Author: claimsbot

1. A device comprising:
at least one hardware processor programmed by one or more executable instructions to implement at least one first virtual agent, the device being a first device, the at least one first virtual agent being associated with a first user and being programmed to:
communicate with at least one second virtual agent executing on at least one second device, the at least one second device being different from the first device, the at least one second virtual agent being associated with at least one second user different from the first user;
determine if a piece of information is subject to a privacy constraint set by the first user;
if it is determined that the piece of information is subject to the privacy constraint, determine if the at least one second user associated with the at least one second virtual agent is permitted to access the piece of information according to the privacy constraint;
share the piece of information with the at least one second virtual agent only if it is determined that the at least one second user associated with the at least one second virtual agent is permitted to access the piece of information according to the privacy constraint;
collaborate with the at least one second virtual agent to make a joint recommendation for the first user and the at least one second user, wherein the joint recommendation is based on the piece of information shared with the at least one second virtual agent; and
render the joint recommendation to the first user.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one first virtual agent is programmed to negotiate with the at least one second virtual agent to make the joint recommendation for the first user and the at least one second user.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least one first virtual agent is programmed to negotiate with the at least one second virtual agent at least in part by making a proposal to the at least one second virtual agent.
4. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least one first virtual agent is programmed to negotiate with the at least one second virtual agent at least in part by rejecting a proposal from the at least one second virtual agent.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein collaborating with the at least one second virtual agent comprises receiving from the at least one second virtual agent information regarding the second user.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one first virtual agent is further programmed to use current information regarding the first user to dynamically update a receipt relating to the recommendation.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the recommendation relates to a social gathering to be attended by the first user, and wherein the at least one first virtual agent is programmed to use the first user’s current location to dynamically update an estimated time of arrival for the first user.
8. A method performed by at least one processor implementing at least one first virtual agent on a first device, the at least one first virtual agent being associated with a first user, the method comprising acts of:
communicating with at least one second virtual agent executing on at least one second device, the at least one second device being different from the first device, the at least one second virtual agent being associated with at least one second user different from the first user;
determining if a piece of information is subject to a privacy constraint set by the first user;
if it is determined that the piece of information is subject to the privacy constraint, determining if the at least one second user associated with the at least one second virtual agent is permitted to access the piece of information according to the privacy constraint;
sharing the piece of information with the at least one second virtual agent only if it is determined that the at least one second user associated with the at least one second virtual agent is permitted to access the piece of information according to the privacy constraint;
collaborating with the at least one second virtual agent to make a joint recommendation for the first user and the at least one second user, wherein the joint recommendation is based on the piece of information shared with the at least one second virtual agent; and
rendering the joint recommendation to the first user.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein collaborating with the at least one second virtual agent comprises negotiating with the at least one second virtual agent to make the joint recommendation for the first user and the at least one second user.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein negotiating with the at least one second virtual agent comprises making a proposal to the at least one second virtual agent.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein negotiating with the at least one second virtual agent comprises rejecting a proposal from the at least one second virtual agent.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein collaborating with the at least one second virtual agent comprises receiving from the at least one second virtual agent information regarding the second user.
13. The method of claim 8, further comprising using current information regarding the first user to dynamically update a receipt relating to the recommendation.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein the recommendation relates to a social gathering to be attended by the first user, and wherein the first user’s current location is used to dynamically update an estimated time of arrival for the first user.
15. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium having encoded thereon instructions that, when executed by at least one processor on a first device, perform a method for implementing at least one first virtual agent, the at least one first virtual agent being associated with a first user, the method comprising acts of:
communicating with at least one second virtual agent executing on at least one second device, the at least one second device being different from the first device, the at least one second virtual agent being associated with at least one second user different from the first user;
determining if a piece of information is subject to a privacy constraint set by the first user;
if it is determined that the piece of information is subject to the privacy constraint, determining if the at least one second user associated with the at least one second virtual agent is permitted to access the piece of information according to the privacy constraint;
sharing the piece of information with the at least one second virtual agent only if it is determined that the at least one second user associated with the at least one second virtual agent is permitted to access the piece of information according to the privacy constraint;
collaborating with the at least one second virtual agent to make a joint recommendation for the first user and the at least one second user, wherein the joint recommendation is based on the piece of information shared with the at least one second virtual agent; and
rendering the joint recommendation to the first user.
16. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein collaborating with the at least one second virtual agent comprises negotiating with the at least one second virtual agent to make the joint recommendation for the first user and the at least one second user.
17. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein negotiating with the at least one second virtual agent comprises making a proposal to the at least one second virtual agent.
18. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein negotiating with the at least one second virtual agent comprises rejecting a proposal from the at least one second virtual agent.
19. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises using current information regarding the first user to dynamically update a receipt relating to the recommendation.
20. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the recommendation relates to a social gathering to be attended by the first user, and wherein the first user’s current location is used to dynamically update an estimated time of arrival for the first user.

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 storage system, comprising:
a controller controlling to transfer data to a plurality of storage regions;
a plurality of disk drives having said storage regions and having a plurality of first type disk drives, each of which has a first type interface, and a plurality of second type disk drives, each of which each has a second type interface;
a plurality of housings having a first housing and a second housing, said first housing having said controller and said first type disk drives, and said second housing having said second type disk drives; and
a rack having said housings, one of said housings being laid on another of said housings.
2. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said first type interface is a fibre channel interface, and
wherein said second type interface is an AT Attachment (ATA) interface.
3. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) coupled to said controller and a plurality of first type disk drive units,
wherein said first type disk drive units include said first type disk drives.
4. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) coupled to said controller, a plurality of first type disk drive units and a plurality of second type disk drive units,
wherein said first type disk drive units include said first type disk drives, and said second type disk drive units include said second type disk drives.
5. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a data line having said first type interface and coupled to said controller and a plurality of second type disk drive units,
wherein said second type disk drive units include said second type disk drives; and
a plurality of circuits in said second housing, each circuit coupled to said data line and controlling relay of data between said data line and said second type disk drive units, and controlling to separate one of said second type disk drive units and relay of data between said controller and said second type disk drive units without said one of said second type disk drive units if said one of said second type disk drive units has a failure.
6. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a data line having said first type interface and coupled to said controller and a plurality of second type disk drive units, said second type disk drive units having said second type disk drives; and
a plurality of circuits in said second housing, each circuit coupled to said data line and controlling to couple one of said second type disk drive units to said data line in conditions of transferring data in said data line.
7. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a data line having said first type interface and coupled to said controller and a plurality of second type disk drive units, said second type disk drive units having said second type disk drives; and
a plurality of circuits in said second housing, each circuit coupled to said data line and controlling to couple one of said second type disk drive units to said data line in conditions of processing to store data in the other of said second type disk drive units coupled to said data line.
8. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a data line having said first type interface and coupled to said controller and a plurality of second type disk drive units, said second type disk drive units having said second type disk drives; and
a plurality of converters, in said second housing, coupled to said data line and each converter corresponding to one of said second type disk drive units and converting said first type interface and said second type interface.
9. A storage system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a data line having said first type interface and coupled to said controller and a plurality of second type disk drive units, said second type disk drive units having said second type disk drives; and
a power supply coupled to said disk drive units by at least one of power lines and supplying power to said disk drive units; and
a power controller coupled to said power supply and controlling to supply power to said disk drive units in said second housing,
wherein one of said second type disk drive units relays a signal sent from said controller to said power controller.
10. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said first type interface is a Fibre Channel (FC) interface,
wherein said second type interface is an AT Attachment (ATA) interface,
wherein some of said first type disk drives form a first logical unit, said first logical unit is an object to store data sent from an host computer which is coupled to said controller,
wherein some of said second type disk drives form a second logical unit, and
wherein each of said first logical unit and said second logical unit has a logical unit number.
11. A storage system according to claim 1, wherein said second type interface is an AT Attachment (ATA) interface, and
wherein some of said second type disk drives are used to store data, the data are used to back up.
12. A storage system, comprising:
a controller controlling to transfer data to a plurality of storage regions;
a plurality of disk drives having said storage regions and having a plurality of first type disk drives each of which has a first type interface and a plurality of second type disk drives each of which has a second type interface;
a plurality of housings having a first housing, a second housing and a third housing, said first housing having said controller, said second housing having said first type disk drives, and said third housing having said second type disk drives;
a rack having said housings, each laying on one of said housings; and
a data line having said first type interface and coupled to said first housing, said second housing and said third housing,
wherein said second housing is nearer a position of said first housing in said rack than said third housing.
13. A storage system according to claim 12, wherein said first type interface is a fibre channel interface, and
wherein said second type interface is an AT Attachment (ATA) interface.
14. A storage system according to claim 12, wherein said data line is a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL), and
wherein said FC-AL couples said controller and a plurality of first type disk drive units, said first type disk drive units having said first type disk drives.
15. A storage system according to claim 12, wherein said data line is a Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL), and
wherein said FC-AL couples said controller, a plurality of first type disk drive units and a plurality of second type disk drive units, said first type disk drive units having said first type disk drives, and said second type disk drive units having said second type disk drives.
16. A storage system according to claim 12, wherein said data line couples said controller and a plurality of second type disk drive units, said second type disk drive units having said second type disk drives,
said storage system further comprising:
a plurality of circuits in said third housing, each circuit coupled to said data line and controlling relay of data between said data line and said second type disk drive units and controlling to separate one of said second type disk drive units and relay of data between said controller and said second type disk drive units without said one of said second type disk drive units if said one of said second type disk drive units has a failure.
17. A storage system according to claim 12, wherein said data line couples said controller and a plurality of second type disk drive units, said second type disk drive units having said second type disk drives,
said storage system further comprising:
a plurality of circuits in said first housing, each circuit coupled to said data line and controlling to couple one of said second type disk drive units to said data line in conditions of relaying data in said data line.
18. A storage system according to claim 12, wherein said data line couples said controller and a plurality of second type disk drive units, said second type disk drive units having said second type disk drives,
said storage system further comprising:
a plurality of circuits in said first housing, each circuit coupled to said data line and controlling to couple one of said second type disk drive units to said data line in conditions of processing to store data in the other of said second type disk drive units coupled to said data line.
19. A storage system according to claim 12, wherein said data line couples said controller and a plurality of second type disk drive units, said second type disk drive units having said second type disk drives,
said storage system further comprising:
a plurality of converters, in said first housing, coupled to said data line and each corresponding to one of said second type disk drive units and converting said first type interface and said second type interface.
20. A storage system according to claim 12, wherein said data line couples said controller and a plurality of second type disk drive units, said second type disk drive units having said second type disk drives,
said storage system further comprising:
a power supply coupled to said second type disk drive units by at least one of power lines and supplying power to said second type disk drive units; and
a power controller coupled to said power supply and controlling to supply power to said second type disk drive units in said third housing,
wherein one of said second type disk drive units relays a signal sent from said controller to said power controller.
21. A storage system according to claim 12, wherein said first type interface is a Fibre Channel (FC) interface;
wherein said second type interface is an AT Attachment (ATA) interface,
wherein some of said first type disk drives form a first logical unit, said first logical unit is an object to store data sent from an host computer which is coupled to said controller,
wherein some of said second type disk drives form a second logical unit, and
wherein each of said first logical unit and said second logical unit has a logical unit number.
22. A storage system according to claim 12, wherein said second type interface is an AT Attachment (ATA) interface, and
wherein some of said second type disk drives are used to store data, the data are used to back up.

1. A method of determining correction factors for servo control of a transducer in a disk drive that has a recording medium configured with multiple tracks and a transducer head controlled with a servo control signal, the servo control signal being generated based on an adaptive runout compensation algorithm and correction factors, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) successively positioning a transducer head over one or more tracks in a group and, for each track, allowing the adaptive runout compensation algorithm to adapt to a runout of said track for a first number of revolutions of the recording medium;
(b) after step (a), stepping the transducer head to be moved over one track and allowing the adaptive runout compensation algorithm to adapt to a runout of said track for a second number of revolutions of the recording medium; and
(c) after step (b), determining the correction factors,
wherein said step (a) includes:
designating one of the tracks in the group at an innermost diameter or outermost diameter of the group as an initial track;
positioning the transducer head over a track in the group that is N tracks away from the initial track and waiting for the second number of revolutions of the recording medium; and
successively repositioning the transducer head over an adjacent track in the group that is closer to said initial track and waiting for one revolution of the recording medium,
wherein N is 2 to 5 times greater than the number of revolutions of the recording medium that is needed by the adaptive runout compensation algorithm to adapt to a particular track of the group and the second number of revolutions is at least 10 times smaller than the number of revolutions of the recording medium that is needed by the adaptive runout compensation algorithm to adapt to a particular track of the group.

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. An antireflection film provided between a metal film having a complex refractive index represented by NM=nM\u2212i\xb7km and a glass substrate having a refractive index NG, wherein the metal film is an exposed surface of the antireflection film and includes a metal film component selected from the group consisting of molybdenum and a nickel alloy, comprising, from the metal film side:
(A) a first dielectric layer having a refractive index N1;
(B) a second dielectric layer provided on the first dielectric layer and having a refractive index N2; and
(C) a third dielectric layer provided on the second dielectric layer and having a refractive index N3,
wherein N1<nM, N1>NG, N2<NG, and N3>NG hold, whereby light which is incident on the glass substrate and which reaches the metal film is prevented from being reflected by the metal film, and
wherein 4.29\u2266N1+N3\u22664.75 holds.
2. The antireflection film according to claim 1, wherein 1.51<N1<3.53 holds.
3. The antireflection film according to claim 1, wherein, when a wavelength of the incident light is represented by \u03bb, an optical admittance Y1 obtained when the first dielectric layer has a minimum thickness at which a reflectance of a laminated structure of the metal film and the first dielectric layer is minimized and an optical admittance Y2 obtained from a laminated structure of the glass substrate, the third dielectric layer having an optical thickness of \u03bb4, and the second dielectric layer having an optical thickness of \u03bb4 satisfy the following equation
|Y1\u2212Y2|\u03b1\u22660.04

where \u03b1\u2261(nM2+kM2+N12)(2\xd7nM) holds.
4. The antireflection film according to claim 3, wherein the optical admittances Y1 and Y2 are represented by the following equations:
Y1=\u03b1\u2212{(nM\u2212\u03b1)2+kM2}12 and Y2=(NG\xd7N22)N32, respectively.
5. The antireflection film according to claim 1, wherein the metal film component includes molybdenum,
the second dielectric layer includes MgF2,
nM=3.53\xb10.10, kM=3.30\xb10.10, NG=1.51\xb10.10, and N2=1.38\xb10.10 hold, and 4.29\u2266N1+N3\u22664.40 holds.
6. The antireflection film according to claim 5, wherein the combination, between a material forming the first dielectric layer and a material forming the third dielectric layer, is (TiO2, SiOx), (Nb2O5, Ta2O5), (Nb2O5, ZrO2), (CeO2, Ta2O5), (CeO2, ZrO2), (Ta2O5, Nb2O5), (Ta2O5, CeO2), (ZrO2, Nb2O5) or (ZrO2, CeO2).
7. The antireflection film according to claim 1, wherein the metal film component includes molybdenum,
the second dielectric layer includes SiOx,
nM=3.53\xb10.10, kM=3.30\xb10.10, NG=1.51\xb10.10, and N2=1.46\xb10.10 hold, and 4.4\u2266N1+N3\u22664.6 holds.
8. The antireflection film according to claim 7, wherein the combination, between a material forming the first dielectric layer and a material forming the third dielectric layer, is (Nb2O5, Nb2O5), (Nb2O5, CeO2), (CeO2, CeO2), or (CeO2, Nb2O5).
9. The antireflection film according to claim 1, wherein 7.08\u2266nM+N1+N3\u22668.28 holds.
10. The antireflection film according to claim 1, further comprising a second antireflection film on a surface of the glass substrate opposite to that on which the third dielectric layer is provided.
11. The antireflection film according to claim 10, wherein the glass substrate of a laminated structure composed of the second antireflection film, the glass substrate, the third dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer, the first dielectric layer, and the metal film has a curvature radius of 1.0\xd7105 m or more.
12. An antireflection film provided between a metal film having a complex refractive index represented by NM=nM\u2212i\xb7km and a glass substrate having a refractive index NG, wherein the metal film is an exposed surface of the antireflection film and includes a metal film component selected from the group consisting of molybdenum and a nickel alloy, comprising, from the metal film side:
(A) a first dielectric layer having a refractive index N1;
(B) a second dielectric layer provided on the first dielectric layer and having a refractive index N2; and
(C) a third dielectric layer provided on the second dielectric layer and having a refractive index N3,
wherein N1<nM, N1>NG, N2<NG, and N3>NG hold, whereby light which is incident on the glass substrate and which reaches the metal film is prevented from being reflected by the metal film,
wherein the second dielectric layer includes MgF2,
wherein nM=2.94\xb10.10, kM=2.92\xb10.10, NG=1.51\xb10.10, and N2=1.38\xb10.10 hold,
wherein 4.14\u2266N1+N3\u22664.25 holds, and
wherein the combination, between a material forming the first dielectric layer and a material forming the third dielectric layer, is (TiO2, Y2O3).