An analog type electronic watch having a step motor to drive hands has a movement indicator other than hands. The movement indicator has a magnet member and is driven with the magnetic influence of a rotor magnet of the step motor. The magnet member is arranged within a window provided in a dial plate of the watch within the range of the magnetic force of the rotor. The movement indicator is supported so as to be synchronously moved with the rotation of the rotor under the magnetic influence.

In an apparatus for recording and quickly retrieving video signal parts on a magnetic tape, during recording information about the local position of each video signal part is automatically stored in a memory associated with the apparatus, which is designed for storing identifying information for a large number of magnetic tape cassettes. The retrieval of each video signal part on each of the cassettes can be effected substantially without delay in the quick rewind mode of operation.

The disclosed device enables the recording of television broadcasts which are preprogrammed in a memory. The presence of data lines of the television signal in combination with the presence of a color television signal is checked. When the data lines stop, the video recorder is switched on in real time by a clock time signal.

A device and method provide for an accurate output from a unit, such as an oscillator and/or clock providing an output indicative of frequency and/or time. The device includes a processing section having a microprocessor that develops a model characterizing the performance of the device, including establishing predicted accuracy variations, and the model is then used to correct the unit output. An external reference is used to provide a reference input for updating the model, including updating of predicted variations of the unit, by comparison of the reference input with the unit output. The ability of the model to accurately predict the performance of the unit improves as additional updates are carried out, and this allows the interval between the updates to be lengthened and/or the overall accuracy of the device to be improved. The accuracy of the output is thus adaptively optimized in the presence of systematic and random variations.

A watch case back opener is provided having a base. A vise is rotatably mounted on the base for securing a watch case to the base. The vise includes a first jaw and a second jaw movable between an open and closed position. Holes are formed in the jaw. They are adapted to receive a plurality of posts to secure a plurality of different sized and shaped watch cases to the vise. An opener unit including an opening blade is mounted on the base for separating a watch case back from the watch case by twisting the lever relative to the base and then lifting the blade relative to the base.

An automatic programmed ventilation control system for operating a fan includes a fan drive circuit; a duty, cycle control circuit including means for selecting a duty cycle and means for setting the selected duty cycle; a timing circuit including means for selecting the time of day and means for setting the selected time of day; a fan speed control circuit including means for selecting a fan speed and means for setting the selected fan speed; and a manual override switch circuit for overriding the set duty cycle and fan speed for operating the fan at a predetermined speed for a preselected period of time.

A wind direction indicating and time display unit is provided for use at the tee areas of a golf course. The unit wind direction indicating device is mounted on an upper surface of a support structure and extends upwardly therefrom. The wind direction indicating device includes a support pole, a sleeve mounted for rotation on the pole at the top thereof, a wind direction indicating element, such as a flag, secured to the sleeve and movable in response to changes in wind direction, and a pole support fitting. Secured to the upper surface of the support structure. A time display device, such as a clock, is secured in a laterally facing wall surface of the support structure.

Accessory for a laptop computer with LCD display which is connected to the laptop serial communications port and optically transmits data to a portable information device, such as a wristwatch designed to receive data as sequential pulses of light. The accessory includes a microcomputer with an RC timebase which is calibrated each time it is used by a special internal program, so that the input baud rate to the accessory matches the communications baud rate of the data received from the laptop. The internal program also permits selection of an output baud rate for the optically transmitted data.

An LCD is integrated with the cover glass of a wrist watch radio paging receiver which indicates the time data with a dial plate and hands, and a message is displayed on the cover glass by controlling this LCD. In this message display, the parts of the characters indicating the message are made transparent and the remaining parts intercept light. In this manner, message display is made possible by the difference in light transmissivity.

An apparatus for measuring a time interval between a start signal edge and a stop signal edge provides a stable clock signal as input to a delay line formed by a series of similar logic gates. The output signal of the last gate of the series is phase locked to the clock signal by adjusting a bias signal controlling the switching speed of all gates. The clock signal and the output signal of each gate form a set of phase distributed periodic timing signals applied to a start time measurement unit (TMU) and a similar stop TMU. The start TMU counts edges of one of the timing signals occurring between an edge of an arming signal and the start signal edge and generates output data representing a time delay between the arming signal and the start signal edge. The data represents the start delay as a whole and fractional number of clock signal periods by conveying the counter output and by indicating which of the timing signals had an edge most closely following the start signal edge. The stop TMU similarly produces output data indicating a whole an fractional number of clock cycles occurring between the arming signal and the stop signal edge. The delay represented by the start TMU output data is subtracted from the delay represented by the stop TMU output data to determine the interval between the start and stop signal edges.

An equatorial sundial apparatus with an adjustable base assembly utilizing one or more concave cylindrical focusing mirrors. One of the benefits that is derived from this apparatus is the use of one or more concave cylindrical mirrors to project a focused beam of light onto a calibrated surface from which the time can be read. This sundial has the additional benefit of not suffering from blurring of the time indicator in a shadow or non-focused beam of light typical of other sundials. This sundial's focused light forms a sharply demarcated indicator from which time can be read to the minute. A further benefit of this apparatus is the ability to incorporate multiple concave cylindrical focusing mirrors to reduce the size of the visual field or screen where the time is read and to incorporate various shapes and designs for ornamental purposes without significant compromise of the sundials accuracy for telling time. An additional benefit of this apparatus is the ability to quickly, accurately and easily adjust the apparatus to the proper tilt upon setup according to the latitude where it will be located by means of an adjustable base assembly.

A first circuit having a first coil electrically charges a second circuit having a second coil through electromagnetic coupling of the two coils. When data signals are to be transferred between the first and second circuits, signal transfer is started only after the second circuit has been charged for a predetermined period of time. The position relationship between the coils is also detected, and a charging/transfer selector changes a duty ratio between charge transfer and data transfer in accordance with the detected result. The charge is transferred in an intermittent manner, and the charging rate is adjusted according to the difference between the voltage of a secondary battery observed during a charging phase and the voltage of the secondary battery observed a certain time after interruption of the charging phase, or vice versa.

A yo-yo has a recess in one of its faces accommodating a timepiece. The yo-yo is be releasably accommodated in a base, and the base may be worn on a user's person by various means including a wristband in the manner of a wristwatch, a fob or a watch chain in the manner of a pocket watch, a necklace in the manner of a necklace watch, or a holster.

An electronic data system for use with sporting impliments for providing a user with an electronic device integrated into sport gloves to perform various functions unique to that particular sport. The electronic data system for use with sporting impliments includes a glove member designed for substantially enveloping a hand of a user. The glove member has a notch portion in a back side of the glove member. The notch portion is for facilitating insertion and removal of the user's hand from the glove member. The glove member has a tab portion positioned adjacent to a first side of the notch portion. A data assembly has a housing. The housing is operationally coupled to the glove member. The data assembly has a display for presenting a visual representation of information to the user.

A network is described for providing estimates of the current time. The network includes multiple computer systems each configured to provide an estimate of the current time in response to a received request. The computer systems are logically arranged to form a hierarchical structure, wherein the hierarchical structure includes multiple levels ranked with respect to one another. Each of the computer systems is assigned one of multiple levels of trust, and occupies one of the levels of the hierarchical structure dependent upon the assigned level of trust. The level of trust assigned to a given computer system is dependent upon a timekeeping dependability of the given computer system. The assigned level of trust may also be dependent upon a timekeeping security of the given computer system, where the timekeeping security is dependent upon a tamper resistance of the time clock of the given computer system. Methods for delegating a level of trust to a new computer system (i.e., a computer system not part of the network) and for adding a new computer system to the network are also described.

A method and device for synchronizing the time between at least two integrated circuits (201, 202), which receive the same pulse signal. In the integrated circuits (201, 202) a counter (204, 206) is used to count the number of pulses in the received pulse signal to synchronize the common time between said integrated circuits.

The device consists in compensating for the distortion of the characters marked on the dial caused by a lens, by writing the characters with a reverse pin cushion or barrel distortion.

A portable self contained light generating device which is powered by a flow of granular material falling under the influence of gravity to impinge upon and cause a paddle wheel to rotate thereby turning a small generator producing electricity to power one or more light emitting diodes for illumination. The device equipped with a multi-position power/illumination control switch and in some embodiments also provided with a battery providing supplemental power.

A system and method for tracking and informing about a physical, emotional, or physiological cycle, such as a menstrual cycle, includes at least one definition entry and at least one date indicator. Each definition entry defines indicia such as color to represent a stage of a physical, emotional, or physiological cycle. Each date indicator includes a date section and a tracking section corresponding to each date section. The date section of the date indicator indicates at least one date, wherein the tracking section is capable of being marked so as to indicate indicia corresponding to a definition entry to signify the stage of the physical, emotional, or physiological cycle for each date. According to one embodiment, the date indicators are arranged according to phases of the moon to allow correlation of a user's cycle to the lunar cycle.

A musical rhythm is expressed by the number of the timing marks (for example, three timing marks when in simple triple time); and a musical tempo is expressed by the distance among the timing marks and a timing ball that moves at a fixed speed among those timing marks. Accordingly, a player may easily grasp the tempo of the music and easily determine the rhythm of the music in a sound game.

The coupled resonator comprises a first low frequency resonator, such as a balance spring (1) and a second higher frequency resonator, such as a tuning fork (2), the two resonators (1 and 2) including permanent mechanical coupling means. Application to the regulating system of a timepiece.

A wristwatch, which comprises an atomic oscillator comprising a system for detecting the beat frequencies obtained by the Raman effect.

Smoking cessation lighter is configured for lighting cigarettes for a smoker, and learning software is provided for monitoring smoking behavior of a smoker during a first data collection period and guiding a smoker's smoking cessation by directing the smoker when the smoker is to smoke a cigarette based on data collected during the first data collection period. The learning software monitors user behavior and collects data during use of the lighter by the smoker after the initial data collection period in order to analyze and further guide the smoker based on the smoker's cheating behavior, the smoker's behavior of lighting a cigarette for a friend, and the smoker's behavior of skipping use of the lighter at a time when the smoker has been directed to light a cigarette by the lighter.

A Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) controller receives new data that is to be written, wherein the new data is indicated in blocks of a first block size. The RAID controller reads old data, and old parity that corresponds to the old data, stored in blocks of a second block size that is larger in size than the first block size. The RAID controller computes new parity based on the new data, the old data, and the old parity. The RAID controller writes the new data and the new parity aligned to the blocks of the second block size, wherein portions of the old data that are not overwritten by the RAID controller are also written to the blocks of the second block size.

A Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) controller receives new data that is to be written, wherein the new data is indicated in blocks of a first block size. The RAID controller reads old data, and old parity that corresponds to the old data, stored in blocks of a second block size that is larger in size than the first block size. The RAID controller computes new parity based on the new data, the old data, and the old parity. The RAID controller writes the new data and the new parity aligned to the blocks of the second block size, wherein portions of the old data that are not overwritten by the RAID controller are also written to the blocks of the second block size.

Methods and systems for load balancing read/write requests of a virtualized storage system. In one embodiment, a storage system includes a plurality of physical storage devices and a storage module operable within a communication network to present the plurality of physical storage devices as a virtual storage device to a plurality of network computing elements that are coupled to the communication network. The virtual storage device comprises a plurality of virtual storage volumes, wherein each virtual storage volume is communicatively coupled to the physical storage devices via the storage module. The storage module comprises maps that are used to route read/write requests from the network computing elements to the virtual storage volumes. Each map links read/write requests from at least one network computing element to a respective virtual storage volume within the virtual storage device.

A memory storage apparatus, a memory controller and method for transmitting and identifying data streams are provided. The memory controller passes at least a portion of a data stream received from a host system to a smart card chip of the memory storage apparatus. Then, the host system accurately receives a response message from the smart card chip by executing a plurality of read commands. The memory controller is capable of adding a first verification code to a response data stream sent to the host system, and is capable of adding a write token to each of data segments of the response data stream. The host system confirms the accuracy of the response data stream by verifying the first verification code or by verifying the write token of each of the data segments.

A controller receives a request to perform a release space operation. A determination is made that a new discard scan has to be performed on a cache, in response to the received request to perform the release space operation. A determination is made as to how many task control blocks are to be allocated to the perform the new discard scan, based on how many task control blocks have already been allocated for performing one or more discard scans that are already in progress.

A flash memory file system including a plurality of flash modules. Each of the plurality of flash modules includes a respective cache memory, a respective flash memory, and a respective flash controller in communication with the respective cache memory and the respective flash memory. A first flash module of the plurality of flash modules is configured to receive a file lookup message including a path name for file data stored on a second flash module of the plurality of flash modules. A third flash module of the plurality of flash modules is configured to select the second flash module based on the path name and a directory table, and generate a file metadata message responsive to the file lookup message. The file metadata message identifies the second flash module as containing the file data.

A method, a system and a computer program product for enhancing a cache back invalidation policy by utilizing least recently used (LRU) bits and presence bits in selecting cache-lines for eviction. A cache back invalidation (CBI) utility evicts cache-lines by using presence bits to avoid replacing a cache-line in a lower level cache that is also present in a higher level cache. Furthermore, the CBI utility selects the cache-line for eviction from an LRU group. The CBI utility ensures that dormant cache-lines in the higher level caches do not retain corresponding presence bits set in the lower level caches by unsetting the presence bits in the lower level cache when a line is replaced in the higher level cache. Additionally, when a processor core becomes idle, the CBI utility invalidates the corresponding higher level cache by unsetting the corresponding presence bits in the lower level cache.

Embodiments of the current invention permit a user to allocate cache memory to main memory more efficiently. The processor or a user allocates the cache memory and associates the cache memory to the main memory location, but suppresses or bypassing reading the main memory data into the cache memory. Some embodiments of the present invention permit the user to specify how many cache lines are allocated at a given time. Further, embodiments of the present invention may initialize the cache memory to a specified pattern. The cache memory may be zeroed or set to some desired pattern, such as all ones. Alternatively, a user may determine the initialization pattern through the processor.

A storage device according to an embodiment includes: a host interface connected to a host; a memory including a first buffer that stores a logical address range designated by an invalidation instruction received from the host via the host interface and a second buffer that stores an internal logical address range which is an area combination with the logical address range; a nonvolatile memory; and a controller. The controller includes: an invalidation instruction processor that stores the logical address range designated by the invalidation instruction in the first buffer; an area combination executor that generates the internal logical address range by the area combination with the logical address range and stores the internal logical address range in the second buffer; and an invalidation executor that executes invalidation processing on the nonvolatile memory based on the internal logical address range.

An optical backup apparatus is provided and includes an optical storage device, an interface module to connect with at least one type of external storage medium, and a control unit to back up data from the external storage medium to the optical storage device in response to an external remote control operation.

Machine implemented method and system for generating a disaster recovery copy of an expandable storage volume having a namespace for storing information for accessing data objects stored at a data constituent volume is provided. A transfer operation for transferring a point in time copy of the expandable storage volume from a first location to a second location is generated. Information regarding the expandable storage volume from the first location is retrieved and a destination expandable storage volume is resized to match components of the expandable storage volume at the first location. Thereafter, the point in time copy of the expandable storage volume is transferred from the first location to the second location and configuration information regarding the point in time copy is copied from the first location to the second location.

An abstraction for storage class memory is provided that hides the details of the implementation of storage class memory from a program, and provides a standard channel programming interface for performing certain actions, such as controlling movement of data between main storage and storage class memory or managing storage class memory.

A method and computer-readable storage media are provided for rearranging data in physical memory units. In one embodiment, a method may include monitoring utilization counters. The method may further include, comparing the utilization counters for a match with an instance in a first table containing one or more instances when data may be rearranged in the physical memory units. The table may further include where the data should be relocated by a rearrangement. The method may also include, continuing to monitor the utilization counters if a match is not found with an instance in the first table. The method may further include, rearranging the data in the physical memory units if a match between the utilization counters and an instance in the first table is found.

Proposed are a management apparatus and a management method capable of improving the stability of the overall computer system. In a computer system which manages a storage area provided by each of a plurality of mutually connected storage apparatuses as a logical pool, provides to a host computer a virtual volume associated with the logical pool, and assigns a real storage area from the logical pool to the virtual volume when the host computer writes into the virtual volume, when a storage apparatus is added to the plurality of storage apparatuses, the host computer is controlled to switch the access path to the added storage apparatus.

A mechanism is provided in a storage device for performing a write operation. The mechanism configures a write buffer memory with a plurality of write buffer portions. Each write buffer portion is dedicated to a predetermined block size category within a plurality of block size categories. For each write operation from an initiator, the mechanism determines a block size category of the write operation. The mechanism performs each write operation by writing to a write buffer portion within the plurality of write buffer portions corresponding to the block size category of the write operation.

Various systems and methods are described for configuring a logical data storage container. In one embodiment, an instruction to perform an operation to modify an attribute of the logical data storage container that is an abstraction of a plurality of pertinent storage containers is received. A translated instruction to perform a sub-operation associated with the operation is transmitted to each of a number of the plurality of pertinent storage containers. A level of success of the performing of the operation on the logical data storage container is detected based on a comparison of a threshold value to a level of success of the performing of the sub-operation on each of the number of the plurality of pertinent storage containers. A report of the detected level of success is communicated.

A dispersed storage (DS) unit for use within a dispersed storage network is capable of self-configuring using registry information provided to the DS unit. The registry information includes a slice name assignment indicating a range of slice names corresponding to a plurality of potential data slices of potential data objects to be stored in the DS unit. Based on the registry information, the DS unit allocates a portion of physical memory to store the potential data slices.

Apparatuses and methods for providing data are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a plurality of memories coupled to a data bus. The memories provide data to the data bus responsive, at least in part, to a first address. The plurality of memories further provide at least a portion of the data corresponding to the first address to the data bus during a sense operation for a second address provided to the plurality of memories after the first address. Each of the plurality of memories provides data to the data bus corresponding to the first address at different times. Moreover, a plurality of memories may provide at least 2N bits of data to the data bus responsive, at least in part, to an address, each of the plurality of memories provide N bits of data to the data bus at different times.

A method and apparatus are disclosed of monitoring a number of virtual machines operating in an enterprise network. One example method of operation may include identifying a number of virtual machines currently operating in an enterprise network and determining performance metrics for each of the virtual machines. The method may also include identifying at least one candidate virtual machine from the virtual machines to optimize its active application load and modifying the candidate virtual machine to change its active application load.

Data caching for use in a computer system including a lower cache memory and a higher cache memory. The higher cache memory receives a fetch request. It is then determined by the higher cache memory the state of the entry to be replaced next. If the state of the entry to be replaced next indicates that the entry is exclusively owned or modified, the state of the entry to be replaced next is changed such that a following cache access is processed at a higher speed compared to an access processed if the state would stay unchanged.

An abstraction for storage class memory is provided that hides the details of the implementation of storage class memory from a program, and provides a standard channel programming interface for performing certain actions, such as controlling movement of data between main storage and storage class memory or managing storage class memory.

An abstraction for storage class memory is provided that hides the details of the implementation of storage class memory from a program, and provides a standard channel programming interface for performing certain actions, such as controlling movement of data between main storage and storage class memory or managing storage class memory.

An abstraction for storage class memory is provided that hides the details of the implementation of storage class memory from a program, and provides a standard channel programming interface for performing certain actions, such as controlling movement of data between main storage and storage class memory or managing storage class memory.

An abstraction for storage class memory is provided that hides the details of the implementation of storage class memory from a program, and provides a standard channel programming interface for performing certain actions, such as controlling movement of data between main storage and storage class memory or managing storage class memory.

A method and system for dynamic distributed data caching is presented. The system includes one or more peer members and a master member. The master member and the one or more peer members form cache community for data storage. The master member is operable to select one of the one or more peer members to become a new master member. The master member is operable to update a peer list for the cache community by removing itself from the peer list. The master member is operable to send a nominate master message and an updated peer list to a peer member selected by the master member to become the new master member.

In a process for the separation and drying of crude carboxylic acid crystals from a slurry in a solvent, the slurry is supplied to a filter operating at pressure and at a temperature above the atmospheric boiling point of the solvent. A cake of separated crystals is removed from the filter and passed to a thermal dryer. In a system for the separation and drying of crude carboxylic acid from a slurry in a solvent, a pressure filter device has a slurry inlet and an outlet for a cake of carboxylic acid crystals. The system also has a thermal dryer and means for transporting the cake of carboxylic acid crystals from the pressure filter device to the dryer. The pressure filter device is configured to operate at a pressure and temperature above the atmospheric boiling point of the solvent.

A thermal separation process between a gas ascending in a separating column and a liquid descending in the separating column, which comprise (meth)acrylic monomers, wherein the separating column comprises a sequence of crossflow mass transfer trays, the crossflow mass transfer trays of which have passage orifices for the ascending gas in crossflow direction both in front of and beyond a downcomer for the descending liquid, and such crossflow mass transfer trays and one such crossflow mass transfer tray in a sequence of crossflow mass transfer trays present in a separating column.