International Business Machines Corporation

Other

Michael Philip McIntosh

Shawn Michael Nave

Leonard George Jesionowski

Icko E T Iben

Ernest Stewart Gale

James Mitchell Karp

Lee Curtis Randall

Brian Gerald Goodman

Brian Gerard Goodman

Raymond Yardy

Kenny Nian Gan Qiu

George G Zamora

Gregory Tad Kishi

Diana Joyce Hellman

Tom Haberman

Jose G Miranda Gavillan

Craig T Danielson

German Alberto Chamorro

Hector E Mery

Charles Anthony Thompson, Jr

Mark Delorman Schultz

Jason Lee Peipelman

Scott M Rockwell

Ronald Faye Hill, Jr

Robin Daniel Roberts

Daniel J Moore

Fernando Quintana

David John Butka

Douglas Wallace Todd

Harley C Witt

Michael J Talty

Daniel James Winarski

Louie Arthur Dickens

Tara Lynn Astigarraga

Kevin David Howard

Stephen Leonard Schwartz

Frank David Gallo

Aaron Lyle Herring

Lee Jesionowski

Daniel Scott Moore

Perry E Abbott

Chester David Holden

Dennis W Fried

Mark Robert Bolin

Thomas C Logan

Robin G Balmer

Harley Chato Witt

A data storage library system includes a data storage library, at least one environmental conditioning unit, at least one data storage drive retained within the data storage library, and at least one access door for providing access to an interior portion of the data storage library. The system also includes a library controller, wherein the library controller is configured to initiate a service mode prior to and during a service procedure performed within the data storage library, and further wherein at least one operational state within the at least one data storage drive is changed during the service mode. The change in the at least one operational state may be, for example, an increase in temperature within the at least one data storage drive, or the insertion of a data storage cartridge into the at least one data storage drive during the service mode.

Data storage library with service mode for protecting data storage drives

An enclosure configured to at least partially surround a data storage library, and a system including a data storage library and enclosure(s). The enclosure includes at least one surface configured to surround the at least one library access opening and form a chamber and to permit movement of the movable panel to permit access to the interior of the data storage library, and at least one enclosure access opening in the at least one of the surface to permit access to the interior of the chamber. The enclosure is configured to resist environmental conditions from intruding into the interior of the enclosure, and is further configured to permit exterior environmental conditions from within the interior of the library to intrude into the chamber of the enclosure.

System for providing an access area for a data storage library

A data storage library system includes a data storage library having at least one library frame, at least one environmental conditioning unit associated with the data storage library and configured to control one or more interior environmental conditions within the at least one library frame, and at least one access door for providing access to an interior portion of the at least one library frame. The system also includes a library controller configured to initiate a service mode prior to and/or during a service procedure performed within the at least one library frame, wherein the service mode comprises configuring the at least one environmental conditioning unit to adjust the one or more environmental conditions within the at least one library frame toward one or more exterior environmental conditions outside of the data storage library. Optionally, a lock and/or indicator (visual and/or audible) may control access to the interior of the library frames. Associated methods of servicing a data storage library are disclosed.

Data storage library with service mode

A data storage system that moves and transfers components (e.g., the data storage cartridges, data storage magazines, etc.) utilizing drone systems is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises at least one data storage library for storing, reading, and writing of data to or on a plurality of data storage cartridges and at least one drone vehicle. The system also includes a processing device and a non-transitory, computer-readable memory containing programming instructions. The programming instructions are configured to cause the processing device to receive a request to transfer a data storage component to a destination location, in response to receiving the request, instruct a drone vehicle to perform at least part of the transfer of the data storage component to the destination location, and by the drone vehicle, perform at least part of the transfer of the data storage component to the destination location. In accordance with another embodiment, a drone vehicle for transferring data storage components is disclosed. According to yet another embodiment, a method of transferring data storage components within a data storage system utilizing drones is disclosed.

Methods and systems for transfer of data storage components in an automated data storage system using unmanned aerial vehicles

A data storage library system includes at least one data storage library, the at least one data storage library comprising at least one library frame, wherein the at least one library frame has at least one environmental conditioning unit configured to control one or more environmental conditions within the at least one library frame. The system also includes at least one access door for providing access to an interior portion of the at least one library frame, a library controller, and at least one louver, where the louver may be selectively moveable to control a communication pathway for external air to enter the at least one library frame. In one embodiment, the at least one louver may be controlled by the library controller to automatically open when it is detected that the one or more access doors are opened, and to close the louver when the one or more access doors are closed.

Data storage library with positive pressure system

An air curtain canister for creating an air curtain includes a housing having a form factor approximating an exterior of a data storage drive. The air curtain canister also includes a fan for creating an airflow in the housing and a nozzle for directing the airflow exiting the housing in a predefined trajectory for creating an air curtain. A data storage library includes an array of drive slots each configured to receive a data storage drive therein. The data storage library also includes a plurality of air curtain canisters positioned laterally in the array of drive slots for creating an air curtain across a front of the remaining drive slots in the array. A method includes selectively instructing air curtain canisters in a data storage library to create an air curtain across a front of an array of drive slots in the data storage library.

Air curtain canister for environmental control in automated data storage libraries

A data storage library includes an array of drive slots each configured to receive a data storage drive therein. The data storage library also includes a nozzle for creating an air curtain across a front of the array of drive slots and a fan for creating an airflow through the nozzle. A method includes selectively instructing a fan to create an airflow through a nozzle for creating an air curtain across a front of an array of drive slots in the data storage library. A computer program product is configured to perform the foregoing method.

Air curtain generation for environmental control in automated data storage libraries

A computer-implemented method includes instructing performance of a data operation on a magnetic recording tape using a primary drive, wherein the primary drive rewinds the magnetic recording tape onto a spool at a first tension. The method also includes instructing transfer of the magnetic recording tape to a rewinder drive after performance of the data operation and instructing the rewinder drive to perform a low-tension rewind operation. The low-tension rewind operation includes unspooling the magnetic recording tape from the spool and rewinding the magnetic recording tape onto the spool at a second tension lower than the first tension.

Rewinder tape drives

A data storage system that moves and transfers components utilizing drones is disclosed. The data storage system comprises a data storage library for reading and writing of data on a plurality of data storage cartridges, at least one drone vehicle, a processing device, and a non-transitory, computer-readable memory containing programming instructions. The programming instructions are configured to cause the processing device to: receive a request to transfer a data storage component to a destination location in the data storage library, in response to receiving the request, instruct a drone vehicle to perform at least part of the transfer of the data storage component to the destination location, and perform at least part of the transfer of the data storage component to the destination location by the drone vehicle.

Automated data storage library drone accessor

A data storage library system includes at least one data storage library comprising at least one library frame and at least one environmental conditioning unit, the at least one environmental conditioning unit configured to control one or more environmental conditions within the at least one library frame. The system further includes at least one access door for providing access to an interior portion of the data storage library, a library controller, and at least one warning indicator associated with the data storage library and in electronic communication with the library controller. The at least one warning indicator is configured to provide an indication to an operator when the conditions within the data storage library are such that the at least one access door may be opened and when the conditions within the data storage library are such that the access door should not be opened.

Data storage library with interior access regulation

A data storage system that moves and transfers components utilizing drone systems is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of data storage libraries comprising a first data storage library for the storage, reading, and writing of data on a plurality of data storage cartridges and a second data storage library for the storage of data on a plurality of data storage cartridges, and at least one drone vehicle. The system also includes a processing device and a non-transitory, computer-readable memory containing programming instructions. The programming instructions are configured to cause the processing device to receive a request to transfer a data storage component to a destination location, in response to receiving the request, instruct a drone vehicle to transfer the data storage component to the destination location, and transfer the data storage component to the destination location by the drone vehicle.

Drone based methods and systems for transfer of data storage cartridges in an automated data storage library system

An automated health product dispensary library, according to one embodiment includes storage slots configured to receive health product cartridges that have health products therein; and an accessor, configured to transport tape cartridges, for transporting the health product cartridges. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Automated health product dispensary library

A method of servicing a data storage library includes providing an enclosure configured to surround at least one library access opening to form a chamber. The at least one enclosure has an access opening of sufficient size to permit an adult human access to the interior chamber, and the enclosure is configured to resist environmental conditions from the exterior of the enclosure from intruding into the chamber and to permit environmental conditions from the interior of the library to intrude into the chamber. The method also includes acclimating the chamber so that at least one desired environmental condition in the chamber is within a desired range of the corresponding environmental condition within the interior of the library. Additionally, the method includes accessing the interior of the library via the at least one library access opening.

Method for providing an access area for a data storage library

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Michael Philip McIntosh