John A Kulakowski

US Patent:

6351685, Feb 26, 2002

Filed:

Nov 5, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/434396

Inventors:

Kamal Emile Dimitri - Tucson AZ
John Edward Kulakowski - Tucson AZ
Rodney Jerome Means - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 700

US Classification:

700214, 700255, 414273

Abstract:

A wireless communication link provides picker to picker communication between multiple intelligent pickers for an automated data storage library, and provides central communication between at least one of the pickers with a central job queue. Each intelligent picker comprises a processor located thereon for operating the picker to conduct a move job and providing movement information describing movement of the picker for the current move job of the picker. The wireless communication link comprises a wireless central communication link between at least one of the pickers and a central job queue for communicating a move job to the picker processor from the central job queue, and a wireless picker to picker communication link for communicating between the pickers, each linked picker transmitting the movement information over the wireless picker to picker communication link.

US Patent:

6418535, Jul 9, 2002

Filed:

Apr 28, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/301290

Inventors:

John Edward Kulakowski - Tucson AZ
Rodney Jerome Means - Tucson AZ
Daniel James Winarski - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 132

US Classification:

713320, 713340

Abstract:

A bi-level power saving method for a computer having one level of power saving operations that is executed when the computer is operating on an external power source and another level of power saving operations that is executed when the computer is operating on an internal power source. The method determines whether the computer is operating on an external power source or an internal power source. No preferences for tasks or devices are designated if the computer is operating on an external power source and activity and application have been detected. Various power consuming operations are executed if the computer is operating on an external power source and activity is detected but an application is not detected. The computer powers down devices if the computer is operating on an external power source and no activity is detected. Power saving operations are executed if the computer is operating on an internal power source and activity and application have been detected.

US Patent:

6421579, Jul 16, 2002

Filed:

Nov 5, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/435023

Inventors:

Kamal Emile Dimitri - Tucson AZ
John Edward Kulakowski - Tucson AZ
Rodney Jerome Means - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 700

US Classification:

700214, 700218, 700255, 414273

Abstract:

Multiple intelligent pickers for an automated data storage library, the library having a library controller which identifies the start and end locations of the received move jobs, and places the move jobs in a job queue. The picker processor receives information over a communication link from other pickers describing movement information for the current move job of each of the other pickers. Upon completion of a move job, the picker communicates with the library controller, selecting a move job which avoids interference with the movement of the other pickers. The movement for the selected move job is determined so as to avoid interference with the stored movement profiles of the other pickers. A movement profile may be communicated to the other pickers over the communication link, and the move job is conducted according to the movement profile. Alternatively, movement information comprising the current location and vector are communicated.

US Patent:

6438459, Aug 20, 2002

Filed:

Sep 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/960970

Inventors:

Kamal Emile Dimitri - Tucson AZ
John Edward Kulakowski - Tucson AZ
Rodney Jerome Means - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G05B 1918

US Classification:

700255, 700214, 414273

Abstract:

Multiple intelligent pickers for an automated data storage library, the library having a library controller which identifies the start and end locations of the received move jobs, and places the move jobs in a job queue. The picker processor receives information over a communication link from other pickers describing movement information for the current move job of each of the other pickers. Upon completion of a move job, the picker communicates with the library controller, selecting a move job which avoids interference with the movement of the other pickers. The movement for the selected move job is determined so as to avoid interference with the stored movement profiles of the other pickers. A movement profile may be communicated to the other pickers over the communication link, and the move job is conducted according to the movement profile. Alternatively, movement information comprising the current location and vector are communicated.

US Patent:

6512962, Jan 28, 2003

Filed:

Apr 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/844128

Inventors:

Kamal Dimitri - Tucson AZ
John E. Kulakowski - Tucson AZ
Rod J. Means - Tucson AZ
Jesse L. Thrall - Tucson AZ
Daniel J. Winarski - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 700

US Classification:

700214, 700255, 360 92

Abstract:

Disclosed is a cabling picker in a library of stationary memory devices. One or more input/output cables electrically connected to a host computer through a destination are provided, and these are moved or manipulated for interconnecting with selected memory devices in the library instead of moving the memory devices to the destination.

US Patent:

6513074, Jan 28, 2003

Filed:

Jan 6, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/478833

Inventors:

Kamal Emile Dimitri - Tucson AZ
John Edward Kulakowski - Tucson AZ
Rodney Jerome Means - Tucson AZ
Daniel James Winarski - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 300

US Classification:

710 1, 710 20, 710 27, 710107, 710128, 709201, 712225

Abstract:

An intelligent bus listening device, and a method which may be implemented as a computer program product, listens to SCSI commands on a first SCSI bus of a SCSI system via a listening connection to the first SCSI bus. The listening device is separately coupled via an interface to a second bus for communicating commands onto the second bus. A processor is coupled to the listening connection and to the second bus interface, the processor receiving the first commands from the first SCSI bus, converting the first commands to second commands related to the first commands, and providing the second commands to the second bus interface. In a SCSI library that accesses media from storage shelves with an autochanger in response to access commands from hosts, the intelligent bus listening device decouples the first SCSI bus from the autochanger, listens to commands on the first SCSI bus, and converts the access commands to a more efficient set of movement commands, and supplies the movement commands on a separate second bus for the autochanger.

US Patent:

6574424, Jun 3, 2003

Filed:

Jun 25, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/344745

Inventors:

Kamal E. Dimitri - Tucson AZ
Rodney J. Means - Tucson AZ
John E. Kulakowski - Tucson AZ
Daniel J. Winarski - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H04N 5781

US Classification:

386125, 386126

Abstract:

A bit is provided in each Digital Video Disk memory sector header to indicate the type of information contained in the main data portion of the frame. A vector of video clips are stored on the DVD disk and the DVD drive examines the bit to determine whether to play a movie or to employ logic provided by the present invention that allows the DVD drive to determine which included video clip to play instead. The video clips may include cartoons, commercials, movie previews, etc. and the logic employed by the DVD drive allows for random or specific selections to be played at predetermined times, such as displaying a clip during the flipping process of a dual-sided DVD disk. Additionally, the method and apparatus may be applied to DVD disks to determine whether commercials are played before, after or during the movie or the movie is played commercial free.

US Patent:

6602039, Aug 5, 2003

Filed:

Nov 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/716679

Inventors:

Kamal Emile Dimitri - Tucson AZ
John Edward Kulakowski - Tucson AZ
Rodney Jerome Means - Tucson AZ
Daniel James Winarski - Tucson AZ

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

B65G 100

US Classification:

414281, 360 92, 269 17, 104262

Abstract:

Applicants invention includes an automated data storage system which includes one or more data storage libraries each of which includes one or a plurality of accessors which retrieve data storage media from a plurality of storage slots and deliver that retrieved data storage media to a data storage drive unit, where each of the plurality of accessors includes one or more attachment slots and a plurality of retractable wheels, and a maintenance robot which includes a plurality of wheels and an attachment device which is capable of insertion into, and subsequent removal from, the attachment slot(s) located on each of the accessors. Applicants invention further includes a method utilizing Applicants maintenance robot to remove one of Applicants accessors from a data storage library.