TAPE CARTRIDGE AUXILIARY MEMEORY BASED LIBRARY
A data storage library is described including a plurality of tape cartridges wherein each of the tape cartridges possesses an auxiliary radio frequency memory device in which auxiliary digital data is stored. The library also includes at least one drive disposed substantially within the library capable of transferring user data to and from one of the tapes. The library further includes at least one auxiliary radio frequency memory device reader that capable of reading the auxiliary digital data and transmitting the auxiliary digital data to at least one designated location, the reader is independent of the at least one drive.
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This application is a divisional application of U.S. Ser. No. 11/877,645, filed Oct. 23, 2007, which is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/604,118, filed Jun. 26, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to tape libraries using auxiliary memory devices contained in tape storage cartridges in tape libraries.
2. Description of Related Art
Data storage libraries, such as tape libraries, are typically used to store and retrieve large amounts of data for data manipulation and archiving purposes. These libraries are generally comprised of drive devices adapted to read and write data to and from tape cartridges that are often housed within the tape libraries. In the interest of obtaining cursory information about a specific tape cartridge without requiring a time-consuming media load and tape threading process to read the on-tape index file, techniques using holes arranged in patterns in the cartridge casing and later electrical pads grounded in a variety of combinations were introduced. The holes and/or electrical pads provided simple information such as tape capacity, manufacturer, etc. Today, these techniques are yielding to the introduction of Radio Frequency chips disposed in the tape cartridges called a Memory-In-Cartridge (MIC) or Medium Auxiliary Memory (MAM), because of increased amounts of information and ease of use.
A MIC allows the tape drive to access valuable cartridge data without the use of a physical connection, reducing connector wear for both the drive and the media. The MIC is a memory chip built into the data cartridge that provides a direct and immediate connection to the drive's on-board processors, which speeds access to information related to the data cartridge such as system logs, for example. Information and file search parameters are formatted within the MIC system effectively cutting the data access time down to a fraction from historical techniques.
As shown in
Currently a MIC, or MAM, is parceled into regions for a medium, device and host. The three regions can accommodate attributes related to a medium with a MIC. For example a medium attribute can be a serial number permanently stored in the MAM during manufacturing, a device attribute can be load count maintained by the tape drive and a host attribute can be a backup date maintained by the application client. These attributes are strictly read and written to by a reader disposed in a drive.
In an effort to expand capabilities of a storage element containing a MIC operable with a data storage unit beyond a tape drive both methods and apparatus are disclosed herein. It is to innovations related to this subject matter that the claimed invention is generally directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to tape libraries using auxiliary memory devices contained in tape storage cartridges in tape libraries that overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art by using at least one radio frequency memory device to read auxiliary memory devices that is independent of that which is used in a tape drive.
One embodiment of the present invention can therefore comprise a data storage library comprising: a plurality of tape cartridges wherein each of the tape cartridges possesses an auxiliary radio frequency memory device in which auxiliary digital data is stored; at least one drive disposed substantially within the library capable of transferring user data to and from one of the tapes; at least one auxiliary radio frequency memory device reader that capable of reading the auxiliary digital data and transmitting the auxiliary digital data to at least one designated location, the reader is independent of the at least one drive.
Other embodiments of the present invention may additionally comprise a data storage library comprising: a first tape cartridge possessing a first auxiliary radio frequency memory device, the first device containing first attribute data relating to at least a first historical event associated with the first tape cartridge; a second tape cartridge possessing a second auxiliary radio frequency memory device, the second device containing second attribute data relating to at least a second historical event associated with the second tape cartridge; at least one drive disposed substantially within the library that capable of transferring user data to and from the first tape cartridge and to and from the second tape cartridge; at least one auxiliary radio frequency memory device reader independent of the drive capable of reading the first and second attribute data; a designated memory device capable of receiving the first and second attribute data from the reader; and an algorithm adapted to manipulate the first and second attribute data received by the designated memory device.
Yet further embodiments of the present invention may comprise a method comprising the steps of: providing a library with a tape drive, a tape drive auxiliary memory reader and writer device associated with the tape drive, a auxiliary memory reader device independent of the tape drive, a designated cumulative auxiliary storage location, and a first tape cartridge that possesses a first auxiliary memory device; loading the first tape cartridge in the tape drive for a first time; recording that the first tape cartridge has been loaded into the tape drive for the first time as a first loading event wherein the recording is to the first auxiliary memory device via the tape drive auxiliary memory reader and writer device; unloading the first tape cartridge from the tape drive; reading the first loading event from the first auxiliary memory device via the auxiliary memory reader device independent of the tape drive; transmitting the first loading event from the auxiliary memory reader device independent of the tape drive to the designated cumulative auxiliary storage location; and recording the first loading event in the designated cumulative auxiliary storage location.
Referring to the drawings in general, and more specifically to
The data storage arrangement illustrated in
With reference to
An auxiliary radio frequency memory device 104, in one embodiment, is parceled into three regions in which data can be stored; a medium device region which contains information such as a serial number, a device region which contains information from the tape drive such as load count, and host/vendor unique region wherein information such as history and/or performance data related to the cartridge 100 can be stored. The information in the regions can be added to with new information via an address related to the arrangement of available storage space in the auxiliary radio frequency memory device 104 or, optionally, the information can be read by an auxiliary memory reader, such as the reader 230, and reassembled with additional information and stored on the auxiliary radio frequency memory device 104 as the reassembled version, just to name two examples. In another example, if the storage limit is reached in the auxiliary radio frequency memory device 104, such as the host/vendor data in the host/vendor unique region, the host/vendor data can be read and stored in an auxiliary storage space, such as the auxiliary memory 240, and the host/vendor unique region purged and made available for new information. In another example, the host/vendor data can be compressed with algorithms to decompress residing in the library 200 or user of data 202, for example.
With reference to
Storage space on an auxiliary radio frequency memory device 104 is made available to a host, or user of data 202, in addition to space available for a drive device, such as tape drive 224, and tape cartridge 100. In some embodiments, the space for a host, referred to also as a host region, may contain attributes including, but not limited to, the date the media was generated, or manufactured, the time the cartridge was written (tape writing time), the time the cartridge was last accessed, a list of Single Character Display (SCD) at unload which is an indicia of potential errors with a drive and labeling field, such as a label tagged “Confidential Tape”, library vital statistics, and other performance and/or historical event related data, for example. Library vital statistics can include data related to heat, humidity, voltage levels and the time of a certain activity level, etc.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a single bit of data, called a virgin bit, can be toggled in the auxiliary radio frequency memory device 104 when a tape cartridge 100 is used for the first time. A virgin bit can serve as an indicator that a tape has been used at least once which can reduce the number of new tape cartridges accidentally destroyed in the company of heavily used or damaged tape cartridges.
Data from each tape cartridge's auxiliary radio frequency memory device 104, obtained by an auxiliary radio frequency memory device reader, such as 230, 232, 234, or the like, can be stored on an auxiliary memory device 240 associated with the library 200. Optionally, the data can be stored in memory associated in an alternative location, such as with the host 202, for example. Because many potential attributes can be stored on an auxiliary radio frequency memory device 104, the manner in which the data can be displayed may be organized in accordance with specific needs. For example, each recorded cartridge can have an associated file where upon opening the file, one can choose which attribute to display. Alternatively, a display can include a handful of most frequently viewed data or data filtered according to specific performance related thresholds. Illustrative examples are shown in
With reference to
Embodiments of the present invention can be commercially practiced in a Spectra Logic T-950 tape cartridge library manufactured by Spectra Logic of Boulder Colorado.
Referring now to
It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with the details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, multiple auxiliary memory reader devices that are independent from the tape drive can be used inside of a library with one or more tape cartridge's associated auxiliary memory device at the same time while still maintaining substantially the same functionality without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Another example can include using auxiliary memory reader devices that are independent from the tape drive to check accuracy of data via redundancy not to mention techniques in which data from multiple tape cartridges, via their associated auxiliary memory devices, can be accumulated coincidentally, just to name a few examples while still maintaining substantially the same functionality without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Further, though elements and methods are described herein exemplifying a first and second object or element, for example, this language is used herein to simplify the description indicative of a plurality of objects or elements. Finally, although the preferred embodiments described herein are directed to tape library systems and RF devices, and related technology, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the teachings of the present invention can be applied to other remote communication systems and devices, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It will be clear that the present invention is well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes may be made which readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed in the spirit of the invention disclosed and as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A tape library comprising a first tape drive and a second tape drive, a tape cartridge possessing an auxiliary memory device, said tape library adapted to perform method steps of:
- loading said tape cartridge in said first tape drive;
- recording to said auxiliary memory device that said tape cartridge has been loaded into said first tape drive as a first loading event;
- unloading said tape cartridge from said tape drive;
- loading said tape cartridge in said second tape drive;
- recording to said auxiliary memory device that said tape cartridge has been loaded into said second tape drive as a second loading event.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of recording to said auxiliary memory device are accomplished by a first tape drive auxiliary memory reader and writer device associated with said first tape drive and a second tape drive auxiliary memory reader and writer device associated with said second tape drive.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising recording both of said first and said second loading events to a designated cumulative auxiliary storage location that is further comprised by said tape library.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said cumulative auxiliary storage location includes a plurality of other loading events wherein some of the plurality of other loading events includes different tape cartridges and different tape drives.
5. The method of claim 3 further comprising transmitting said first and said second loading events to said designated cumulative auxiliary storage location via an auxiliary radio frequency memory device reader that is independent of said first or said second tape drive.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said first loading event includes, in addition to a record of said first tape drive, an error associated with said first loading event.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said error is linked to a single character display readout associated with said first tape drive.
8. The method of claim 6 further comprising determining that said first tape drive is faulty based on said recording of said error associated with said first loading event.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said first loading event includes, in addition to a record of said first tape drive, at least one vital statistic associated with said tape library at the time of said first loading event.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary memory device further includes records of other loading events associated with other tape drives.
11. A library arranged to perform method steps comprising:
- engaging a tape cartridge with a first tape drive from when said tape cartridge first encounters said first tape drive to when said tape cartridge is unloaded from said first tape drive;
- determining an error based on said engagement of said tape cartridge and said first tape drive wherein said first tape drive causes said error;
- making a first record that includes said error and knowledge that said engaging step occurred with said first tape drive;
- maintaining said first record in an auxiliary memory device comprised by said tape cartridge.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said auxiliary memory device further includes at least one other record of an engagement between said tape cartridge and a different tape drive and any records of errors between said tape cartridge and said different tape drive.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising storing said first record in a designated cumulative auxiliary storage location that is independent of said first tape drive or said tape cartridge.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said designated cumulative auxiliary storage location contains additional records that include engagements between other tape cartridges and different tape drives and any errors detected between said other tape cartridges and said different tape drives.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising determining if any of said tape drives is not functioning properly based on said records.
16. The method of claim 11 wherein said error corresponds to a single character display result associated with said first tape drive.
17. A tape library comprising:
- a first tape drive adapted to engage a tape cartridge from when said tape cartridge first encounters said first tape drive to when said tape cartridge is unloaded from said first tape drive;
- an auxiliary memory device, essentially disposed in said tape cartridge, adapted to retain a record that includes knowledge of said first tape drive, knowledge of said engagement between said tape cartridge and said first tape drive, and knowledge of an error based on said engagement of said tape cartridge and said first tape drive wherein said first tape drive caused said error.
18. The tape library of claim 17 wherein said auxiliary memory device further includes at least one other record of an engagement between said tape cartridge and a different tape drive and any associated record of errors between said tape cartridge and said different tape drive.
19. The tape library of claim 17 further comprising a designated cumulative auxiliary storage location that is adapted to maintain said record in addition to other records that include engagements between other tape cartridges and other tape drives and any between said other tape cartridges and said other tape drives.
20. The tape library of claim 17 further comprising a display device that is adapted to alert a user of data that said first tape drive is faulty based on said record of said error.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 4, 2010
Publication Date: Jan 27, 2011
Applicant: Spectra Logic Corporation (Boulder, CO)
Inventors: Ray D. Heineman (Gig harbor, WA), Samuel J. Guleff (Superior, CO), Matthew Thomas Starr (Lafayette, CO), Michael Jerard Goberis (Broomfield, CO), Walter Wong (Boulder, CO)
Application Number: 12/897,469
International Classification: G11B 5/008 (20060101);