Storage Technology Corporation

Oracle America, Inc.

Robert L Billington

James Lee Ries

Robert Creager

John R Kostraba, Jr

A system and method for managing data contained by a storage library includes at least one storage library and a library controller configured to generate signals that control operations of the storage library. The system further includes at least one client interface operable with the library controller and being adapted to receive requests from multiple client types and communicate those requests to the library controller. Additionally, the library controller generates signals for the storage library and the storage library performs operations that correspond to the requests from the multiple client types.

Storage library client interface system and method

A system and method for determining relative positions of robots constrained to move along a common axis of motion, where a controller of the system has no prior knowledge of the relative positions. The robots are ordered to move in defined directions and distances and report their ability to move in the desired directions. From this information, a controller of the system can determine their relative positions.

Position determination of multiple mechanisms sharing a common axis of motion in a robotic tape library

A robotic library system having a self-discoverable inter-library connectivity capability, and methods of operating the robotic library system are provided. Each library of the multi-library system has a unique identifier with which it is associated. The identifiers are adapted to be readable by identifier readers in adjoining libraries connected by pass through ports. In operation, knowledge of the library identity on each side of the pass through ports can be used to control transfers of the data cartridges among the libraries. Data cartridge transfers between connected libraries may be initiated when just the source library and pass through port are ready, then completed when the destination library becomes ready. Transfer paths spanning several libraries may be discovered by querying adjoining libraries for their identity until all possible paths are discovered. In an alternative method, the data cartridge and the identity of the destination library may be transferred from library to library in a random or predetermined order until the data cartridge reaches the destination library.

Automatic configuration options for multi-element robotic library configurations

The media labeling system makes use of human-readable and machine-readable label indicia to automatically identify of the media type contained within each of a plurality of data storage elements that have a substantially uniform external form factor. The machine-readable indicia includes a standard 3-of-9 bar code in addition to a unique bar and space code to provide error detection for damaged or partially obliterated labels, and to help low resolution bar code interpreters to distinguish the media type label from other label indicia present on the data storage element.

Media labeling system for data storage elements having a common form

An improved magnetoresistive transducer for sensing the magnetic fields recorded on a magnetic medium and suitable for fabrication using photolithographic techniques. The transducer has two separate metallization layers so that the bias conductor may be deposited opposite the magnetoresistive sense element without any electrical connection between the two, thereby allowing the sense currents and bias currents to each be independently optimized and allowing the same bias current to be used to bias each magnetoresistive transducer element in an array. The bias conductor is set back from the edge of the magnetoresistive transducer element which is closest to the magnetic medium, providing a number of advantages related to wear, to decreasing the possibility of a short circuit between the bias conductor and the transducer element, and to reducing the exposure of the bias conductor to environmental hazards.

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Lyons, CO, United States of America

Robert L Billington