AUTOMATED DATA STORAGE LIBRARY WITH MULTIPURPOSE SLOTS PROVIDING USER-SELECTED CONTROL PATH TO SHARED ROBOTIC DEVICE
First Claim
1. A method for operating a data storage/retrieval library that includes a robotic media transport device and a plurality of multipurpose slots, the method comprising:
- for each slot, determining a state of each slot comprising one of the following conditions;
the slot is occupied by a media drive, the slot is occupied by a relay module configured to perform operations including relaying media transport commands from one or more hosts to the robotic media transport device, the slot is unoccupied;
for each slot occupied by a relay module, the transport device receiving host media transport commands from the relay module and responsive to the received commands, performing operations comprising transporting media items among media locations comprising storage bins and media drives located in the slots.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data storage library features multipurpose slots each configured to receive a media drive (operable to read/write data from/to media removably loaded into the media drive) a command relay port (operable to convey media transport signals from a host to a shared robotic media transport device), or various other modules. The robotic device is programmed to recognize whether each slot is empty or whether it is filled with a component such as a media drive or a command relay port, and to thereafter communicate with the occupant appropriately.
143 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for operating a data storage/retrieval library that includes a robotic media transport device and a plurality of multipurpose slots, the method comprising:
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for each slot, determining a state of each slot comprising one of the following conditions;
the slot is occupied by a media drive, the slot is occupied by a relay module configured to perform operations including relaying media transport commands from one or more hosts to the robotic media transport device, the slot is unoccupied;
for each slot occupied by a relay module, the transport device receiving host media transport commands from the relay module and responsive to the received commands, performing operations comprising transporting media items among media locations comprising storage bins and media drives located in the slots. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for operating a data storage/retrieval library that includes a robotic media transport device and a plurality of multipurpose slots, the method comprising:
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for each slot, determining a state of each slot comprising one of the following conditions;
the slot is occupied by a media drive, the slot is occupied by a command relay port, the slot is occupied by combination media drive and command relay port, the slot is unoccupied;
for each slot occupied by a command relay port and for each slot occupied by a combination media drive and command relay port, the transport device receiving host media transport commands therefrom and responsive to the received commands, performing operations comprising transporting media items among media locations comprising storage bins and media drives located in other slots.
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11. A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform operations to manage a data storage/retrieval library that includes a robotic media transport device and a plurality of multipurpose slots, the operations comprising:
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for each slot, determining a state of each slot including one of the following conditions;
the slot is occupied by a media drive, the slot is occupied by a relay module configured to perform operations including relaying media transport commands from one or more hosts to the robotic media transport device, the slot is unoccupied;
for each slot occupied by a relay module, the transport device receiving host media transport commands from the relay module and responsive to the received commands, performing operations comprising transporting the media items among media locations comprising storage bins and media drives located in the slots. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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12. A logic circuit of multiple interconnected electrically conductive elements configured to perform operations to manage a data storage/retrieval library that includes a robotic device and a plurality of multipurpose slots, the operations comprising:
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for each slot, determining a state of each slot including one of the following conditions;
the slot is occupied by a media drive, the slot is occupied by a relay module configured to perform operations including relaying media transport commands from one or more hosts to the robotic media transport device, the slot is unoccupied;
for each slot occupied by a relay module, the transport device receiving host media transport commands from the relay module and responsive to the received commands, performing operations comprising transporting the media items among media locations comprising storage bins and media drives located in the slots.
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13. A data storage/retrieval library apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of multipurpose slots;
a robotic media transport device programmed to perform library management operations comprising;
for each slot, determining a state of each slot including one of the following conditions;
the slot is occupied by a media drive, the slot is occupied by a relay module configured to perform operations including relaying media transport commands from one or more hosts to the robotic media transport device, the slot is unoccupied;
for each slot occupied by a relay module, receiving host media transport commands from the relay module and responsive to the received commands, performing operations comprising transporting the media items among media locations comprising media storage bins and media drives located in other slots.
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28. A data storage/retrieval library apparatus, comprising:
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multiple slot means each for detachably receiving occupants of predetermined configuration;
robotic media transport means for performing library management operations comprising;
for each slot means, determining a state of each slot means including one of the following conditions;
the slot means is occupied by a media drive, the slot means is occupied by a relay module configured to perform operations including relaying media transport commands from one or more hosts to the robotic media transport device, the slot means is unoccupied;
for each slot means occupied by a relay module, receiving host media transport commands from the relay module and responsive to the received commands, performing operations comprising transporting the media items among media locations comprising media storage bins and media drives located in the slot means.
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Specification