Storage Technology Corporation

Jon H Benson

Daniel James Plutt

Timothy Craig Ostwald

Joseph Paul Manes

James Lee Ries

Methods and systems for upgrading a storage library of a product line having a hardware component such as a storage array operable to run at low and high operating levels in which the hardware component is set to operate at the low operating level includes associating a software key with the storage library. The software key has permission instructions for the hardware component to operate at the high operating level. The hardware component is enabled to operate at the high operating level in response to the software key being associated with the storage library in order to upgrade the storage library.

Method and system for providing field scalability across a storage product family

The capacity of a rack-mounted storage library having a media element handling assembly is expanded by mounting a panel segment to a rack side such that the panel segment faces the rack interior. At least one of media element housing cells and a media player are supported on the panel segment such that the cells and the player face the rack interior. The library capacity is increased by mounting another panel segment having cells or a player to another rack side. The panel segments are mounted to the rack sides independent of one another or are connected together prior to being mounted to the rack sides. The handling assembly moves through the rack interior to load media elements held by cells into a player. The panel segments may be mounted to the rack sides at the same or different rack length positions.

Rack-mounted storage library having segmented panel assemblies

A storage library includes cells supported within a frame for holding media elements. A robot assembly is operable for moving toward the cells and manipulating media elements held by the cells. The robot is containable within a module which is removably mountable to the frame to provide modular replacement and removal of the robot from the frame. The robot is contained within the module as the module is mounted to the frame and moves out from the module to move toward the cells and manipulate media elements held by the cells while the module is mounted to the frame. The module is removably dismounted out of the frame while the robot is contained within the module to provide the modular removal of the robot. The module is removably mounted into the frame while a new robot is contained within the module to provide the modular replacement of the robot.

Self-contained robotics module for storage library

A storage library which enables capacity expansion without additional robotics hardware includes a frame, first and second modules having respective cells, and a robot. The frame supports the first module at a first frame length position such that the first cells are positioned at the first frame length position and along the periphery of a channel extending within the frame interior through the frame length. The frame supports the second module when the second module is mounted to the frame such that the second cells are positioned at the second frame length position and along the channel periphery. The robot has a support connected to the frame and a picker movably connected to the support. The picker moves through the channel to manipulate media elements held by the first cells, and to manipulate media elements held by the second cells when the second module is mounted to the frame.

Storage library having free-hanging robot assembly

A method and system for upgrading a storage library of a product line having a hardware component such as a storage array operable to run at low and high operating levels in which the hardware component is set to operate at the low operating level includes associating an upgrade module with the storage library. The upgrade module is an EEPROM module having permission instructions for the hardware component to operate at the high operating level. The hardware component is then enabled to operate at the high operating level in response to the upgrade module being associated with the storage library in order to upgrade the storage library.

A mail slot mechanism, a small automated storage library incorporating the mail slot mechanism, and method of operating the mail slot mechanism to insert and remove storage media cartridges from a small automated storage library are disclosed. The storage library includes an array of cartridge slots. Each cartridge slot is adapted to hold one storage media cartridge. One or more of these cartridge slots may function as the mail slot. Each mail slot has a top opening and a side opening through which one storage media cartridge can pass. The mail slot is disposed adjacent an opening in the storage library's housing and is pivotable between a user access position and a robot access position. A resilient member biases the mail slot toward the robot access position. A storage media cartridge may be manually inserted and removed through the top opening in the mail slot while the mail slot is at the user access position. The storage library's robotic mechanism may insert and remove one storage media cartridge at a time through the side opening in the mail slot while the mail slot is at the robot access position.

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Superior, CO, United States of America

Jon H Benson