Mass data storage library

• US 5,214,768 A
• Filed: 11/01/1989
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: E-Systems LLC
• Inventors: Martin, Charles W., Pirpich, Eric A., Forbus, Gary L., Adams, Steve M., Reid, Frederick S., Shannon, C. Pat
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Michael R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUN, DEBRA
• Application Number:
  US07/430,134
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 360/72.1, 360/91, 369/30, 369/33, 369/34, 369/36, 369/39, 395/425, 395/275
• US Class Current: 711/114
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/221 Column-oriented storage; Management thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2003/0697 device management, e.g. handlers, drivers, I/O schedulers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0601 Interfaces specially adapted for storage systems
• 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 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• 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 mass data storage unit includes a plurality of first data storage modules that form a mass information storage library, a data directory archive for maintaining a directory of the information contained on each data storage module, and data record/playback modules for receiving any selected data storage module in the mass storage library. A plurality of interface computers are coupled to a plurality of host computers for receiving data and for generating request signals to access information stored in the mass storage library. A file directory is coupled to the interface computers and the data directory archive for receiving the request signals, locating in the data directory archive the address containing the stored information and generating a data address location output signal for the stored information. A control computer is coupled to the file directory and the mass storage library for receiving the data address location output signal from the file directory and in response thereto generating a signal for causing the data storage module containing the requested information to be loaded into a selected data record/playback unit. An input/output data channel couples the interface computer generating the access request signal to the selected data record/playback module for selectively reading the stored information from the writing data to the data storage module.

Claims