IBM Assigned Seven Patents

Recalling data from tape
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (12190910) developed by Masuda; Setsuko, Tokyo, Japan, Miyamura; Tsuyoshi, Kanagawa-ken, Japan, Sawada; Tatsuki, Chiba, Japan, for “recalling data from tape.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A system for recalling data from tape is disclosed. The system includes computer processing circuits and computer readable storage media having computer executable instructions. When executed, the instructions cause the computer-processing circuits to start, in response to a request to recall data from a tape, to read the tape at a read position. Additionally, the instructions cause the circuits to determine that the tape comprises a damaged region. Further, the instructions cause the circuits to determine a start position of the damaged region by skimming the tape. Additionally, the instructions cause the circuits to determine an end position of the damaged region by skimming the tape. Further, the instructions cause the circuits to read between the read position and the start position of the damaged region. Additionally, the instructions cause the circuits to read between the end position of the damaged region and an end of data indicator.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-12-11 (18/534812).

Write data management
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (12165674) developed by Furrer; Simeon, Altdorf, Switzerland, Lantz; Mark Alfred, Adliswil, Switzerland, Petermann; Martin, Zürich, Switzerland, and Iliadis; Ilias, Rueschlikon, Switzerland, for a “write data management.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Provided are a computer program product, device, system, and method for write data management. In one embodiment, a write management controller calculates an order for writing data and parity blocks of write data code words on tape media in a variable interleaved fashion which ensures a minimum physical longitudinal separation along the length of tape between data and parity blocks of the same code word. The calculated write order information may be provided back to a host or other data source so that the write data is eventually transmitted to the tape drive for writing on tape media in accordance with the calculated write order. In this manner, a minimum physical longitudinal separation along the length of tape between data and parity blocks of the same code word may be achieved to increase the reliability of the data storage.”

The patent application was filed on 2024-03-04 (18/594089).

Magnetic tape reuse across products
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (12148457) developed by Iben; Icko E. T., Santa Clara, CA, Swanson; David Lee, Judd; Kevin Bruce, Tucson, AZ, and Liang; Jason, Campbell, CA, for a “magnetic tape reuse across products.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, includes writing, by a tape drive, data tracks to a data band of a magnetic tape having servo bands flanking the data band, the writing being performed using a magnetic head that is not designed for a format of the magnetic tape. An effective pitch of servo readers of the magnetic head used simultaneously during the writing matches a servo reader pitch specification of the format of the magnetic tape. An average effective pitch of write transducers of the magnetic head is greater than a data track pitch specification of the format of the magnetic tape.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-11-07 (18/387776).

Magnetic media decommission management in computer system
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (12125499) developed by Jesionowski; Leonard G., Tucson, AZ, Dauber; Melanie, Oceanside, NY, Nave; Shawn M., Rawlins; Benjamin K., Tucson, AZ, for a “magnetic media decommission management in a computer system.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A computer program product, device, system, and method are provided for decommissioning a tape cartridge internally within a tape library. In one embodiment, a decommission canister is configured to be accepted within a tape library canister bay. The decommission canister has a fusing element configured to fuse together at least a portion of layers of magnetic tape of a tape cartridge within the tape library, to decommission the tape cartridge within the tape library. In one embodiment, the fusing element is a heating element adapted to emit heat directed at layers of magnetic tape of a tape cartridge to melt together at least a portion of layers of magnetic tape of a tape cartridge within the tape library. As a result, unwinding and reading of the magnetic tape is inhibited.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-06-13 (18/333820).

Full data set directory for magnetic tape recording media
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (12119031) developed by Miyamura; Tsuyoshi, Yokohama, Japan, Masuda; Setsuko, Toshima-ku, Japan, and Sawada; Tatsuki, Matsudo, Japan, for a “full data set directory for magnetic tape recording media.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method for creating a Full Data Set Directory (FDSD) entry, in accordance with one embodiment, includes acquiring a record count and file mark count of a data set written to and/or to be written to a magnetic recording tape. A writing position on the tape where the data set will be written is determined. The data set is written on the tape. An FDSD entry is generated for the data set. The FDSD entry includes information about each of the following: a tape write pass in which the data set is written, a position of the data set on the tape, the record count, and the file mark count.”

The patent application was filed on 2022-11-07 (17/982387).

Mounting magnetic tapes based on lifecycle metrics and end of life indicators
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (12100421) developed by Haustein; Nils, Soergenloch, Germany, and Altmannsberger; Thorsten, Wiesbaden, Germany, for “mounting magnetic tapes based on lifecycle metrics and end of life indicators.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A computer-implemented method for optimizing a global lifetime for a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges for a magnetic tape library is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes storing a magnetic tape cartridge lifecycle table for a set of parameter values. The set of parameter values include: volume serial numbers of the plurality magnetic tape cartridges, lifetime metric values of the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges, and end-of-life-indicator values for the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges. The computer-implemented method further includes selecting a magnetic tape cartridge from the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges based on the set of parameter values and a selection criteria, wherein the selection of the magnetic tape cartridge optimizes the global lifetime of the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges in the magnetic tape library.”

The patent application was filed on 2023-05-11 (18/196045).

Retaining high resolution tape directory in overwritten end of data set
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, has been assigned a patent (12087331) developed by Miyamura; Tsuyoshi, Yokohama, Japan, for “retaining high resolution tape directory in overwritten end of data set.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “An End of Data Set (EOD) including a High Resolution Tape Directory (HRTD) is written at a position next to a last written user data set on a tape. When appending a new user data set, the new user data set is written starting from a position next to an end longitudinal position (LPOS) of the EOD to generate an overwritten EOD.”

The patent application was filed on 2022-12-19 (18/067833).