1. A network for data communication between computing devices comprising:
a nonvolatile memory (NVM) unit;
a cartridge to receive the NVM unit, the cartridge comprising a wireless transmitter and a memory to hold routing information;
a conveyance system to transport the NVM unit and cartridge from a source computing device to a target computing device;
a physical network controller to control the conveyance system to transport the NVM unit and cartridge from a source computing device to a target computing device according to the routing information;
wherein the network is programmed for:
identifying parameters of a data transfer between the source computing device and the target computing device;
identifying communication paths between the source computing device and the target computing device, the communication paths comprised in the physical network;
selecting a communication path for the data transfer;
when a physical data transfer over the physical network is selected as a communication path for the data transfer, removing the nonvolatile memory (NVM) unit from the source computing device and placing the removed NVM unit in the cartridge;
programming the cartridge with transfer information;
transporting the NVM unit and cartridge through the physical network to the target computing device according to the transfer information;
connecting the NVM unit into the target computing device; and
in which selecting a communication path for the data transfer comprises:
evaluating at least two different communication paths for data transfer between the source computing device and a target computing device; and
determining when the physical data transfer is a most efficient communication path for the data transfer.
2. A physical network for data communication between computing devices comprising:
a nonvolatile memory (NVM) unit;
a cartridge to receive the NVM unit, the cartridge comprising a wireless transmitter and a memory to hold routing information;
a conveyance system to disconnect the NVM at a source computing device, transport the NVM unit and cartridge from the source computing device to a target computing device and connect the NVM at the target computing device;
a physical network controller to control the conveyance system to transport the NVM unit and cartridge from the source computing device to the target computing device according to the routing information; and
a control unit for determining, based on parameters of a data transfer, whether a physical data transfer via the NVM unit as transported by the conveyance system or an electronic data transfer via an electronic data connection between the source and target computing devices is a most efficient communication path for the data transfer.
3. A physical network for data communication between computing devices comprising:
a nonvolatile memory (NVM) unit;
a cartridge to receive the NVM unit, the cartridge comprising a wireless transmitter and a memory to hold routing information;
a conveyance system to transport the NVM unit and cartridge from a source computing device to a target computing device;
a physical network controller to control the conveyance system to transport the NVM unit and cartridge from a source computing device to a target computing device according to the routing information.
4. A method for communication between computing devices on the physical network of claim 3, the method comprising:
identifying parameters of a data transfer between the source computing device and the target computing device;
identifying communication paths between the source computing device and the target computing device, the communication paths comprised in the physical network;
selecting a communication path for the data transfer;
when a data transfer over the physical network is selected as a communication path for the data transfer, removing the nonvolatile memory (NVM) unit from the source computing device and placing the removed NVM unit in the cartridge;
programming the cartridge with transfer information;
transporting the NVM unit and cartridge through the physical network to the target computing device according to the transfer information; and
connecting the NVM unit into the target computing device.
5. The method of claim 4, in which the data transfer over the physical network comprises one of: a system back up, data staging, system restore, index update, or recovery after failure.
6. The method of claim 4, in which selecting a communication path for the data transfer comprises determining that an amount of time to make the data transfer over the physical network is less than an amount of time required to make the data transfer using an alternative method.
7. The method of claim 4, in which selecting a communication path for the data transfer comprises determining an amount of energy required to make the data transfer over the physical network is less than an amount of energy required to make a data transfer using an alternative method.
8. The method of claim 4, in which programming the cartridge with transfer information comprises:
generating transfer information comprising at least one of: routing information, meta-data describing the data being transferred, cartridge information, authentication information, and target computer information; and
storing the transfer information in the cartridge.
9. The method of claim 8, in which the cartridge comprises a communication capability for communicating the transfer information while the cartridge and NVM unit are being transported.
10. The method of claim 9, which the communication capability comprises one of: a wired communication capability and a wireless communication capability; in which the wireless communication capability comprises one of radio frequency or microwave data transmission.
11. The method of claim 4, in which transporting the nonvolatile memory unit through the physical network to the target computing device according to the transfer information comprises removing the NVM unit containing desired data from physical and electrical connection with the source computing device and automatically routing the NVM unit through the physical network to the target computing device.
12. The method of claim 4, in which physically transporting the NVM unit through the physical network to the target computing device according to the transfer information comprises receipt of the transfer information by a robot and manipulation of the NVM unit by the robot.
13. The physical network of claim 3, further comprising a robot to remove the NVM unit from the source computing device and place the NVM unit in the cartridge.
14. The physical network of claim 3, in which the conveyance system comprises:
a track;
trolley to travel on the track and to contain a plurality of NVM units; and
a robot attached to the trolley to remove one of the NVM units from the trolley and to place the NVM unit in electrical contact with the target computing device.
15. The physical network of claim 3, in which the conveyance system comprises:
a conveyor belt to transport the NVM unit and cartridge; and
a robot to remove the NVM unit and cartridge from the conveyor belt and electrically connect the NVM unit to the target device.
16. The physical network of claim 3, wherein said cartridge comprises:
an interior cavity to receive the NVM unit; and
a reversible locking mechanism to lock the NVM unit in place within the interior cavity, the reversible locking mechanism comprising one of a spring-loaded mechanism and an electrical actuator.
17. The physical network of claim 3, wherein the memory of the cartridge further comprises an identification of the NVM unit and data contained on the NVM unit.
18. The physical network of claim 3, wherein the NVM unit comprises a number of NVM chips for storing data, a controller and an interface.
19. The physical network of claim 3, further comprising a control unit for determining whether a particular data transfer is most quickly performed by the physical network or by a wired or wireless data network.
20. The physical network of claim 3, further comprising a control unit for determining whether a particular data transfer will consume less energy being made by the physical network or by a wired or wireless data network.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of coating a plurality of elongate members utilizing an apparatus having a batch handling portion, a coating portion, and an alignment portion, the batch handling portion having a plurality of flimsy member securement portions with an array of elongate flexible members dangling from each flimsy member securement portion, each array having a distal ends in a state of disorganization, the method comprising the steps of:
engaging each array with the alignment portion adjacent the flimsy member securement portion before the elongate members are coated,
moving the alignment portion down the array toward the distal ends whereby the distal ends are taken out of the state of disorganization and are put into an aligned state.
2. A method of sequentially coating a plurality of batches of elongate flimsy members, each batch comprising an array of elongate flimsy members secured to a separate flimsy member securement portion, each flimsy member having an attached end and a dangling end, the method comprising the steps of:
a) attaching a batch to a batch handling portion whereby the dangling ends of the elongate flimsy members are in an unorganized arrangement,
b) positioning a guide portion proximate the flimsy member securement portion in an open configuration, then laterally moving the guide portion to a closed position to simultaneously individually engage the flimsy members at a location where the flimsy members are in an organized configuration to discretely position each elongate flimsy member of the batch,
c) lowering the guide portion along the array of flimsy members whereby the dangling ends of the elongate flimsy members are brought from a disorganized arrangement into an organized arrangement,
d) inserting the array of elongate flimsy members into a coating portion,
e) removing the array from the coating portion and conveying the batch from the batch handling portion,
f) repeating the above steps sequentially with additional batches of elongate flimsy members.
3. The method of claim 2 whereby the step b occurs after step a and step b comprises insertion of the guide portion laterally into the array of flimsy members.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the guide portion comprises opposing cooperating members and the insertion of the guide portion occurs from opposing sides of the array of flimsy members.
5. A method of coating a batch of elongate flimsy members, the batch comprising a plurality of elongate flimsy members, each having a proximal end, an intermediate portion, and a distal end, the method comprising the steps of:
securing each of the elongate flimsy members at the proximal end of each flimsy member in an array such that the distal ends of the elongate flimsy members are dangling downward in an unaligned disorganized manner;
securing the array to a vertically movable carnage whereby the array may be moved collectively downward;
positioning an array alignment portion to the batch proximate the carriage in an open configuration nearer to the proximal ends of the elongate flimsy members than the distal ends of the members;
moving the array alignment portion into a closed configuration to simultaneously individually engage each of the elongage flimsy members with the array alignment portion at a location where the elongate flimsy members are in an organized configuration such that each of the members is positionally constrained therein;
lowering the array alignment portion downwardly with respect to the batch whereby the distal ends of the elongate flimsy members are aligned and positioned from a disorganized configuration into an organized configuration for insertion into inlets.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of lowering the batch downwardly with the distal ends aligned such that the distal ends are inserted into the inlets and the elongate flimsy members are coated.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of moving the array alignment portion to a non-constraining position before the elongate flimsy members are coated.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein the array alignment portion comprises a comb member and the method further comprises the step of moving the comb member from a non-constraining position to a constraining position before lowering the array alignment portion, the constraining position where each of the elongate flimsy members is positionally constrained therein.
9. A method of coating an array of elongate flimsy members, the array comprising a plurality of elongate flimsy members, each elongate flimsy member having a proximal end, an intermediate portion, and a distal end, the distal ends of the array being in a disorganized state, the method comprising the steps of:
supporting the array on a support in a batch handling portion whereby the elongate flimsy members are dangling downwardly with the distal ends unaligned, moving an array guide portion from proximate the support downwardly with respect to the array whereby the distal ends of the elongate flimsy members are put into alignment with an array of inlets of a coating portion, and lowering the array of elongate flimsy members into the coating portion, wherein the array guide portion comprises a plurality of comb members and the method further comprising the step of moving the plurality of comb members from a non-alignment position to an alignment position before lowering the array guide portion from proximate the support downwardly and wherein the method further comprises the step of moving the plurality of comb members by rotating said comb members about a plurality of horizontal axes.