Method and system for updating status of data storage subsystem components

• US 20060181400A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Elliott, John Charles, Lucas, Gregg Steven, Kisley, Richard Victor, Cox, Aaron Roger
• Granted Patent: US 7,486,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/505
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Components in a data storage subsystem are tracked, and their status monitored, with the use of memory devices such as RFID tags. In the practice of the invention, a component of a data storage subsystem, such as a data recording device, is associated with a memory device, such as but not limited to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, that is capable of storing information regarding a status of the data storage component. A storage controller controls the data storage component. A reader/writer operably integrated into the storage controller, wherein the reader/writer is operable to be controlled by the storage controller to communicate in a wireless manner an update of the information within said memory device regarding the status said data storage component.

Claims

1. A data storage subsystem, comprising:

a data storage component;

a memory device associated with said data storage component, said memory device capable of storing information regarding a status of said data storage component;

a storage controller operable to control the data storage component; and

a reader/writer operably integrated into the storage controller, wherein the reader/writer is operable to be controlled by the storage controller to communicate in a wireless manner an update of the information within said memory device regarding the status said data storage component.

2. The data storage subsystem of claim 1,

wherein said memory device includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag;

and

wherein said reader/writer is an RFID reader/writer.

3. The data storage subsystem of claim 1,

wherein said data storage subsystem is contained inside an enclosure;

and

wherein said memory device and said reader/writer are positioned relative to the enclosure in a manner that facilitates a wireless communication between the memory device and the reader/writer.

4. The data storage subsystem of claim 1, wherein said data storage component includes a data storage device.

5. The data storage subsystem of claim 4, wherein said data storage device is selected from a group consisting of a hard disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, and an optical disk drive.

6. The data storage subsystem of claim 1, wherein said memory device is affixed to said data storage component.

7. The data storage subsystem of claim 2, wherein said RFID tag is an active tag.

8. The data storage subsystem of claim 2, wherein said RFID tag is a passive tag.

9. The data storage subsystem of claim 1, wherein said information includes data regarding said data storage component and wherein said information includes at least one of the following as such pertains to said data storage component:

Serial number data;

Model number data;

Manufacturer information;

Information regarding most recent service and maintenance regarding said data storage device; and

Date of manufacture data.

10. The data storage subsystem of claim 1, further comprising a reader capable of interrogating said memory device to obtain the information within said memory device regarding the status of said data storage component.

11. The data storage subsystem of claim 1, further comprising an indicator coupled to said memory device to selectively indicate said information.

12. A method for enabling the tracking and displaying of information regarding components of a data storage subsystem, said data storage subsystem comprising a plurality of data storage components, said method comprising:

providing a memory device, said memory device capable of storing information regarding a status of a data storage component;

affixing said memory device to at least one data storage component;

providing a storage controller to control the data storage component;

integrating a reader/writer into the storage controller, wherein the reader/writer is operable to be controlled by the storage controller to communicate in a wireless manner an update of the information within said memory device regarding the status said data storage component.

13. The method of claim 12,

wherein said memory device includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag;

and

wherein said reader/writer is an RFID reader/writer.

14. The method of claim 12,

wherein said data storage subsystem is contained inside an enclosure;

and

wherein said memory device and said reader/writer are positioned relative to the enclosure in a manner that facilitates a wireless communication between the memory device and the reader/writer.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said data storage component includes a data storage device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said data storage device is selected from a group consisting of a hard disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, and an optical disk drive.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said RFID tag is an active tag.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein said RFID tag is a passive tag.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein said information includes data regarding said data storage component and wherein said information includes at least one of the following as such pertains to said data storage component:

Serial number data;

Model number data;

Manufacturer information;

Information regarding most recent service and maintenance regarding said data storage device; and

Date of manufacture data.

20. A data storage subsystem, comprising:

a data storage component;

a memory device associated with said data storage component, said memory device capable of storing information regarding a status of said data storage component; and

a storage controller operable to control the data storage component, wherein the storage controller includes means for controlling a radio frequency communication of an update of the information within said memory device regarding the status said data storage component.