International Business Machines Corporation

William T Burke

Jonathan Wayne Peake

Larry Wayne Loen

Randy Keith Rolfe

Timothy Alan Griffin

A system and method for processing data storage mediums (DSMs) that are not stored in an automated data storage library on medium drive devices that are part of the library. An input station used to add DSMs is enabled to serve as an input and output window for transient data storage mediums (TDSMs) so that DSMs are not dislodged from the storage bins. An operator may automatically place the library's robotic picker in a 'TDSM mount mode' when an attached host processor requests one or more data volumes stored on one or more TDSMs. A library-manager controller can be automatically configured to interact with the library's robotic pickers to transfer a TDSM from the input/output station to a device, such as a tape drive within the library. The library manager controller is automatically configured to ignore the machine readable external label of a TDSM so that it is not necessary to place such a label on a TDSM. The controller can notify the operator when processing of the data volume is complete and return the TDSM to the input/output station for ejection from the library. By employing this system and method existing hardware of an automated library system is employed to achieve processing of TDSMs without the need for a drive device outside of the library to process the TDSM data volumes.

System and method for management of transient data storage mediums in an

A removable optical disk of the write once type is managed to minimize size of the control area for user data recorded on the disk. Instead of recording each recorded file indicating token (serial number) as each file is recorded, a maximum value file token having a numerical value greater than a previous maximum value token is recorded in the control area such that any optical recorder receiving the disk may start recording data using such maximum value token. If the file indicating token values reach the maximum value token, then a new maximum value token is created. A pseudo end of volume (EOV) value is maintained which points to a one of the addressable data storing ares of the disk which is allocated and not recorded as EOV. All allocated data storing areas with addresses greater than EOV are recorded in contiguously addressed data storing areas. When any data storing area having an address higher than EOV is left unrecorded, then EOV is updated to point to that unrecorded allocated data storing area. When either the maximum value token or EOV are changed or updated, both the EOV and maximum value token are recorded in the control area. Operations in a closed environment, super or umbrella allocation sizes and reduced EOV values are also disclosed.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

William T Burke