International Business Machines Corporation

Shawn Michael Nave

Michael Philip McIntosh

Leonard George Jesionowski

Raymond Yardy

Lee Curtis Randall

Andrew Stuart Green

Icko E T Iben

Ernest Stewart Gale

James Mitchell Karp

Brian Gerald Goodman

Kenny Nian Gan Qiu

Frank Krick

George G Zamora

Dylan J Boday

Luis Roberto Macias

Aaron Lyle Herring

Anh Tuan Nguyen

Tom Haberman

Jose G Miranda Gavillan

Jeffrey Lawrence Thorn

German Alberto Chamorro

Nicholas A Hartl

Mark Delorman Schultz

Khanh V Ngo

Vernon Walter Miller

Melanie Dauber

Benjamin K Rawlins

Jonathan Edward Bosley

Timothy Keith Pierce

Illarion Borisevich

Lee Jesionowski

Michael J Talty

Harley C Witt

Steven Martin Flaherty

Stefan Lehmann

Ronald Faye Hill, Jr

Daniel J Moore

Justin Melby

Daniel Scott Moore

A computer program product, device, system, and method are provided for decommissioning a tape cartridge internally within a tape library. In one embodiment, a decommission canister is configured to be accepted within a tape library canister bay. The decommission canister has a fusing element configured to fuse together at least a portion of layers of magnetic tape of a tape cartridge within the tape library, to decommission the tape cartridge within the tape library. In one embodiment, the fusing element is a heating element adapted to emit heat directed at layers of magnetic tape of a tape cartridge to melt together at least a portion of layers of magnetic tape of a tape cartridge within the tape library. As a result, unwinding and reading of the magnetic tape is inhibited.

Magnetic media decommission management in a computer system

A computer program product, device, system, and method are provided for decommissioning a tape cartridge internally within a tape library. In one embodiment automated tape cartridge decommissioning operations internal within a tape library, include receiving selection of a tape cartridge for decommissioning in a tape library and, using a tape library robotic accessor, moving a selected tape cartridge to a decommission workstation within the tape library. The selected tape cartridge is mounted to the decommission workstation and a fusing element of the decommission workstation is activated to fuse together layers of magnetic tape of the selected tape cartridge mounted to the decommission workstation, so that the selected tape cartridge is decommissioned within the tape library to have a decommissioned status.

A deep slot cell configured to house a plurality of tape cartridges. The deep slot cell includes a front side of the deep slot cell configured to allow insertion and removal of a locking tape cartridge of the plurality of tape cartridges by a robotic mechanism. The deep slot cell includes a depth side of the deep slot cell configured with an opening to engage a locking mechanism that prevents a biasing spring mechanism of the deep slot cell from advancing a rearmost tape cartridge of the plurality of tape cartridges forward toward the front side of the deep slot cell. The deep slot cell includes a front air gap at the front side of the deep slot cell that prevents the robotic mechanism from reaching a front-most tape cartridge of the plurality of tape cartridges after the robotic mechanism removes the locking tape cartridge from the deep slot cell.

Lockable air gap deep cells in a tape library

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

One or more tape cartridge restraint brackets may be generated. At least one tape cartridge restraint bracket may be positioned in one or more deep slots in a rear portion of a tape library.

Automated tape library deep slot protection

A method includes receiving a humidity level in a tape library and determining whether the humidity level is in a predefined range indicative of safe operation. In response to determining that the humidity level is in the predefined range, the method includes allowing performance of operations on magnetic recording tapes. In response to determining that the humidity level is not in the predefined range, the method includes preventing performance of the operations on magnetic recording tapes. A drive-implemented method includes detecting a humidity level within a housing of a tape drive and determining whether the humidity level is in a predefined range indicative of safe operation.

Adaptive tape library and humidity-based drive operations

A deep slot cell for providing data storage protection. The deep slot cell includes a front side of the deep slot cell to allow insertion and removal of the plurality of tape cartridges by a robotic mechanism. The data slot cell includes a front air gap at the front side of the deep slot cell that prevents the robotic mechanism from reaching a front-most tape cartridge of the plurality of tape cartridges without manual interaction. The deep slot cell includes a depth side of the deep slot cell with an opening at the depth side of the deep slot cell to accept a pushing tool for manually advancing the rear-most tape cartridge of the plurality of tape cartridges forward toward the front side of the deep slot cell to enable the robotic mechanism to remove the front-most tape cartridge of the plurality of tape cartridges from the deep slot cell.

Extended air gap deep cells in a tape library

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

A computer-implemented method includes identifying a lower calibration target of a column of an automated tape library and identifying an upper calibration target of the column. The method includes calculating at least one slot position between the upper calibration target and the lower calibration target. For at least some of the calculated slot positions, the method includes performing a check including identifying an actual slot position corresponding to the calculated slot position. The actual slot position is located by a robotic accessor. The method includes comparing the calculated slot position to the corresponding identified actual slot position and determining whether the calculated slot position is within a predefined range of the corresponding identified actual slot position. The method includes outputting a result of the determination.

Robotic confirmation of column straightness

Embodiments for predetermining optimal demount position for demounting data storage cartridges in an automated data storage library by a processor. A selected demount position may be predetermined, while performing one of a plurality of robotic movements by an accessor, for each mounted data storage cartridge for demounting data storage cartridges in the automated data storage library. The selected demount position is recalculated for each mounted data storage cartridge for demounting the data storage cartridges while performing a subsequent demount operation, where the selected demount position is determined according to the recalculation prior to a demount command being issued. Accordingly, the idle time of the accessor during a demount operation may be reduced.

Predetermined placement for tape cartridges in an automated data storage library

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.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Shawn Michael Nave