Data carrier archiving and control system

• US 6,564,290 B1
• Filed: 07/28/1998
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GRAU Software GmbH
• Original Assignee: GRAU Software GmbH
• Inventors: Lechner, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): BATAILLE, PIERRE MICHE
• Application Number:
  US09/123,628
• Time in Patent Office: 1,750 Days
• Field of Search: 711/111, 711/161, 711/162, 711/165, 711/112, 711/114, 711/100, 369/30, 369/36, 369/34, 369/37, 369/92, 360/30, 360/69
• US Class Current: 711/111
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/6835 the cassettes being transferred to a fixed recorder or player using a moving carriage
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/22 from random access magazine of disc records
• 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 17/228 Control systems for magazines G11B17/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/00 Driving, starting, stopping record carriers not specifically of filamentary or web form, or of supports therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function ; Driving both disc and head
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2516 Hard disks
• 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 2220/45 Hierarchical combination of record carriers, e.g. HDD for fast access, optical discs for long term storage or tapes for backup
• 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

Abstract

In order to design a data storage unit, comprising an archive storage means for data carrier cassettes, with at least one read/write unit and a transfer unit, and further comprising a data storage control which controls the read/write unit and the transfer unit for storing data and which is in data interchange communication with a computer, with which access to data with the computer is as efficient as possible, it is suggested that the data storage unit have in addition to the archive storage means at least one hard disk memory, that the data storage control operate the hard disk memory and the archive storage means in parallel, that the data storage control with the archive storage means and the at least one hard disk memory together form a device installable as one storage unit which communicates with the computer as a single storage unit.

Claims

1. Data storage unit, comprising an archive storage means with a storage unit for a plurality of data carrier cassettes, with at least one read/write unit for the data carrier cassettes and a transfer unit for transferring individual data carrier cassettes from the storage unit into the read/write unit and vice versa, said data storage unit further comprising

at least one hard disk memory for storing data,

a data storage control for controlling the read/write unit and the transfer unit for the storage of data and for providing a long term storage of the data by means of data carrier cassettes,

said data storage control operating the hard disk memory and the archive storage means in parallel, said data storage control being in data interchange communication with a computer in order to store data transferred from this computer or make available to the computer data stored in the data storage unit,

a housing comprising a frame having two frame segments designed as flat parallelepipeds having flat sides which extend parallel to a vertical line, the archive storage means, the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory being arranged and permanently installed in said frame, wherein the archive storage means is arranged in one frame segment and the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory are arranged in the other frame segment, said data storage control being permanently operatively connected with the archive storage means and the at least one hard disk memory so as to be installable as a single data storage unit for communicating with the computer.

2. Data storage unit as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the frame segments extend essentially over the entire height of the frame in a vertical direction.

3. Data storage unit as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the frame segments extend with their flat sides parallel to a frame front and form directly behind the frame front a front frame segment and a rear frame segment located behind the front frame segment.

4. Data storage unit as defined in claim 3, characterized in that the storage unit, the at least one read/write unit and the transfer unit are arranged in the front frame segment.

5. Data storage unit as defined in claim 3, characterized in that the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory are arranged in the rear frame segment.

6. Data storage unit as defined in claim 5, characterized in that the rear frame segment has receiving means for the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory, the front sides thereof being located on one side of the frame.

7. Data storage unit as defined in claim 5, characterized in that the receiving means for the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory are arranged one above another in a vertical direction.

8. Data storage unit as defined in claim 5, characterized in that the data storage control is arranged such that its flat side with the greatest extension extends parallel to the flat side of the frame segments.

9. Data storage unit as defined in claim 3, characterized in that the rear frame segment forms a connection area, the receiving means for the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory bordering on said connection area with their rear side.

10. Data storage unit as defined in claim 9, characterized in that the connection area is located in the rear frame segment so as to be opposite the front side of the receiving means.

11. Data storage unit as defined in claim 3, characterized in that the front frame segment has at least one receiving means for the art least one read/write unit and that the receiving means borders with a rear side on the connection area in the rear frame segment.

12. Data storage unit as defined in claim 11, characterized in that the front frame segment has several receiving means for several read/write units all bordering on the connection area with their rear side.

13. Data storage unit as defined in claim 11, characterized in that the receiving means for the read/write units are arranged one above the other.

14. Data storage unit as defined in claim 11, characterized in that the read/write units arranged in the receiving means project into the connection area with their rear sides.

36. Data storage unit as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the frame comprises at least two side walls connected by a plurality of cross supports, the frame being adapted to receive the data storage control, the archive storage means and the at least one hard disk memory.

37. Data storage unit as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the housing comprises a rear wall, a front wall, at least one side wall connecting the rear wall to the front wall, wherein the front wall is adapted to allow access from outside the housing to at least one of the archive storage means, the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory arranged within the housing.

38. Data storage unit as defined in claim 37, characterized in that the housing further comprises a door connected to at least one of the front wall, the rear wall and the at least one side wall.

15. Data storage unit, comprising:

an archive storage means with a storage unit for a plurality of data carrier cassettes, with at least one read/write unit for the data carrier cassettes and a transfer unit for transferring individual data carrier cassettes from the storage unit into the read/write unit and vice versa;

at least one non-removable hard disk memory for storing data used by an external computer;

a data storage control controlling the read/write unit and the transfer unit for the storage of data within said archive storage means and for providing a long term storage of the data by means of data carrier cassettes;

said data storage control operating said at least one non-removable hard disk memory and the archive storage means in parallel;

a housing comprising a frame, the archive storage means, the data storage control and said at least one non-removable hard disk memory being arranged and installed in said frame;

said data storage control being operatively connected with respect to the hardware and software installation with the archive storage means and the at least one non-removable hard disk memory so that said data storage unit is installable as a single conventional data storage unit for communicating with the external computer by establishing a link between said external computer and said archive storage means and said at least one non-removable hard disk memory only via said data storage control which is in data interchange communication with the external computer in order to store data transferred from the external computer or make available to the external computer data stored in said data storage unit.

16. Data storage unit as defined in claim 15, characterized in that the data storage control operates the archive storage means and the hard disk memory in such a manner that an interchange of data between the computer and the data storage unit has data rates in the order of magnitude of data interchange rates corresponding to a hard disk memory.

17. Data storage unit as defined in claim 15, characterized in that when a desired data carrier cassette is not already located in the read/write unit, data interchanged with the computer is stored temporarily in the hard disk memory and an interchange of data takes place between the hard disk memory and the data carrier cassettes either prior to the data communication with the computer or after the data communication with the computer.

18. Data storage unit as defined in claim 15, characterized in that said frame has two frame segments, wherein the archive storage means is arranged in one frame segment and the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory are arranged in the other frame segment.

33. Data storage unit as defined in claim 15, characterized in that the housing has a front wall, a screen interacting with the data storage control being arranged in said front wall.

34. Data storage unit as defined in claim 15, characterized in that a keyboard for communication with the data storage control is arranged proximate a front wall of the housing.

35. Data storage unit as defined in claim 34, characterized in that the keyboard is adapted to be swung into and out of a keyboard receiving means in the front wall of the housing.

19. Data storage unit, comprising an archive storage means with a storage unit for a plurality of data carrier cassettes, with at least one read/write unit for the data carrier cassettes and a transfer unit for transferring individual data carrier cassettes from the storage unit into the read/write unit and vice versa, said data storage unit further comprising

at least one hard disk memory for storing data,

a data storage control for controlling the read/write unit and the transfer unit for the storage of data and for providing a long term storage of the data by means of data carrier cassettes,

said data storage control operating the hard disk memory and the archive storage means in parallel, said data storage control being in data interchange communication with an external computer in order to store data transferred from this external computer or make available to the external computer data stored in the data storage unit,

a housing comprising a frame, the archive storage means, the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory being arranged and installed in said frame, said data storage control being operatively connected with respect to the hardware and software installation with the archive storage means and the at least one hard disk memory so that said data storage unit is installable as a single conventional data storage unit for communicating with the external computer by establishing a link between said external computer and said data storage control,

wherein said frame has two frame segments, wherein the archive storage means is arranged in one frame segment and the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory are arranged in the other frame segment, and

wherein the two frame segments are designed as flat parallelepipeds having flat sides which extend parallel to a vertical line.

21. Data storage unit as defined in claim 19, characterized in that the frame segments extend with their flat sides parallel to a frame front and form directly behind the frame front a front frame segment and a rear frame segment located behind the front frame segment.

22. Data storage unit as defined in claim 21, characterized in that the storage unit, the at least one read/write unit and the transfer unit are arranged in the front frame segment.

23. Data storage unit as defined in claim 21, characterized in that the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory are arranged in the rear frame segment.

24. Data storage unit as defined in claim 23, characterized in that the rear frame segment has receiving means for the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory, the front sides thereof being located on one side of the frame.

25. Data storage unit as defined in claim 23, characterized in that the receiving means for the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory are arranged one above another in a vertical direction.

26. Data storage unit as defined in claim 23, characterized in that the data storage control is arranged such that its flat side with the greatest extension extends parallel to the flat side of the frame segments.

27. Data storage unit as defined in claim 21, characterized in that the rear frame segment forms a connection area, the receiving means for the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory bordering on said connection area with their rear side.

28. Data storage unit as defined in claim 27, characterized in that the connection area is located in the rear frame segment so as to be opposite the front side of the receiving means.

29. Data storage unit as defined in claim 21, characterized in that the front frame segment has at least one receiving means for the art least one read/write unit and that the receiving means borders with a rear side on the connection area in the rear frame segment.

30. Data storage unit as defined in claim 29, characterized in that the front frame segment has several receiving means for several read/write units all bordering on the connection area with their rear side.

31. Data storage unit as defined in claim 29, characterized in that the receiving means for the read/write units are arranged one above the other.

32. Data storage unit as defined in claim 29, characterized in that the read/write units arranged in the receiving means project into the connection area with their rear sides.

20. Data storage unit, comprising an archive storage means with a storage unit for a plurality of data carrier cassettes, with at least one read/write unit for the data carrier cassettes and a transfer unit for transferring individual data carrier cassettes from the storage unit into the read/write unit and vice versa, said data storage unit further comprising

at least one hard disk memory for storing data,

a data storage control for controlling the read/write unit and the transfer unit for the storage of data and for providing a long term storage of the data by means of data carrier cassettes,

said data storage control operating the hard disk memory and the archive storage means in parallel, said data storage control being in data interchange communication with an external computer in order to store data transferred from this external computer or make available to the external computer data stored in the data storage unit,

a housing comprising a frame, the archive storage means, the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory being arranged and installed in said frame, said data storage control being operatively connected with respect to the hardware and software installation with the archive storage means and the at least one hard disk memory so that said data storage unit is installable as a single conventional data storage unit for communicating with the external computer by establishing a link between said external computer and said data storage control,

wherein said frame has two frame segments, wherein the archives storage means is arranged in one frame segment and the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory are arranged in the other frame segment, and

wherein the frame segments extend essentially over the entire height of the frame in a vertical direction.

39. Data storage unit comprising:

an archive storage means with a storage unit for a plurality of data carrier cassettes, wherein the storage unit has storage compartments for accommodating the data carrier cassettes, with at least one read/write unit for the data carrier cassettes and a transfer unit for transferring individual data carrier cassettes from the storage unit into the read/write unit and vice versa;

at least one non-removable hard disk memory for storing data to be interchanged with an external computer via a data storage control, said data storage control being in data interchange communication with the external computer in order to store data transferred from the external computer or make available to the external computer data stored in the data storage unit,

said data storage control controlling the read/write unit and the transfer unit for the storage of data within said archive storage means and operating the at least one non-removable hard disk memory and the archive storage means in parallel, said data storage control with the archive storage means and the at least one non-removable hard disk memory together allowing said data storage unit to be installed as a conventional non-removable hard disk memory wherein the data carrier cassettes provide long-term storage of the data and wherein said data storage control communicates with the external computer at a data exchange rate substantially comparable to that of a conventional non-removable hard disk memory.

40. Data storage unit as defined in claim 39, characterized in that the storage compartments are provided with insertion openings all arranged in one storage plane.

41. Data storage unit comprising:

an archive storage means with a storage device for a plurality of data carrier cassettes, with at least one read/write unit for the data carrier cassettes, and a transfer unit for transferring individual data carrier cassettes from the storage device into the read/write unit and vice versa;

at least one non-removable hard disk memory for storing data to be interchanged with an external computer via a data storage control;

said data storage control being in data interchange communication with an external computer and controlling the read/write unit and the transfer unit of said archive storage means for the storage of data and operating the at least one non-removable hard disk memory and the archive storage means in parallel, said data storage control with the archive storage means and the at least one non-removable hard disk memory together providing said data storage unit to be installed with the external computer substantially as a single conventional non-removable hard disk memory, wherein the data carrier cassettes provide long-term storage of the data interchanged with the external computer and wherein said data storage unit communicates with the external computer in substantially the same manner as a conventional non-removable hard disk memory.

42. Data storage unit comprising:

an archive storage means with a storage device for a plurality of data carrier cassettes, with at least one read/write unit for the data carrier cassettes and a transfer unit for transferring individual data carrier cassettes from the storage device into the read/write unit and vice versa, wherein the transfer unit is designed such that a gripper means is movable with said transfer unit in a handling plane;

at least one non-removable hard disk memory for storing data to be interchanged with an external computer via a data storage control which is in data interchange communication with the external computer in order to store data transferred from the external computer or make available to the external computer data stored in the data storage unit, said data storage control controlling the hardware and software associated with said archive storage means and said at least one non-removable hard disk memory and said data storage control controls the read/write unit and the transfer unit of said archive storage means and operates the at least one non-removable hard disk memory and the archive storage means in parallel, said data storage control together with said archive storage means and said at least one non-removable hard disk memory are installed with an external computer as an integral data storage unit, wherein the data carrier cassettes provide long-term storage of the data and wherein said data storage control is adapted to communicate with the external computer at a data exchange rate substantially comparable to that of a conventional non-removable hard disk memory.

43. Data storage unit as defined in claim 42, characterized in that the handling plane extends parallel to the storage plane and parallel to the insertion plane.

44. Data storage unit as defined in claim 42, characterized in that the storage plane, the insertion plane and the handling plane extend parallel to a front side of the front frame segment.