Apparatus and method to expedite data access from a portable data storage cartridge

• US 6,804,078 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2001
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Slawson, Staley Bert, Yardy, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Sniezek, Andrew L.
• Application Number:
  US09/908,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20030016464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 360/69, 360/71, 360/132, 360/92, 340/572.8, 700/214, 700/213, 369/30.38, 369/30.39, 369/30.4, 369/30.41, 369/30.42, 369/30.43, 369/30.45, 369/47.1, 369/52.1, 369/75.1, 369/76, 369/33.01, 369/34.01, 369/178.01
• US Class Current: 360/69
• 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 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 2220/655 Memory in cassette [MIC]
• 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 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed to read from a portable data storage cartridge data position information, and to communicate that data position information to a data drive unit during transport of the cartridge to that data drive unit.

Claims

1. An accessor for retrieving and transporting portable data storage cartridges within a data storage and retrieval system, said data storage and retrieval system comprising one or more portable data storage cartridges comprising a memory device containing data position information, one or more data storage drives for receiving said one or more portable data storage cartridges and reading and/or writing data thereon, and a library controller in communication with said one or more data storage drives, comprising:

an accessor control card in communication with said library controller;

a gripper mechanism;

a memory reading device;

a first communication link connecting said memory reading device and said accessor control card;

a wireless communication device;

a second communication link, wherein said second communication link connects said wireless communication device to said accessor control card;

wherein said memory reading device is disposed on said accessor such that when one of said one or more portable data storage cartridges is releaseably attached to said gripper mechanism said memory reading device is disposed adjacent said memory device disposed on said one of said one or more portable data storage cartridges;

wherein said accessor control card communicates with said library controller by wireless communication.

2. A data storage and retrieval system, comprising:

a portable data storage cartridge comprising a housing, a data storage media disposed within said housing, a memory device disposed within said housing, and data position information stored in said memory device;

an accessor for retrieving and transporting said data storage cartridge, wherein said accessor comprises a gripper mechanism, a memory reading device, an accessor control card, and a wireless communication device;

a first communication link connecting said memory reading device and said accessor control card;

a library controller;

a data storage drive for receiving said portable data storage cartridge and reading and/or writing data thereon, said data storage drive further comprising a data storage drive controller;

a second communication link connecting said data storage drive controller and said library controller; and

a third communication link connecting said library controller and said accessor control card wherein said third communication link comprises a wireless communication link;

wherein said memory reading device is disposed on said accessor such that when said portable data storage cartridge is releaseably attached to said gripper mechanism said memory reading device is disposed adjacent said memory device.

3. The data storage and retrieval system of claim 2, wherein said memory device comprises non-volatile memory.

4. The data storage and retrieval system of claim 3, wherein said memory device comprises a semiconductor memory device.

5. The data storage and retrieval system of claim 2, wherein said data storage media comprises a magnetic tape.

6. The data storage and retrieval system of claim 5, further comprising:

a host computer; and

a fourth communication link connecting said host computer and said library controller.

7. A method to expedite data retrieval from a portable data storage cartridge, comprising the steps of:

providing a portable data storage cartridge comprising a housing, a data storage medium disposed within said housing, a memory device disposed within and extending through said housing, and first data position information stored in said memory device;

providing an accessor for retrieving and transporting said data storage cartridge,

wherein said accessor comprises a gripper mechanism, a memory reading device, an accessor control card, and a wireless communication device;

a first communication link connecting said memory reading device and said accessor control card;

providing a data storage drive comprising a read/write head and a data storage drive controller;

a second communication link connecting said data storage drive controller and said library controller; and

a third communication link connecting said library controller and said accessor control card, wherein said third communication link comprises a wireless communication link;

transporting said portable data storage cartridge to said data storage drive; and

communicating to said data storage drive said first data position information before delivering said portable data storage cartridge to said data storage drive.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said memory device comprises non-volatile memory.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said memory device comprises a semiconductor memory device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said data storage medium comprises a magnetic tape.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

dispatching said one or more accessor to retrieve said portable data storage cartridge;

releaseably attaching said portable data storage cartridge to said gripper mechanism such that said memory device is disposed adjacent said memory reading device disposed on said one of said one or more accessor;

reading said first data position information using said memory reading device; and

adjusting the position of said data storage medium with respect to a read/write head based upon said first data position information.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of reading data from said data storage medium.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of writing data to said data storage medium.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

generating second data position information; and

storing said second data position information in said memory device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said storing step further comprises the step of overwriting said first data position information with said second data position information.

16. An automated data storage and retrieval system comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein to expedite data retrieval from a portable data storage cartridge disposed within an automated data storage and retrieval system, wherein said automated data storage and retrieval system comprises:

a portable data storage cartridge comprising a housing, a data storage medium disposed within said housing, a memory device disposed within said housing, and first data position information stored in said memory device;

a data storage drive comprising a read/write head and a data storage drive controller;

an accessor for retrieving and transporting said data storage cartridge, wherein said accessor comprises a gripper mechanism, a memory reading device, an accessor control card, and a wireless communication device;

a first communication link connecting said memory reading device and said accessor control card;

a second communication link connecting said data storage drive controller and said library controller; and

a third communication link connecting said library controller and said accessor control card, wherein said third communication link comprises a wireless communication link;

said computer readable program code comprising a series of computer readable program steps to effect;

transporting said portable data storage cartridge to said data storage drive; and

communicating to said data storage drive said first data position information before delivering said portable data storage cartridge to said data storage drive.

17. The automated data storage and retrieval system of claim 16, wherein said memory device comprises non-volatile memory.

18. The automated data storage and retrieval system of claim 16, wherein said memory device comprises a semiconductor memory device.

19. The automated data storage and retrieval system of claim 16, wherein said data storage medium comprises a magnetic tape.

20. The automated data storage and retrieval system of claim 16, said computer readable program code further comprising a series of computer readable program steps to effect;

dispatching accessor to retrieve said portable data storage cartridge;

releaseably attaching said portable data storage cartridge to said gripper mechanism such that said memory device is disposed adjacent said memory reading device disposed on said accessor;

reading said first data position information using said memory reading device; and

adjusting the position of said data storage medium with respect to a read/write head based upon said first data position information.

21. The automated data storage and retrieval system of claim 20, wherein said computer readable program code further comprises a series of computer readable program steps to effect reading data from said data storage medium.

22. The automated data storage and retrieval system of claim 20, wherein said computer readable program code further comprises a series of computer readable program steps to effect writing data to said data storage medium.

23. The automated data storage and retrieval system of claim 22, wherein said computer readable program code further comprises a series of computer readable program steps to effect:

generating second data position information; and

storing said second data position information in said memory device.

24. The automated data storage and retrieval system of claim 23, wherein said computer readable program code further comprises a series of computer readable program steps to effect overwriting said first data position information with said second data position information.