Library controller having stored table indicating attributes of an automated data storage library with respect to media

• US 6,791,910 B1
• Filed: 11/15/1999
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: James, Raymond Anthony, James, Kimberly Kay
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/439,289
• Time in Patent Office: 1,765 Days
• Field of Search: 369/34, 369/30, 369/36, 369/37, 369/38, 369/39, 369/178, 369/30.28, 369/30.27, 369/30.29, 369/30.3, 369/30.31, 369/30.32, 369/30.34, 369/30.35, 700/214, 711/111
• US Class Current: 369/30.28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0629 Configuration or reconfiguration of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0686 Libraries, e.g. tape libraries, jukebox
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/6835 the cassettes being transferred to a fixed recorder or player using a moving carriage
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/225 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 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 2220/95 Serpentine format, wherein a single track or group of tracks traverses the tape plural times from one end to the other
• 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

Disclosed is an automated data storage library for storing and retrieving data storage media in a plurality of storage slots, for a host processor. At least one drive unit is coupled to the host processor for reading and/or writing data on the data storage media. A library manager includes a stored table for identifying the data storage media stored in the storage slots, the stored table indicating artificial scaling of the data storage capacity of selected data storage media to selected values less than the actual data storage capacity thereof. The stored table also stores indicators of attributes of the library with respect to ones of the data storage media, such as indicating that the drive unit is to communicate at the drive/host interface in a specific protocol. The library manager responds to a retrieve signal from the host processor, transporting the selected data storage media to a drive unit, and signaling the drive unit to artificially scale the data storage capacity of the selected data storage media to the selected value therefor identified in the stored table, and/or signaling the drive unit to communicate at the drive/host interface in the protocol of the attributes of the selected data storage media.

Claims

1. An automated data storage library for storing and retrieving data storage media for a host processor, said host processor signaling said automated data storage library to retrieve a selected data storage media, comprising:

a plurality of storage slots for storing said data storage media;

at least one drive unit coupled to said host processor for reading and/or writing data on said data storage media;

at least one robotic accessor for transporting said data storage media between said storage slots and said at least one drive unit; and

a library manager coupled to said host processor, to said at least one drive unit and to said at least one robotic accessor, said library manager having a stored table for identifying said data storage media stored in said storage slots, said stored table indicating attributes of said automated data storage library with respect to said data storage media, and said library manager responding to said retrieve signal from said host processor, signaling a said accessor to transport said selected data storage media to a said drive unit, and signaling said drive unit to operate in accordance with said attributes with respect to said selected said data storage media.

2. The automated data storage library of claim 1, wherein said attributes stored in said table comprises drive/host interface modes with respect to said data storage media, and wherein said library manager signals said drive unit to communicate at said drive/host interface in protocol of said attributes of said selected data storage media in said stored table.

3. In an automated data storage library for storing data storage media in and retrieving data storage media from storage slots, said automated data storage library coupled to at least one host, said host signaling said automated data storage library to retrieve a selected data storage media, said automated data storage library having at least one drive unit coupled to said host at a drive/host interface for reading and/or writing data on said data storage media, at least one robotic accessor for transporting said data storage media-between said storage slots and said at least one drive unit, and a library manager coupled to said at least one host, coupled to said at least one drive unit, coupled to said at least one robotic accessor, and having a stored table, a method for operating said automated data storage library, said host comprising the steps of:

storing, in said stored-table, indicators of attributes of said automated data storage library with respect to ones of said data storage media;

signaling, in response to said retrieve signal from said host, said accessor to transport said selected data storage media to a said drive unit; and

signaling said drive unit to operate in accordance with said attributes from said stored table for said selected data storage media.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said storing step comprises drive/host interface modes with respect to said data storage media, and wherein said signaling said drive unit comprises signaling said drive unit to communicate at said drive/host interface in protocol of said attributes of said selected data storage media in said stored table.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said host designates at least a certain one of said data storage media as having said attribute indicators, additionally comprising the initial step of:

providing, in response to said host designation, said attribute indicators for said designated at least one of said data storage media in said stored table.