On-the-fly cataloging of library cell contents in an automated robotic tape library
US5323327A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 1, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jun 21, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 1, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P90/02
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus are described for on-the-fly cataloging of library cell contents in an automated robotic tape library. This method decouples the robotic arm motion/tape cartridge label scanning process from the image processing software/hardware. In accordance with the present invention, tape cartridge label images are captured at a library system processor priority which is higher than the priority of the image processing task. These captured images are stored in a circular buffer while image processing continues to take place in a lower priority task. Both the image processing system hardware and software are asynchronous with respect to the velocity of the robotic arm used to scan the tape cartridge cells. The scanning velocity of the robotic arm can be maximized with respect to purely mechanical, electrical, or optical camera considerations and is independent of the library system processor image processing speed. The present method provides a further advantage with respect to robotic arm position calibration. Not only can tape cartridge labels be read with maximum camera line speed, but arm calibration data can also be read on-the-fly to allow continual and rapid verifi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.