IBM Assigned Twenty Patents

Automatic volume statistical and performance information tracking
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11513741) developed by Ahmad, Said, Ngo, Khanh Vi, Swanson, David Lee, and Borisevich, Illarion, Tucson, AZ, for “automatic volume statistical and performance information tracking.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A tape may be mounted into a tape drive. Mounting the tape into the tape drive may include loading the tape from a storage slot. The tape drive may request a first record of the tape from a tape storage subsystem. The tape drive may determine whether the first record of the tape exists in the tape storage subsystem. The tape drive may load the first record of the tape in random access memory (RAM) of the tape drive. The first record may include one or more data entries. The tape drive may append a new data entry to the first record. The first record may be transitioned to a second record upon being appended with the new data entry. The tape may be unmounted from the tape drive.”

The patent application was filed on 2020-02-13 (16/789569).

Adaptive tape library and humidity-based drive operations
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11500545) developed by Nave, Shawn M., and Jesionowski, Lee, Tucson, AZ, for “adaptive tape library and humidity-based drive operations.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method includes receiving a humidity level in a tape library and determining whether the humidity level is in a predefined range indicative of safe operation. In response to determining that the humidity level is in the predefined range, the method includes allowing performance of operations on magnetic recording tapes. In response to determining that the humidity level is not in the predefined range, the method includes preventing performance of the operations on magnetic recording tapes. A drive-implemented method includes detecting a humidity level within a housing of a tape drive and determining whether the humidity level is in a predefined range indicative of safe operation.”

The patent application was filed on 2020-01-02 (16/732669).

Duplexing data from multiple file systems onto shared tape
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11495262) developed by Mitsuma, Shinsuke, Machida, Japan, Miyamura, Tsuyoshi, Yokohama, Japan, Yamamoto, Noriko, Tokyo, Japan, Itagaki, Hiroshi, Yokohama, Japan, Hasegawa, Tohru, Tokyo, Japan, and Abe, Atsushi, Ebina, Japan, for “duplexing data from multiple file systems onto a shared tape.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A computer-implemented method for duplexing data from multiple files systems onto a shared tape is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes receiving a unique identifier of a first tape image written to a primary storage device of a first client system. The computer-implemented method further includes determining that a position of a first end-of-data marker on the first tape image differs from a position of a second end-of-data marker on a tape corresponding to the unique identifier of the first tape image. Responsive to determining that the position of the first end-of-data marker on the first tape image differs from the position of the second end-of-data marker on the tape corresponding to the unique identifier of the first tape image, the computer-implemented method further includes copying a difference in data between the second end-of-data marker on the tape and be first end-of-data marker on the first tape image to the tape.”

The patent application was filed on 2021-06-23 (17/355322).

Caching files in directory
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11494338) developed by Hasegawa, Tohru, Tokyo, Japan, Itagaki, Hiroshi, Miyamura, Tsuyoshi, Yokohama, Japan, Yamamoto, Noriko, Tokyo, Japan, and Mitsuma, Shinsuke, Machida, Japan, for “caching files in a directory.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Provided is a method, computer program product, and system for enumerating files on a tape medium and a cache storage device. The method includes receiving a command to enumerate a directory stored on a tape medium. The directory includes a plurality of files. The method further includes determining that the directory has been at least partially cached to a cache storage device. The method further includes determining, for each file of the directory that is stored in the cache storage device, whether the file has been enumerated. In response to determining that the file has not been enumerated, the method includes returning information of the file as a response to the command. The method further includes mounting the tape medium in parallel to retrieving data from the cache storage device.”

The patent application was filed on 2019-04-26 (16/395930).

Group-based tape storage access ordering
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11494445) developed by Sarafijanovic, Slavisa, Lantz, Mark Alfred, Adliswil, Switzerland, and Greco, Paul Merrill, Tucson, AZ, for a “group-based tape storage access ordering.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method for data storage tape access ordering is provided. The method receives an order request for accessing a plurality of data segments stored on a data storage tape. Each data segment is defined by segment characteristics. The method identifies a number of data segments within the plurality of data segments in the order request. The method determines an order model based on the number of data segments and the segment characteristics of the plurality of data segments. The method generates an access order for the plurality of data segments based on the order model and retrieves a subset of data segments from the data storage tape based on the access order.”

The patent application was filed on 2019-09-11 (16/566976).

Fabrication methods for magnetic recording tape having resilient substrate
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11495259) developed by Bradshaw, Richard, Tucson, AZ, for “fabrication methods for magnetic recording tape having resilient substrate.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method for making a magnetic recording tape, in accordance with one approach, includes coupling an underlayer to a substrate, the substrate comprising a poly ether ether ketone (PEEK). A method for making a magnetic recording tape in accordance with another approach includes coupling an underlayer to a substrate via radiation-induced grafting, the substrate comprising a poly ether ether ketone (PEEK). A recording layer may be coupled to the underlayer.”

The patent application was filed on 2020-12-21 (17/129577).

Extended air gap deep cells in tape library
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11475919) developed by Nave, Shawn M., and Jesionowski, Leonard G., Tucson, AZ, for an “extended air gap deep cells in a tape library.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A deep slot cell for providing data storage protection. The deep slot cell includes a front side of the deep slot cell to allow insertion and removal of the plurality of tape cartridges by a robotic mechanism. The data slot cell includes a front air gap at the front side of the deep slot cell that prevents the robotic mechanism from reaching a front-most tape cartridge of the plurality of tape cartridges without manual interaction. The deep slot cell includes a depth side of the deep slot cell with an opening at the depth side of the deep slot cell to accept a pushing tool for manually advancing the rear-most tape cartridge of the plurality of tape cartridges forward toward the front side of the deep slot cell to enable the robotic mechanism to remove the front-most tape cartridge of the plurality of tape cartridges from the deep slot cell.”

The patent application was filed on 2021-09-21 (17/480494).

Calibration of writer offset using media dimensional stability
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11448493) developed by Judd, Kevin B., Inch, Randy C., and Swanson, David L., Tucson, AZ, for a “calibration of writer offset using media dimensional stability.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “In one embodiment, a method includes writing, using a magnetic head, a set of parallel shingled tracks onto a magnetic recording tape using specified drive parameters, changing one of the specified drive parameters, reading a set of selected data tracks on the magnetic recording tape using the changed drive parameter, changing a lateral head position while reading the set of selected data tracks using the changed drive parameter, comparing track error rates observed during reading at the different lateral head positions, selecting a reader offset value based on the comparing, and performing a further action using the selected reader offset value.”

The patent application was filed on 2018-11-27 (16/201739).

Reading sequentially stored files based on read ahead groups
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11442659) developed by Miyamura, Tsuyoshi, Itagaki, Hiroshi, Yokohama, Japan, Mitsuma, Shinsuke, Machida, Japan, Hasegawa, Tohru, Yamamoto, Noriko, Matsui, Sosuke, Tokyo, Japan, for “reading sequentially stored files based on read ahead groups.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A plurality of files are stored on magnetic tape having at least one wrap for storing data sets. Each data set includes one or more records. A number of data sets that will remain in a buffer memory after performing a read ahead operation is determined. A number of records that are likely to remain in the buffer memory after performing a read ahead operation is determined. For each record likely to remain in the buffer memory after performing a read ahead operation, positions of the records on the magnetic tape are determined. Each file of the plurality of files are classified into one group of a plurality of groups based on a position of a record corresponding with each respective file and the number of records that are likely to remain in the buffer memory after performing a read ahead operation.”

The patent application was filed on 2019-11-20 (16/689127).

Reducing time to reposition tape to write index
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11437062) developed by Miyamura, Tsuyoshi, Yokohama, Japan, Hasegawa, Tohru, Yamamoto, Noriko, Tokyo, Japan, Abe, Atsushi, Ebina, Japan, Itagaki, Hiroshi, Yokohama, Japan, and Mitsuma, Shinsuke, Tokyo, Japan, for “reducing time to reposition tape to write index.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for reducing repositioning time within tape systems. A request to reposition to a target file within a tape medium can be received. A determination can be made that a previous command issued to the tape system was a write and that an index corresponding to the write has not been written. In response to determining that the previous command was the write and that the index corresponding to the write has not been written, a first file mark, the index after the first file mark, and a second file mark after the index can be written.”

The patent application was filed on 2021-08-23 (17/409075).

Calibration of writer offset using media dimensional stability
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11448493) developed by Judd, Kevin B., Inch, Randy C., and Swanson, David L., Tucson, AZ, for a “calibration of writer offset using media dimensional stability.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “In one embodiment, a method includes writing, using a magnetic head, a set of parallel shingled tracks onto a magnetic recording tape using specified drive parameters, changing one of the specified drive parameters, reading a set of selected data tracks on the magnetic recording tape using the changed drive parameter, changing a lateral head position while reading the set of selected data tracks using the changed drive parameter, comparing track error rates observed during reading at the different lateral head positions, selecting a reader offset value based on the comparing, and performing a further action using the selected reader offset value.”

The patent application was filed on 2018-11-27 (16/201739).

Reading sequentially stored files based on read ahead groups
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11442659) developed by Miyamura, Tsuyoshi, Itagaki, Hiroshi, Yokohama, Japan, Mitsuma, Shinsuke, Machida, Japan, Hasegawa, Tohru, Yamamoto, Noriko, and Matsui, Sosuke, Tokyo, Japan, for “reading sequentially stored files based on read ahead groups.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A plurality of files are stored on magnetic tape having at least one wrap for storing data sets. Each data set includes one or more records. A number of data sets that will remain in a buffer memory after performing a read ahead operation is determined. A number of records that are likely to remain in the buffer memory after performing a read ahead operation is determined. For each record likely to remain in the buffer memory after performing a read ahead operation, positions of the records on the magnetic tape are determined. Each file of the plurality of files are classified into one group of a plurality of groups based on a position of a record corresponding with each respective file and the number of records that are likely to remain in the buffer memory after performing a read ahead operation.”

The patent application was filed on 2019-11-20 (16/689127).

Reducing time to reposition tape to write index
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11437062) developed by Miyamura, Tsuyoshi, Yokohama, Japan, Hasegawa, Tohru, Yamamoto, Noriko, Tokyo, Japan, Abe, Atsushi, Ebina, Japan, Itagaki, Hiroshi, Yokohama, Japan, and Mitsuma, Shinsuke, Tokyo, Japan, for “reducing time to reposition tape to write index.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for reducing repositioning time within tape systems. A request to reposition to a target file within a tape medium can be received. A determination can be made that a previous command issued to the tape system was a write and that an index corresponding to the write has not been written. In response to determining that the previous command was the write and that the index corresponding to the write has not been written, a first file mark, the index after the first file mark, and a second file mark after the index can be written.”

The patent application was filed on 2021-08-23 (17/409075).

Repositioning using cut and paste segments
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11437070) developed by Miyamura, Tsuyoshi, Yokohama, Japan, Masuda, Setsuko, Tokyo, Japan, Nishida, Mitsuhiro, Sagamihara, Japan, and Sawada, Tatsuki, Matsudo, Japan, for “repositioning using cut and paste segments.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Repositioning to a beginning of an area of a tape medium to which a reposition request is directed can be completed. Reading, as a part of an error recovery procedure (ERP), between a first dataset of the area and an m.sup.th dataset of the area, can be completed, where m is a number of datasets for which cut and paste multi segments are to be generated. Cut and paste segments for each of the datasets in a range from the first dataset and the m.sup.th dataset can be generated. A subset of datasets within the range of the first dataset to the m.sup.th dataset having readable dataset information table (DSIT) information can be determined. A determination can be made whether the target data position is included within the subset of datasets within the range of the first dataset to the m.sup.th dataset by reading the DSIT information.”

The patent application was filed on 2021-09-10 (17/471374).

Measuring amplitudes of written tracks in tape drive to determine errors in read and write elements in tape drive
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11404078) developed by Swanson, David Lee, Gale, Ernest Stewart, Bayang (Kubista), Josephine Faith, and Borisevich, Illarion, Tucson, AZ, for “measuring amplitudes of written tracks in a tape drive to determine errors in read and write elements in the tape drive.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Provided are a tape drive, tape drive controller, and method for measuring amplitudes of written tracks to determine errors in read and write elements. The write element writes a data pattern and erase pattern to the tape medium to provide the data pattern and the erase pattern on sides of the data pattern. The read element is positioned to measure amplitudes at offsets in the data pattern. The offsets and the amplitudes at the offsets are processed to estimate a maximum amplitude read while the read element is estimated to be positioned entirely in the data pattern and estimate an offset at which the read element reads a fixed percentage of the maximum amplitude. A width of the read element is estimated based on the estimated offset. The estimated width of the read element is outputted to determine whether the estimated width of the read element is acceptable.”

The patent application was filed on 2021-08-12 (17/401290).

Ordering archived search results
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11354359) developed by Hasegawa, Tohru, Tokyo, Japan, Uetsuki, Hiroaki, Machida, Japan, Ishikawa, Shunsuke, Shinjuku, Japan, Tominaga, Yasuyuki, Saitama, Japan, Watanabe, Kenta, Soka, Japan, and Ono, Asako, Setagaya, Japan, for “ordering archived search results.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Embodiments are disclosed for a method for ordering search results. The method includes identifying a plurality of archived search results generated by a keyword search. The method also includes searching a plurality of indices of a plurality of corresponding tape libraries comprising a plurality of tapes storing the archived search results. The method additionally includes determining a plurality of estimated access times corresponding to the archived search results based on the indices. Further, the method includes sorting the archived search results based on the estimated access times to create a time-based order.”

The patent application was filed on 2019-12-03 (16/701199).

Content driven storage and retrieval of files
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11334269) developed by Hasegawa, Tohru, Tokyo, Japan, Kikuchi, Hiroaki, Yokohama, Japan, Goto, Takuya, Ono, Asakon and Liu, Xiangning, Tokyo, Japan, for “content driven storage and retrieval of files.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Storage pools having categorized archival storage tapes according to content of files stored on each tape. Archiving new files into the storage pools according to content of the new files for efficient retrieval of files from storage tapes organized by category of content. Recall of multiple files from archival storage tapes to primary storage of an hierarchical storage management system is efficiently performed such that tape mounting operations are minimized.”

The patent application was filed on 2020-10-06 (17/063751).

Secure data erase for tape storage
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11335364) developed by Matsui, Sosuke, Tokyo, Japan, Nohta, Takeshi, Tsukuba, Japan, Tanaka, Jun, Zama, Japan, and Tatsumi, Erina, Tokyo, Japan, for a “secure data erase for tape storage.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “In an approach, a processor determines that an inactive data area is present at end-of-tape (EOT) of a tape. A processor, responsive to determining that the inactive data area is present at EOT, securely erases the inactive data area that is present at EOT by overwriting data located at the inactive data area with different data.”

The patent application was filed on 2021-05-17 (17/321770).

Adjustable tape storage capacity
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11314413) developed by Brettell, David A., Vail, AZ, Fisher, Alan J., Lee, Duke A., Tucson, AZ, and Nieves, Alexander, Chandler, AZ, for an “adjustable tape storage capacity.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A tool for adjusting available physical tape storage capacities. The tool determines an initial capa size for one or more tapes, wherein the initial capa size is a maximum physical storage capa provided by the one or more tapes. The tool assigns the one or more tapes to a logical cluster based, at least in part, on the initial capa size for the one or more tapes. The tool determines an initial storage capa for the one or more tapes, wherein the initial storage capa is a starting logical storage capa that is less than the maximum physical storage capa provided by the one or more tapes. The tool determines an incremental growth threshold for the one or more tapes. Responsive to a determination that the incremental growth threshold is exceeded, the tool increments a logical storage capa of the one or more tapes by an incremental growth assignment.”

The patent application was filed on 2016-04-12 (15/096962).

Magnetic recording tape fabrication method having peek substrate
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (11315596) developed by Bradshaw, Richard, Tucson, AZ, for a “magnetic recording tape fabrication method having peek substrate.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method for making a magnetic recording tape, in accordance with one approach, includes coupling an underlayer to a substrate, the substrate comprising a poly ether ether ketone (PEEK). A method for making a magnetic recording tape in accordance with another approach includes coupling an underlayer to a substrate via radiation-induced grafting, the substrate comprising a poly ether ether ketone (PEEK). A recording layer is coupled to the underlayer.”

The patent application was filed on 2019-09-17 (16/573912).