Supplemental memory having media directory

• US 7,492,691 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2004
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Akonia Holographics, LLC (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InPhase Technologies Incorporated (hVault, Inc.)
• Inventors: Earhart, Tod
• Primary Examiner(s): Neyzari; Ali
• Application Number:
  US10/757,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20040194151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,861 Days
• Field of Search: 369/103, 369/30.4, 369/112.01, 369/262, 359/3, 359/22, 359/25, 359/11, 359/24, 359/35, 359/1, 360/92.1, 360/133, 380/201, 380/44, 725/135, 725/136, 365/125
• US Class Current: 369/103
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/657 Memory in disc [MID]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/0305 Semiconductor memories
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/281 by changing the physical properties of the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/0065 Recording, reproducing or erasing by using optical interference patterns, e.g. holograms

Abstract

Disclosed is a holographic data storage device including holographic media for containing data, writing data to and reading data from. The storage device also includes at least one supplemental memory for containing at least a portion of a directory of the data contained in the holographic media. By locating directory information for the holographic media in a supplemental memory, areas of the holographic media that have not yet been written to can be determined prior to accessing the holographic media. In this way, activating photo-sensitive agents in unwritten areas of the holographic media can be avoided unless these areas are being written to.

Claims

1. A holographic data storage device including:

holographic media for containing data, writing data to and reading data from;

at least one supplemental memory for containing at least a first portion of a directory of the data contained in the holographic media.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein a second portion of the directory of the data contained on the holographic media is included on the holographic media.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the first portion of the directory includes pointers to holographic media map information on the holographic media.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the directory includes holographic media map information.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the directory contains security information.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the directory contains identification information for the holographic media.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the supplemental memory includes an EEPROM.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the supplemental memory may be wirelessly accessed.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the supplemental memory may be accessed via radio frequency signals.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the supplemental memory is accessed via electrical contacts.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein both the holographic media and the supplemental memory are included in a cartridge.

12. The device of claim 11 including a holographic disk drive having a supplemental memory reader/writer, wherein the supplemental memory may be accessed by the supplemental memory reader/writer.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein the supplemental memory may be wirelessly accessed by the supplemental memory reader/writer.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the supplemental memory may be accessed by radio frequency signals.

15. The device of claim 11 including a hand-held supplemental memory reader/writer wherein the supplemental memory may be accessed by the hand-held supplemental memory reader/writer.

16. The device of claim 11 including a plurality of holographic storage cartridges stored in a jukebox including a supplemental memory reader/writer wherein each of the plurality of holographic storage cartridges includes a supplemental memory which may be read by the supplemental memory reader/writer.