IBM Assigned Twenty-One Patents

Writing data to tape medium
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,983,716) developed by Mitsuma, Shinsuke, Higashimurayama, Japan, Miyamura, Tsuyoshi, Yokohama, Japan, Hasegawa, Tohru, Yamamoto, Noriko, Tokyo, Japan, and Matsui, Sosuke, Machida, Japan, for “writing data to tape medium.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A computer-implemented method for writing data to a tape medium, includes: writing a file of a first content to the tape medium, writing at least a part of the file of a second content to the tape medium, the second content being obtained by updating the first content, and writing an index including first metadata and second metadata to the tape medium, the first metadata being metadata of the file of the first content, the second metadata being metadata of the file of the second content.”

The patent application was filed on March 28, 2018 (15/938,895).

Managing storage metadata during data migration
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,970,251) developed by Balasubramanian, Shankar, Bangalore, India, Naik, Manoj P., San Jose, CA, and Puvvada, Venkateswara R., Inkollu, India, for “managing storage system metadata during data migration.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Data is migrated from a source storage device to a destination storage device using tape media. Both the source storage device and the destination storage device utilize disk drives to store data. A portion of data is detected migrating to the tape media. Metadata of the portion of data is changed to identify the portion of data as residing on the tape media. A prefetch command for the portion of data is detected. It is determined that the portion of data is stored on the tape media. In response to determining that the portion of data is stored on the tape media, the prefetch command is executing without recalling the portion of data to the disk drives. Instead, the portion of data is read directly from the tape media.”

The patent application was filed on April 11, 2019 (16/381,020).

Using volume header records to identify matching tape volumes
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,969,961) developed by Kishi, Gregory T., Oro Valley, AZ, and Swingler, Joseph M., Phoenix, AZ, for “using volume header records to identify matching tape volumes.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Various embodiments are provided for identifying matching tape volumes for data deduplication in an automated data storage library by a processor. N most similar tape volumes in a tape library may be matched according to a data indication provided in each volume header of the N most similar tape volumes for performing a data deduplication operation on a reduced block of compressed data between the N most similar tape volumes, wherein N is a positive integer.”

The patent application was filed on October 18, 2016 (15/296,664).

Non-interfering micro-positioning system utilizing piezoelectric elements
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,957,362) developed by Harper, David, Vail, AZ, for a “non-interfering micro-positioning system utilizing piezoelectric elements.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Implementation of a non-interfering micro-positioning device, for a tape drive write/read head module assembly utilizing piezoelectric elements, by generating at least two flexure brackets. The at least two flexure brackets may include the piezoelectric elements. Affixing at least one flexure bracket to a first side of the write/read head module assembly. Affixing at least one other flexure bracket to a second side of the write/read head module assembly.”

The patent application was filed on September 11, 2019 (16/567,905).

Storage tape cartridge
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,957,356) developed by Rueger, Erik, Ockenheim, Germany, Schafer, Markus, Heiligenmoschel, Germany, Wiedemann, Stefan, Kaiserslautern, Germany, Beiderbeck, Robert, Wassenberg, Germany, and Asmussen, Ole, Henstedt-Ulzburg, Germany, for a “data storage tape cartridge.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A data storage tape cartridge includes a housing having a reel within and rotatably supported by the housing. Two or more data storage tapes are wound up on the same rotary axis of the reel. Each subsequent winding of a first one of the tapes is separated from the previous winding of the first tape by at least another one of the other tapes. A leader pin is attached to a free end of each of the tapes. The leader pins may be connected to one another. The leader pins may be disconnected from one another as part of process for mounting the cartridge in a tape drive.”

The patent application was filed on November 26, 2018 (16/199,376).

Magnetic tape device capable of selecting codeword rewrite based on determined threshold
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,937,453) developed by Butt, Kevin Dale, Tucson, AZ, Cideciyan, Roy, Rueschlikon, Switzerland, Furrer, Simeon, Altdorf, Switzerland, Iwanaga, Masayuki, Urayasu, Japan, Lantz, Mark Alfred, Adliswil, Switzerland, and Tanaka, Keisuke, Tokyo, Japan, for a “magnetic tape device capable of selecting codeword rewrite based on determined threshold.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A methodology that enables, for example, tape drive operation at lower SNR and/or reduced rewrite area uses a first threshold T and a second threshold r for a rewrite condition. Codeword interleaves (CWIs) in a data set are written onto a plurality of simultaneously-written parallel tracks of a magnetic recording medium, read back and error correction decoded. A determination is made as to whether at least one of the C1 or C1′ codewords in each decoded CWI contains more byte errors than the second threshold r of the rewrite condition. A number of CWIs in a rewrite buffer are according to the following criteria: b.sub.i’=b.sub.i-T when b.sub.i is greater than the first threshold T, and b.sub.i’=0 when b.sub.i is less than or equal to the first threshold T.”

The patent application was filed on March 26, 2020 (16/831,527).

Concurrent logging of data layers within tape storage device
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,936,466) developed by Nylander-Hill, Pamela R., Tucson, AZ, for a “concurrent logging of data layers within a tape storage device.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Concurrent standard/high resolution logging of critical performance metrics and functional data for various functional areas including servo system, dataflow, channel, read/write, speed matching, and error recovery is achieved by segregating one or more rows of the tape map array for the purpose of logging only high resolution data. As performance data is logged to the standard resolution tape map by wrap and regional offset down tape, the reserved high resolution row logs data sequentially in the order it was processed on magnetic tape and not by its position on magnetic tape. The high-resolution performance data is concurrently logged with normal-resolution performance data as a supporting view with more detailed tape processing data should the normal-resolution performance data have inconclusive or insufficient content. High-resolution storage is structured for shorter regional logging or per-dataset logging of critical performance metrics and functional data, referred to herein as performance data.”

The patent application was filed on November 11, 2019 (16/679,392).

Tape-creep detection via trajectory and distortion angles
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,930,309) developed by Winarski, Daniel James, Bui, Nhan Xuan, Randall, Lee Curtis, and Bradshaw, Richard, Tucson, AZ, for a “tape-creep detection via trajectory and distortion angles.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A tape drive may calculate the slopes for three successive timing-based-servo marks in a timing-based-servo group. The timing-based-servo marks may be arranged in a one or more M-patterns. The three successive timing-based-servo marks may be across the one or more M-patterns. The tape drive may perform a parabolic fit of a gradient of the slopes. The tape drive may determine whether the gradient is demonstrative of tape-creep.”

The patent application was filed on October 29, 2019 (16/667,188).

Reduced data access time on tape with data redundancy
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,929,070) developed by Taguchi, Kohei, Yokohama, Japan, for a “reduced data access time on tape with data redundancy.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: sending an instruction to write a first copy of a first portion of data to a first partition on a first tape, and sending an instruction to write a second copy of the first portion of data to a second partition on a second tape. The first tape has at least the first partition and a second partition, while the second tape also has at least a first partition and the second partition. The first partition on each of the first and second tapes is closer to a beginning of the respective tape than the second partition on the respective tape. The second tape is also different than the first tape.”

The patent application was filed on February 27, 2019 (16/287,956).

Split band multichannel magnetic recording head
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,902,882) developed by Biskeborn, Robert G., Hollister, CA, for a “split band multichannel magnetic recording head.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”An apparatus, according to one approach, includes an inner array of data transducers on a module, the data transducers of the inner array being aligned along a common axis that extends between distal ends of the module. Two outer arrays of data transducers are positioned on the module to sandwich the inner array therebetween. Inner servo readers are positioned between the inner array and the outer arrays. Outer servo readers are positioned toward outer ends of the outer arrays. A method, according to one approach, includes passing a magnetic recording tape having a plurality of data bands over a module as described above. Data on two of the data bands is simultaneously transduced (read and/or written) using the data transducers of the inner and outer arrays. Thus, the bandwidth of the data operation can be increased, e.g., effectively doubled.”

The patent application was filed on August 27, 2019 (16/553,013).

Managing index writes to tape medium
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,902,872) developed by Hasegawa, Tohru, Tokyo, Japan, Itagaki, Hiroshi, Miyamura, Tsuyoshi, Yokohama, Japan, Mitsuma, Shinsuke, Machida, Japan, Yamamoto, Noriko, and Matsui, Sosuke, Tokyo, Japan, for “managing index writes to a tape medium.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Aspects of the present disclosure relate to managing index writes within a tape. A determination can be made that a change was made to at least one file stored within a tape medium while the tape medium was mounted within a tape drive. In response to the determination, an index can be written to a data partition of the tape medium. A determination can be made whether the change included any changes to a file at least equal to a threshold hierarchy level. In response to determining that the change did not include any changes to a file at least equal to the threshold hierarchy level, a first instruction can be issued to the tape drive to reposition the tape medium to the end of the tape. A second instruction can be issued to the tape drive to perform an unthread operation at low tension to rewind the tape medium.”

The patent application was filed on October 31, 2019 (16/669,773).

Tape head module having recessed portion to provide air bearing between tape medium and tape bearing surface of module
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,902,868) developed by Biskeborn, Robert G., Hollister, CA, and Lo, Calvin S., Saratoga, CA, for a “tape head module having recessed portion to provide an air bearing between a tape medium and a tape bearing surface of the module.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”Provided are a tape head module, tape drive, and method for moving a tape medium over a tape head having a recessed portion to provide air bearing between a tape medium and a tape bearing surface of the module. The tape head includes a tape bearing surface, an array of transducers, including read and/or write transducers, on the tape bearing surface, and a recessed portion formed on the tape bearing surface, wherein the array of transducers is located on the tape bearing surface between the recessed portion and an end of the module to perform read and/or write operations with respect to the tape medium.”

The patent application was filed on September 24, 2019 (16/581,604).

Multiple tape video data splitter
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,897,593) developed by Araki, Hiroshi, Yokohama, Japan, Fujihara, Shinobu, Yamato, Japan, Hasegawa, Tohru, Tokyo, Japan, Ishimoto, Takeshi, Kawasaki, Japan, Itagaki, Hiroshi, Yokohama, Japan, Miyoshi, Hiroyuki, and Oishi, Yutaka, Kawasaki, Japan, for a “multiple tape video data splitter.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”An approach, for storing video data in a plurality of tape media via a ring buffer. A tape data splitter receives video data stored in a ring buffer. The tape data splitter writes the video data to a current tape media. The tape data splitter detects an end of tape media event. The tape data splitter responds to the end of tape media event, by switching the current tape media to a next tape media. The tape data splitter selects a resume point for the video data stored in the ring buffer and writes to the next tape media, the video data stored in the ring buffer that is subsequent to the resume point.”

The patent application was filed on August 30, 2016 (15/251,368).

Tape drive with tape surface inspection unit
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,896,696) developed by Asmussen, Ole, Henstedt-Ulzburg, Germany, Beiderbeck, Robert, Wassenberg, Germany, Rueger, Erik, Ockenheim, Germany, and Schafer, Markus, Heiligenmoschel, Germany, for a “tape drive system with tape surface inspection unit.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A tape drive system for ensuring tape data integrity by tape surface inspection, the tape drive system being configured for reading and writing data from/to a magnetic tape, is provided. The tape drive system includes a laser inspection unit comprising a sender and a receiver integrated into the tape drive system, wherein the laser inspection unit configured for recognizing a tape defect by scanning the magnetic tape when the tape drive system is in operation. The tape drive system includes a read/write head configured for acting together with the laser inspection unit as sensors for providing sensor data during a read/write operation of the tape drive system, a communication link between the sensors and a controller unit for exchanging sensor data. The controller is configured for evaluating sensor data and for triggering predefined actions based on the respective evaluation results such that the tape data integrity is ensured.”

The patent application was filed on October 16, 2019 (16/654,531).

File access control on magnetic tape by encrypting metadata
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,895,994) developed by Abe, Atsushi, Ebina, Japan, and Hasegawa, Tohru, Tokyo, Japan, for a “file access control on magnetic tape by encrypting metadata.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A tape drive-implemented method for encrypting metadata on a magnetic tape, the tape drive-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: writing an index to a magnetic tape. The index includes: metadata corresponding to a file stored on the magnetic tape, and metadata corresponding to a directory structure of the file. The tape drive-implemented method additionally includes: using a first key to encrypt a first portion of the metadata in the index corresponding to the file, and using a second key to encrypt a first portion of the metadata in the index corresponding to the directory structure of the file. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.”

The patent application was filed on December 11, 2017 (15/838,151).

Multi-mode, multi-channel magnetic recording head
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,891,978) developed by Biskeborn, Robert G., Hollister, CA, for “multi-mode, multi-channel magnetic recording head and apparatus.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”In one embodiment, a drive-implemented method includes determining, by a tape drive, that a magnetic recording tape is compatible with a first format, the tape drive having an array of transducers including an inner transducer and subarrays of the transducers positioned on opposite sides of the inner transducer, reading from or writing to the magnetic recording tape, by the tape drive, using the array of transducers in a first mode of operation corresponding to the first format, and processing data, by the tape drive, using only the transducers in the subarrays in the first mode of operation.”

The patent application was filed on August 6, 2019 (16/533,625).

Multi-band multichannel magnetic recording head
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,891,972) developed by Biskeborn, Robert G., Hollister, CA, for a “multi-band multichannel magnetic recording head.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”An apparatus, according to one approach, includes two arrays of data transducers on a module, the two arrays being aligned along a common axis extending between distal ends of the module. Outer servo readers are positioned toward outer ends of the two arrays. An inner servo reader is positioned between the two arrays. The servo readers are positioned to each reside above a unique servo track on a magnetic recording tape. A method according to one approach includes passing a magnetic recording tape having a plurality of data bands over a module as described above. Data is simultaneously transduced on the two data bands using the data transducers. Advantageously, the number of simultaneously-usable channels on the module is dramatically increased, thereby also dramatically increasing the data rate per unit of tape speed, while backward compatibility may be preserved.”

The patent application was filed on May 7, 2019 (16/405,589).

Tape gripper cartridge cache
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,885,938) developed by Wiedemann, Stefan, Kaiserslautern, Germany, Rueger, Erik, Ockenheim, Germany, Schafer, Markus, Heiligenmoschel, Germany, Beiderbeck, Robert, Wassenberg, Germany, and Asmussen, Ole, Henstedt-Ulzburg, Germany, for a “tape gripper cartridge cache.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”An apparatus for big data tape management tape cartridge management. The apparatus includes a tape gripper for storing one or more additional tape cartridges within a housing of the tape gripper, wherein the housing of the tape gripper includes a tape cartridge cache, where the tape cartridge cache is a modification to the housing of the tape gripper for holding the one or more additional tape cartridges stacked internally within the tape gripper, the tape cartridge cache is affixed to a bottom portion of the housing of the tape gripper, and the tape cartridge cache includes a plate, oriented above and centered to the tape cartridge cache, capable of being raised and lowered within the tape cartridge cache utilizing one or more springs mounted under the plate inside the tape cartridge cache.”

The patent application was filed on November 25, 2019 (16/693,531).

Tape drive memory deduplication
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,884,989) developed by Asmussen, Ole, Henstedt-Ulzburg, Germany, Beiderbeck, Robert, Wassenberg, Germany, Rueger, Erik, Ockenheim, Germany, and Schaefer, 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 May 20, 2019 (16/416,473).

Dynamic tape guide bearing tilt mechanism
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,854,236) developed by Harper, David, Vail, AZ, and Bui, Nhan Xuan, Tucson, AZ, for a “dynamic tape guide bearing tilt mechanism.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”At least one jack screw from a tape deck base may be removed. The tape deck base may be below a rigid support base that includes a rigid support shaft in the center of the rigid support base. A piezoelectric stack may be inserted where the at least one jack screw was removed from the tape deck base. The piezoelectric stack may tilt a tape guide roller bearing in a skew direction to improve the motion of tape in a tape path.”

The patent application was filed on September 11, 2019 (16/567,849).

Multichannel tape head module having embedded thermal device
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (10,832,740) developed by Biskeborn, Robert G., Hollister, CA, and Lo, Calvin S., Saratoga, CA, for a “multichannel tape head module having embedded thermal device.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a module having: an array of transducers formed in thin film structure on a substrate, the array being positioned along a tape bearing surface of the module, and a heating element positioned in the thin film structure and recessed from the tape bearing surface. An apparatus, according to another embodiment, includes a module having an array of transducers formed on a substrate, the array being positioned along a tape bearing surface of the module between skiving edges thereof. A slot is formed in the substrate adjacent one of the skiving edges. A heating element is positioned in the slot.”

The patent application was filed on October 18, 2018 (16/164,674).