Author: claimsbot

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an outer housing shell defining a cavity, the outer housing shell including:
a first outer housing shell portion defining a longitudinal axis; and
a second outer housing shell portion extending from the first outer housing shell portion; and

an instrument module selectively insertable into the cavity of the outer housing shell, the instrument module including at least one motor having a drive shaft defining an operative axis of rotation;
wherein the instrument module is inserted into the cavity of the outer housing shell in such a manner that the operative axis of the at least one motor is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first outer housing shell portion.
2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the outer housing shell includes an instrument shell cover pivotably connected to one of the first or second outer housing shell portions, the instrument shell cover being configured to pivot between:
a first position, in which the instrument shell cover engages both the first and second outer housing shell portions to cover the cavity; and
a second position, in which the instrument module is insertable into the cavity.
3. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising an instrument shell cover removably coupled to the first and second outer housing shell portions.
4. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the instrument module further includes:
an inner housing having the at least one motor disposed therein;
a control board disposed within the inner housing and being in electrical communication with the at least one motor; and
an energy source disposed within the inner housing and being in electrical communication with the at least one motor and the control board.
5. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the outer housing shell is at least partially translucent.
6. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the outer housing shell is at least partially transparent.
7. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first outer housing shell portion includes at least one viewing window for viewing a display screen disposed therein.
8. The surgical instrument according to claim 7, wherein the display screen includes at least one of numerical indicators or color indicators.
9. The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the outer housing shell defines at least one opening formed in a distal surface thereof, the at least one opening being configured to receive the drive shaft upon the instrument module being fully disposed in the outer housing shell.
10. The surgical instrument according to claim 9, wherein a seal is supported in the at least one opening of the outer housing shell, the seal forming a fluid-tight seal between the outer housing shell and the drive shaft.
11. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an outer housing shell defining a cavity, the outer housing shell including:
a first outer housing shell portion having a proximal face defining an opening therein, the opening being in communication with the cavity; and
a second outer housing shell portion extending from the first outer housing shell portion, the second outer housing shell portion having a proximal face defining an opening therein, the opening of the second outer housing shell portion being in communication with the cavity and with the opening of the first outer housing shell portion such that an instrument module is insertable into the cavity through the openings of the first and second outer housing shell portions.
12. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the first outer housing shell portion defines a longitudinal axis and the second outer housing shell portion defines a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first outer housing shell portion.
13. The surgical instrument according to claim 12, wherein the longitudinal axis of the second outer housing shell portion is parallel to the proximal face of the first outer housing shell portion and the proximal face of the second outer housing shell portion.
14. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, further comprising an instrument shell cover operatively coupled to the outer housing shell and transitionable between:
a first configuration, in which the openings of the first and second outer housing shell portions are covered by the instrument shell cover; and
a second configuration, in which an instrument module is selectively insertable into the cavity of the outer housing shell through the openings of the first and second outer housing shell portions.
15. The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein the instrument shell cover is pivotably connected to one of the first or second outer housing shell portions, the instrument shell cover being configured to pivot between:
a first position, in which the instrument shell cover engages the proximal faces of the first and second outer housing shell portions to cover the cavity; and
a second position, in which an instrument module is insertable into the cavity.
16. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the instrument shell cover is removably coupled to the proximal faces of the first and second outer housing shell portions.
17. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the first outer housing shell portion includes a distal face, the distal face defining at least one opening therein.
18. The surgical instrument according to claim 17, wherein a seal is supported in the at least one opening defined by the distal face of the first outer housing shell portion.
19. The surgical instrument according to claim 11, further comprising an instrument module including:
a first portion configured for selective receipt within the first outer housing shell portion of the outer housing shell; and
a second portion extending from the first portion, the second portion configured for selective receipt within the second outer housing shell portion of the outer housing shell.
20. The surgical instrument according to claim 19, wherein the instrument module includes at least one drive shaft disposed within the first portion of the instrument module.

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 imaging method comprising:
operating an imaging head to emit a plurality of independently-controllable radiation beams while scanning over media to form an image on the media;
operating an imaging channel of the imaging head to emit a radiation beam having a first intensity while scanning in a first direction over the media during a first scan; and
operating the imaging channel to emit a radiation beam having a second intensity while scanning in a second direction over the media during a second scan, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction and the second intensity is different from the first intensity.
2. A method according to claim 1, comprising forming a first pixel with the radiation beam having the first intensity during the first scan, and forming a second pixel with the radiation beam having the second intensity during the second scan.
3. A method according to claim 2, comprising forming the first pixel with a first exposure and forming the second pixel with a second exposure, wherein the second exposure is formed differently from the first exposure.
4. A method according to claim 2, comprising forming the first pixel with a first exposure and forming the second pixel with a second exposure wherein the second exposure is greater than the first exposure.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of the first intensity and the second intensity are sufficient to create an exposure greater than, or equal to an exposure threshold of the media during each of the first scan and the second scan.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of the first intensity and the second intensity are greater than leakage intensity occurring when the imaging channel is operated not to emit a radiation beam.
7. A method according to claim 1, comprising establishing relative motion between the imaging head and the media while forming the image.
8. A method according to claim 1, comprising selecting the first intensity to be different from the second intensity.
9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the imaging head comprises a light valve, the method comprising attenuating a channel of the light valve to make the second intensity different from the first intensity.
10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the imaging head comprises a light valve, the method comprising pulse width modulating a channel of the light valve to make the second intensity different from the first intensity.
11. A method according to claim 1, comprising varying power provided to the imaging channel to make the second intensity different from the first intensity.
12. A method according to claim 2, wherein the first pixel forms part of an edge portion of a feature formed on the media and the second pixel forms part of another edge portion of a feature formed on the media.
13. A method according to claim 2, wherein the first pixel forms an interior portion of a feature formed on the media and the second pixel forms an edge portion of the feature.
14. A method according to claim 2, wherein the first pixel forms part of an edge portion of a feature formed on the media and wherein the second pixel forms part of an interior portion of an additional feature formed on the media.
15. A method according to claim 2, wherein each of the first pixel and the second pixel forms part of an edge portion of a feature formed on the media.
16. A method according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the edge portions extends in a direction that intersects the first direction.
17. A method according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the edge portions extends in a direction that is parallel to the first direction.
18. A method according to claim 2, wherein each of the first pixel and the second pixel forms part of an interior portion of one or more features formed on the media, the method comprising operating the imaging channel to emit a radiation beam having a third intensity to form a third pixel, wherein the third pixel is part of an edge portion of one of the one or more features and the third intensity is greater than each of the first intensity and the second intensity.
19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the third pixel is formed during the first scan.
20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the edge portion extends in a direction that intersects the first direction.
21. A method according to claim 18, wherein the edge portion extends in a direction that is parallel to the first direction.
22. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of the first intensity and the second intensity is less than an intensity threshold of the media.
23. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of the first intensity and the second intensity is greater than an intensity threshold of the media.
24. A method according to claim 1, wherein both of the first intensity and the second intensity are greater than an intensity threshold of the media.
25. A method according to claim 2, comprising operating the imaging head to emit a radiation beam having a third intensity, wherein the third intensity is less than an intensity threshold of the media.
26. A method according to claim 1, wherein the media comprises a pattern of registration sub-regions, and the image comprises one or more patterns of features, the method comprising forming the one or more patterns of features in alignment with the pattern of registration sub-regions.
27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the pattern of registration sub-regions comprises a matrix, and the one or more patterns of features comprises a pattern of color features.
28. A method according to claim 1, wherein the image comprises one or more patterns of features.
29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the one or more patterns of features comprises a pattern of color features.
30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the pattern of color features forms a portion of a color filter.
31. A method according to claim 29, wherein the pattern of color features forms a pattern of colored illumination sources.
32. A method according to claim 31, wherein the colored illumination sources comprises an OLED material.
33. A method according to claim 28, wherein the one or more patterns of features comprises a plurality of patterns of color features, each pattern of color features corresponding to a given color, the method comprising imaging each of the patterns of color features separately.
34. A method according to claim 1, comprising forming the image in a laser-induced thermal transfer process.
35. A method according to claim 34, wherein the laser-induced thermal transfer process comprises a laser-induced dye-transfer process.
36. A method according to claim 34, wherein the laser induced thermal transfer process comprises a laser-induced mass transfer process.
37. A method according to claim 34, wherein the laser induced thermal transfer process comprises transferring material from a donor element to a receiver element.
38. A method according to claim 37, wherein the material comprises an OLED material.
39. A method according to claim 28, wherein the one or more patterns of features comprises a pattern of repeating island features.
40. A method according to claim 39, wherein the repeating pattern of island features comprises a first plurality of features of a first color, each feature of the first plurality separated from each other feature of the first color by a feature of a different color.
41. An imaging method, comprising:
operating an imaging channel of an imaging head to emit a plurality of radiation beams while scanning over media;
maintaining intensity information associated with the imaging channel; the intensity information specifying a first intensity to set for a radiation beam in the event that the radiation beam is emitted while scanning over the media in a first direction, and specifying a second intensity that is different from the first intensity to set for the radiation beam in the event that the radiation beam is emitted while scanning over the media in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction;
determining the direction of a scan; and
controlling the imaging channel according to the intensity information to emit the radiation beam with the intensity corresponding to the determined direction.
42. A method according claim 41, wherein the intensity information specifies the first intensity in the event that the radiation beam is required to form a first pixel on the media while scanning in the first direction, and specifies the second intensity in the event that the radiation beam is required to form a second pixel on the media while scanning in the second direction, the method comprising:
determining if the first pixel is to be formed on the media while scanning in the first direction;
determining if the second pixel is to be formed on the media while scanning in the second direction; and
controlling the imaging channel to emit the radiation beam to form either the first pixel or the second pixel.
43. A method according to claim 42, wherein the intensity information specifies the first intensity in the event that the first pixel is an edge pixel, and specifies the second intensity in the event that the second pixel is an edge pixel, the method comprising determining if either of the first pixel and the second pixel are edge pixels.
44. A method according to claim 41, comprising controlling the imaging channel to form a first pixel on the media while scanning in the first direction and controlling the imaging channel to form a second pixel on the media while scanning in the second direction, wherein the first pixel is formed with a first exposure and the second pixel is formed with a second exposure different from the first exposure.
45. A method according to claim 44, wherein the first pixel and the second pixel are edge pixels of one or more features formed by the imaging head on the media.
46. A method according to claim 44, wherein the first pixel and the second pixel are interior pixels of one or more features formed by the imaging head on the media.
47. A method according to claim 41, comprising controlling the imaging head to expose the media with a first exposure while scanning in the first direction and to expose the media with a second exposure while scanning in the second direction, wherein the second exposure is different from the first exposure.
48. A method according to claim 41, wherein each of the first intensity and the second intensity is sufficient to create an exposure greater than or equal to an exposure threshold of the media.
49. A method according to claim 41, wherein each of the first intensity and the second intensity is greater than, or equal to an intensity threshold of the media.
50. A method according to claim 41, wherein each of the first intensity and the second intensity is greater than leakage intensity occurring when the imaging channel is turned off.
51. An imaging method, comprising:
operating an imaging channel of an imaging head to emit a plurality of radiation beams while scanning over media;
maintaining first intensity information associated with the imaging channel; the first intensity information specifying a first intensity to set for a first radiation beam in the event that the first radiation beam is scanned over the media in a first direction;
maintaining second intensity information associated with the imaging channel, the second intensity information specifying a second intensity different from the first intensity to set for a second radiation beam in the event that the second radiation beam scanned over the media in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
determining when the first radiation beam is scanned in the first direction;
setting the intensity of the first radiation beam according to the first intensity information;
determining when the second radiation beam is scanned in the second direction; and
setting the intensity of the second radiation beam according to the second intensity information.
52. A program product carrying a set of computer-readable signals comprising instructions which, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to:
operate an imaging head to emit a plurality of independently-controllable radiation beams while scanning over media to form an image on the media;
operate an imaging channel of the imaging head to emit a radiation beam having a first intensity while scanning in a first direction over the media during a first scan; and
operate the imaging channel to emit a radiation beam having a second intensity while scanning in a second direction over the media during a second scan, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction and the second intensity is different from the first intensity.
53. A program product carrying a set of computer-readable signals comprising instructions which, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to:
operate an imaging channel of an imaging head to emit a plurality of radiation beams while scanning over media;
maintain intensity information associated with the imaging channel; the intensity information specifying a first intensity to set for a radiation beam in the event that the radiation beam is emitted while scanning over the media in a first direction, and specifying a second intensity that is different from the first intensity to set for the radiation beam in the event that the radiation beam is emitted while scanning over the media in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction;
determine the direction of a scan; and
control the imaging channel according to the intensity information to emit the radiation beam with the intensity corresponding to the determined direction.
54. An imaging method, comprising:
operating an imaging head to emit a plurality of independently-controllable radiation beams while bi-directionally scanning over media to form an image on the media;
while scanning over the media during a first scan, controlling an imaging channel of the imaging head to emit a radiation beam having a first intensity, the first intensity corresponding to an intensity value selected from a first set of two or more intensity values; and
while scanning over the media during a second scan, controlling the imaging channel of the imaging head to emit a radiation beam having a second intensity, the second intensity corresponding to an intensity value selected from a second set of two or more intensity values;

wherein at least one intensity value of the first set is different from at least one intensity value of the second set.
55. A method according to claim 54, comprising forming a pixel with at least one of the radiation beam having the first intensity and the radiation beam having the second intensity.
56. A method according to claim 54, comprising forming a plurality of pixels during the first scan, wherein a first pixel of the plurality of pixels is formed by the radiation beam having the first intensity and a second pixel of the plurality of pixels is formed by operating the imaging channel to emit a radiation beam having a third intensity, the third intensity corresponding to an additional intensity value selected from the first set.
57. A method according to claim 54, wherein the first set comprises at least one intensity value corresponding to a below-threshold intensity.
58. A method according to claim 54, wherein each intensity value of the first set corresponds to an intensity sufficient for forming a pixel on the media.
59. A method according to claim 2, comprising determining if the first pixel corresponds to an edge portion of a feature formed on the media, the method further comprising forming the first pixel with a radiation beam having a boosted intensity.
60. A method according to claim 2 wherein at least one of the radiation beam having the first intensity and the radiation beam having the second intensity is a radiation beam having a boosted intensity.

1. A personal identification system for an information processing system including two or more local computers and a remote computer having common resources which can be accessed by each of the local computers, comprising:
a personal verification system as common equipment for the local computers, including a database for storing passwords of each authorized user and physical characteristics data corresponding to each password,
wherein each of the local computers is provided with a physical characteristics scanningsending means for scanning physical characteristics of a user when the user makes a request to one of the local computers for the use of the common resources of the remote computer, the physical characteristics scanningsending means generating characteristics data based on the scanned physical characteristics of the user, and, the physical characteristics scanningsending means sending the characteristics data to the personal verification system, and
wherein the personal verification system which receives the characteristics data from the physical characteristics scanningsending means of the one of the local computers, searches the database for a password using the received characteristics data as a key, and sends the searched password to the one of the local computers, and
wherein the one of the local computers, which receives the password from the personal verification system, sends the received password to the remote computer for user identification, and
wherein the personal verification system includes a computer that searches the database and that sends the searched password to the one of the local computers, the computer of the personal verification system being separate and distinct from the remote computer.
2. A personal identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote computer includes a user personal identification means for executing personal identification of the user by use of the password which is sent from the one of the local computers.
3. A personal identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the local computers, the remote computer and the personal verification system are connected together by a communication network.
4. A personal identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication network is an Ethernet LAN.
5. A personal identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication network is a wireless LAN.
6. A personal identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a fingerprint of the user is scanned by the physical characteristics scanningsending means as the physical characteristics of the user.
7. A personal identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein an iris pattern of the user is scanned by the physical characteristics scanningsending means as the physical characteristics of the user.
8. A personal identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a retina pattern of the user is scanned by the physical characteristics scanningsending means as the physical characteristics of the user.
9. A personal identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a voiceprint of the user is scanned by the physical characteristics scanningsending means as the physical characteristics of the user.
10. A personal identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein only the remote computer determines whether or not a user of the one of the local computers is permitted or denied access to the common resources that corresponds to data stored at the remote computer.
11. A personal identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user desires to access common resources that are stored at the remote computer, and
wherein the remote computer makes the sole determination, based on the received password, as to whether or not to grant the user access to the common resources, and
wherein, when the user is granted access to the common resources, a user-requested portion of the common resources are sent to the one of the local computers of the user by way of the remote computer.
12. A personal identification system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the personal verification system is disposed remotely from the local computers and remotely from the remote computer.
13. A personal identification method as claimed in claim 10, wherein only the remote computer determines whether or not a user of the one of the local computers is permitted or denied access to the common resources that corresponds to data stored at the remote computer.
14. A personal identification method for an information processing system including two or more local computers and a remote computer having common resources which can be accessed by each of the local computers, comprising the steps of:
scanning, by one of local computer computers, physical characteristics of a user when the user makes a request to the one of the local computers for the use of the common resources of the remote computer;
generating, by the one of the local computers, characteristics data based on the scanned physical characteristics of the user;
sending, by the one of the local computers, the characteristics data to a personal verification system which is provided to the information processing system as common equipment for the local computers and which includes a database for storing passwords of each authorized user and physical characteristics data corresponding to each password;
receiving, by the personal verification system, the characteristics data sent from the one of the local computers;
searching, by the personal verification system, the database for a password using the received characteristics data as a key;
sending, by the personal verification system, the searched password to the one of the local computers;
receiving, by the one of the local computers, the password sent from the personal verification system; and
sending, by the one of the local computers, the received password to the remote computer for user identification,
wherein the personal verification system includes a computer that searches the database and that sends the searched password to the one of the local computers, the computer of the personal verification system being separate and distinct from the remote computer.
15. A personal identification method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a user personal identification step in which the remote computer executes personal identification of the user by use of the password which is sent from the one of the local computers.
16. A personal identification method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the local computers, the remote computer and the personal verification system are connected together by a communication network.
17. A personal identification method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the communication network is an Ethernet LAN.
18. A personal identification method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the communication network is a wireless LAN.
19. A personal identification method as claimed in claim 14, wherein a fingerprint of the user is scanned in the physical characteristics scanningsending step as the physical characteristics of the user.
20. A personal identification method as claimed in claim 14, wherein an iris pattern of the user is scanned in the physical characteristics scanningsending step as the physical characteristics of the user.
21. A personal identification method as claimed in claim 14, wherein a retina pattern of the user is scanned in the physical characteristics scanningsending step as the physical characteristics of the user.
22. A personal identification method as claimed in claim 14, wherein a voiceprint of the user is scanned in the physical characteristics scanningsending step as the physical characteristics of the user.
23. A personal identification method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the user desires to access common resources that are stored at remote computer, and
wherein the remote computer makes the sole determination, based on the received password, as to whether or not to grant the user access to the common resouces, and
wherein, when the user is granted access to the common resources, a user-request portion of the common resources are sent to the one of the local computer of the user by way of the remote computer.
24. A personal identification method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the personal verification system is disposed remotely from the local computers and remotely from the remote computer.

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 for increasing failure tolerance of a storage system having a plurality of arrays, each array having a plurality of storage units, the method comprising steps of:
selecting a recipient array;
selecting a donor array from the plurality of arrays when a difference between a minimum distance of the donor array and a minimum distance of the recipient array is greater or equal to 2;
selecting a donor storage unit in the donor array; and
rebuilding at least a portion of lost recipient information from the recipient array on the selected storage unit in the donor array.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the minimum Hamming distance of the recipient array is d\u22672 before the step of selecting the donor array from the plurality of arrays.
3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of indicating to the donor array that the selected storage has been donated before the step of rebuilding the lost information on the selected storage unit.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the storage units are hard disk drives.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the storage units are RAM storage devices.
6. The method according to claim 1, further including a step of selecting a recipient storage unit from the recipient array.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the lost contents of the recipient storage unit are rebuilt onto the donor storage unit.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the donor storage unit is further selected based on a minimal performance impact on the donor array.
9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of selecting the recipient information based on an improved performance of the recipient array.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the arrays of the storage system include redundancy based on an erasure or error correcting code.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a parity code.
12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a Winograd code.
13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a symmetric code.
14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a Reed-Solomon code.
15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is an EVENODD code.
16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a derivative of an EVENODD code.
17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the arrays of the storage system includes redundancy based on a product of a plurality of erasure or error correcting codes.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a parity code.
19. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a Winograd code.
20. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting code is a symmetric code.
21. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting code is a Reed-Solomon code.
22. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting code is an EVENODD code.
23. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting code is a derivative of an EVENODD code.
24. The method according to claim 1, wherein when a storage unit in the donor array fails during the step of rebuilding at least a portion of recipient information from the recipient array on the selected storage unit, the method further comprising steps of:
terminating the step of rebuilding at least a portion of recipient information from the recipient array on the selected storage unit;
selecting a second donor array from the plurality of arrays when a difference between a minimum distance of the second donor array and a minimum distance of the second recipient array is greater or equal to 2;
selecting a donor storage unit in the second donor array; and
rebuilding at least a portion of lost recipient information from the recipient array on the selected storage unit in the second donor array.
25. The method according to claim 1, wherein when a spare storage unit becomes available, the method further comprising a step of assigning the spare storage unit to a selected array.
26. A method of increasing the failure tolerance of an array of storage units that is vulnerable to selected patterns of failures, comprising steps of:
subsequent to a storage unit failure, selecting a recipient storage unit from the array of storage units;
selecting a donor storage unit from the array of storage units such that a failure tolerance of the array is increased following a rebuild operation;
rebuilding at least a portion of lost recipient information onto the donor storage unit.
27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the minimum Hamming distance of the array is d\u22672 before the step of selecting the donor storage unit.
28. The method according to claim 26, wherein the minimum Hamming distance of the array is increased upon completion of the step of rebuilding.
29. The method according to claim 26, wherein the recipient storage unit is selected based on a failure pattern of the array.
30. The method according to claim 26, wherein the donor storage unit is selected based on a predetermined target pattern.
31. The method according to claim 26, wherein the array of the storage units includes redundancy based on an erasure or error correcting code.
32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a parity code.
33. The method according to claim 31, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a Winograd code.
34. The method according to claim 31, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a symmetric code.
35. The method according to claim 31, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a Reed-Solomon code.
36. The method according to claim 31, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is an EVENODD code.
37. The method according to claim 31, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a derivative of an EVENODD code.
38. The method according to claim 26, wherein the array includes redundancy based on a product of a plurality of erasure or error correcting codes.
39. The method according to claim 38, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a parity code.
40. The method according to claim 38, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a Winograd code.
41. The method according to claim 38, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a symmetric code.
42. The method according to claim 38, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a Reed-Solomon code.
43. The method according to claim 38, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is an EVENODD code.
44. The method according to claim 38, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a derivative of an EVENODD code.
45. A data storage system, comprising:
a plurality of arrays, each array having a plurality of storage units; and
a system array controller coupled to each array, the system array controller detecting a failure of a storage unit in a first array of the plurality of arrays, selecting a storage unit in a second array of the plurality of arrays when a difference between a minimum distance of the second array and a minimum distance of the first array is greater or equal to 2, and rebuilding at least a portion of information from the first array onto the selected storage unit of the second array.
46. The data storage system according to claim 45, wherein when a spare unit becomes available, the spare unit is assigned to the second array.
47. The data storage system according to claim 45, wherein at least one array has a non-uniform failure probability.
48. The data storage system according to claim 45, wherein the system array controller includes a plurality of array controllers, an array controller being coupled to at least one array of the plurality of arrays, each respective array controller detecting a failure of a storage unit in each array associated with the array controller, a first array controller of the plurality of array controllers selecting a storage unit in an array associated with the first array controller when a difference between a minimum distance of the array of the selected storage unit and a minimum distance of an array associated with a second array controller of the plurality of array controllers is greater or equal to 2, and the first and second array controllers rebuilding at least a portion of lost information from the array associated with the second array controller onto the selected storage unit in the array associated with the first array controller.
49. The data storage system according to claim 48, wherein when a spare unit becomes available, the spare unit is assigned to the array of the selected storage unit.
50. The data storage system according to claim 48, wherein at least one array has a non-uniform failure probability.
51. The data storage system according to claim 45, wherein the arrays of the data storage system include redundancy based on an erasure or error correcting code.
52. The data storage system according to claim 51, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a parity code.
53. The data storage system according to claim 51, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a Winograd code.
54. The data storage system according to claim 51, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a symmetric code.
55. The data storage system according to claim 51, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a Reed-Solomon code.
56. The data storage system according to claim 51, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is an EVENODD code.
57. The data storage according to claim 51, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a derivative of an EVENODD code.
58. The data storage system according to claim 45, wherein the arrays of the storage system includes redundancy based on a product of a plurality of erasure or error correcting codes.
59. The data storage system according to claim 58, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a parity code.
60. The data storage system according to claim 58, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a Winograd code.
61. The data storage system according to claim 58, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a symmetric code.
62. The data storage system according to claim 58, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a Reed-Solomon code.
63. The data storage system according to claim 58, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is an EVENODD code.
64. The data storage system according to claim 58, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a derivative of an EVENODD code.
65. The data storage system according to claim 45, wherein each storage unit is one of a Hard Disk Drive, a volatile Random Access Memory device, a non-volatile Random Access Memory device, an optical storage device, and a tape storage device.
66. A data storage system, comprising:
an array having a plurality of storage units, the array being vulnerable to selected patterns of failures; and
an array controller coupled to the array, the array controller detecting a failure of a first storage unit in the array, selecting a second storage unit in the array such that a failure tolerance of the array is increased following a rebuild operation, and rebuilding at least a portion of information from the first storage unit onto the second storage unit.
67. The data storage system according to claim 66, wherein the minimum Hamming distance of the array is d\u22672 before the array controller selects the second storage unit.
68. The data storage system according to claim 66, wherein the minimum Hamming distance of the array is increased upon completion of rebuilding at least a portion of information from the first storage unit onto the second storage unit.
69. The data storage system according to claim 66, wherein the second storage unit is selected based on a failure pattern of the array.
70. The data storage system according to claim 66, wherein the second storage unit is selected based on a predetermined target pattern.
71. The data storage system according to claim 66, wherein the array includes redundancy based on an erasure or error correcting code.
72. The data storage system according to claim 71, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a parity code.
73. The data storage system according to claim 71, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a Winograd code.
74. The data storage system according to claim 71, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a symmetric code.
75. The data storage system according to claim 71, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a Reed-Solomon code.
76. The data storage system according to claim 71, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is an EVENODD code.
77. The data storage system according to claim 71, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a derivative of an EVENODD code.
78. The data storage system according to claim 66, wherein the array has a non-uniform failure probability.
79. The data storage system according to claim 66, wherein each storage unit is one of a Hard Disk Drive, a volatile Random Access Memory device, a non-volatile Random Access Memory device, an optical storage device, and a tape storage device.
80. The data storage system according to claim 66, wherein the array includes redundancy based on a product of a plurality of erasure or error correcting codes.
81. The data storage system according to claim 80, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a parity code.
82. The data storage system according to claim 80, wherein the erasure or error correcting code is a Winograd code.
83. The data storage system according to claim 80, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a parity code.
84. The data storage system according to claim 80, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a symmetric code.
85. The data storage system according to claim 80, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a Reed-Solomon code.
86. The data storage system according to claim 80, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is an EVENODD code.
87. The data storage system according to claim 80, wherein at least one of the erasure or error correcting codes is a derivative of an EVENODD code.