Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically configuring a robotic storage media library is disclosed. The disclosed invention utilizes software to interpret signals from specially designed hardware to determine the hardware characteristics of the library at startup. The software then uses these characteristics to automatically configure the library without user intervention.

Abstract: A system and method for minimizing electromagnetic radiation emissions from a data cartridge handling library employs intermittent operation of the video camera to ascertain correct bin locations and verify automated access between bin locations. This intermittent operation is utilized when an error is suspected or upon a predetermined routine to verify manipulation accuracy.

Abstract: An automated media library gathers information about each readable cartridge label using a camera. From the label information, the orientation of the cartridge may be determined. For each cartridge with an unreadable label or no label, the media library attempts a get/put operation. If the get/put operation fails, the cartridge is marked as incorrectly oriented. Alternatively, the tape library may attempt a get/put operation on all removable media cartridges. A similar process is performed when a cartridge access port is closed and the cartridge access port is marked inaccessible to the host when an incorrectly oriented cartridge is detected.

Abstract: An automated media library gathers information about each readable cartridge label using a camera. From the label information, the orientation of the cartridge may be determined. For each cartridge with an unreadable label or no label, the media library attempts a get/put operation. If the get/put operation fails, the cartridge is marked as incorrectly oriented. Alternatively, the tape library may attempt a get/put operation on all removable media cartridges. A similar process is performed when a cartridge access port is closed and the cartridge access port is marked inaccessible to the host when an incorrectly oriented cartridge is detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for auditing cartridges and empty cells in a storage library system including a plurality of cells for storing cartridges and further including a robotically actuated hand assembly. A line-scan camera is secured to the hand assembly, and a visible pattern is positioned within each cell such that the visible pattern is readable by the line-scan camera when the line-scan camera is moved to a position adjacent the particular cell if the cell is empty. The visible pattern is positioned such that the presence of a cartridge within the particular cell would prevent viewing of the visible pattern within the cell by the line-scan camera. The line-scan camera is operated in a manner to search for the visible pattern within each cell for auditing numbers of cartridges and empty cells in the storage library system.

Abstract: An apparatus for latching and ejecting cartridges from a cartridge tape drive in a storage library system includes a robotically actuated hand assembly. The apparatus comprises a pin extending from the hand assembly and a rotatable lever extending from the cartridge tape drive. The rotatable lever is pivotable between a first position in which the cartridge is locked in the tape drive and a second position in which the cartridge is ejected from the tape drive. The pin is operative to engage the rotatable lever for pivoting the lever between the first and second positions when the hand assembly is robotically actuated. A visible pattern is applied to the rotatable rod and offset from the axis of rotation of the rod such that the pattern appears to move into and out of alignment with the camera target as viewed by a line-scan camera when the rod rotates between the first and second positions. Accordingly, the status of the tape drive may be easily attained.