MEDIA MOBILITY UNIT (MMU) AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF

• US 20160062362A1
• Filed: 11/10/2015
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Acevedo, Jesus R., Ain, Jonathan W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,905,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/137 with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 1/1371 with data records
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/021 specially adapted to land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0259 using magnetic or electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4208 being a system bus, e.g. VME bus, Futurebus, Multibus
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/68 Automatic cassette changing arrangements; automatic tape changing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/6835 the cassettes being transferred to a fixed recorder or player using a moving carriage
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/689 Control of the cassette changing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/22 from random access magazine of disc records

Abstract

In one embodiment, a data storage system includes a source media library configured to send a message to a destination media library when a media cartridge from the source media library is sent to the destination media library using a media mobility unit (MMU), and/or a destination media library configured to receive a message from a source media library when a media cartridge from the source media library is sent to the destination media library using a MMU. In another embodiment, a method for transporting a media cartridge includes receiving one or more media cartridges from a source media library, storing the media cartridge(s) in a holding portion of a media mobility unit, sensing at least an approximate location of the media mobility unit, transporting the media cartridge(s) to a destination library; and transferring the media cartridge(s) from the MMU to the destination media library.

Claims

1. A data storage system, comprising:

a source media library configured to send a message to a destination media library when a media cartridge from the source media library is sent to the destination media library using a media mobility unit (MMU) comprising a media cartridge holding portion for storing media cartridges,

wherein the source media library is configured to receive a message from the destination media library when the destination media library receives the media cartridge sent from the source media library to the destination media library using the MMU.

2. The data storage system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

the destination media library located remotely from the source media library;

a grid system at least between the source media library and the destination media library, the grid system comprising a plurality of indicators on one or more surfaces; and

the MMU, wherein the MMU further comprises;

a drive mechanism for moving the media cartridge holding portion from the source media library to the destination media library;

a fiducial sensor for aligning the holding portion with a cartridge holder of at least one of the source media library and the destination media library; and

at least one position reading mechanism for sensing the plurality of indicators for indicating at least an approximate location of the MMU in the grid system, wherein the MMU uses the at least the approximate location to determine a next movement of the MMU.

3. The data storage system as recited in claim 2, wherein the MMU further comprises:

a power source electrically coupled to the fiducial sensor, the at least one position reading mechanism, and the drive mechanism for providing current to the fiducial sensor, the at least one position reading mechanism, and the drive mechanism,

wherein the drive mechanism comprises;

a motor for providing rotation to each of a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel independently;

the first and second drive wheels positioned opposite each other near the holding portion for propelling the MMU; and

a swiveling caster wheel for allowing directional changes of the MMU positioned to provide stability to the MMU,

wherein the plurality of indicators comprise a plurality of barcodes, and

wherein the at least one position reading mechanism comprises at least one laser barcode reader for reading the plurality of barcodes positioned on the one or more surfaces in the grid system.

4. The data storage system as recited in claim 2, wherein the MMU further comprises a rechargeable battery for providing electricity to the drive mechanism, the battery being adapted for recharging when the MMU is docked at a media library.

5. A data storage system, comprising:

a destination media library configured to receive a message from a source media library when a media cartridge from the source media library is sent to the destination media library using a media mobility unit (MMU) comprising a media cartridge holding portion for storing media cartridges,

wherein the destination media library is configured to send a message to the source media library when the destination media library receives the media cartridge from the source media library.

6. The data storage system as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

the source media library located remotely from the destination media library;

a grid system at least between the source media library and the destination media library, the grid system comprising a plurality of indicators on one or more surfaces; and

the MMU, wherein the MMU further comprises;

a drive mechanism for moving the holding portion from the source media library to the destination media library;

a fiducial sensor for aligning the holding portion with a cartridge holder of at least one of the source media library and the destination media library; and

at least one position reading mechanism for sensing the plurality of indicators for indicating at least an approximate location of the MMU in the grid system, wherein the MMU uses the at least the approximate location to determine a next movement of the MMU.

7. The data storage system as recited in claim 6, wherein the MMU further comprises:

a power source electrically coupled to the fiducial sensor, the at least one position reading mechanism, and the drive mechanism for providing current to the fiducial sensor, the at least one position reading mechanism, and the drive mechanism,

wherein the drive mechanism comprises;

a motor for providing rotation to each of a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel independently;

the first and second drive wheels positioned opposite each other near the holding portion for propelling the MMU; and

a swiveling caster wheel for allowing directional changes of the MMU positioned to provide stability to the MMU,

wherein the plurality of indicators comprise a plurality of barcodes, and

wherein the at least one position reading mechanism comprises at least one laser barcode reader for reading the plurality of barcodes positioned on the one or more surfaces in the grid system.

8. The data storage system as recited in claim 6, wherein the MMU further comprises a rechargeable battery for providing electricity to the drive mechanism, the battery being adapted for recharging when the MMU is docked at a media library.

9. A computer-implemented method for transporting a media cartridge, the method comprising:

receiving one or more media cartridges from a source media library;

storing the one or more media cartridges in a media mobility unit (MMU);

sensing at least an approximate location of the MMU;

transporting the one or more media cartridges between a destination media library and the source media library; and

transferring the one or more media cartridges from the MMU to the destination media library.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, comprising recording travel data in real time while transporting the one or more media cartridges between the destination media library and the source media library;

and

wherein the travel data comprise one or more of travel time, travel distance number of pickups, and number of deliveries.

11. The method as recited in claim 9, comprising calculating an optimum travel route for transporting the one or more media cartridges between the source media library and the destination media library, the calculating being based at least in part on one or more variables.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the calculating is further based on a machine-learning algorithm.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, the one or more variables being selected from travel time, travel distance, number of pickups, number of deliveries, and known obstacle locations.

14. The method as recited in claim 9, comprising detecting one or more obstacles along a travel route between the source media library and the destination media library using at least one proximity sensor of the MMU.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, comprising calculating a new optimum travel route for transporting the one or more media cartridges between the source media library and the destination media library, in response to detecting the one or more obstacles along the travel route between the source media library and the destination media library using at least one proximity sensor of the MMU.

16. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein transporting the one or more media cartridges to the destination media library comprises:

using a laser barcode reader to read a first barcode of a plurality of barcodes positioned on one or more surfaces in a grid system at least between the source media library and the destination media library, wherein each of the plurality of barcodes indicates at least an approximate location of the MMU in the grid system;

moving the MMU from the first barcode in a direction for causing the MMU to arrive at a second barcode of the plurality of barcodes positioned in the grid system, the direction being based on at least one of;

a location of the first barcode and a location of the destination media library; and

using the laser barcode reader to read the second barcode.

17. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein sensing the at least an approximate location of the MMU comprises at least one of:

sensing objects near the MMU;

sensing when the holding portion is aligned with a cartridge holder of the source media library; and

sensing a position of the MMU in a grid system.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein sensing the position of the MMU in the grid system comprises at least one of:

reading one or more barcodes positioned on one or more surfaces in the grid system to determine the position of the MMU in the grid system, wherein each of the barcodes indicates at least an approximate location of the MMU in the grid system; and

using a first radio frequency identification (RFID) device to sense RFID devices positioned in the grid system to determine the position of the MMU in the grid system, wherein the first RFID device comprises a RFID reader capable of reading RFID tags positioned in the grid system at least between the source media library and the destination media library for indicating the position of the MMU in the grid system.

19. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the MMU comprises:

a media cartridge holding portion for storing the one or more media cartridges;

a sensing mechanism for sensing at least an approximate location of the MMU in relation to other objects;

a drive mechanism for moving the MMU from the source media library to the destination media library; and

a power source electrically coupled to at least one of the sensing mechanism and the drive mechanism for providing current to the at least one of the drive mechanism and the sensing mechanism.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, comprising recharging the power source when the MMU is docked at either of the source media library and the destination media library.