Abstract: Applicants' automated data storage system includes a first media storage library having a first rail system, a garage having a movable rail system, said garage being disposed adjacent the media storage library, and a plurality of accessors movably disposed on either the first rail system or the movable rail system. In another embodiment, Applicants' automated data storage system further includes a second media storage library, having a second rail system, disposed adjacent the garage, such that the plurality of accessors is movably disposed on the first rail system, the second rail system, or the movable rail system. Applicants' invention further includes a method to move an accessor from the first media storage library into the garage, or from the first media storage library, through the garage, and into the second media storage library. Applicants' invention further includes a method to balance the workload of a plurality of data drives disposed within Applicants' automated data storage system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system, method, and program for writing data to a storage medium formatted into a plurality of zones. Each zone comprises at least one circumferential track, each track comprises a plurality of addressable sectors, and the innermost zones have fewer sectors than outermost zones. A request is received to write a file to the storage medium. A determination is made of a utilization factor for the file and one zone for the file based on the determined utilization factor. The file is written to the determined zone.

Abstract: Provided is a storage device and method for interfacing with an external device. The storage device includes a portable housing, a storage medium enclosed within the housing, and two data interfaces at different locations on the housing, wherein both the data interfaces are capable of providing data communication with the external device. A controller is enclosed within the housing and implements logic to select one of the two data interfaces to use to transfer data between the storage medium and the external device.

Abstract: An accessor moveably disposed in a data storage and retrieval system, where that accessor includes an accessor controller, a work queue stored in the accessor controller, and an inventory stored in the accessor controller. Applicants' work queue comprises each work request provided to the data storage and retrieval system, and each work entry created by the accessor controller to perform a work request. Work requests may be received from attached host computer systems, from an operator input station, and/or from an import/export controller. A data storage and retrieval system which includes at least two of Applicant's accessors. A method to provide failover protection to Applicant's data storage and retrieval system in the event of a failure of one or more of Applicant's accessors.

Abstract: Provided is a library system apparatus including an array of storage cells and a plurality of storage devices. The storage devices include a storage medium and a data interface through which data on the storage medium is transferred. A gripper assembly includes extended members capable of engaging one storage device, movement electronics capable of moving the gripper assembly to the storage cells and engaging one storage device located within one storage cell, and a data interface. Data communication is enabled between the gripper assembly and storage device data interfaces when the gripper assembly is engaged with the storage device. Further, a library controller is in communication with the gripper assembly and executes logic to receive an input/output (I/O) request with respect to data in one target storage device in one storage cell and send commands to the gripper assembly to move to the storage cell including the target storage device and engage the target storage device in the storage cell.

Abstract: Provided is a gripper assembly including a gripper capable of engaging a storage device having a data interface through which data is transferred to a storage medium within the storage device. The gripper assembly includes extending members capable of engaging the storage device, a data interface capable of engaging the storage device data interface to allow data communication with the storage medium in the storage device, and movement electronics to move the gripper in at least one direction.

Abstract: An accessor moveably disposed in a data storage and retrieval system, where that accessor includes an accessor controller, a work queue stored in the accessor controller, and an inventory stored in the accessor controller. Applicants' work queue comprises each work request provided to the data storage and retrieval system, and each work entry created by the accessor controller to perform a work request. Work requests may be received from attached host computer systems, from an operator input station, and/or from an import/export controller. A data storage and retrieval system which includes at least two of Applicant's accessors. A method to provide failover protection to Applicant's data storage and retrieval system in the event of a failure of one or more of Applicant's accessors.

Abstract: Applicants' invention includes an automated data storage system which includes one or more data storage libraries each of which includes one or a plurality of accessors which retrieve data storage media from a plurality of storage slots and deliver that retrieved data storage media to a data storage drive unit, where each of the plurality of accessors includes one or more attachment slots and a plurality of retractable wheels, and a maintenance robot which includes a plurality of wheels and an attachment device which is capable of insertion into, and subsequent removal from, the attachment slot(s) located on each of the accessors. Applicants' invention further includes a method utilizing Applicants' maintenance robot to remove one of Applicants' accessors from a data storage library.

Abstract: An intelligent bus listening device, and a method which may be implemented as a computer program product, listens to SCSI commands on a first SCSI bus of a SCSI system via a listening connection to the first SCSI bus. The listening device is separately coupled via an interface to a second bus for communicating commands onto the second bus. A processor is coupled to the listening connection and to the second bus interface, the processor receiving the first commands from the first SCSI bus, converting the first commands to second commands related to the first commands, and providing the second commands to the second bus interface.

Abstract: Provided is a library system apparatus including an array of storage cells and a plurality of storage devices. The storage devices include a storage medium and a data interface through which data on the storage medium is transferred. A gripper assembly includes extended members capable of engaging one storage device, movement electronics capable of moving the gripper assembly to the storage cells and engaging one storage device located within one storage cell, and a data interface. Data communication is enabled between the gripper assembly and storage device data interfaces when the gripper assembly is engaged with the storage device. Further, a library controller is in communication with the gripper assembly and executes logic to receive an input/output (I/O) request with respect to data in one target storage device in one storage cell and send commands to the gripper assembly to move to the storage cell including the target storage device and engage the target storage device in the storage cell.

Abstract: Provided is a storage device and method for interfacing with an external device. The storage device includes a portable housing, a storage medium enclosed within the housing, and two data interfaces at different locations on the housing, wherein both the data interfaces are capable of providing data communication with the external device. A controller is enclosed within the housing and implements logic to select one of the two data interfaces to use to transfer data between the storage medium and the external device.

Abstract: Multiple intelligent pickers for an automated data storage library, the library having a library controller which identifies the start and end locations of the received move jobs, and places the move jobs in a job queue. The picker processor receives information over a communication link from other pickers describing movement information for the current move job of each of the other pickers. Upon completion of a move job, the picker communicates with the library controller, selecting a move job which avoids interference with the movement of the other pickers. The movement for the selected move job is determined so as to avoid interference with the stored movement profiles of the other pickers. A movement profile may be communicated to the other pickers over the communication link, and the move job is conducted according to the movement profile. Alternatively, movement information comprising the current location and vector are communicated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system, method, and program for writing data to a storage medium formatted into a plurality of zones. Each zone comprises at least one circumferential track, each track comprises a plurality of addressable sectors, and the innermost zones have fewer sectors than outermost zones. A request is received to write a file to the storage medium. A determination is made of a utilization factor for the file and one zone for the file based on the determined utilization factor. The file is written to the determined zone.

Abstract: Multiple intelligent pickers for an automated data storage library, the library having a library controller which identifies the start and end locations of the received move jobs, and places the move jobs in a job queue. The picker processor receives information over a communication link from other pickers describing movement information for the current move job of each of the other pickers. Upon completion of a move job, the picker communicates with the library controller, selecting a move job which avoids interference with the movement of the other pickers. The movement for the selected move job is determined so as to avoid interference with the stored movement profiles of the other pickers. A movement profile may be communicated to the other pickers over the communication link, and the move job is conducted according to the movement profile. Alternatively, movement information comprising the current location and vector are communicated.

Abstract: Applicants' automated data storage system includes a first media storage library having a first rail system, a garage having a movable rail system, said garage being disposed adjacent the media storage library, and a plurality of accessors movably disposed on either the first rail system or the movable rail system. In another embodiment, Applicants' automated data storage system further includes a second media storage library, having a second rail system, disposed adjacent the garage, such that the plurality of accessors is movably disposed on the first rail system, the second rail system, or the movable rail system. Applicants' invention further includes a method to move an accessor from the first media storage library into the garage, or from the first media storage library, through the garage, and into the second media storage library. Applicants' invention further includes a method to balance the workload of a plurality of data drives disposed within Applicants' automated data storage system.

Abstract: A bi-level power saving method for a computer having one level of power saving operations that is executed when the computer is operating on an external power source and another level of power saving operations that is executed when the computer is operating on an internal power source. The method determines whether the computer is operating on an external power source or an internal power source. No preferences for tasks or devices are designated if the computer is operating on an external power source and activity and application have been detected. Various power consuming operations are executed if the computer is operating on an external power source and activity is detected but an application is not detected. The computer powers down devices if the computer is operating on an external power source and no activity is detected. Power saving operations are executed if the computer is operating on an internal power source and activity and application have been detected.

Abstract: Multiple intelligent pickers for an automated data storage library, the library having a library controller which identifies the start and end locations of the received move jobs, and places the move jobs in a job queue. The picker processor receives information over a communication link from other pickers describing movement information for the current move job of each of the other pickers. Upon completion of a move job, the picker communicates with the library controller, selecting a move job which avoids interference with the movement of the other pickers. The movement for the selected move job is determined so as to avoid interference with the stored movement profiles of the other pickers. A movement profile may be communicated to the other pickers over the communication link, and the move job is conducted according to the movement profile. Alternatively, movement information comprising the current location and vector are communicated.

Abstract: A wireless communication link provides picker to picker communication between multiple intelligent pickers for an automated data storage library, and provides central communication between at least one of the pickers with a central job queue. Each intelligent picker comprises a processor located thereon for operating the picker to conduct a move job and providing movement information describing movement of the picker for the current move job of the picker. The wireless communication link comprises a wireless central communication link between at least one of the pickers and a central job queue for communicating a move job to the picker processor from the central job queue, and a wireless picker to picker communication link for communicating between the pickers, each linked picker transmitting the movement information over the wireless picker to picker communication link.

Abstract: In an optical data storage device for storing data on a removable optical disk in a continuous sequence of sectors or blocks, the input data buffer may be subject to under-run. An under-run detector is disclosed which is responsive to the buffered data comprising less than a sector of data for indicating an under-run, and a padding provider is disclosed which is responsive to the under-run indication for providing padding characters for formatting into sectors. The sectors may be provided with headers indicating the sectors as padding. A reading device for reading the data sectors and providing the data to a host detects padding and prevents the padding data from transmission to the host.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for ensuring the proper position and orientation of a multi-disk cartridge, and for selectively locking the cartridge while it is inserted in a disk drive to prevent withdrawal of the cartridge while the disk drive is conveying one of the cartridge's disks. The disk drive of the invention includes a guide to slidably receive a multi-disk cartridge. When the cartridge is inserted in the guide, presence of the cartridge in the drive is detected by a position sensor. Having detected the presence of the cartridge, an orientation sensor determines whether the cartridge has been oriented properly. This prevents upside-down insertion of the cartridge, for example. With the cartridge fully inserted into the guide in a proper orientation, a locking mechanism serves to lock the cartridge in place at selected times. The cartridge may be locked in place, for example, at all times when the cartridge is inserted into the guide, or merely during sensitive operations of the disk drive.