IBM Assigned Sixteen Patents

Selective index writing prior to unthreading magnetic recording tape
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,204,653) developed by Hasegawa, Tohru, Tokyo, Japan, Iwanaga, Masayuki, Urayasu-si, Japan, and Oishi, Yutaka, Tokyo, Japan, for a “selective index writing prior to unthreading a magnetic recording tape.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A drive-implemented method according to one embodiment includes determining that unthreading of a tape is to be performed, and in response to the determination that the unthreading of the tape is to be performed, determining whether to write an index on the tape prior to unthreading the tape. In response to a determination to write the index on the tape, the index is written on the tape prior to unthreading the tape. The tape is then unthreaded. The drive-implemented method further includes receiving a write request after the unthreading, rethreading the tape, and writing data corresponding to the write request on the tape. The index stored on the tape prior to the unthreading is overwritten with the data corresponding to the write request.”

The patent application was filed on April 24, 2018 (15/961,696).

Calibration of high-density servo pattern detector parameters
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,204,649) developed by Bui, Nhan X., Tucson, AZ, Cherubini, Giovanni, Rueschlikon, Switzerland, Furrer, Simeon, Altdorf, Switzerland, and Lantz, Mark A., Adliswil, Switzerland, for a “calibration of high-density servo pattern detector parameters.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A tape drive-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: causing a servo reader to move in a first direction over a high-density servo pattern which includes a plurality of high-density servo tracks. Each of the servo tracks includes at least two patterns written at different frequencies to produce different periodic waveforms during readback. Moreover, a readback signal is received from the servo reader as the servo reader moves in the first direction. The readback signal is used to set a gain parameter for each of the respective periodic waveforms. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.”

The patent application was filed on April 30, 2018 (15/967,355).

High accuracy tape bearing surface length definition process for tape head fabrication
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,204,647) developed by Biskeborn, Robert G., Hollister, CA, and Lo, Calvin S., Saratoga, CA, for a “high accuracy tape bearing surface length definition process for tape head fabrication.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”In one general embodiment, a method includes forming a slot on a tape bearing surface of at least a chip having a thin film layer with a plurality of transducers therein, the slot defining a skiving edge. A second operation is performed on the tape bearing surface of at least the chip for removing a portion of the chip positioned on an opposite side of the slot as the transducers.”

The patent application was filed on August 24, 2017 (15/685,930).

High resolution tape directory, (HRTD) stored at end of data in index partition
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,199,068) developed by Abe, Atsushi, Ebina, Japan, Katagiri, Takashi, Yokohama, Japan, Nakayama, Hirokazu, Kanagawa-ken, Japan, and Oishi, Yutaka, Tokyo, Japan, for a “high resolution tape directory, (HRTD) stored at end of data in an index partition.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”In one embodiment, a method includes writing a file into a data partition of a tape medium. The method also includes storing a high resolution tape directory, (HRTD) having location information of data in the data partition as part of end of data, (EOD) of the index partition. The storing the HRTD as part of the EOD of the index partition includes requesting movement of the tape medium to the index partition in order to update an index file after changes have occurred to data in the data partition, and writing an updated index file into the index partition concurrent to writing an updated HRTD into the EOD of the index partition.”

The patent application was filed on November 1, 2017 (15/801,104).

Balanced delay and resolution for high density servo
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,199,062) developed by Bui, Nhan X., Tucson, AZ, Cherubini, Giovanni, Rueschlikon, Switzerland, Furrer, Simeon, Altdorf, Switzerland, and Lantz, Mark A., Adliswil, Switzerland, for a “balanced delay and resolution for high density servo systems.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A tape drive-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: determining a length of a window of a servo pattern to use for calculating a lateral position estimate, and determining a number of the windows of the servo pattern to use for calculating a lateral position value. A lateral position estimate is calculated for each of the number of the windows of the servo pattern using signals which correspond to each of the number of the windows. Moreover, the lateral position value is calculated by using the lateral position estimates. The lateral position value is used to control a tape head actuator. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.”

The patent application was filed on July 26, 2018 (16/046,905).

Balanced delay and resolution for high density servo
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,199,061) developed by Bui, Nhan X., Tucson, AZ, Cherubini, Giovanni, Rueschlikon, Switzerland, Furrer, Simeon, Altdorf, Switzerland, and Lantz, Mark A., Adliswil, Switzerland, for a “balanced delay and resolution for high density servo systems.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A tape drive-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: determining a length of a window of a servo pattern to use for calculating a lateral position estimate, and determining a number of the windows of the servo pattern to use for calculating a lateral position value. A lateral position estimate is calculated for each of the number of the windows of the servo pattern. Moreover, the lateral position value is calculated by using the lateral position estimates. The lateral position value is used to control a tape head actuator. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.”

The patent application was filed on July 25, 2018 (16/045,610).

Magnetic recording head having longitudinally spaced offset arrays
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,199,060) developed by Biskeborn, Robert G., Hollister, CA, for a “magnetic recording head having longitudinally spaced offset arrays.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a head having at least two modules, each of the modules having an array of transducers and at least one servo transducer. An axis of each array is defined between opposite ends thereof. The axes of the arrays are oriented about parallel to each other. The axes of the arrays are spaced from one another in an intended direction of tape travel thereacross. The array of a first of the modules is offset from the array of a second of the modules in a first direction parallel to the axis of the array of the second module. All of the transducers of the first module are positioned on a first side of an imaginary line oriented in the intended direction of tape travel, wherein all of the transducers of the second module are positioned on a second side of the imaginary line.”

The patent application was filed on May 7, 2018 (15/973,381).

Variable scoping capability for physical tape layout diagnostic structure of tape storage
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,170,158) developed by Nylander-Hill, Pamela R., Tucson, AZ, for a “variable scoping capability for physical tape layout diagnostic structure of tape storage device.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A computer program product, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se. Moreover, the program instructions readable and/or executable by a controller to cause the controller to perform a method which includes: collecting, by the controller, data relating to operation of a tape drive, storing, by the controller, the collected data in wrap sections of a tape map, and storing, by the controller, a subset of the collected data in a slice region upon experiencing a first trigger condition and/or upon reaching a predefined location on a tape. Moreover, the wrap sections of the tape map correlate to physical lengths of tape. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.”

The patent application was filed on December 1, 2017 (15/829,074).

Tape heads with sub-ambient pressure cavities
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,170,143) developed by Engelen, Johan B. C., Zurich, Switzerland, Lantz, Mark A., Thalwil, Switzerland, and Rothuizen, Hugo E., Oberrieden, Switzerland, for “tape heads with sub-ambient pressure cavities.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A unidirectional and bi-directional tape head with sub-ambient pressure cavities. The tape head is adapted for reading and/or writing to a magnetic tape. The tape head includes: a tape-bearing surface, a transducer area, having at least one transducer designed for reading and/or writing to the magnetic tape, a cavity open on the tape-bearing surface adjacent to the transducer area that extends parallel to the transducer area and transversally to the longitudinal direction of circulation of the tape such that an opening of the cavity faces the tape in operation, and one or more air bleed slots connected to the cavity. The cavity is further dimensioned and arranged with respect to the transducer area to create, upon circulation of the tape in operation, sub-ambient pressure therein.”

The patent application was filed on August 8, 2017 (15/671,587).

Tape apparatus having array of write transducers each having at least three layers of coils
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,170,138) developed by Biskeborn, Robert G., Hollister, CA, Fontana, Jr., Robert E., San Jose, CA, and Lo, Calvin S., Saratoga, CA, for a “tape apparatus having an array of write transducers each having at least three layers of coils.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A magnetic recording tape writing apparatus includes an array of write transducers extending along a common tape bearing surface. Each of the write transducers has a lower pole having a lower pole tip, a lower coil layer above the lower pole, an intermediate coil layer above the lower coil layer, and an upper coil layer above the intermediate coil layer. An upper pole is positioned above the upper coil layer, the upper pole having an upper pole tip. In one embodiment, a nonmagnetic write gap is positioned between the pole tips, a plane of deposition of the write gap extending between the intermediate coil layer and the lower coil layer. In another embodiment, a nonmagnetic write gap is positioned between the pole tips, a plane of deposition of the write gap extending between the intermediate coil layer and the upper coil layer.”

The patent application was filed on March 31, 2017 (15/476,835).

Deleting files written on tape
nal Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,169,344) developed by Iwanaga, Masayuki, Urayasu, Japan, Ohta, Yumiko, Yokohama, Japan, and Oishi, Yutaka, Kawasaki, Japan, for “deleting files written on tape.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A method for writing a file from an application of a host onto a tape includes sequentially receiving records forming the file from the application, adding a predetermined number of segments of dummy data, (dummy records) subsequently to the plurality of records forming the file such that the records of the file and records of a subsequent file are not included in the same data set, interposing the dummy records between a final record of the file and a head record of the subsequent, (next) file, to thereby construct at least one data set that is adjacent to one data set and does not include the records of the file, and writing a data set including the records of the file, a data set, (dummy data set) including the final record of the file and the dummy records, and a data set including the subsequent file, onto the tape.”

The patent application was filed on August 21, 2017 (15/681,671).

Restoring data
nal Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,169,165) developed by Iwasaki, Norie, Fujisawa, Japan, Matsui, Sosuke, Tokyo, Japan, Miyamura, Tsuyoshi, Yokohama, Japan, Watanabe, Terue, and Yamamoto, Noriko, Tokyo, Japan, for “restoring data.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Restoring a data processing system. Files on one or more storage devices of a data processing system are backed up to magnetic tape recording media. Metadata associated with the backed up files is recorded, including magnetic tape identification and tape location for each backed up file. Files on the one or more storage devices are identified that meet a selection policy for files required for rapid restoration of the data processing system. An index list is generated of the identified files and their associated magnetic tape metadata. The index list is sorted by magnetic tape identification and magnetic tape location. In response to a request to restore the data processing system, the identified files on the sorted index list are restored in magnetic tape identification and magnetic tape location sort order. Operation of the restored data processing system is then begun in accordance with the restored files.”

The patent application was filed on February 3, 2017 (15/423,651).

Reading records from tape medium
nal Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,168,939) developed by Kawamura, Kousei, Masuda, Koichi, Tokyo, Japan, Matsui, Sosuke, Ishii, Japan, Oishi, Yutaka, Yokohama, Japan, and Tsuda, Takahiro, Tokyo, Japan, for “reading records from a tape medium.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A method for operating a tape drive may include receiving a command to read a record stored on a tape by a tape drive having a capability to compress and decompress data. The tape drive compresses a record prior to writing the record to tape when a command to write the record to tape specifies that the record is to be compressed, and when a compressed size of the record is smaller than an uncompressed size of the record. The method further include reading the record from the tape by the tape drive, where the tape includes a plurality of compressed records and a plurality of uncompressed records. The method further includes determining by the tape drive whether the record is not compressed. The method may additionally include generating a compressed record by compressing the record by the tape drive when it is determined that the record is not compressed.”

The patent application was filed on November 24, 2015 (14/950,447).

Duplexing file system data
nal Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,168,920) developed by Abe, Atsushi, Kanagawa-ken, Japan, Ashida, Takashi, Yamato, Japan, Hasegawa, Tohru, Tokyo, Japan, Itagaki, Hiroshi, Yokohama, Japan, Mitsuma, Shinsuke, Machida, Japan, and Watanabe, Terue, Tokyo, Japan, for a “duplexing file system data.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”One or more processors receive data records from a file system, and convert the data records to a tape image having a format defined by the file system. The tape image is written to a first storage device, and a sequence of data types of the first storage device and a second storage device are monitored to determine whether the first storage device sequence of data types differs from the sequence of data types of the second storage device. Determining that the sequence of data types of the first storage device and second storage device do differ, one or more processors copying, to the second storage device, the data records from the first storage device, from the position on the first storage device that corresponds to the end-of-data position of the second storage device, to the end-of-data position of the first storage device.”

The patent application was filed on August 21, 2015 (14/832,213).

Save block data to tape in reverse order
nal Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,152,993) developed by Yamamoto, Noriko, Hasegawa, Tohru, Kotu-Ku, Japan, Miyamura, Tsuyoshi, Yokohama, Japan, Mitsuma, Shinsuke, Machida, Japan, Matsui, Sosuke, Higashimurayama, Japan, and Itagaki, Hiroshi, Yokohama, Japan, for a “save block data to tape in a reverse order.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Linear Tape File System that can accommodate various storage orders, such as sequential and reverse sequential, on a tape medium. The storage order may be reversed, (or otherwise changed) at the block level and also the bit order within the block level. The LFTS related data associated with the LFTS file system stores data sufficient to indicate storage order, (for example, reverse), so that the motions of the tape medium and tape drive can be coordinated during reading or erasing operations to be performed in the correct order, with a view to the order the data was stored on the tape. Storing data in reverse order on an LFTS tape can lead to certain operational advantages.”

The patent application was filed on November 29, 2017 (15/825,158).

Backing up data on tape
nal Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,152,256) developed by Miyamura, Tsuyoshi, Yokohama, Japan, for a “method for backing up data on tape.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A method for backing up data on a tape is provided. This method includes: copying the first data area excluding the third data area, and the second data area, to the tape as a single, contiguous fourth data area. The second data area is copied to a position corresponding to the replacement of the third data area in the contiguous fourth data area. The third data area is copied to the tape as a fifth data area separate from the fourth data area. The index information for identifying the fourth data area, and the index information for identifying the fifth data area, are stored to the tape.”

The patent application was filed on November 8, 2017 (15/807,442).