System and method for improved media identification in a storage device

• US 20070140525A1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Kottomtharayil, Rajiv
• Granted Patent: US 7,603,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for improved identification of removable storage media. A scanner may be used to read an identifier, such as a barcode, on a removable storage media. In the event that the scanner reads the identifier incorrectly due to a defect in the barcode, such as a damaged label, misaligned identifier, or because the scanner is incapable of reading the identifier type or the scanner'"'"'s field of view is incorrect, a media management component receives the scanned identifier data and matches it to a known set of media identifiers to create a subset of matching identifier data. A closest matching media identifier may be identified from the subset of matching identifier data. An index may be updated with information indicating the closest matching media identifier and a location of the removable storage media.

Claims

1. A method for automatically identifying a removable storage media identifier, the method comprising:

receiving data indicating an identifier of a removable storage media;

comparing the received identifier with a set of known media identifiers;

identifying a subset of known media identifiers among the set of known media identifiers which match the received identifier; and

identifying at least a first closest match among the subset of known media identifiers to the received identifier.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising determining that the number of media identifiers included in the subset satisfies a threshold;

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the received identifier comprises a barcode.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the received identifier comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the threshold is user defined.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the threshold is pre-set.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the subset is identified by matching a predefined number of characters of the received identifier and the set of known media identifiers.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the subset is identified by matching a pattern of characters of the received identifier and the set of known media identifiers.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving data indicating a location of the removable storage media;

and updating an index entry for the at least one closest match media identifier with the data indicating the location of the removable storage media.

10. A method for maintaining an index of removable storage media items, the method comprising:

receiving data indicating an identifier for a removable storage media;

receiving data indicating a location of the removable storage media;

matching the identifier with a set of known media identifiers to generate a subset of media identifiers;

determining at least one closest match of the subset of media identifiers and the identifier; and

updating an index entry for the at least one closest match of the subset of media identifiers with the location of the removable storage media.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

according to a storage policy, verifying the location of the removable storage media, wherein verifying the location of the removable storage media comprises;

scanning a media identifier on the removable storage media in a storage device;

obtaining a current location of the removable storage media; and

updating the index entry with the current location of the removable storage media.

12. A computer readable medium including computer executable code, which when executed causes a computer to perform a method for automatically identifying a removable storage media identifier, the method comprising:

receiving data indicating an identifier of a removable storage media;

comparing the received identifier with a set of known media identifiers;

identifying a subset of known media identifiers among the set of known media identifiers which match the received identifier; and

identifying at least one closest match among the subset of known media identifiers to the received identifier.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12 comprising determining that the number of media identifiers included in the subset satisfies a threshold.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein the received identifier comprises a barcode.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein the received identifier comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein the threshold is user defined.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein the threshold is pre-set.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein the subset is identified by matching a predefined number of characters of the received identifier and the set of known media identifiers.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein the subset is identified by matching a pattern of characters of the received identifier and the set of known media identifiers.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 12 further comprising receiving data indicating a location of the removable storage media;

and updating an index entry for the closest match media identifier with the data indicating the location of the removable storage media.

21. A computer readable medium including computer executable code, which when executed causes a computer to perform a method for maintaining an index of removable storage media items, the method comprising:

receiving data indicating an identifier for a removable storage media;

receiving data indicating a location of the removable storage media;

matching the identifier with a set of known media identifiers to generate a subset of media identifiers;

determining at least a closest match of the subset of media identifiers and the identifier; and

updating an index entry for the closest match of the subset of media identifiers with the location of the removable storage media.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21 further comprising:

according to a storage policy, verifying the location of the removable storage media, wherein verifying the location of the removable storage media comprises;

scanning a media identifier on the removable storage media in a storage device;

obtaining a current location of the removable storage media; and

updating the index entry with the current location of the removable storage media.