Exabyte Corporation

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc.

Avago Technologies International Sales Pte. Limited

Bruce L Younglove

Joseph I Chamdani

Gurumurthy D Ramkumar

Corey R Hill

Daniel J Woodruff

Thomas J Studebaker

Daniel W Hoekstra

Thomas W Volckhausen

Christopher L Scott

John F Ellis

Steve W Small

Christopher J Clos

Curt Goodknight

Constance Kephart

Intelligent services are provided in a storage network using intelligent service modules that can be cabled to a switch external to the switch chassis and yet be managed as part of the switch's logical domain. Data and management communications between the intelligent service module and the core switch are provided through a 'soft-backplane' implemented using in-band communications through cabling attached between the switch and the intelligent service module rather than through a hardwired backplane within the chassis. Management communications from management software is directed to the switch, which handles the management functions relating to the intelligent service module or forwards the management requests to the intelligent service module for processing.

Federated management of intelligent service modules

Intelligent services are provided in a storage network using intelligent service modules that can be cabled to a switch external to the switch chassis and yet be managed as part of the switch's logical domain. Data and management communications between the intelligent service module and the core switch are provided through a 'soft-backplane' implemented using in-band communications through cabling attached between the switch and the intelligent service module rather than through hardwired backplane within the chassis. Management communications from management software is directed to the switch, which handles the management functions relating to the intelligent service module or forwards the management requests to the intelligent service module for processing.

An automated cartridge library (30) has plural cartridge receiving units which are precisely locatable so that a transport device (300) can accurately move a cartridge (90) between at least two of the cartridge-receiving units. The cartridge-receiving units and/or calibration cartridges inserted therein have an indicia (190) which is of contrasting reflectivity, the indicia having at least two sides (191, 192) which meet at a vertex (193). An illumination source (340) on the cartridge transport device makes two sweeps (Y1, Y2) of an illuminating beam over the indicia. Illumination transitions as detected by a sensor (350) during the two sweeps are used to determine a location of the indicia vertex (193). In the case of a cartridge-receiving unit being a multi-celled cartridge magazine, a rear wall (220) of the magazine has an aperture (222) for each cell. A mounting surface (60) upon which the magazine is mounted has a reflective portion (130) which is exposed through the aperture of the rear wall of the magazine when a cartridge is not in a predetermined cell in the magazine. To detect absence of a cartridge or a magazine, the illumination source directs an illuminating beam toward a predetermined position. A cartridge absence sensor (350) detects illumination reflected from the reflective portion of the mounting surface when the predetermined position is devoid of either a cartridge or a magazine.

Cartridge library and method of operation thereof

An automated library (30) handles a plurality of data storage units (e.g., data cartridges) stored therein. The library comprises an octagonal drum-like member (34) mounted above a library frame (32). The drum (34) has a plurality of faces on an exterior periphery thereof, each for selectively accommodating a cartridge rack (62). Each face of the drum has a rack mount (110) selectively attachable thereto. The library further comprises a rack (38) for accommodating a plurality of modular I/O drive-containing drawers (64). A picker device (80) engages and transports data cartridges between drives (320), an active rack (60), and an entry/exit port transport (500). The entry/exit transport device (500) transports a selected cartridge between a predetermined position in the cabinet and the entry/exit port (100). The entry/exit transport device (500) is both rotatable and extensible. A picker move method and library inventory method are also provided.

Cartridge library and method of operation

An automated library (30) for handling a plurality of data storage units comprises a frame (32), an I/O drive (320); a unit engagement device (80) which transports data storage units between the drive and the storage receptacle. A cabinet substantially encloses the frame and has an entry/exit port (100) formed therein. The library is further provided with an entry/exit transport device (500) which pivots 90 degrees about an axis perpendicular to a unit orientation plane to transport a selected data storage unit between the entry/exit port and a predetermined position in the cabinet. The entry/exit transport device has a cartridge engagement portion with two edges (574, 576), a first of the edges being configured to load/unload the selected data storage unit at the entry/exit port and a second of the edges being configured to load/unload the selected data storage cartridge at the predetermined position. The first and second edges are orthogonal to one another in the entry/exit transport plane.

Entry-exit port for cartridge library

An automated magnetic tape catridge library system houses a plurality of tape drives (56A-56E) and a plurality of racks (70) wherein magnetic tape cartridges are stored. A cartridge transport assembly (100) serves to retrieve a cartridge from a cartridge cell (826) of a rack (70) and to load the cartridge into a target tape drive (56), and vice versa. The cartridge transport assembly (100) includes a pair of engagement fingers (402A, 402B) which engage a selected cartridge upon contact with the cartridge, and a biased plunger (438). The plunger (438) has a bar code reader (446) internally mounted therein for reading bar code indicia on the cartridges and for detecting tracking indicia (868) provided on projections (866) of the cartridge racks (70). A method for library inventory, necessitated by possible manual removal or insertion of cartridges after opening of a library door (26), is also provided. A library map has stored therein cartridge label bar code values and the precise X, Y, and Z coordinates for each cartridge in the library system.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Bruce L Younglove