Tracking physical inventory of data storage media

• US 20070055686A1
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imation Corporation (Glassbridge Enterprises, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Imation Corporation (Glassbridge Enterprises, Inc.)
• Inventors: Findlay, Brian, Lala Balaji, Purushotham
• Granted Patent: US 7,660,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

The invention is directed to a business technique for supplying customers with a set of data storage media and a database for tracking physical inventory of the set of data storage media. The media tracking database is generated by the media supplier from a proprietary manufacturer database that stores a unique identification number, volume/serial (VolSer) number, purchase order data, and other manufacturing data. Accordingly, the media tracking database includes a subset of the plurality of fields that form the manufacturer database. Specifically, the media tracking database is populated with the manufacturer assigned unique identification umber, VolSer number, and purchase order data for each of the data storage media prior to selling the database to the customer. When the customer receives the media tracking database, it can be relationally linked to tape management, library management, and off-site storage software thereby providing complete cradle-to-grave traceability of the set of data storage media.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a non-proprietary media tracking database for tracking physical inventory of a set of data storage media from a proprietary manufacturer database comprising a plurality of fields that store manufacturing information for the set of data storage media, wherein one field of the plurality of fields stores a manufacturer-assigned unique identification number for each of the data storage media and wherein the media tracking database comprises a subset of the plurality of fields;

populating a field of the subset of fields with the unique identifier field from the manufacturer database; and

selling the set of data storage media and the media tracking database to an end user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the media tracking database is relationally linked to at least one of a customer tape management software, library management software, and off- site storage software.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the media tracking database further comprises populating a field of the subset of fields with a VolSer number for each of the data storage media.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the media tracking database further comprises populating a field of the subset of fields with a purchase order number for each of the data storage media.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identification number is relationally linked to one or more of a VolSer number, a purchase order number, and manufacturing data for each of the data storage media.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the media tracking database uses the unique identification number as a primary key for each of the data storage media.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the media tracking database is relationally linked to the manufacturer database.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating and populating the media tracking database comprises generating and populating the media tracking database prior to selling the media tracking database and the set of data storage media.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising populating the media tracking database with one or more of performance data, usage data, and physical inventory data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identification number for each of the data storage media is stored in a readable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag affixed to or within the housing of the data storage media, the RFID tag being selected from a group consisting of an international organization for standardization (ISO) 18000 tag and an AutoID Center electronic product code (EPC) tag.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the media tracking database to track physical inventory of the set of data storage media, wherein maintaining the media tracking database comprises:

reading an identification tag that stores the unique identification number on each data storage media; and

populating appropriate fields of the media tracking database with one or more of physical inventory data, performance data, and usage data.

12. A system for tracking physical inventory of a set of data storage cartridges comprising:

a set of data storage media wherein each data storage media includes a unique identifier that stores a manufacturer-assigned unique identification number;

a proprietary manufacturer database comprising a plurality of fields that store manufacturing data for a set of data storage media, wherein one field of the plurality of fields stores the unique identification number for each of the data storage media;

a non-proprietary media tracking database comprising a subset of fields of the plurality of fields for tracking physical inventory of the set of data storage media, wherein one field of the subset of fields is populated with the unique identification number field from the manufacturer database and the set of data storage media is sold to an end user with the media tracking database.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising at least one of a customer tape management software, library management software, and off-site storage software that is relationally linked to the media tracking database.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the media tracking database includes a field of the subset of fields populated with a VolSer number for each of the data storage media.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the media tracking database includes a field of the subset of fields populated with a purchase order number for each of the data storage media.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the unique identification number is relationally linked to a VolSer number, purchase order data, and manufacturing data for each of the data storage media.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the media tracking database uses the unique identification number as the primary key for each of the data storage media.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the media tracking database is relationally linked to the manufacturer database.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the one field of the subset of fields of the media tracking database is populated with the unique identification number field of the manufacturer database prior to selling the set of data storage media to the end user with the media tracking database.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the unique identifier comprises a readable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag affixed to or within the housing of the data storage media, the RFID tag being selected from a group consisting of an international organization for standardization (ISO) 18000 tag and an AutoID Center electronic product code (EPC) tag.

21. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

means for reading the unique identifier on each data storage media to identify the data storage media; and

means for populating the fields of the media tracking database with one or more of physical inventory data, performance data, and usage data.

22. A data storage cartridge comprising:

a recording medium;

a housing containing the recording medium; and

a readable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag affixed to or within the housing of the data storage cartridge, the RFID tag being selected from a group consisting of an international organization for standardization (ISO) 18000 tag and an AutoID Center electronic product code (EPC) tag.