Multi-media-type automatic libraries

• US 5,303,214 A
• Filed: 01/03/1992
• Issued: 04/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Paralight Laser Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kulakowski, John E., Means, Rodney J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Stuart S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DITMYER, PAUL JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US07/816,590
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 369/34, 369/36, 369/191, 369/192, 360/92, 360/98.06, 360/98.04, 360/178, 360/98.05, 395/425, 235/385, 371/66
• US Class Current: 369/30.3
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/225 wherein the disks are transferred from a fixed magazine to a fixed playing unit using a moving carriage
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/41 Flat as opposed to hierarchical combination, e.g. library of tapes or discs, CD changer, or groups of record carriers that together store one title
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/36 Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06

Abstract

A data storage system has a media cartridge library subsystem. The subsystem includes a cartridge storage array which has receptacles for removably receiving cartridge holding bins. Each bin stores a plurality of cartridges in slots. The slots are arranged to open to a transport system in the subsystem such that the bins held in the receptacles constitute a storage array of cartridges. Cartridges are inserted into and removed from the subsystem either by an IO bin or station or by removing and inserting cartridge containing bins. Cartridges are assignable to affinity groups; such affinity cartridges in an affinity group are stored in affinity bins. An affinity bin cannot be removed from the subsystem until all of the affinity cartridges assigned to the bin are present. Each of the bins and cartridges have bar code labels. A battery operated bar code read is transportable by the cartridge transport means for reading the bar code labels. An infrared communication system transmits information and control signals between the bar code reader and a control in the subsystem. Methods and apparatus for operating the subsystem are described.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for storing and retrieving diverse media-containing cartridges, first and second types of said cartridges respectively containing recording media having different physical and data recording characteristics so as to be incompatible such that one media drive does not access both of said first and second types of media, including, in combination:

a plurality of like-sized media-cartridge storing bins, each bin having a predetermined plurality of cartridge receiving and storing slots, a plurality of said media-containing cartridges in said bins;

cabinet means having a first open side;

cartridge storage array means disposed in the cabinet means adjacent said first open side and having first and second oppositely facing open sides, a plurality of like-size bin receptacles in said cabinet means, each said bin having a cartridge access opening at both said first and second open sides for removably receiving respective ones of said cartridges;

an openable door on said first side of the cabinet means for closing the first side for preventing access to said receptacles;

door sensing means on one of said means and disposed in juxtaposition to said openable door for sensing and indicating whether the openable door is closed or open;

bin sensing means disposed in each of said receptacles adjacent said second open side of the array means for sensing and indicating the presence or absence of a bin in the respective receptacle;

a plurality of cartridge-receiving devices in the cabinet means, each said device having a cartridge receiver opening, a first one of said devices being capable of receiving and operating only with a first type of media cartridge having a first cartridge outline, a second one of said devices being capable of receiving and operating only with a second type of media cartridge having a second cartridge outline, said first and second cartridge outlines having different physical dimensions;

cartridge transport means having stationary support means mounted in said cabinet means and cartridge carrier means movably mounted on said stationary support means for accessing any one of said receptacles and said plurality of cartridge-receiving devices for transporting either of said first and second types of media cartridges between said receptacles and said respective cartridge receiver of said first and second devices, respectively; and

control means having bin indicating means for indicating which of said bins in said receptacles contain said first and second types of media cartridges, said control means connected to both said sensing means for responding to their respective indications to enable the cartridge transport means to transfer cartridges to and from said bins only if said door sensing means indicates said door is closed, said control means being further responsive for transporting cartridges to and from said bins containing either said first and second type of media cartridges respectively for said first and second one of said devices.

2. In the apparatus set forth in claim 1 further including, in combination:

control radiation means in said control means and being disposed in juxtaposition in said cabinet means to said transport means for sending and receiving airborne signals; and

transport radiation means on said transport means and being in communication with said control radiation means for sending and receiving airborne signals to and from said control radiation means for transferring signals with the control means whereby a control cable between the transport means and the control means is not required.

3. In the apparatus set forth in claim 1 further including, in combination:

said first one of said devices being an optical disk device and said second one of said devices being a magnetic tape record device;

said first type of media cartridges respectively containing an optical disk data-storing medium operable with said optical disk device, said second type of media cartridges containing a magnetic tape record medium operable with said magnetic tape record device; and

said cartridge carrier means having adjustable cartridge holding means having first and second holding positions, said first and second holding positions respectively for enabling said cartridge carrier means to receive and hold the carrier means to releasably hold said first and second types of said media cartridges.

4. In the apparatus set forth in claim 3 further including, in combination:

one of said receptacles receiving and storing an input-output bin for enabling single cartridges to be inserted into the apparatus and exited from the apparatus, said input-output bin having input and output cartridge slots each said slot having an opening to said cartridge transport means to a predetermined one of said openable doors; and

said predetermined one of said openable doors having an access opening for enabling access to said input-output bin input and output slots.

5. In the apparatus set forth in claim 4 further including, in combination:

said control means including means for controlling inserting cartridges into and ejecting cartridges from said apparatus through any of said removable cartridge storing bins in any of said receptacles in the apparatus by removing any one of said plurality of removable cartridge storing bins.

6. In the apparatus set forth in claim 3 further including, in combination:

a first bar code label on each of said bins and facing said transport means; and

each said first bar code label on said bins uniquely identifying the respective bins,

7. In the apparatus set forth in claim 6 further including, in combination:

a second bar code label on each of said bins and being disposed on the respective bin for facing in a direction opposite to said first bar code label such that each bin is identified from either of two directions.

8. In the apparatus set forth in claim 6 further including, in combination:

means operative with each of said cartridges for recording a volume serial number (VOLSER) on data storage medium contained in each said cartridge; and

said bar code label including an indication of said VOLSER.

9. In the apparatus set forth in claim 6 further including, in combination:

a second bar code label on each of said cartridges; and

each said second bar code label facing said transport system while the cartridge to which said second bar code label is affixed resides in a predetermined one of said bins inserted into one of said receptacles.

10. In the apparatus set forth in claim 1 further including, in combination:

affinity means in the control means for identifying a plurality of affinity groups wherein members of each said affinity group have a predetermined affinity for all members in each of said affinity groups, respectively and assigning means in the affinity means for assigning predetermined ones of said cartridges to one of said plurality of affinity groups;

each of said predetermined cartridges in respective ones of said affinity groups being in a bin having cartridges in said respective affinity groups, any bin having cartridges that are members of an affinity group is an affinity bin; and

said affinity means retaining said predetermined cartridges in said respective bins whenever said predetermined cartridges are not in one of said devices.

11. In the apparatus set forth in claim 10 further including, in combination:

one of said affinity groups having cartridges of both said first and second types of cartridges; and

one or more of said affinity bins storing cartridges belonging to said one affinity group.

12. In the apparatus set forth in claim 10 further including, in combination:

one of said affinity bins storing cartridges from a plurality of said affinity groups as well as storing a cartridge that is not a member of any affinity group.

13. In the apparatus set forth in claim 10 further including, in combination:

a plurality of said affinity bins storing cartridges that are members of one affinity group.

14. In the apparatus set forth in claim 10 further including, in combination:

a plurality of doors in said system, each of said doors, if opened provide manual access to predetermined ones of said receptacles for inserting or removing any one of said predetermined ones of said bins;

electrically actuated door locks respectively locking said doors and said door locks being electrically connected to said control means for being unlocked to permit opening the doors; and

affinity protect means in said control means and being connected to said door locks and operative to keep the door locks locked until all cartridges of a predetermined affinity group that are manually accessible through said doors are stored in said predetermined ones of said bins that are affinity bins.

15. In the apparatus set forth in claim 14 further including, in combination:

said affinity protect means having means preventing ejection from said apparatus of any given cartridge that is a member of one affinity group so long as any cartridge in said one affinity group is not stored in an affinity bin storing cartridges that are members of said one affinity group.

16. In the apparatus set forth in claim 15 further including, in combination:

one of said bins in a given one of said receptacles being an input-output bin; and

said affinity protect means enabling ejection from said apparatus of said given cartridge through said input-output bin without requiring all cartridges that are members of said one affinity group to be stored in the affinity bin that stores said given cartridges.

17. The apparatus set forth in claim 15, including, in combination:

cartridge assign means in said control means for assigning predetermined ones of said cartridges to one of said affinity bins for storage therein that are not members of any of said affinity groups, said assigned predetermined ones of said cartridges being free cartridges; and

said affinity protect means having free means connected to for enabling ejection from said apparatus of said one affinity bin that is assigned to store predetermined ones of said free cartridges that are not currently stored in said one affinity bin.

18. In the apparatus set forth in claim 17 further including, in combination:

said control means having free cartridge reassign means responsive to said affinity protect means for reassigning and moving cartridges not a member of said one affinity group to another bin before enabling manual access to the affinity bin storing said given cartridge.

19. In the apparatus set forth in claim 15 further including, in combination:

command receiving means in the control means for indicating whether or not a command has requested manual access to a predetermined one of said bins; and

command interpreting means in the control means and being connected to said command receiving means and to the bin indicating means to indicate manual access is authorized to said predetermined one of said bins and sending said indication to said affinity protect means to inhibit or permit actuating said electrically actuated door locks for permitting said manual access.

20. In the apparatus set forth in claim 15 further including, in combination:

cartridge present sensors in predetermined ones of said bins for indicating whether or not a cartridge is present or not in each slot of said predetermined ones of said bins;

cartridge present responding means in said control means being connected to said cartridge present sensors for responding to a change in cartridge present indication for interrupting operation of said control means; and

said control means being responsive to said interruption to actuate said transport means to audit said predetermined one of said bins to validate said change indication.

21. In the apparatus set forth in claim 20 further including, in combination:

one of said predetermined ones of said bins being an input-output bin having a first number of input-output slots for insertion and removal of cartridges to and from the apparatus; and

first predetermined ones of said cartridge sensors being in respective ones of said input-output slots.

22. In the apparatus set forth in claim 21 further including, in combination:

second predetermined ones of said cartridge sensors being in bins other than said input-output bin; and

multiplex means electrically interposed between said second predetermine ones of said cartridge sensors and said control means.

23. In the apparatus set forth in claim 1 further including, in combination:

a bar code label on each of said bins;

a transportable bar code reader in said transport means;

a battery in said bar code reader for powering same as it is transported;

radiation communication means in said control means and in said transportable bar code reader for transferring data between said bar code reader and said control means;

said control means actuating the transport means cartridge carrier means to carry said bar code reader to an addressed one of said bins and to scan the bar code label on said addressed one of said bins and for receiving a scanned bar code label value from said bar code reader via said radiation communication means.

24. In the apparatus set forth in claim 23 further including, in combination:

an first infrared (IR) transceiver in said radiation communication means mounted adjacent one end of said stationary support means;

a second infrared (IR) transceiver in said radiation communication means mounted on said bar code reader; and

said first and second IR transceivers being in a radiation communicating relationship for transferring data signal by an IR beam as said bar code reader is carried by said cartridge carrier means.

25. In the apparatus set forth in claim 23 further including, in combination:

a first infrared (IR) transceiver in said radiation communication means mounted adjacent one end of said stationary support means;

a second infrared (IR) transceiver in said radiation communication means mounted on said cartridge carrier means; and

said first and second IR transceivers being in a radiation communicating relationship for transferring data signal by an IR beam for establishing a communication link between said control means and said transport means.

26. In the apparatus set forth in claim 23 further including, in combination:

said carrier means having a cartridge receiver for carrying predetermined ones of said cartridges; and

said bar code reader being receivable into said cartridge receiver for being transported to any of said bins.

27. In the apparatus set forth in claim 1 further including, in combination:

retentive store means in the control means;

a cartridge table retentively stored in said store means and including identifications of each cartridge being stored, each bin present in respective ones of the receptacles, bar code label values, and locations of each cartridge stored in any of said bins;

other tables in said retentive store for indicating predetermined status and configuration of the apparatus;

said retentive store being a random access static memory having retentive data storage characteristics

a first microprocessor in said control means having a random access memory, program means and being connected to all of said means and to the retentive store for creating and maintaining said tables;

electrical door lock means in said cabinet means for locking said openable door(s);

said first microprocessor being connected to said door lock means for actuating the door lock means to lock and unlock said door(s) for controlling manual access to said receptacles;

said bin sensing means upon sensing a bin being inserted into or removed from a receptacle sending an interrupt signal to said first microprocessor;

said first microprocessor responding to said interrupt signal to update said cartridge table to indicate the inserted or removed bin change in status; and

said first microprocessor unlocking and locking the door(s) for enabling said insertion and removal of a bin from a receptacle.

28. In the apparatus set forth in claim 27 further including, in combination:

each said media-containing cartridge having a data storage medium and a VOLSER recorded on its medium;

said first microprocessor, upon receiving said interrupt signal determines that a bin has been inserted into one of said receptacles, sequencing said transport means to serially remove all cartridges from said inserted bin for transporting same to one of said cartridge-receiving devices, respectively;

said first microprocessor actuating said cartridge-receiving devices having received one of said cartridges of said inserted bin to read the VOLSER of said received cartridges and storing said VOLSER'"'"'s in said cartridge table.

29. In the apparatus set forth in claim 27 further including, in combination:

each ones of a first type of said media-containing cartridges having an optical data storage medium therein;

each ones of a second type of said media-containing cartridges having a magnetic data storage medium therein;

first and second ones of said devices for respectively reading and recording on optical and magnetic data storage media and being respectively adapted to removable receive said first and second types of media-containing cartridges from said cartridge transport means;

one of said other tables being a device table having an address of the device for being accessed by said cartridge transport means, and an indication of the type of media-containing cartridge with which each device is adapted to receive; and

said first microprocessor accessing said device table for determining which of said devices is to removably receive said inserted cartridges.

30. In the apparatus set forth in claim 29 further including, in combination:

said first microprocessor having means for establishing a new media type including means for adding a new entry into said device table for indicating said new media type and for identifying on of said cartridge-receiving devices for said new media type; and

said first microprocessor commanding said transport means to fetch one of said new media type cartridges for transporting same to said identified one of said cartridge-receiving devices for testing whether or not said identified device ca read signals recorded on said new media type cartridge.

31. In the apparatus set forth in claim 30 further including, in combination:

said first microprocessor having means for deleting a given media type from said apparatus, including means for deleting an existing entry from said device table for removing all indications of said given media type; and

said first microprocessor having means for testing said deletion by commanding said transport means to insert a cartridge into one of said cartridge-receiving devices for reading said deleted media, if said device table indicates a device capable of reading the deleted media type, then indicating an error in said device table.

32. In the apparatus set forth in claim 27 further including, in combination:

said first microprocessor having means indicating that predetermined cartridges stored in a given one of said bins in said apparatus are to swapped for other cartridges;

said first microprocessor actuating said electrical door lock means to unlock said door;

said bin sensing means indicating successive removal and insertion of bins from and to a predetermined one of said receptacles;

said first microprocessor actuating said transport means and one of said cartridge-receiving devices to serially remove and return cartridges from and to a bin in said predetermined one of said receptacles;

said first microprocessor actuating said one cartridge-receiving device to identify the serially removed and returned cartridges and to send the identification to said first microprocessor means; and

said first microprocessor changing said cartridge table to indicate the identification of said serially removed and returned cartridges.

33. In the apparatus set forth in claim 27 further including, in combination:

one of said bins in one of said receptacles being an input-output bin having one or more input-output slots, each input-output slot having an internal access facing said transport means and an external access facing away from said transport means;

a cartridge sensor in each of said input-output slots for detecting an insertion or removal of a cartridge into of from each of said one or more input-output slots through said external access;

said first microprocessor responding to said cartridge sensor in the input-output bin to fetch any inserted cartridge and transport same to one of said cartridge-receiving devices;

said first microprocessor having means for actuating said one cartridge receiving device to sense said inserted cartridge for any identifications and to supply said sensed identifications to said first microprocessors; and

said first microprocessor assigning a slot in one of said bins for removably receiving said inserted cartridge and for updating the cartridge table for indicating said assignment.

34. In the apparatus set forth in claim 27 further including, in combination:

ones of said cartridges in said apparatus having a bar code label with bar coding identifying the cartridge including a volume serial number (VOLSER) and a medium in the cartridge storing said VOLSER internally to the cartridge;

a bar code reader in said transport means;

said first microprocessor having means for commanding said transporting means to carry said bar code reader to a given one of said cartridges stored in a bin in the apparatus and to activate said bar code reader to scan and read said bar code label on said given the cartridge and to supply said scanned VOLSER to said first microprocessor;

said first microprocessor having means for actuating the transport means to carry the given one cartridge to one of said cartridge-receiving devices and to actuate said one cartridge-receiving device for reading said medium for obtaining said VOLSER stored internally of said cartridge and for supplying the read internally-stored VOLSER to the first microprocessor; and

said first microprocessor comparing the bar code VOLSER with the cartridge internal VOLSER, if the comparison indicates a difference between said bar code and internal VOLSER'"'"'s, then indicating an error condition, otherwise updating the cartridge table by storing said given one cartridge VOLSER in said cartridge table.

35. In the apparatus set forth in claim 27 further including, in combination:

said first microprocessor having means for indicating that given ones of said cartridges in a given one of said bins are to be removed from the apparatus;

said first microprocessor having means responsive to said removal indication to unlock said door(s);

said bin sensing means detecting removal and return of said given bin from and to a receptacle storing said given bin and indicating said removal and return to said first microprocessor as a removal indication;

said first microprocessor responding to said removal indication to actuate said transport means to access said given bin for verifying said removal; and

said first microprocessor responding to said verifying to delete indications of said given ones of said cartridges from said cartridge table.

36. In the apparatus set forth in claim 27 further including, in combination:

said first microprocessor having status means for recording in said cartridge table a status indicator for each of said slots in any bin in said apparatus;

said status means having affinity means for indicating an affinity cartridges is stored in a given cartridge receiving slot by recording an A status in said cartridge table or that said given cartridge-receiving slot is reserved for an affinity cartridge by storing an R status in said cartridge table;

said status means having free means for indicating a free or non-affinity cartridge is stored in a predetermined cartridge receiving slot by storing an O indication in the cartridge table or that said predetermined slot is empty and can store a free cartridge by storing an E status in said cartridge table; and

said microprocessor having means for preventing storing a non-affinity cartridge in any slot having an R status and for enabling storing any cartridge in a slot indicated by said E status.

37. In the apparatus set forth in claim 36 further including, in combination:

said microprocessor having means for establishing said cartridge table for creating a maximum number of slot indications for each and every one of said bins;

predetermined ones of said bins having given number of slots wherein the number of slots is smaller than said maximum number of slots; and

said status means assigning one of said A, R, E or O status to said given number of slot indications for each of said predetermined ones of said bins and inserting a V (vacant) indication in each of said slot indications not assigned to said predetermined ones of said bins, respectively.

38. In the apparatus set forth in claim 36 further including, in combination:

affinity means in the control means for respectively assigning predetermined ones of said cartridges as said affinity cartridges to given ones of a plurality of affinity groups;

each of said affinity cartridges in respective ones of said affinity groups being in a bin having cartridges in said respective affinity groups; and

said affinity means connected to said cartridge table for being responsive to said A status for retaining said predetermined cartridges in said respective bins whenever said predetermined cartridges are not in one of said devices.

39. In the apparatus set forth in claim 38 further including, in combination:

said control means having free cartridge assignment means for assigning any of said free cartridges only to ones of said slots having said E status.

40. In the apparatus set forth in claim 39 further including, in combination:

one of said other tables being a slot offset table; and

said slot offset table having an entry for each of said bins in said receptacles, respectively;

each of said entries indicating a physical address of said bin and a slot offset value for indicating a physical location of each of each slots in a bin indicated by the respective entries of said slot offset table; and

said control means having means for accessing any slot in any bin in the apparatus by calculating a slot address using said slot offset table and said cartridge table, said cartridge table indicating which slot of each bin storing each of said cartridges.

41. In the apparatus set forth in claim 1 further including, in combination:

a bar code label on each of said bins;

a transportable bar code reader removably stationarily mounted in said transport means;

a battery in said bar code reader for powering the bar code read as it is transported;

radiation communication means in said control means and in said transportable bar code reader for transferring data between said bar code reader and said control means;

said control means actuating the transport means cartridge carrier means to access said bar code reader to releasably mount the bar code reader in said cartridge carrier means to carry said bar code reader to an addressed one of said bins and to scan the bar code label on said addressed one of said bins and for receiving a scanned bar code label value from said bar code reader via said radiation communication means.

42. In a data-storage apparatus for storing and retrieving data storing media, including, in combination:

cartridge storage means having support means for removably receiving a plurality of cartridge storing modules, each said module having a plurality of cartridge-receiving slots, each slot having first and second oppositely facing openings, said first and second openings facing respectively in first and second opposite directions, such that data-storing cartridges may be inserted into or removed from the slots through either of said openings;

a plurality of first and second types of data-storing cartridges respectively containing first and second types of media and stored in respective predetermined ones of said slots, said first type of media being incompatible with said second type of media such that said first and second types of media require diverse media playing devices for transferring signals to and from said first and second types of media, respectively;

first and second types of data device means each said data device means having cartridge receiving means with an opening facing said first oppositely facing direction for removably respectively receiving said first and second types of said cartridge into said first and second types of data device means for accessing data stored in said first and second types of said cartridges, said first and second types of data device means not capable of respectively accessing data stored in said second and first types of data cartridges;

transport means facing the first slot openings in said cartridge storing modules and having a cartridge carrier positionable in a predetermined cartridge exchanging relationship to said slots and to said cartridge receiving means opening for transferring said first and second types of said cartridges between said slots and said cartridge receiving means opening respectively in said first and second types of data device means;

control means in said data storage apparatus for indicating storage of cartridges in said slots and being connected to said first and second types of said data device means and said transport means for controlling insertion and removal of said cartridges to and from said first and second types of data device means and said slots.

43. In the apparatus set forth in claim 42 further including, in combination:

affinity means in the control means for identifying a plurality of affinity groups wherein members of each said affinity group have a predetermined affinity for all members in each of said affinity groups, respectively and assigning means in the affinity means for assigning predetermined ones of said cartridges to one of a plurality of affinity groups;

said affinity means assigning each of said predetermined cartridges in respective ones of said affinity groups to a module storing cartridges in said respective affinity groups, any said module having cartridges that are members of an affinity group is an affinity module and any cartridge that is a member of an affinity group is an affinity cartridge, any said module or cartridge not an affinity module or cartridge is a free module or cartridge; and

said affinity means retaining said predetermined cartridges in said respective affinity module whenever said predetermined cartridges are not in one of said devices and including module ejection means for inhibiting removal of an affinity module from the apparatus until all of the affinity cartridges assigned thereto are present in such affinity module to be ejected.

44. In the apparatus set forth in claim 43 further including, in combination:

said control means having a retentive random-access store storing a rewriteable cartridge table storing identifications of each cartridge being stored, each said module present in respective ones of the receptacles, bar code label values, and locations of each cartridge stored in any of said modules;

other tables in said retentive store for indicating status and configuration of the apparatus;

status means connect to said retentive store in said control means for recording in said cartridge table a status indicator for each of said slots in any said module in said apparatus;

said status means connected to said affinity means for indicating locations of affinity cartridges stored in given cartridge receiving slots by recording an A status in said cartridge table or that said given cartridge-receiving slot is reserved for an affinity cartridge by storing an R status in said cartridge table;

said status means having free means for indicating that a free cartridge is stored in a predetermined cartridge receiving slot by storing an O indication in the cartridge table or that said predetermined slot is empty and can store a free cartridge by storing an E status in said cartridge table; and

said affinity means having means for preventing storing a non-affinity cartridge in any slot having an R status and for enabling storing any cartridge in a slot indicated by said E

45. In the apparatus set forth in claim 44 further including, in combination:

said affinity means enabling storing predetermined ones of said affinity and free cartridges in a same one of said modules.

46. In the apparatus set forth in claim 44 further including, in combination:

said affinity means having means for assigning predetermined ones of said cartridges to a given plurality of said affinity groups; and

said affinity means having plural means for assigning cartridges that are assigned to a predetermined one of said affinity groups to be stored in a certain plurality of said modules such that cartridges assigned to said predetermined one of said affinity groups are stored in said certain plurality of said modules.

47. In the apparatus set forth in claim 42 further including, in combination:

lockable access door means for covering said second openings for preventing access to any cartridges in any of said slots having a covered second opening and for providing manual access to said slots if said lockable access door is not covering said second openings;

door means in said control means and connected to said lockable access door means for keeping said access door locked for preventing manual access to any of said cartridges stored in said slots, respectively, and having a opening control for unlocking said access door means; and

said control means having access means connected to said lockable access door means for actuating said lockable access door means to unlock said lockable access door means only when said access means indicates that a manual access to predetermined ones of said cartridges is desired.

48. In the apparatus set forth in claim 47 further including, in combination:

each of said cartridges having first and second bar code labels respectively facing outwardly through said first and second openings.

49. In the apparatus set forth in claim 42 further including, in combination:

first predetermined ones of said cartridges having a first type of media having optical properties for storing information;

second predetermined ones of said cartridges having a second type of media having magnetic properties for storing information; and

said data device means for sensing information in said first predetermined ones of said cartridges, other device means in cartridge receiving relation to the transport means second predetermined ones of said cartridges.

50. In the apparatus set forth in claim 49 further including, in combination:

predetermined ones of said bins having slots for storing said first and second predetermined ones of said cartridges, respectively, such that one bin stores both first and second predetermined ones of said cartridges.

51. In the apparatus set forth in claim 50 further including, in combination:

affinity means in the control means for identifying a plurality of affinity groups wherein members of each said affinity group have a predetermined affinity for all members in each of said affinity groups, respectively and assigning means in the affinity means for assigning given ones said first and second predetermined ones of said cartridges to one of a plurality of affinity groups;

each of said predetermined cartridges in respective ones of said affinity groups being in a bin having cartridges in said respective affinity groups, any bin having cartridges that are members of an affinity group is an affinity bin, one of said bins storing both a first and a second predetermined one of said cartridges; and

said affinity means retaining said given ones of said predetermined cartridges in said respective bins whenever said predetermined cartridges are not in one of said devices.

52. In the apparatus set forth in claim 42 further including, in combination:

a transportable bar code reader removably stationarily disposed in the data storage apparatus in an accessible relationship to said transport means and being receivable by said cartridge carrier;

said transport means accessing said bar code reader for loading said bar code reader onto said cartridge carrier for transporting said bar code reader to said modules for automatically scanning predetermined ones of said bar code labels; and

said control means for actuating the transport means to carry said bar code reader to a predetermined one of said slots for scanning the bar code label of a cartridge stored in said predetermined one of the slots.

53. In an apparatus for storing data in a plurality of independently controlled library subsystems, including, in combination:

each of said plurality of library subsystems including storage rack means having an open face and a plurality of addressable bin-receiving receptacles;

a plurality of cartridge-storing bins removably stored in respective ones of said receptacles and having cartridge access openings to cartridge-storing slots facing and opening to said open face;

a plurality of data-storing cartridges stored in respective predetermined ones of said slots in said bins;

a data device having cartridge receiving means for receiving said cartridges for accessing data stored therein;

an input-output station for inserting and removing data storing cartridges into and from said data-storage apparatus;

transport means in cartridge exchanging relationship to said receptacles and to said device for transferring cartridges between said bins, said input-output station and said device;

control means in said apparatus for indicating storage of cartridges in said bins and being connected to said device, said transport means, said input-output station for enabling insertion and removal of data cartridges to and from the apparatus and for enabling insertion and removal of said bins to and from said receptacles for inserting and removing cartridges to and from the apparatus;

said bins and cartridges in each of said libraries being identical such that said insertion and removal of cartridges into and from any of said plurality of libraries can be achieved by insertion and removal of said bins to and from receptacles in the respective libraries;

said bins consisting of first and second types of bins;

said first type of bin having a plurality of first cartridge receiving compartments for respectively receiving and holding cartridges having a predetermined minimum size, said minimum size including one constant dimension and a first dimension perpendicular to the constant dimension;

said second type of bin having a predetermined number of said first cartridge receiving compartments and a given number of second cartridge receiving compartments, each one of said second cartridge receiving compartments having said one constant dimension and a second dimension transverse to the constant dimension that is greater than said first dimension by an integral multiplicative factor such that each of said second compartments can removably receive one of said cartridges having a dimension perpendicular to said constant dimension that is greater than said first dimension;

said receptacles in all of said libraries each being capable of storing either one of said first types of bins or said integral multiplicative factor of said second types of bins;

first and second types of said cartridges, said first type of cartridge having a first set of dimensions and moving containing a disk-shaped disk-storage medium for storing said data stored in said first type of cartridge, said second type of cartridge having a second set of dimensions at least one of which is greater than said one constant predetermined dimension of said first type of cartridge and movably containing an elongated tape data-storage medium for storing said data stored in said second type of cartridge;

said first type of cartridge being storable in either said first or second type of said bins and said second type of cartridge being storable only in said second compartments in said second type of bins;

affinity means in the control means of each of said library subsystems having identifying means for identifying a plurality of affinity groups wherein members of each said affinity group have a predetermined affinity for all members in each of said affinity groups, respectively;

assigning means in the affinity means for assigning predetermined ones of said cartridges to one of a plurality of affinity groups, each of said affinity groups existing in one of said library subsystems;

each of said predetermined cartridges in respective ones of said affinity groups being in a bin having cartridges in said respective affinity groups, any one of said bins having cartridges that are members of an affinity group being an affinity bin, each cartridge that is a member of an affinity group being an affinity cartridge; and

said affinity means controlling said transport means for retaining said predetermined cartridges in said respective bins whenever said predetermined cartridges are not in one of said devices such that transfer of cartridges between said library subsystems via bin removal and insertion is inhibited unless all affinity cartridges assigned to an affinity bin are stored in said affinity bin being transferred from one of said libraries to another of said libraries in a predetermined one of said bins.

54. In the apparatus set forth in claim 53 further including, in combination:

predetermined ones of said bins having slots for storing said first and second predetermined ones of said cartridges, respectively, such that one bin stores both first and second predetermined ones of said cartridges.

55. In the apparatus set forth in claim 54 further including, in combination:

each of said library subsystems having a plurality of said cartridges not assigned to any of said affinity groups that are termed free cartridges;

each of said affinity means in the respective library subsystem reserving predetermined slots in said affinity bins for storing said affinity cartridges;

free ones of said bins having no reserved affinity slots; and

transferring said free bins or said affinity bins having a predetermined number of free cartridges between said library subsystems without said free cartridges if such free cartridges are not stored in said bins being transferred at the time of transfer.

56. In an apparatus for storing a plurality of data cartridges including a control communications systems, including, in combination:

a library having a plurality of data cartridge storing receptacles opening to a common wall and data cartridge transport means movably disposed along the common wall for fetching and storing cartridges from and to addressed ones of said receptacles;

control means stationarily disposed with respect to said receptacles;

an infrared (IR) communication system in said library for connecting said control means to said transport means comprising a first IR transceiver stationarily mounted at one extremity of the movement of said transport means for emitting and receiving IR signals modulated to carry information and a second IR transceiver mounted in said transport means for receiving said IR signals from the first IR transceiver and for emitting IR modulated signals to said first IR transceiver;

said transport means having a cartridge carrier mounting said second IR transceiver for movement to said receptacles;

a battery operated bar code reader mounting said second IR transceiver;

a bar code reader storage means including battery charging means stationarily mounted with respect to said receptacles and for receiving for removable storage said bar code reader and for charging the battery in said bar code reader;

a cartridge carrier in the transport means and having means for fetching and storing said bar code reader and carrying same to any of said receptacle to scan for bar code labels and for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the control means via said IR transceivers; and

said control means connected to said first IR transceiver for sending control signals to the bar code reader for scanning for a bar code label in each of said receptacles and for receiving bar code indicating signals from the bar code reader.

57. In the apparatus set forth in claim 56 further including, in combination:

said cartridge carrier having a cartridge receiver for removably receiving data cartridges and for removably receiving said bar code reader; and

said control means actuating the transport means for either carrying a cartridge or said bar code reader.

58. In the apparatus set forth in claim 57 further including, in combination:

said second IR transceiver including a first portion on said cartridge carrier and a second portion on said bar code reader.

59. In a machine-effected method of operating a data storage library subsystem having a plurality of data cartridges, an open walled storage rack having a plurality of receptacles and a transport system having cartridge carrying means disposed for movement along said open walled rack for fetching and storing cartridges from and in said receptacles, a data device having a cartridge-receiving opening to said transport system for receiving and yielding said data cartridges from and to the transport system whereby said cartridges are transported between said receptacles and said device, including the machine-executed steps of:

making each of said receptacles capable of removably receiving a cartridge bin, each said bin being capable of storing a plurality of said cartridges in slots opening to said transport system for making each cartridge individually accessible by the transport system without moving any other cartridge;

inserting a given plurality of said bins, each said bin holding a predetermined plurality of said cartridges, into said given plurality of said receptacles, respectively;

inserting and removing said cartridges into and from the library subsystem by inserting and removing any one of said bins such that each said bin is a cartridge input-output means and a part of said storage rack for enabling the transport system to transport said cartridges between any one of said bins and said device;

selecting said bins to store and carry a plurality of diverse types of said data cartridges, said diverse type including incompatible physical dimensions and having diverse recording capabilities including optically sensible media in first ones of said diverse types and magnetically sensible media in second ones of said diverse types; and

providing a separate device for sensing each of said types of cartridges and media.

60. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 59 further including the machine-executed steps of:

one of said bins removably receiving and holding first and second types of said cartridges.

61. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 60 further including the machine-executed steps of:

making all of said receptacles to be one size;

selecting said bins to have diverse sizes, each said bin size being an integral submultiple of said one size such that each receptacle can removably receive one or more of said bins of said diverse sizes.

62. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 59 further including the machine-executed steps of:

establishing a plurality of affinity groups wherein members of each said affinity groups have a predetermined affinity for all members is each of said affinity groups, respectively;

assigning predetermined ones of said cartridges to one of a given plurality of said affinity groups to be affinity cartridges;

assigning predetermined ones of said bins to be affinity bins as members of predetermined ones of said affinity groups;

storing predetermined ones of said affinity cartridges belonging to one of said affinity groups in one of said affinity bins and retaining said affinity cartridges of said one affinity group in said one affinity bin whenever said affinity cartridges are not lodged in said device; and

removing an affinity bin from the library subsystem only when all of the affinity cartridges assigned to said affinity bin to be removed are actually in said affinity bin to be removed.

63. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 62 further including the machine-executed steps of:

selecting said bins to store and carry a plurality of diverse types of said data cartridges, selecting said diverse types of said data cartridges to have predetermined incompatible physical dimensions and diverse recording capabilities including optically sensible media in first ones of said diverse types of said data cartridges and magnetically sensible media in second ones of said diverse types of said data cartridges;

providing a separate said device for exchanging signals with a medium in each of said types of cartridges and media; and

assigning predetermined ones of said cartridges to said one affinity groups that are diverse types of said cartridges.

64. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 62 further including the machine-executed steps of:

assigning and storing predetermined ones of said affinity cartridges that are members respectively of a plurality of said affinity groups in one of said bins.

65. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 62 further including the machine-executed steps of:

designating cartridges that are not a member of any affinity group as free cartridges;

in one of said bins storing affinity cartridges that respectively are members of an affinity group and free cartridges that are not a member of any of said affinity groups; and

ejecting said one bin from the library subsystem only if all of said affinity cartridges that are members of a same affinity group are stored in said one bin and regardless if all of said free cartridges are stored in said one bin.

66. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 65 further including the machine-executed steps of:

providing an input-output bin in said library subsystem, said input-output bin enabling insertion and removal of single cartridges into and from the library subsystem; and

inserting and removing cartridges into and from said library subsystem via said input-output bin one at a time regardless if the cartridge being inserted or removed is a said affinity or free cartridge.

67. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 66 further including the machine-executed steps of:

establishing and maintaining a cartridge table, said cartridge table including machine sensible indications of each said receptacle, the number of said cartridges stored in each said receptacle, the affinity group to which each said cartridge belongs, if any, and the status of each said slot in each said bin as to whether said slot is occupied by a said affinity cartridge, reserved for a said affinity cartridge, occupied by a said free cartridge or empty and for storing any of said cartridges.

68. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 59 further including the machine-executed steps of:

establishing a control in said library subsystem; and

providing radiation communication between said control and said transport system.

69. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 68 further including the machine-executed steps of:

selecting said radiation communication to be infrared and providing transceiver in the transport system for movement along said receptacles and a stationary transceiver and electrically connecting the stationary transceiver to said control.

70. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 59 further including the machine-executed steps of:

adding bar codes to each of said bins for identifying the respective bins independently of which said receptacle holds said bin;

providing a battery operated bar code reader and storing the bar code reader in a stationary battery charging station accessible by said transport means;

carrying said cartridges in a cartridge receiver of said transport system; and

fetching and carrying said bar code reader from said station by and in said cartridge receiver for scanning one of said bar codes labels on an addressed one of said bins.

71. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 70 further including the machine-executed steps of:

establishing a control in said library subsystem;

providing infrared communication between said control and said bar code reader; and

transmitting bar code read signals from said bar code reader over said infrared communication to said control.

72. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 71 further including the machine-executed steps of:

affixing bar code labels to each of said data cartridges on a surface of said cartridge facing said transport means as held in said bins received by said receptacles, respectively; and

moving said bar code reader to addressed ones of said cartridges for reading said bar code labels, respectively.

73. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 72 further including the machine-effected steps of:

affixing two of said bar code labels on each of said data cartridges such that one label faces the transport system and a second label one each cartridge faces away from said transport system.

74. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 72 further including the machine-effected steps of:

recording a predetermined volume serial number (VOLSER) on a data storage medium in each of said cartridges; and

in said affixing step, affixing said bar code label to have an indication other than said predetermined VOLSER.

75. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 74 further including the machine-effected steps of:

including in predetermined ones of said bar code labels on said data cartridges an indication of a computer application to which said data stored in said data cartridge relates.

76. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 75 further including the machine-effected steps of:

establishing a plurality of affinity groups wherein members of each said affinity groups have a predetermined affinity for all members is each of said affinity groups, respectively;

assigning predetermined ones of said cartridges to one of a given plurality of affinity groups;

designating predetermined ones of said bins as affinity bins for receiving and storing said assigned predetermined ones of said cartridges assigned to said affinity groups, respectively;

storing affinity ones of said cartridges belonging to one of said given plurality of affinity groups in one of said bins and retaining said affinity cartridges of said one affinity group in said one affinity bin whenever said affinity cartridges are not lodged in said device; and

reading the bar code labels on said affinity ones of said cartridges for ascertaining which of said affinity groups said affinity ones of said cartridges are assigned.

77. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 59 further including the machine-effected steps of:

providing a plurality of said library subsystems; and

transferring cartridges between said plurality of library subsystems by removing and inserting ones of said bins from one of said library subsystems and into another of said library subsystems.

78. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 59 further including the machine-executed steps of:

providing electrically lockable doors in said library subsystem for controlling manual access to bins removably received in respective ones of said receptacles; and

unlocking said lockable doors only when all affinity cartridges assigned to a predetermine one of said bins are in said predetermined one of said bins.

79. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 59 further including the machine-effected steps of:

automatically adding a new media type to said library subsystem including providing a device for said new media type and bins capable of holding said new media type.

80. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 79 further including the machine-effected steps of:

automatically deleting a media type from said library subsystem including removing all cartridges of said deleted media type.

81. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 59 further including the machine-effected steps of:

removing a bin from said library subsystem;

manually removing certain ones of said cartridges stored in said removed bin and inserting different cartridges into said bin; and

reinserting said bin into the same receptacle from which it was removed.

82. In the machine-effected method set forth in claim 59 further including the machine-effected steps of:

automatically indicating that manual access to said bins held by said receptacles is to be permitted; and

providing a plurality of independent sources for said automatic indication.

83. In an apparatus for storing and retrieving diverse media-containing cartridges, first and second types of said cartridges respectively containing recording media having different physical size and outline, storage media in said first and second types of said cartridges having data recording characteristics so as to be incompatible, including, in combination:

cabinet means having a first open side;

cartridge storage array means disposed in the cabinet means adjacent said first open side and having first and second oppositely facing open sides, a plurality of first and second size cartridge-receiving and storing slots opening at said first open side;

a plurality of cartridge-receiving devices in the cabinet means, each said device having a cartridge receiver opening, a first one of said devices being capable of receiving and operating only with said first type of media cartridge having said first cartridge outline, a second one of said devices being capable of receiving and operating only with said second type of media cartridge having said second cartridge outline, said first and second cartridge outlines having different physical dimensions;

cartridge transport means having stationary support means mounted in said cabinet means and cartridge carrier means movably mounted on said stationary support means for accessing any one of said receptacles and said plurality of cartridge-receiving devices for transporting either of said first and second types of media cartridges between said receptacles and said respective cartridge receiver of said first and second devices, respectively; and

control means having slot indicating means for indicating which of said slots said first and second types of media cartridges can be stored, said control means actuating the cartridge transport means to transfer said first and second types of cartridges between said slots to said first or second device, respectively.

84. In the apparatus set forth in claim 83, including, in combination:

said first type of media cartridge being a disk containing cartridge having a first size and shape having two predetermined exterior dimensions;

said second type of media cartridge being a tape containing cartridge having a second size and shape that includes at least two dimensions that are greater than said two predetermined dimensions of said disk cartridges;

said first type of device being a disk medium playing device having a cartridge receiver for receiving said disk-containing cartridge; and

said second type of device being a tape medium playing device having a cartridge receiver for receiving said tape containing cartridge.