VIDEO TRANSCODER WITH FLEXIBLE QUALITY AND COMPLEXITY MANAGEMENT
Granted: March 1, 2012
Application Number:
20120051440
A video transcoder for converting a compressed input video bit-stream having one spatial resolution into a compressed output video bit-stream having a different spatial resolution in a manner that enables the transcoder to dynamically change the amount of computational resources allocated to the conversion process. In one embodiment, the video transcoder has a plurality of configurable processing paths whose configuration determines the amount of allocated computational resources.…
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED SERIAL ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY ATTACHMENT PERFORMANCE
Granted: March 1, 2012
Application Number:
20120054403
Methods and apparatus for improved performance in communications with a SATA target device. Features and aspects hereof provide for continuing DMA transfers from a storage controller (e.g., a SATA host or a SAS/STP initiator) to a SATA target device without regard to receipt of DMA ACTIVATE Frame Information Structures (FIS). Logic to implement these features may be provided by bridge logic within an enhanced SAS expander coupled with an enhanced SAS/STP initiator or may be provided by…
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED HOST/INITIATOR UTILIZATION IN SERIAL ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY ATTACHMENT COMMUNICATION
Granted: March 1, 2012
Application Number:
20120054404
Methods and apparatus for improved performance in communications between a SAS/STP initiator device and a plurality of SATA storage devices coupled with the initiator through an enhanced switching device. The switching device is enhanced in accordance with features and aspects hereof to receive a DMA SETUP FIS from a SATA storage device and to transmit multiple modified DMA SETUP FISs to the initiator where each modified DMA SETUP FIS comprises a subcount less than the maximum count in…
PLATFORM INDEPENDENT THIN RECLAMATION FOR SYSTEMS WITH A STORAGE USAGE MAP APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE
Granted: March 1, 2012
Application Number:
20120054779
In one embodiment, a method of reclaiming data storage in a storage device slated as a reclamation target is disclosed. The method includes generating a first list of one or more portions of storage from the reclamation target that each possesses an application programming interface (API) state of unused per a system that uses the storage device. The method also includes identifying in the reclamation target, a reclamation state for each portion of storage from the first list. The method…
MIXED-MODE RESIZING FOR A VIDEO TRANSCODER
Granted: March 1, 2012
Application Number:
20120051427
A video transcoder for converting a compressed input video bit-stream having one spatial resolution into a compressed output video bit-stream having a different spatial resolution using a plurality of resizing channels. The transcoder has a kernel that partially decodes the compressed input video bit-stream to generate partially decoded video data. The data segments corresponding to picture portions that have both intra- and inter-predicted blocks in close spatial proximity to one…
APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE (API) ROUTER IMPLEMENTATION AND METHOD
Granted: February 23, 2012
Application Number:
20120047494
An application programming interface (API) implementation that can interface between an application and a programming library. The implementation includes a Function Router Wrapper that receives a formatted string from the application. The formatted string includes a function name element filled with a function name, an input element filled with function input parameters, and an unfilled output element. The Function Router Wrapper converts the formatted string and passes it to a Function…
LOW-COST DESIGN FOR REGISTER FILE TESTABILITY
Granted: February 16, 2012
Application Number:
20120042220
A self-test module for use in an electronic device includes a test controller and a memory. The memory is configured to receive test vectors from the test controller. A comparator is configured to receive the test data from the memory via an output data path. A strobing buffer is located in the output data path between an output from the memory and an input to the comparator. The strobing buffer is configured to selectively enable the test vectors to propagate from the memory output to…
APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR LOOK-AHEAD VIRTUAL VOLUME META-DATA PROCESSING IN A STORAGE CONTROLLER
Granted: February 16, 2012
Application Number:
20120042115
Apparatus and methods for improved efficiency in accessing meta-data in a storage controller of a virtualized storage system. Features and aspects hereof walk/retrieve meta-data for one or more other I/O requests when retrieving meta-data for a first I/O request. The meta-data may include mapping information for mapping logical addresses of the virtual volume. Meta-data may also include meta-data associated with higher level, enhanced data services provide by or in conjunction with the…
APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING EXPANDED CAPACITY OF VIRTUAL VOLUMES IN A STORAGE SYSTEM
Granted: February 16, 2012
Application Number:
20120042114
Methods and apparatus for expanded capacity virtual volumes in a virtualized storage system. A storage controller of the storage system parses a SCSI command block as it is received to generate a tag value indicating a segment of a virtual volume to which the command block is directed. The tag value is used to select one of a plurality of mapping segment objects stored in a memory of the controller. Each mapping segment objects maps logical block addresses of a corresponding segment of a…
APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR REAL-TIME ROUTING OF RECEIVED COMMANDS IN A SPLIT-PATH ARCHITECTURE STORAGE CONTROLLER
Granted: February 16, 2012
Application Number:
20120042101
Apparatus and methods for real-time routing of received frames in a split-path architecture storage controller. In one exemplary embodiment, a split-path storage controller comprises a soft-path I/O processor for processing of any received frames and comprises a fast-path I/O processor for efficient processing of common read and write command. A content parsing circuit of the storage controller parses each frame substantially concurrent with reception of the frame and selects an I/O…
Maskless Vortex Phase Shift Optical Direct Write Lithography
Granted: February 16, 2012
Application Number:
20120038896
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for accomplishing optical direct write phase shift lithography. A lithography system and method are provided wherein a mirror array is configured to generate vortex phase shift optical patterns that are directed onto a photosensitive layer of a substrate. The lithography methods and systems facilitate pattern transfer using such vortex phase shift exposure patterns.
MODIFICATION OF LOGIC BY MORPHOLOGICAL MANIPULATION OF A SEMICONDUCTOR RESISTIVE ELEMENT
Granted: February 9, 2012
Application Number:
20120033479
An electronic device includes a substrate with a resistive element located thereover. The resistive element includes a semiconductor region. A read module is configured to determine a resistance of the resistive element. A programming module is configured to cause a current to flow through the semiconductor region. The current is sufficient to induce a change of morphology of at least a portion of the semiconductor region.
MODIFICATION OF SEMICONDUCTOR OPTICAL PATHS BY MORPHOLOGICAL MANIPULATION
Granted: February 9, 2012
Application Number:
20120033925
An optical device includes a substrate and a semiconductor layer located over the substrate. The optical path includes a semiconductor layer that further includes a waveguide core region. The core region includes a first semiconductor region with a morphology of a first type and a first refractive index. The first semiconductor region is located adjacent a second semiconductor region that has a morphology of a second type and a second refractive index that is different from the first…
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING IMPLICIT UNMAPS IN THINLY PROVISIONED VIRTUAL TAPE LIBRARY SYSTEMS
Granted: February 9, 2012
Application Number:
20120036321
The present invention is a system and method which allows for a VTL system that supports thin provisioning to implicitly unmap unused storage. Such unmap operations may occur even though the VTL system does not receive any explicit unmap requests from its initiators. For example, if a system administrator knows that once a virtual tape drive of the VTL system has been partially overwritten, all previously written data sets on that virtual tape drive will never again be accessed, the…
DIBIT EXTRACTION FOR ESTIMATION OF CHANNEL PARAMETERS
Granted: February 2, 2012
Application Number:
20120026623
In one embodiment, a storage-device-implemented method for estimating one or more channel parameters of a storage device including a read channel and a storage medium with a bit sequence stored on the storage medium. The method includes: (a) the storage device reading at least a portion of the bit sequence from the storage medium to generate a bit response; (b) the storage device convolving the bit response to compute an impulse response of the read channel; and (c) the storage device…
FLIP-CHIP PACKAGE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME USING ABLATION
Granted: January 26, 2012
Application Number:
20120018901
A method of manufacturing a flip-chip package and a flip-chip package manufactured by such method. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) mounting a die to a first die, (2) encapsulating the second die with a molding compound and (3) selectively ablating the molding compound based on an expected heat generation of portions of the second die to reduce a thickness of the molding compound proximate the portions.
STACKED INTERCONNECT HEAT SINK
Granted: January 26, 2012
Application Number:
20120020028
An electronic device includes an integrated circuit and a heat spreader. The integrated circuit includes a substrate with an active via located therein. The heat spreader includes a thermally conductive core. The active via is connected to a corresponding heat spreader via that passes through the thermally conductive core.
Methods for Avoiding Parasitic Capacitance in an Integrated Circuit Package
Granted: January 26, 2012
Application Number:
20120021599
An integrated circuit package substrate includes a first and an additional electrically conductive layer separated from each other by an electrically insulating layer, a contact pad formed in the first electrically conductive layer for making a direct connection between the integrated circuit package substrate and a printed circuit board, and a cutout formed in the additional electrically conductive layer wherein the cutout encloses an area that completely surrounds the contact pad for…
ARCHITECTURE FOR IMPROVED CLOUD COMPUTING
Granted: January 19, 2012
Application Number:
20120016992
The present invention is directed to an architecture for promoting improved cloud computing. The architecture includes a plurality of diskless server nodes. The architecture further includes a plurality of Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface (SAS) switches, the plurality of SAS switches being connected to the plurality of diskless server nodes. The architecture further includes a storage system, the storage system configured for being communicatively coupled to the plurality…
MANAGING EXTENDED RAID CACHES USING COUNTING BLOOM FILTERS
Granted: January 19, 2012
Application Number:
20120017041
Contentual metadata of an extended cache is stored within the extended cache. The contentual metadata of the extended cache is approximated utilizing a counting Bloom filter. The counting Bloom filter is stored within a primary cache. Contentual metadata of the primary cache is stored within the primary cache. One of a data read or a data write is executed without accessing the contentual metadata of the extended cache stored within the extended cache.
