution, user access, server workload, and the like. For a first aggregate, a recognition module analyzes file cont... | 04/01/2003 |
| 6512652 | Power saving method and apparatus for computer disk drives A power saving method and apparatus while maintaining an operational or near-operational state for computer memory disk drives. A microprocessor implements microcode instructions to determine if a disk drive is inactive. This is done by checking a control... | 01/28/2003 |
| 6502108 | Cache-failure-tolerant data storage system storing data objects with version code equipped metadata tokens A data storage system stores data with a corresponding encapsulated metadata token in cache and/or base storage to protect against recalling stale data from base storage in the event of a cache failure and subsequent cache miss. A controller is coupled to... | 12/31/2002 |
| 6490596 | Method of transmitting streamlined data updates by selectively omitting unchanged data parts In an expeditious approach to transmitting updated data objects from one computing site to another, a transmitting site compares an updated data object with its previous version, and only includes the changed subparts in its transmission to the receiving ... | 12/03/2002 |
| 6487474 | Automated data storage library with multipurpose slots providing user-selected control path to shared robotic device A data storage library features multipurpose slots each configured to receive a media drive (operable to read/write data from/to media removably loaded into the media drive) a command relay port (operable to convey media transport signals from a host to a... | 11/26/2002 |
| 6487645 | Data storage subsystem with fairness-driven update blocking When a primary data storage subsystem receives updates for local storage and mirroring at a counterpart secondary storage subsystem, the primary subsystem institutes device-specific, fairness-driven update blocking to avoid overrunning the primary subsyst... | 11/26/2002 |
| 6480830 | Active calendar system An "active" calendar automatically analyzes a user's calendar entries and sends machine-readable messages to destinations appropriate to content of the calendar entry. A group of event categories is established, each category specifying one class of antic... | 11/12/2002 |
| 6480905 | Data storage library with efficient cartridge insert A location-centric library host manages cartridge movement according to functional storage addresses and functional I/O addresses. In reality, the library has multiple data storage cartridge receiving slots, which include physical I/O slots and physical s... | 11/12/2002 |
| 6477628 | Backup copy achieving improved efficiency by waiting until rewind/unload command for bulk data copy A particularly efficient storage system makes redundant copies of data on tape by waiting until a rewind/unload command is received and then copying stored data objects en masse, thereby benefitting from any data compression used to store the objects alon... | 11/05/2002 |
| 6462904 | Timing based servo system for magnetic tape systems A track following servo system is disclosed for use with magnetic tape systems in which magnetic servo track patterns contain transitions recorded at more than on azimuthal orientation across the width of the servo track. The timing of a signal derived fr... | 10/08/2002 |
| 6445581 | Disk drive storage enclosure with isolated cooling path for storage media A disk drive storage enclosure includes one cooling path for storage media and a separate cooling path for non-drive storage support equipment such as controller hardware, power supplies, circuit memory, processors, etc. Within the enclosure, storage medi... | 09/03/2002 |
| 6446160 | Multi-drive data storage system with analysis and selected demounting of idle data storage media In a data storage system that employs multiple storage drives to access removable data storage media, idle data storage media are analyzed and than selectively demounted by automated equipment to increase storage drive availability and also minimize unnec... | 09/03/2002 |
| 6434090 | Automated data storage library with control path to shared robotic device via media drive A data storage library features a dual purpose data/control path between a host computer and one or more media drives. The dual purpose path conveys data exchange control signals and related data between the host and drive, and also conveys robotic device... | 08/13/2002 |
| 6434682 | Data management system with shortcut migration via efficient automatic reconnection to previously migrated copy A data management system responds to migration requests by automatically invoking a shortcut migration process for suitable candidates. Suitability of candidate data is efficiently evaluated using, among other considerations, the presence or absence of an... | 08/13/2002 |
| 6397351 | Method and apparatus for rapid data restoration including on-demand output of sorted logged changes Data is rapidly restored from a backup copy, and user access of the restored data further expedited by providing on-demand output of logged changes to the backup data. Contents of the backup data are the same as contents of corresponding primary data at a... | 05/28/2002 |
| 6393136 | Method and apparatus for determining eye contact A method and apparatus determine when a subject is looking at a specific target area by estimating a divergence angle between (1) the direction in which the subject is looking and (2) the direction from the subject directly to the target area. This techni... | 05/21/2002 |
| 6389543 | System and method for command routing and execution in a multiprocessing system Any node in a multi-node processing system may be employed to route commands to a selected group of one or more nodes, and initiate local command execution if permitted by local security provisions. The system includes multiple application nodes interconn... | 05/14/2002 |
| 6377959 | Redundant database recovery through concurrent update and copy procedures A transaction processing system that continues to process incoming transactions during the failure and recovery of either of two duplicate databases. One of the two duplicate databases is assigned "active" status and the other is maintained with "redundan... | 04/23/2002 |
| 6360900 | Data storage chassis with adjustable rack mounting An adjustable system for mounting data storage chassis allows chassis of differing depths to be mounted to a single set of rack mount posts. The front face of the chassis is attached to two front posts. One or more rails are then slidably inserted into th... | 03/26/2002 |
| 6343342 | Storage and access of data using volume trailer Digital data records are stored on a direct access storage device (DASD) in emulation of sequential-access media, the efficiency of storage and access of the data being improved by using a volume trailer containing various statistics about the records. Da... | 01/29/2002 |
| 6338939 | Embedded dual coil fabrication process A read/write head is provided with an embedded planar dual coil write structure. The head includes generally parallel shield, shield/pole, and pole layers. The shield/pole layer abuts a generally coplanar planarization layer in one embodiment. A circuitou... | 01/15/2002 |
| 6339810 | Serial data storage system with automatically adjusted data protection to implement worm media with limited overwrite allowing write appending In a data storage subsystem, drive-level processing treats data storage media as WORM by automatically advancing a write append limiter as data is written, and preventing changes to data occurring before the write append limiter. Despite this media's WORM... | 01/15/2002 |
| 6334178 | Multiprocessing system with automated propagation of changes to centrally maintained configuration settings In a multiprocessing system, hierarchically superior configuration managers maintain profiles of operating characteristics to which subordinate managed units selectively subscribe. If the profiles or operating characteristics change, the configuration man... | 12/25/2001 |
| 6320719 | Timing based servo system for magnetic tape systems A track following servo system is disclosed for use with magnetic tape systems in which magnetic servo track patterns contain transitions recorded at more than on azimuthal orientation across the width of the servo track. The timing of a signal derived fr... | 11/20/2001 |
| 6321239 | Efficient volume copy using pre-configuration of log structured target storage Source data is more efficiently copied to log structured target storage by pre-configuring the target storage. The invention may be practiced in a system including a host, a storage controller, and the target storage. The host maintains a directory identi... | 11/20/2001 |
| 6311213 | System and method for server-to-server data storage in a network environment A system and method for storing data in a network computing environment. The network includes a source server that will receive data to be stored from a client and target servers that have locally attached physical storage media. A server-to-server protoc... | 10/30/2001 |
| 6304980 | Peer-to-peer backup system with failure-triggered device switching honoring reservation of primary device A peer-to-peer backup storage system automatically switches from a primary storage site to a mirrored backup site in response to a primary site failure, where the secondary site then honors any existing host initiated reservation of primary storage. Each ... | 10/16/2001 |
| 6298439 | Automated storage library for managing allocation of a peripheral data storage device in response to a multi-volume data set request A method and system for managing a multi-volume data set request in an automated storage library. The library includes automatic means for prioritizing and selecting the optimum peripheral data storage device (PDSD) for mounting a data volume belonging to... | 10/02/2001 |
| 6286920 | Venetian blind printing system Print heads with arcuate printing surfaces are used to apply images to elongated, laterally curved slats prior to their assembly into Venetian blinds. Each print head includes a print head casing having a concave or convex printing surface forming an arc ... | 09/11/2001 |
| 6282609 | Storage and access to scratch mounts in VTS system A portion of digital data records are stored on a direct access storage device (DASD) in emulation of sequential-access media when the parent digital data records are transferred to a sequential-access media. The efficiency of storage and access to the da... | 08/28/2001 |
| 6282051 | Timing based servo system for magnetic tape systems A track following servo system is disclosed for use with magnetic tape systems in which magnetic servo track patterns contain transitions recorded at more than on azimuthal orientation across the width of the servo track. The timing of a signal derived fr... | 08/28/2001 |
| 6272086 | Low cost tamper-resistant method for write-once read many (WORM) storage A tamper-resistant Hard-WORM data storage system and a magneto-optical storage disk therefor is disclosed. The disk has a plurality of sectors thereon containing one or more uniquely formatted fields to provide an indication that the disk is a Write-Once ... | 08/07/2001 |
| 6263789 | Machine for automatically sizing and positioning filling material upon randomly spaced tortillas advancing upon conveyor A manufacturing apparatus produces defined lengths of meat or other filling materials for taquitos, enchiladas, burritos, and other rolled, wrapped, or folded tortilla foods. This apparatus includes a small, upper, filling conveyor that operates in parall... | 07/24/2001 |
