IBM Assigned Fithteen Patents

Logical format utilizing lateral encoding of data for storage on magnetic tape
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,379,756) developed by Cideciyan, Roy D., Rueschlikon, Switzerland, Furrer, Simeon, Altdorf, Switzerland, Gale, Ernest S., Tucson, AZ, and Lantz, Mark A., Adliswil, Switzerland, for a “logical format utilizing lateral encoding of data for storage on magnetic tape.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”In one embodiment, a method includes receiving data to store to a magnetic tape medium using a tape drive, the data being organized into a predetermined number of two-dimensional arrays, each two-dimensional array including a plurality of narrow-spread, (NS) codewords positioned orthogonally to a plurality of wide-spread, (WS) codewords, (relative spread referring to space occupied on the magnetic tape medium when written). The method also includes successively writing each of the NS codewords onto a plurality of tracks of the magnetic tape medium using a first number of channels of the tape drive capable of writing data to tape tracks simultaneously. A first NS codeword from a first two-dimensional array is completely written to the magnetic tape medium prior to starting to write a second NS codeword from the first two-dimensional array. Also, the plurality of NS codewords are protected with a stronger encoding than the plurality of WS codewords.”

The patent application was filed on December 15, 2016 (15/380,983).

Mechanized take-up reel and method for loading and unloading tape storage medium
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,373,642) developed by Erpelding, A. David, Imaino, Wayne I., Labby, Ronald R., San Jose, CA, and Weaver, Winfield S., Gilroy, CA, for a “mechanized take-up reel and method for loading and unloading a tape storage medium.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Various embodiments relate to methods for loading and unloading a tape storage medium. According to one embodiment, a method for loading a tape storage medium includes positioning a mechanized take-up reel with respect to a tape supply reel, positioning a feature coupled to a tape storage medium on the tape supply reel with respect to the mechanized take-up reel, rotatably decoupling an inner hub of the mechanized take-up reel from an outer hub of the mechanized take-up reel, extending a tongue of the mechanized take-up reel, engaging the tongue with the feature, retracting the tongue and feature into the outer hub, and nonrotably coupling the inner hub with the outer hub.”

The patent application was filed on August 3, 2017 (15/668,272).

Protecting sensitive device from corrosion
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,373,631) developed by Bradshaw, Richard Lionel, Tucson, AZ, Iben, Icko E.Tim, Santa Clara, CA, McKinley, Wayne Alan, and Randall, Lee Curtis, Tucson, AZ, for “protecting a sensitive device from corrosion.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A method for protecting a magnetic head according to one embodiment includes applying an organic coating to a magnetic head using a product having an applicator portion for applying an organic coating to a magnetic head. The organic coating is on the applicator portion of the tape, and a lubricant is on a data portion of the tape. The lubricant has a different composition than the organic coating. Another method for protecting a magnetic head includes applying an organic coating to a magnetic head for reducing exposure of the head to oxidation promoting materials, and storing the magnetic head. Another method includes fabricating a tape having an applicator portion for applying an organic coating to a magnetic head for reducing exposure of the head to oxidation promoting materials, applying the organic coating to the applicator portion of the tape, and applying a lubricant to a data portion of the tape.”

The patent application was filed on October 20, 2017 (15/789,782).

Tape drive memory deduplication
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,372,681) developed by Asmussen, Ole, Henstedt-Ulzburg, Germany, Beiderbeck, Robert, Wassenberg, Germany, Rueger, Erik, Ockenheim, Germany, and Schafer, Markus, Heiligenmoschel, Germany, for a “tape drive memory deduplication.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A method and system for improving tape drive memory storage is provided. The method includes receiving, by a storage tape drive, a data stream for storage. The data stream is passed through a non-volatile memory device, (NVS2) of the storage tape drive. The data stream is divided into adjacent variable length data chunks and a chunk list file including similarity identifiers for each of the adjacent variable length data chunks is generated and stored within a, (non-volatile memory device) NVS1. Duplicate data including duplicated data with respect to a group of data chunks of the adjacent variable length data chunks is identified and deleted from the NVS2 of the storage tape drive such that the group of data chunks remains within NVS2. The group of data chunks is written to a data storage tape cartridge. Pointers identifying each data chunk and an associated storage position are generated and stored.”

The patent application was filed on September 12, 2017 (15/701,994).

Characterization of nonlinearity in servo patterns
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,366,716) developed by Judd, Kevin B., Tucson, AZ, Furrer, Simeon, Altdorf, Switzerland, Pantazi, Angeliki, Thalwil, Switzerland, and Lantz, Mark A., Adliswil, Switzerland, for a “characterization of nonlinearity in servo patterns.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”In one general embodiment, a method includes applying a static head skew to a magnetic tape head, positioning the first reader at a first y-position relative to a servo pattern in a servo band, measuring y-positions of the second reader relative to the servo pattern in the servo band while the first reader is at the first y-position, and averaging the measured y-positions. The method further includes repeating the following process several times: moving the first reader to a next y-position, measuring y-positions of the second reader while the first reader is at the next y-position, and averaging the y-positions measured by the second reader while the first reader is at the next y-position. The method further includes calculating a unique nonlinearity value of the servo pattern in the servo band for each of the average y-position values, and storing and/or outputting the calculated nonlinearity values.”

The patent application was filed on July 24, 2018 (16/044,396).

Magnetic tape drive with burnishing unit
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,354,686) developed by Rueger, Erik, Ockenheim, Germany, Wiedemann, Stefan, Kaiserslautern, Germany, Schafer, Markus, Heiligenmoschel, Germany, Beiderbeck, Robert, Wassenberg, Germany, and Asmussen, Ole, Henstedt-Ulzburg, Germany, for a “magnetic tape drive with a burnishing unit.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”The invention relates to a tape drive, which may include a transport mechanism which may include a tape head. The tape drive may be adapted to receive a magnetic tape with the transport mechanism, and to transport the magnetic tape by the transport mechanism. The tape head may be adapted to perform read-write operations on an oxide side of the magnetic tape. The tape drive may include a burnishing unit, which may include a burnishing roller and a burnish controller having an abrasive shell. The burnishing roller may be installed in the tape drive upstream of the tape head such that the abrasive shell supports the received magnetic tape on the oxide side. The burnish controller may be adapted to control the movement of the burnishing roller.”

The patent application was filed on April 20, 2018 (15/958,393).

Writing data to recording medium
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,353,624) developed by Oishi, Yutaka, Tokyo, Japan, for “apparatus and method for writing data to recording medium.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A method for writing data in a buffer to a magnetic recording tape includes identifying a size of an unused area of the magnetic recording tape based on a current writing position on the magnetic recording tape. An upper limit of a capacity for data that can be stored in the buffer is determined based on the size of the unused area. The predetermined data is stored, according to a command for storing predetermined data in the buffer, in the buffer on condition that the capacity for data in the buffer does not exceed the upper limit.”

The patent application was filed on July 29, 2015 (14/813,063).

Tape library initiated media verification
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,353,600) developed by Freitag, Bernd, Partenheim, Germany, Krick, Frank, Ockenheim, Germany, Oswald, Tim, Gimbsheim, Germany, and Seipp, Harald, Mainz, Germany, for a “tape library initiated media verification.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A method for verification of content of tape cartridges in a tape library system using tape drives of the tape library, is provided. The method includes instructing the tape drive to perform tape cartridge verification on the tape cartridge. The method further includes after completion of the tape cartridge verification, unloading the tape cartridge to its original storage position. The method further includes transmitting verification data of the tape cartridge verification to a database of the tape library system for analysis.”

The patent application was filed on September 23, 2016 (15/274,202).

Tape transport control with suppression of time-varying tension disturbances
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,347,282) developed by Pantazi, Angeliki, Thalwil, Switzerland, Cherubini, Giovanni, Rueschlikon, Switzerland, Taketomi, Tomoko, Yamato, Japan, Bui, Nhan X., Tucson, AZ, Lantz, and Mark A., Thalwil, Switzerland, for a “tape transport control with suppression of time-varying tension disturbances.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Embodiments of the present invention provide a tape transport control system with enhanced regulation of tape tension and velocity over the entire length of the tape. The tape transport control system comprises of circuitry adapted to output and circuitry adapted to receive one or more signals representing a tape velocity, at least one radius of either the first tape reel or the second tape reel, and a tape tension, and based on the received signals, generate at least one control signal to control at least one of the first reel motor or the second reel motor so as to reduce a tension disturbance at a minimum, one frequency corresponding to a time-varying reel-rotation frequency, based on controller parameters that depend on the tape velocity and on the at least one radius of either the first tape reel or the second tape reel.”

The patent application was filed on June 23, 2017 (15/631,033).

Writing file to plurality of media
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,346,078) developed by Hasegawa, Tohru, Tokyo, Japan, Itagaki, Hiroshi, Miyamura, Tsuyoshi, Yokohama, Japan, and Watanabe, Terue, Tokyo, Japan, for a “method of writing a file to a plurality of media and a storage system thereof.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A method according to one embodiment includes instructing a first tape drive to load a parent tape medium, and instructing the first tape drive to retrieve identification, (ID) information about the parent tape medium from metadata stored, saved) thereon. The first tape drive is instructed to write a first file part of a file to the parent tape medium. Information about the file and information about the first file part are written to the parent tape medium as metadata. A second tape drive is instructed to load and retrieve ID information about a child tape medium from metadata stored thereon. The second tape drive is instructed to write one or more subsequent file parts of the file to the child tape medium. The first tape drive is instructed to write the ID information about the child tape medium and attribute information about the one or more subsequent file parts stored to the child tape medium as metadata to the parent tape medium.”

The patent application was filed on October 24, 2017 (15/792,230).

Optimized reading of multiple objects from tape
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,338,855) developed by Asher, Kai A. G., Hagar, Jason D., Tucson, AZ, and Li, Yu Meng, Beijing, China, for an “optimized reading of multiple objects from tape.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A method for restoring multiple objects from tape, (1) generates a list of objects to be restored from tape, (2) identifies a starting location of a first object on the tape, and reads, into a buffer from the tape, an entire buffer of data from the starting location. The method then, (4) determines a length of the first object, (5) restores the first object, and, (6) finds a start of a next object in the buffer using a length of the previous object. The method, (7) determines a length of the next object by analyzing metadata of the next object and, 8) restores the next object if the next object is in the list. The method, (9) repeats steps, (6), (7), and, (8) until the end of the buffer is reached or all objects in the list have been restored. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.”

The patent application was filed on December 8, 2016 (15/373,412).

Tape drive temperature control for media dimensional stability
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,332,554) developed by Bui, Nhan X., Tucson, AZ, Judd, Kevin B., Vail, AZ, Inch, Randy C., Tuscon, AZ, Lantz, Mark A., Thalwil, Switzerland, and Harper, David H. F., Vail, AZ, for a “tape drive temperature control for media dimensional stability.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A determination is made whether read/write is enabled within the tape drive storage unit. In response to determining that read/write is enabled, a determination is made whether an absolute value of a channel offset exceeds a threshold value. In response to determining that the absolute value of the channel offset exceeds a threshold value, a direction of travel of the tape media is determined. In response to determining that the direction of travel of the tape media is a forward direction, a determination is made whether the channel offset is positive. In response to determining that the channel offset is positive, a first cooling device within the tape drive storage unit is powered on. The first cooling device lowers the temperature of a first guide roller and the tape media coming off a first tape storage reel prior to the media passing by a read/write head.”

The patent application was filed on February 27, 2018 (15/905,873).

Reduction in time required to write file to tape
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,331,628) developed by Abe, Atsushi, Ebina, Japan, Ishimoto, Takeshi, and Oishi, Yutaka, Kawasaki, Japan, for a “reduction in time required to write file to tape.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Reducing time required to write a file to tape is provided. Synchronous processing is performed in a file system implementing a Linear Tape File System, (LTFS) file format, wherein the synchronous processing includes writing, to a tape medium of a tape cartridge, index information and one or more files. A type of the synchronous processing is determined, wherein the type is either an index-MAM sync type or an index-only sync type. Updated information is stored to a media auxiliary memory of the tape cartridge in response to determining that the synchronous processing is of the index-MAM sync type.”

The patent application was filed on April 20, 2017 (15/492,240).

Positioning shuttle cars in tape storage shuttle complex
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,319,404) developed by Hasegawa, Tohru, Tokyo, Japan, for a “positioning shuttle cars in a tape storage shuttle complex.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Methods that can position shuttle cars in a tape storage shuttle complex are provided. One method includes tracking, by a processor, tape drive occupancy in a plurality of library strings of a shuttle complex, the tape drive occupancy indicating that each tape drive in the plurality of library strings is one of occupied and vacant and positioning a set of shuttle cars in the shuttle complex based on the tape drive occupancy in the plurality of library strings. Apparatus and computer program products that can include, perform, and/or implement the methods are also provided.”

The patent application was filed on August 21, 2018 (16/107,980).

Tape head having sensors proximate to region between tented tape regions
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,304,481) developed by Biskeborn, Robert G., Hollister, CA, for a “tape head having sensors proximate to a region between tented tape regions.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”An apparatus includes a module having a tape bearing surface, a first edge, and a second edge, where a first tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the first edge toward the second edge, and a second tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface extends from the second edge toward the first edge. A first guide is positioned for inducing a first tenting of a moving magnetic recording tape above the first tape tenting region, and a second guide is positioned for inducing a second tenting of the moving magnetic recording tape above the second tape tenting region. A sensor is located in a thin film region of the module. The sensor has a free layer. The sensor is positioned between the first tape tenting region and the second tape tenting region of the tape bearing surface.”

The patent application was filed on September 6, 2017 (15/697,260).