International Business Machines Corporation

Tim Oswald

Frank Krick

Bernd Freitag

Marcus Breuer

Harald Seipp

Juergen Beck

Brian Gerald Goodman

A method for verification of content of tape cartridges in a tape library system using tape drives of the tape library, is provided. The method includes instructing the tape drive to perform tape cartridge verification on the tape cartridge. The method further includes after completion of the tape cartridge verification, unloading the tape cartridge to its original storage position. The method further includes transmitting verification data of the tape cartridge verification to a database of the tape library system for analysis.

Tape library initiated media verification

A method, computer system, and computer program product for determining head wear of magnetic tape head elements of tape drives during operation. The method may include receiving a first calibration parameter for a first tape head element at a first time. Calibration parameter for the first tape head element may be compared with a reference parameter. Determination may be made whether to remove the first tape head element from service or generate a warning, based on a result of the comparison. Method may include generating the first calibration parameter by calculating midpoint bias voltage for the first tape head element as a function of bias current and head resistance. The first calibration parameter for the first tape head element may be bias current parameter or bias resistance parameter. The first calibration parameter for the first tape head element may be less than, equal to, or greater than the reference parameter.

Predicting failure of a magnetic tape head element

An access operation performed by a tape drive is detected. The access operation is performed on a tape medium. The access operation has one or more performance characteristics. The performance characteristics of the detected access operation are compared with one or more predefined performance thresholds. The comparison is in response to detecting the access operation. An operation performance of the tape medium is determined. The determination is based on comparing the performance characteristics with the predefined performance thresholds. A table associated with the tape medium is updated based on the operational performance of the tape medium. The table is stored in a non-volatile storage.

Variable operation tape performance

A media device may comprise a controller, a tape head, a tape comprising tape-position indicia, an indicia detection device, and an adjusting device. The indicia detection device may be configured to detect the tape-position indicia and provide an output corresponding to a tape position. The controller may be configured to send an adjustment command based on the output. The adjusting device may be configured to adjust the media device between a first configuration and a second configuration, based on the adjustment command. The tape may physically contact the tape head in the first configuration and not physically contact the tape head in the second configuration.

Adjustable magnetic tape drive

Some embodiments are directed to computer program products for use with tape drives that oscillate the relative transverse position of a tape and magnetic head during seek operations (for example, by moving the magnetic head in the transverse direction). Some embodiments are directed to methods and computer program products for use with tape drives that select relative transverse position of the tape and magnetic head to counter uneven wear (for example, observed uneven wear, uneven wear predicted based on historical tape and drive usage data).

Distributing tape drive abrasion

A storage element for a warehouse rack may be provided. The storage element is adapted for housing goods and can be positioned compact in at least two dimensions. The storage element comprises a computing device comprising a memory storing at least a unique identifier and data about the goods housed by the storage element, a plurality of antennas external to the computing device mounted at outer sides of the storage element. The antennas are adapted for a communication to antennas of neighboring storage elements. The antennas are electrically connectable to the computing device. The storage element also comprises a switch controller adapted for switchable connecting one of the plurality of antennas to the computing device at a time.

Storage elements with label identification for a warehouse

Transferring data from a first data storage drive of a first data storage library to a first computer system that is connected to a second data storage drive of a second data storage library. A data transfer request for transferring data accessible by the first data storage drive to the first computer system is received. A network connection is initiated between the first and the second data storage drive. An access to the requested data is initiated by the first data storage drive. A transfer of the requested data from the first to the second data storage drive via the network connection is initiated. A transfer of the requested data from the second data storage drive to the first computer system is initiated.

Data transfer via a data storage drive

Some embodiments are directed to tape drive systems that oscillate the relative transverse position of the tape and magnetic head during seek operations (for example, by moving the head in the transverse direction). Some embodiments are directed to tape drive systems that select relative transverse position of the tape and magnetic head to counter uneven wear (for example, observed uneven wear, uneven wear predicted based on historical tape and drive usage data).

A tape drive system with a transducer (for example, a magnetic head arrays/separation shield) located in a recess of a transducer housing (for example, supporting rails, a U-shaped carbon tape guide). During seek operations and/or data access operations (that is, read/write operations), the transducer and the transducer housing are moved, in the transverse direction relative to the direction of elongation of the tape, independently of each other. The motion of the transducer housing (for example, back and forth oscillatory movement in the transverse direction) is controlled to even out wear across the tape-facing surface of the transducer housing. Some embodiments accomplish this by using separate motors to transversely move the transducer and the transducer housing.

Tape drive with independent transverse motion of transducer and transducer housing

An apparatus includes a tape cartridge housing, an RFID chip attached to the tape cartridge housing. The RFID chip includes a tape cartridge ID and tape cartridge information, a time relay operably connected to the RFID chip, and external contact points configured to contact another RFID chip of another tape cartridge within the same tier. A method includes receiving a tape cartridge label read request including a position indicator corresponding to a location of a tape cartridge of interest, moving a tape cartridge gripper to the location indicated by the position indicator, activating a field coil on the tape cartridge gripper to provide power to an RFID chip on a selected tape cartridge, detecting information transmitted by the RFID chip on the selected tape cartridge, determining if the selected tape cartridge is the tape cartridge of interest, and activating a next RFID chip on an adjacent tape cartridge.

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Gimbsheim, Germany

Tim Oswald