The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 06, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 06, 2000
Robert L. Billington, Lyons, CO (US);
Storage Technology Corporation, Louisville, CO (US);
Abstract
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.