Data storage library with efficient cartridge insert
US6480905B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 11, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 11, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B2220/90
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A location-centric library host manages cartridge movement according to functional storage addresses and functional I/O addresses. In reality, the library has multiple data storage cartridge receiving slots, which include physical I/O slots and physical storage slots. In contrast with the physical I/O slots and physical storage slots, functional I/O addresses and functional storage addresses are virtual locations used by the host in managing cartridge locations. Thus, host knowledge of cartridge locations is limited to their functional addresses. The library includes a library map that correlates functional addresses with physical addresses. The library automatically empties new cartridges from the physical I/O slots into physical storage slots, using various steps. First, the library hardware automatically recognizes external placement of cartridges into the physical I/O slots. In response, the library identifies an empty one of the physical storage slots, and moves the cartridge into the empty physical storage slot. Additionally, the library associates a functional I/O address with the physical storage slot containing the cartridge. Eventually, the library receives an insert comm…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.