Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090109565 | TAPE LIBRARY WITH LOAD COUNT CONFIRMATION - A data storage library is described including a tape cartridge possessing an auxiliary memory device adapted to maintain a load count that is incremented whenever the tape cartridge is loaded in a tape drive. The library also includes, a library tape drive adapted to increment the load count every time the tape cartridge is loaded in the library tape drive, an auxiliary storage device capable of maintaining knowledge of the incremented load count only from when the tape cartridge is loaded with the library tape drive, and an auxiliary memory device reader capable of reading the load count from the auxiliary memory device. The library further includes a processing device adapted to receive and compare the knowledge maintained in the auxiliary storage device with the load count from the auxiliary memory device that is read via the auxiliary memory device reader that if different, the processing device is capable of transmitting a notification to an end user. | 04-30-2009 |
20090323218 | ACCESS RECORDS ON TAPE MEDIUM AUXILIARY MEMORY DEVICE - Described is a tape library which can generally include a tape drive, a tape cartridge that possesses a medium auxiliary memory device, a device for reading information retained on the medium auxiliary memory device and a program that runs on a processor capable of manipulating information received by the reading device. The tape cartridge's medium auxiliary memory device can contain at least one record of a previous access event, such as an approximate point in time when the tape cartridge is loaded in the tape drive. The program may be operable to determine how much time has elapsed from the access event. Knowledge of the elapsed time can, among other things, cause an action to be taken relative to the tape cartridge and/or the data thereon. A method of using the system is also described. | 12-31-2009 |
20100031054 | ENCRYPTION MONIKER IN MEDIUM AUXILIARY MEMORY - A tape cartridge is described including tape storage medium maintaining stored encrypted data that can be unencrypted via an encryption key. The tape cartridge also contains a medium auxiliary memory possessing a moniker wherein the moniker identifies the encryption key. The tape cartridge further includes a threshold parameter stored in the medium auxiliary memory wherein the threshold parameter influences a moniker state control, the moniker state control comprises an on state and an off state wherein the off state disables the moniker from identifying the encryption key. | 02-04-2010 |
20100095112 | DATA ENCRYPTION USING A KEY AND MONIKER FOR MOBILE STORAGE MEDIA ADAPTED FOR LIBRARY STORAGE - Disclosed are a method and apparatus for a data storage library comprising a plurality of drives and a combination bridge controller device adapted to direct and make compatible communication traffic between a client and the plurality of drives. The combination bridge controller device is further adapted to encrypt a first data package received from the client. The combination bridge controller device is further adapted to transmit the encrypted first data package, a first moniker and a first message authentication code to one of the plurality of drives for storage to a cooperating mobile storage medium. The combination bridge controller device is further adapted to decrypt the first data package when used in combination with a first key associated with the first moniker and guarantee the decryption of the first data package was successfully accomplished with authentication of the first message authentication code. | 04-15-2010 |
20100265606 | TAPE DATA RECOVERY - A method for recovering data from a failed tape cartridge is presented. The reliability of a tape cartridge is assessed via the number of read errors encountered. If the number or read errors is excessive, the tape cartridge is deemed unreliable and the tape cartridge is restricted from storing anymore data. A search is performed to look for duplicate data and if found a copy of the duplicate data is stored to a replacement tape cartridge. The replacement tape cartridge assumes all identity of the original failed tape cartridge. | 10-21-2010 |
20100265607 | TAPE CARTRIDGE PAIRED DATA - A method for maintaining paired data between tape cartridges and linking the paired data to through medium auxiliary memory devices is presented. One method includes providing a first tape cartridge possessing a first medium auxiliary memory device and a first tape medium and a second tape cartridge possessing a second medium auxiliary memory device and a second tape medium. Data maintained on the first tape medium can be copied to the second tape medium. A first record can be stored on the first medium auxiliary memory device indicating that data on the first tape medium was copied to the second tape medium. Likewise, a second record can be stored on the second medium auxiliary memory device indicating that data on the second tape medium originated from the first tape medium. | 10-21-2010 |
20100265807 | TAPE DATA ASSESSMENT - A method for certifying data on tape cartridges for a library with a first tape cartridge that possesses a medium auxiliary memory device, a medium auxiliary memory reader/writer, a first tape drive and a second tape drive, a shelf system, and access to a memory device containing a media lifecycle management data base. After a period of time from when data was originally stored on the tape first cartridge, a portion of data residing on the first tape cartridge is read. The portion of data is assessed as to whether a percentage of the portion contains an expected data structure and if the percentage exceeds a predetermined threshold, a data recovery sequence is initiated. | 10-21-2010 |
20100321811 | DRIVE LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT - Described are a method and apparatus that monitor tape drive health for tape drives in a tape library. The tape library generally contains a data base that is adapted to maintain functional status records for interactions that occur when a tape drive physically engages a tape cartridge. More specifically, errors associated with tape drive and tape cartridge interactions can be stored in the data base and monitored to make determinations relative to problems encountered by a specific tape drive. | 12-23-2010 |
20110157742 | PRE-USE TAPE CARTRIDGE VERIFICATION - A method for verifying a tape cartridge is presented. One method includes introducing a tape cartridge into a tape library wherein when introduced, the tape cartridge can then be loaded in a tape drive in an attempt to bring the tape cartridge to a functionally ready state with the tape drive. In loading the tape cartridge in the tape drive, the loading performance of the first tape cartridge can be assessed based on bringing the first tape cartridge to a functionally ready state. A record of the performance information can then be stored on a central data base and/or on a medium auxiliary memory device located in the tape cartridge. | 06-30-2011 |
20110211273 | TAPE DATA ASSESSMENT THROUGH MEDIUM AXUILIARY MEMORY DATA COMPARISON - Methods for certifying data retained by a tape cartridge in a tape library are shown. Error rates that are encountered when the tape cartridge is being read by a tape drive can be accounted for without actually reading data for data content retrieval. A record of the error rate can be stored in a medium auxiliary memory device associated with the tape cartridge. An older record containing a formerly accounted for error rate of read errors when the tape cartridge was formerly read can be accessed and compared with the record presently assessed. If there is a difference between the presently found error rate and the formerly found error rate an action can be executed if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold. | 09-01-2011 |
20110317305 | CERTIFYING A DATA STORAGE MEDIUM - An apparatus and associated method related to reading from memory an indicia that is dedicated to identifying a first portion less than an entirety of an addressable storage medium, the first portion having previously been subjected to a certification scrutiny. In relation to results of the reading, a second portion less than the entirety of the addressable storage medium is selected for subsequently subjecting the second portion to the certification scrutiny. | 12-29-2011 |
20120076621 | EFFICIENT MOVES VIA DUAL PICKERS - A storage library is described that includes a shelf system adapted to support a number of tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a tape drive adapted to read and write data to and from tape cartridges. The storage library further possesses a single tape picker device that is adapted to hold two tape cartridges at the same time facilitating an exchange of a first tape cartridge intended to be loaded in the tape drive with a second tape cartridge ready to be removed from the tape drive with a single tape picker device. | 03-29-2012 |
20120076622 | EFFICIENT MAGAZINE MOVES - A storage library is described that includes a tape magazine that possesses at least one spare slot and a number of other addressable slots that each contains a tape cartridge. Each addressable slot is mapped and made known to a host when the host is linked to the storage library. One of the addressable slots contains a tape cartridge that prior to being mapped as an addressable slot was formerly a spare slot unmapped to the host and the current spare slot was formerly mapped as an addressable slot. | 03-29-2012 |
20120127607 | EFFICIENT MOVES VIA REPOSITORY - A storage library is described that includes a shelf system adapted to support a number of tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a tape drive adapted to read and write data to and from tape cartridges. The storage library further possesses a temporary repository near the tape drive that is adapted to facilitate an exchange of a first tape cartridge intended to be loaded in the tape drive with a second tape cartridge ready to be removed from the tape drive with a single tape picker device. | 05-24-2012 |
20120287528 | TAPE DATA RECOVERY - A method for recovering data from a failed tape cartridge is presented. The reliability of a tape cartridge is assessed via the number of read errors encountered. If the number or read errors is excessive, the tape cartridge is deemed unreliable and the tape cartridge is restricted from storing anymore data. A search is performed to look for duplicate data and if found a copy of the duplicate data is stored to a replacement tape cartridge. The replacement tape cartridge assumes all identity of the original failed tape cartridge. | 11-15-2012 |
20120300342 | EFFICIENT MOVES VIA REPOSITORY - A storage library is described that includes a shelf system adapted to support a number of tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a tape drive adapted to read and write data to and from tape cartridges. The storage library further possesses a temporary repository near the tape drive that is adapted to facilitate an exchange of a first tape cartridge intended to be loaded in the tape drive with a second tape cartridge ready to be removed from the tape drive with a single tape picker device. | 11-29-2012 |
20120300343 | EFFICIENT MOVES VIA REPOSITORY - A storage library is described that includes a shelf system adapted to support a number of tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a tape drive adapted to read and write data to and from tape cartridges. The storage library further possesses a temporary repository near the tape drive that is adapted to facilitate an exchange of a first tape cartridge intended to be loaded in the tape drive with a second tape cartridge ready to be removed from the tape drive with a single tape picker device. | 11-29-2012 |
20120320470 | TAPE CLEANER - A tape cartridge library that is equipped with a cleaning device is described. The tape cartridge library essentially includes a plurality of tape cartridges each possessing recording tape media. A plurality of tape drives that read and write data to and from each of the tape cartridges. A tape cleaning drive incapable of transferring data to and from the recording tape media which is independent of the tape drives, the tape cleaning drive disposed entirely within the tape cartridge library. The tape cleaning drive automatically receives one of the tape cartridges and cleans its respective recording tape medium when a predetermined reason for cleaning the tape cartridge is justified. | 12-20-2012 |
20120320472 | ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS BASED TAPE CLEANING - A tape cartridge library that is equipped with a cleaning device is described. The tape cartridge library essentially includes a plurality of tape cartridges each possessing recording tape media. A plurality of tape drives that read and write data to and from each of the tape cartridges. A tape cleaning drive incapable of transferring data to and from the recording tape media which is independent of the tape drives, the tape cleaning drive disposed entirely within the tape cartridge library. The tape cleaning drive automatically receives one of the tape cartridges and cleans its respective recording tape medium when a predetermined reason for cleaning the tape cartridge is justified. | 12-20-2012 |
20130101373 | EFFICIENT MOVES VIA SPARE CHAMBER - A magazine-based data storage library is described that includes plurality of chambers each adapted to hold a magazine, that in turn, is adapted to hold a plurality of tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a tape drive adapted to read and write data to and from tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a vacant chamber that shifts from a first chamber when a recently used magazine is disposed therein to a second chamber when a new magazine is withdrawn there from. The recently used magazine most recently being withdrawn from a different chamber than the first chamber where it is later disposed. | 04-25-2013 |
20130110287 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A ROBOTIC STORAGE SYSTEM ORGANIZED BY HEAT VALUE OF STORAGE MEDIA | 05-02-2013 |
20130335858 | TAPE CLEANER BLADE APPARATUS - A tape cartridge library that is equipped with a cleaning device is described. The tape cartridge library essentially includes a plurality of tape cartridges each possessing recording tape media. A plurality of tape drives that read and write data to and from each of the tape cartridges. A tape cleaning drive incapable of transferring data to and from the recording tape media which is independent of the tape drives, the tape cleaning drive disposed entirely within the tape cartridge library. The tape cleaning drive automatically receives one of the tape cartridges and cleans its respective recording tape medium when a predetermined reason for cleaning the tape cartridge is justified. | 12-19-2013 |
20140192433 | TAPE CLEANER DRIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR A TAPE LIBRARY - A tape cartridge library that is equipped with a cleaning device is described. The tape cartridge library essentially includes a plurality of tape cartridges each possessing recording tape media. A plurality of tape drives that read and write data to and from each of the tape cartridges. A tape cleaning drive incapable of transferring data to and from the recording tape media which is independent of the tape drives, the tape cleaning drive disposed entirely within the tape cartridge library. The tape cleaning drive automatically receives one of the tape cartridges and cleans its respective recording tape medium when a predetermined reason for cleaning the tape cartridge is justified. | 07-10-2014 |
20150050106 | EFFICIENT MOVES VIA REPOSITORY - A storage library is described that includes a shelf system adapted to support a number of tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a tape drive adapted to read and write data to and from tape cartridges. The storage library further possesses a temporary repository near the tape drive that is adapted to facilitate an exchange of a first tape cartridge intended to be loaded in the tape drive with a second tape cartridge ready to be removed from the tape drive with a single tape picker device. | 02-19-2015 |