International Business Machines Corporation

Quantum Corporation

Advanced Digital Information Corporation

Imation Corporation

Scott M Rockwell

Bruno H Hald

Hartmut Ernst Hausler

Turguy Goker

Frank David Gallo

Carsten H Prigge

Robert Yang

Robert Munio

Gregory Tad Kishi

Martin Jay Marotti

Michael Philip McIntosh

Roland N Zapfe

Craig T Danielson

David Tindall, Iii

Hector E Mery

Chester David Holden

Joerg Stohrer

Terry R Roscoe

Ryan Duffy

Randall Elmer

Armando Jesus Argumedo

Paul Y Hu

Leif O Erickson

Clark M Janssen

Steven L Felde

James P Peng

Joe Kent Jurneke

Daniel Charles Egan

Hoa Le

Lawrence G Neumann

Christian Allen Todd

Kenneth R Shelley

Gary F Gooding

John V Acciaioli

Kevin Keith Kartchner

Randy S Bay

James J Evanoff

Daniel J Byers

John F Ellis

Jesse Baker

William A Yearsley

James C Simkins

Steve Cooper

William A Rutherford, Iii

Andrew L Gross

Stephen J Roffinoli

John V Acciaoli

Mathew Aschenberg

Tj Quirk

The technology disclosed herein enables automatic implementation of a physical barrier to protect access to data on removable storage media. In a particular embodiment, a method provides determining that the item moved into a storage position using an automatic transfer mechanism and determining that a condition for protecting the item is satisfied. Upon determining that the condition is satisfied, the method provides implementing a physical barrier that prevents the automatic transfer mechanism from removing the item from the storage position.

Automatic implementation of a physical barrier to protect removable storage media access

A media library includes a library housing, a heat-producing device, one or more storage media and an air mover assembly. The library housing can include a library interior where the library interior can include a first wall and a second wall positioned opposite the first wall. The heat-producing device can be positioned near the first wall of the library interior. The one or more storage media can be positioned in the library interior between the heat-producing device and the second wall. The air mover assembly can be is configured to move air into the library interior through the first wall and out of the library interior through the second wall. The heat-producing device can include one or more of a media drive, a power supply and a controller. The air mover assembly can move air through the heat-producing device before the air moves through the one or more storage media.

System and method for controlling internal temperature of media library

A tape library having a robot zone and a robot on the robot zone, movable in the robot zone of the tape rack in at least a first direction and a second direction. A tape drive, which has an opening to receive cartridges, is positioned so that the robot nears the tape drive when the robot moves in a second direction. A width of the tape drive is wider than a width of the robot zone. This tape drive design is called the 'Sideways Format Path for 19&#x2033; Rack Libraries.' It is achieved by using unique dimensions for a new tape drive that uses blind spaces existing in tape libraries unreachable by the robot to provide a bigger space to design longer tape paths, resulting in higher cartridge density with longer tape path without requiring bigger overall library dimensions for a library of tape cartridges.

Large form factor extended tape path magnetic tape storage device

An automated tape library () includes a library housing () that is substantially rectangular box-shaped, including a first housing side (A), a second housing side (B), a housing rear (C), a housing top (D), a housing bottom (E), and a housing front (F). The library housing () defines a library width (W) that is less than or equal to approximately 550 millimeters and a library depth (D) that is at least approximately 1000 millimeters. The automated tape library () can further include a front door () that is movably coupled to the housing front (F) to move between a closed configuration (A) and an open configuration (B); wherein the library housing () defines a library interior (); and wherein full access to the library interior () is only provided through the front door () when the front door () has been moved to the open configuration (B). The automated tape library () can also include at least one tape drive () that is coupled to the front door ().

Reduced form factor, high-density, front-access only automated tape library

A tape cartridge for use in one or more tape drives of a tape library includes a cartridge housing and a magnetic tape. The magnetic tape is retained within the cartridge housing. The magnetic tape includes a first tape section that is pre-recorded with calibrated data for evaluating data durability on the magnetic tape. The magnetic tape is usable within the tape library to measure a health of the one or more tape drives and/or confirm a suitability of an operating environment within the tape library in terms of at least one of temperature and humidity. The calibrated data in the first tape section can be further configured for evaluating total transverse dimensional stability on the magnetic tape. The first tape section can include predetermined error patterns to assist in evaluating the data durability on the magnetic tape and/or periodic tape scrubbing operations to enhance data durability on the magnetic tape.

Tape library system with integrated, feedback-based environmental and data durability control

Electrical connector

An interconnect apparatus is provided for connecting at least one peripheral device to a multi-channel interface. The apparatus includes an incoming connector having a first incoming channel connector and at least one second incoming channel connector, wherein the incoming connector is operable to detachably connect to an interface cable, a first outgoing connector having a first outgoing channel connector, at least one second outgoing connector having at least one second outgoing channel connector, and routing logic operable to propagate a first signal between the first incoming channel connector and the first outgoing channel connector, and to propagate at least one second signal between the at least one second incoming channel connector and the at least one second outgoing channel connector; wherein a position of the first outgoing channel connector in the first outgoing connector corresponds to a position of the at least one second outgoing channel connector in the at least one second outgoing connector.

Connecting multiple peripheral interfaces into one attachment point

A method of generating command instructions for a distributed mass data storage library comprises the steps of receiving an operator request from an operator, determining at least one command for at least one intelligent library component in response to the operator request, forming at least one command message containing the at least one command, and sending the at least one command message to the at least one intelligent library component for carrying out actions requested by the operator.

Method of generating control commands in a distributed mass data storage library network

A system and method for loading and unloading a data cartridge includes a data cartridge processor having a loader tray for loading and unloading a data cartridge into and from the data cartridge processor. The data cartridge processor records data to or receives data from the data cartridge. A cartridge loader is provided for actuating the loader tray to lower the data cartridge or raise the loader tray to unload the data cartridge into and from the data cartridge processor. An accessor is provided for activating the cartridge loader driven by an actuator for effecting movement of the accessor.

Data cartridge loading and unloading apparatus and method of use

A media handling system includes a data cartridge processor having an opening to receive a data cartridge. The data cartridge processor functions to read data from or record data to the data cartridge. The system also includes a gripper for inserting the data cartridge into the opening of the data cartridge processor and an actuator to effect movement of the gripper. A code symbol is affixed to the data cartridge processor and a code reader is associated with the gripper to read the code symbol for locating the opening of the data cartridge processor. The system optionally includes an alignment bracket affixed to the data cartridge processor. The alignment bracket includes a guide having a tapered surface extending outwardly from the opening in the data cartridge processor for further aligning of the data cartridge with the opening of the data cartridge processor.

Media handling system and method

The present invention provides an Input/Output station of an automated storage and retrieval system, or library, which uses an elevator mechanism to vertically translate a cartridge or a magazine containing a plurality of cartridges from a maximum vertical position above the top surface of the library to a minimum vertical position beneath the top surface and internal to the library. The Input/Output station is aligned with the other components of the library such that the vertical path of the elevator mechanism does not interfere with the path of the accessor. The operation of the Input/Output station does not pause the accessor and thus, does not interfere with the operation of the other automated processes within the library. Cartridges can be added to or removed from the library using the Input/Output station while the accessor is moving a different cartridge from a storage cell in the storage array to a drive.

Automated library system with vertically translating input/output station

Vertically translating input/output station

Housing for a dual reel tape cartridge

An interlock system is provided for removable-media drive unit to prevent the drive loader from attempting to pull in and mount a data cartridge before it is released by a mechanical gripper or human hand. The interlock system includes a light source and a photodetector positioned in front of the drive on opposite sides of the path cartridge takes when it is being inserted or removed from the drive loader. The presence of the cartridge, gripper or other object in the path interrupts a light beam from the light source thereby signalling the drive controller to disable the drive loader. When the gripper has released the cartridge and withdrawn, or when the path is otherwise clear, the photodetector again detects the light beam and signals the drive controller that the loader can be safely enabled. In one embodiment, the light source and photodetector are mounted on a card which plugs into the face of the drive. The presence of the card indicates to the drive controller that the drive is installed in a library environment and causes the drive controller to execute appropriate program code to interpret signals from the photodetector and enables and disables the drive loader in response.

Removeable media drive unit with loader interlock to indicate presence

Growing community of inventors

Aurora, CO, United States of America

Scott M Rockwell