Abstract: A method is described which provides various new data storage system capabilities by using data storage structures within industry standard (or other pre-existing) formats used with data recording devices employing removable media. The data storage structures used by the present method comprise formats which contain regions previously marked as "contents of this region are not of interest" or marked as "no data was recorded within this region". These data storage structures are thus transparent to present data recording devices so as not to disrupt their data processing functions. However, the data storage structures are available to be used by new data recording devices (or old devices that have been updated) so that new data embedded therein may be used to enhance the functionality of the system which utilizes the data storage structures.

Abstract: This method provides new data storage capabilities that are implemented within the industry standard formats of mountable media data recording devices. The new data storage structures are written into regions presently marked on the mountable media as "contents of this region are not of interest" or marked as "no data was recorded within this region". These data storage structures are transparent to present data recording devices and do not disrupt their data processing functions. However, the data storage structures are available to new data recording devices so that new data embedded therein is used to enhance the functionality of the system which utilizes these data storage structures. The types of embedded data may include ECC (error correction codes), tape position information, audit information, security information, mount history, media defect history, authentication notation, generation-identification notation, etc.

Abstract: Data storage elements that present uniform external dimensions but contain media of varying types and characteristics provide variable data storage and/or recording characteristics. To differentiate between the various media that can be housed within the common form factor, each data storage element is equipped with a leader block having a leader block slot uniquely dimensioned to correspond to the media contained within the data storage element. The leader block slot can be engaged by a mounting pin section on any of a plurality of mounting pins in a media drive.

Abstract: A cassette for a high performance tape drive is disclosed. A cassette shell having the same general external dimensions as an industry standard leader block tape cartridge (3480/3490) includes both a tape supply spool and a take-up spool. Two tape guides present a segment of tape to a cassette access port which can be closed by a sliding door to prevent contamination when the tape is not in use. A tape cleaning device and a spool locking device are incorporated into the cassette mechanism.

Abstract: A performance optimized computer data recording media format and associated control logic method is disclosed. Localized data block recording, such as by concurrent parallel or serpentine recording techniques, is used to create a series of Virtual Volumes on a single physical volume. Physical localization of data blocks records is achieved which tends to minimize access time. Using the Virtual Volume construct, other industry standard data storage systems can be emulated. Many data storage operations requesting physical motion are translated into virtual motion which in turn results in significantly less physical motion than that requested, thereby reducing access times and media and drive apparatus wear.

Abstract: A system for identifying and managing a plurality of objects includes a high data density label. The label includes an optical media portion configured to store data in an optical format. The optical media portion has a high areal density and may be rewritable. The high data density of the label allows a large amount of information to be stored directly on the label. The data can be quickly read from the label without requiring physical contact with the label. A read device is provided for reading data from a selected label. A write device is provided for modifying the data in a selected label. The preferred embodiment of the labeling system is implemented in an information storage system using an automated cartridge system (ACS). The labels are attached to physical volumes (e.g., tape cartridges) stored in the ACS. The labels are used to identify and manage information stored on the physical volumes as well as the physical volumes themselves.

Abstract: The removable media management system operates with a manual, an automated, or a combination of subsets of manual and automated library system to store and retrieve media cartridges for an associated plurality of drive elements. This system enables the use of a plurality of types of media within the single monolithic cartridge library system and a corresponding plurality of drive elements associated with said library system. Thus, each drive element has associated therewith a number of object storage locations within the library system which contains media of a form and content that matches the drive element. The removable media management system maps the correspondence between object storage location, media type, designated drive element in a manner such that the single library is partitioned into subsets for the user, i.e.

Abstract: This magnetic tape cartridge has the same exterior dimensions as a conventional 3480-type magnetic tape cartridge but houses different media. To clearly identify the media contained in the cartridge, a label receiving recess in included on the back of the cartridge. A human readable and machine readable label can be inserted into this recess to identify the media contained in this cartridge. Additional label recesses are provided juxtaposed to the media identification recess and on the top and side of the cartridge to receive user installed labels to uniquely identify the cartridge.

Abstract: Data storage elements that present uniform external dimensions but contain media of varying types and characteristics provide variable data storage and/or recording characteristics. To differentiate between the various media that can be used within the common form factor, each data storage element is equipped with a leader block, the tape threading slot of which is uniquely dimensioned to correspond to the media contained within the data storage element.

Abstract: The data recording system writes data on both sides of a two sided magnetic recording tape, in directions of magnetization that are angular displaced with respect to each other, to reduce the effects caused by contact recording and magnetic print through. The media used for the magnetic tape consists of a standard mylar substrate to which a coating of magnetic recording materials is applied, on both sides thereof. In order to reduce the effect of magnetic print through and contact recording, the particles or films that are applied to both sides of the substrate are oriented in differing magnetic orientations that are angularly displaced with respect to each other and two sets of read/write heads are used. The read/write heads can be oriented to produce magnetic fields on one side of the magnetic tape that are angularly displaced with respect to the magnetic fields created on the other side of the magnetic tape.

Abstract: The solid state memory device consists of a circuit board based system which is mounted in a 3480 type magnetic tape cartridge form factor housing to make this media physically compatible with the 3480 type magnetic tape cartridges. The interconnection of the solid state memory device with the read/write device is by an optical connections which transfer data between the solid state memory device and the associated read/write device. A plurality of batteries in the solid state memory device provide power for the memory retention capability required of the volatile solid state memory devices. The batteries are recharged by the use of a pair of power rails that are incorporated into the exterior housing of the 3480 form factor cartridge. Thus, the associated read/write device applies power to the solid state memory via these power rails when the 3480 form factor cartridge is placed in the associated read/write device.

Abstract: The universal data storage element presents a uniform form factor data storage element but enables the user to vary the contents to include a selection of media types or miniaturized drive elements used therein to provide variable data storage and/or recording characteristics. This enables the user to use multiple types of media in an automated library system or a manually operated media storage and retrieval system, since the form factor of all of the data storage elements contained therein is uniform. The use of the universal data storage element provides the capability of varying the data storage capabilities of the data storage element to be consistent with the data recording technique used therein. This capability enables the user to use a diversity of drive elements connected to the computer system without having to have a corresponding diversity in media element handling systems.

Abstract: The automated library system stores and retrieves media cartridges for an associated plurality of media drives. Within this system, a virtual robot is implemented to create multiple virtual media libraries within the single automated cartridge library system. This capability enables the use of a plurality of types of media within the single automated cartridge library and a corresponding plurality of drive elements within the library. Thus, each drive element has associated therewith a number of object storage locations within the library which contain media of a form and content that matches the drive element. The automated cartridge library system manages the correspondence between object storage location, media type, designated drive element in an automated manner such that the single library appears to the user as multiple independent libraries.

Abstract: This system makes use of a tape cassette helical scan tape transport and 3480-type magnetic tape cartridge as the data storage media. The merging of these two incompatible elements is accomplished by the use of a novel interface that implements a "virtual tape cassette" using a tape cartridge in a manner that makes this media compatible with the tape transport. The virtual tape cassette is implemented by providing a takeup reel positioned with the magnetic tape cartridge in a relationship that substantially matches the format of a magnetic tape cassette. A short tape threading arm is used to retrieve the leader block from the tape cartridge and thread the magnetic tape over a short tape threading path to the takeup reel. Once the tape is affixed to the takeup reel, the helical scan tape guide arms transport the length of tape that is now exposed between the tape cartridge and the takeup reel to the rotary heads.