Abstract: A storage system having at least two parallel racks and an aisle extending between respective sets of adjacent racks, through which shuttles can move forward and backward over respective guides parallel to the racks on a multitude of superposed levels for placing products in storage positions and/or removing products from storage positions. The storage system further includes a maintenance cart which can be moved through an aisle and which defines a working space for an individual, bounded at least partially by a frame of the maintenance cart, for carrying out maintenance from the working space on a shuttle, wherein the frame extends over at least two levels of the multitude of levels and forms a screen for the working space against shuttles in the aisle in question. The maintenance cart can be moved over a guide for the shuttles through an aisle.

Abstract: A position detection system includes: a contactor including a tracing unit that traces and fits with a recess or a protrusion of an object; a slide member; a sliding unit that causes the slide member to slide in two directions; a moving unit that causes the contactor to move in a direction perpendicular to a plane so as to cause the tracing unit of the contactor to trace and fit with the recess or the protrusion of the object; a contactor detecting unit that detects a position of the contactor in the plane; and an object position detecting unit that detects the position of the object based on movement amount of the contactor before and after the slide member slides on the sliding unit to slide, when the tracing unit traces the recess or the protrusion.

Abstract: An authentication method comprises providing a set of N plural number of master keys both to a user terminal (13) and to home network entity (11) and, when performing an authentication key agreement (AKA) transaction for an application, selecting one of the N number of master keys to serve as a master key for use both at the user terminal and the home network entity for deriving further keys for the application.

Abstract: A disk drive including a disk configured to spin at a target spin speed, a servo core configured to access the disk, a first non-volatile memory configured to store a first initialization firmware, a second non-volatile memory configured to store a second initialization firmware, a first volatile memory, a second volatile memory, a non-volatile memory core configured to access the first non-volatile memory, and a main core. The main core is configured to load the second initialization firmware from the second non-volatile memory to the second volatile memory concurrently with the loading of the first initialization firmware from the first non-volatile memory to the first volatile memory by the non-volatile memory core, control the servo core to initiate spinning of the disk, and communicate with the non-volatile memory core to service host commands from the first non-volatile memory when the disk is not spinning at the target spin speed.

Abstract: A medium processing apparatus includes a magazine including a plurality of storage units each of which stores the storage medium, the adjacent storage units being connected by a hinge member so that each of the storage units rotates on a shaft, a curved conveyance path that guides the magazine, a conveying unit that conveys the magazine along the conveyance path, and a medium moving unit that moves the storage medium between the storage unit of the conveyed magazine and the processing unit, and thus space saving is achieved.

Abstract: A device and a method for automatically turning over a disc relate to a guide rod provided with a movable member. The movable member is assembled to a rotating member via a pivot member in such a manner that the movable member can axially move along and radially rotate around the guide rod. The pivot member is disposed between the movable member and the rotating member and powered to rotate. The rotating member is provided with a disc-carrying device in a direction of its rotation around the pivot member for taking the disc. The pivot member drives the disc to rotate via the rotating member, so as to turn over the disc, so that the rotating member makes the disc slide down into the tray in an inclined manner.

Abstract: A storage system is provided having at least one storage unit, the storage unit including an electrical power source, a communication source and a cover that defines, at least in part an interior space. The storage system operates with a media blade that comprises a plurality of data storage elements, the media blade moveable in a drawer like motion though a cooperating opening in the cover. The storage system further includes a motion accommodating conductor apparatus connecting the plurality of data storage elements to the electrical power source and the communication source such that power from the electrical power source and communication from the communication source may be provided to the media blade without interruption when the media blade is moved in the drawer like motion outward from at least partially within the interior space.

Abstract: A library apparatus includes a storage shelf including a first movable shelf and a second movable shelf each having a plurality of rows and columns of cells in which storage mediums are to be stored, a drive unit being disposed such that a direction of access to the drive unit for inserting/ejecting of one of the storage mediums is the same as a direction of access to the storage shelf, a conveyor for conveying one of the storage mediums between the storage shelf and the drive unit, and a movement control unit for controlling to lift a specific row of cells of the first movable shelf to produce a space and to move horizontally a specific row of cells of the second movable shelf to a position in the space accessible by the conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for selecting a source cluster in a distributed storage configuration. A measurement module measures system factors for a plurality of clusters over a plurality of instances. The clusters are in communication over a network and each cluster comprises at least one tape volume cache. A smoothing module applies a smoothing function to the system factors, wherein recent instances have higher weights. A lifespan module calculates a mount-to-dismount lifespan for each cluster from the smoothed system factors. A selection module selects a source cluster for accessing an instance of a specified volume in response to the mount-to-dismount lifespans and a user policy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a changer apparatus for information discs, comprising a stacking unit for stacking at least two information discs in at least two stacking positions, a read/write unit for reading information stored on the information discs and/or writing information on the information discs in a play position, an eject position being provided in which an information disc can be removed from the apparatus, In such a changer apparatus transport means have been provided for moving the information discs from the eject position into a loading position of the stacking unit along a curve-shaped loading path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for retrieving data related to a data cartridge contained in a multi-plane media storage system. One or more data retrieval devices are attached to the cartridge access device. A transponder is attached to the data cartridge for storing the related data, and at least one reader attached to a cartridge access device of the media storage system is positionable adjacent the data cartridge for reading the related data from the transponder. A scanner adapted to scan bar code indicia on the data cartridges may also be attached to the cartridge access device at the opposite end from the reader.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for providing an automated imaging system comprising an illumination source, a phosphorescent imaging target, and an optical imaging sensor for receiving luminance information emitted from the phosphorescent imaging target.

Abstract: A storage apparatus includes carriages that are arranged in a matrix and store and transport objects, and a carriage shifting mechanism that is fixed to the storage apparatus and shifts the carriages.

Abstract: A method to write information to a designated information storage medium using an allocated data storage device using a specified information recording format, whereby a previously-determined media bit for the designated information storage medium is examined, and a previously-determined device bit for the allocated data storage device is examined, and the write capability of the designated information storage medium using the specified information recording format is determined and displayed. Management classes embedded in the file name may augment the media bit and device bit for determining the write capability.

Abstract: A method to write information to a designated information storage medium using an allocated data storage device using a specified information recording format, whereby a previously-determined media bit for the designated information storage medium is examined, and a previously-determined device bit for the allocated data storage device is examined, and the write capability of the designated information storage medium using the specified information recording format is determined.

Abstract: A method may be provided for establishing a service communication channel to a multi-server computer system comprising a plurality of modular units. At least selected modular units can have a wireless communication port. The method may comprise transmitting an existence request message to the wireless communication port of each modular unit provided therewith; and receiving at least one existence response message from at least one of the plurality of modular units. The existence response message may include an identifier of the modular unit.

Abstract: A disk player which can insert and extract a disk, while a disk is being played, into and out of a compact body. During a movement in which one of disk trays is being moved from a disk standby position to a disk playing position, the disk comes into engagement with a disk playing means supporting mechanism to move the disk playing means in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A data storage library is disclosed that provides a variable sized load/unload area within the library. The data storage library includes a housing defining an exterior and an interior region, storage slots disposed in the interior region for storing data cartridges, a barrier door, a front door, and a controller. The barrier door has a closed position for dividing the interior region into a first interior region and a second interior region. Thus, the interior region is divided into two regions when the barrier door is closed. The controller closes the barrier door prior to the front door being opened, and opens the barrier door after the front door is closed. Thus, access is permitted to only the first interior region from the exterior region when the front door is opened. The first interior region is sized to permit a user to entirely physically enter the first interior region.

Abstract: The storage media recording/writing system includes a media drive circuit, a head retaining means, a head moving means, a head drive circuit, a signal processing circuit, and a controller to control these. The head drive circuit possesses a first semiconductor integrated circuit having an amplifier that amplifies the read signal from the head, and a second semiconductor integrated circuit placed between the first semiconductor integrated circuit and the signal processing circuit, which has a circuit that receives write data from the signal processing circuit and generates a drive signal to drive a write head. Further, the first semiconductor integrated circuit is mounted on a part near the front of the head retaining means, and the second semiconductor integrated circuit is installed on the side of the moving means.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed to read from a portable data storage cartridge data position information, and to communicate that data position information to a data drive unit during transport of the cartridge to that data drive unit.

Abstract: A method to write information to a designated information storage medium using an allocated data storage device using a specified information recording format, whereby a previously-determined media bit for the designated information storage medium is examined, and a previously-determined device bit for the allocated data storage device is examined, and the write capability of the designated information storage medium using the specified information recording format is determined.

Abstract: A disc reproducing apparatus having a disc exchange function includes a housing section, a reproducing unit, a movement unit and a pull-out unit. The housing section holds plural optical discs and is detachably mounted on a main body portion of the apparatus. The housing section includes plural trays on which to set optical discs. These trays are mounted for movement between a pull-out position out of the housing section and a housed position in the housing section. The reproducing unit reproduces an optical disc. The movement unit moves one of the housing section and the recording and/or reproducing unit relative to the other. The movement unit moves the housing section and the recording and/or reproducing unit relative to the arraying direction of plural trays housed in the housing section. The movement mechanism includes a positioning mechanism for positioning the recording and/or reproducing unit relative to a sole tray housed in the housing section.

Abstract: A stocker for information recording media is capable of stocking the information recording media and is to be loaded in a changer or unloaded from it. The stocker comprises a trace record device for providing a trace of lodging or dislodging operation of at least one information recording medium when the above-mentioned operation is carried out in an off-line condition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hard disk drive picking device and method for transferring a disk drive from one of a plurality of storage bins in a library to a destination wherein the disk drive may be electrically interconnected to a computer. The picking device includes a backplane adapted to provide power or I/O interconnections between the disk drive and the destination during transfer of the disk drive.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed which utilize a retaining mechanism to retain a first part against a second part in a manner that supplements or supplants use of adhesive. A retaining mechanism retains a first part against the surface of a second part, wherein the second part comprises a rib that is spatially separated from and oriented over such surface. The retaining mechanism is arranged tightly between the rib and the first part to impart force against the first part to retain it against the surface of the second part. In one implementation, the retaining mechanism is utilized to secure an illuminator cable against the surface of a lid assembly within a media picker device. For instance, a retaining mechanism may be arranged to fit tightly between a rib of the lid assembly and an illuminator cable to retain such illuminator cable against the surface of the lid assembly.

Abstract: Data storage drives of an automated data storage library are allocated to received requests. A drive resource provider, upon receiving a request for a drive when all of the drives of the pool are allocated, holds any mount of a portable data storage cartridge relative to the request, releasing the hold when a drive is allocated. Spare drives are provided, outside of the pool. A spare drive may be allocated in response to the request, and a message is posted indicating use of the spare data storage drive. The posted message may comprise a notification that action may be taken to permanently transfer a spare data storage drive to the pool.

Abstract: A disc changer comprises a receiving unit for receiving a plurality of discs, a base unit, a playback unit and a transfer unit for transferring one of the plurality of discs to the playback unit. The transfer unit is movable in the perpendicular direction to the base unit. The playback unit has on its opposite ends swing support axes. The playback unit is swingable around the swing support axes relative to the base unit and the transfer unit, respectively. The playback unit has a gear. The base unit has a base unit-gear segment portion and the transfer unit has a transfer unit-gear segment portion. The gear is held between the base unit-gear segment portion and the transfer unit-gear segment portion so as to engage with these gear segment portions.

Abstract: A high density tape library includes a plurality of rectangular platforms mounted adjacent one another for movement in a plane, with tape cassette magazines mounted on the platforms. The platforms have depending guide and cam follower members for movement around a generally rectangular track under the control of a series of cams. At a cassette handling station, selected tape cassettes are shifted from a magazine to a tape drive.

Abstract: In general, the present invention provides a cartridge positioning mechanism for securing and ejecting media cartridges being contained by a magazine that is fixably mounted within the cavity of an autochanger. More specifically, a rocker arm pivotally coupled to a rear portion of a magazine and a control spring, having a lift and logic component, controls the rocker arm to secure a cartridge being received within the magazine and eject a cartridge that needs to be removed. This inventive magazine structure will provide a “push to insert” and “push to eject” process for securing and removing a cartridge from a hard to reach magazine being permanently attached within a cavity of a conventional autochanger.

Abstract: A cassette changer which comprises a recording and reproducing unit having an insert and withdrawal port into and from which a groove-carrying cassette can be inserted and withdrawn, and a storage unit adapted to store a plurality of cassettes therein, and which is used to transfer the cassette between the recording and reproducing unit and storage unit, the cassette changer being further provided with a chuck capable of taking a locking position in which the chuck is engaged with the groove of the cassette, and a release position in which the chuck leaves the groove and does not prevent a first transfer unit from moving, a second transfer unit transferring a cassette to a storage position or an insert and withdrawal position and thereafter being allowed to move further, whereby a chuck releasing member engages the chuck, which is thereby moved from the locking position to the release position.

Abstract: A disc recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a housing section for housing a plurality of discs, the housing section having a plurality of trays each for setting a disc thereon, the tray being movable between a pull-out position outside of the housing section and a housed position within the housing section, a recording and/or reproducing unit for recording and/or reproducing the disc, a movement unit for moving one of the housing section and the recording and/or reproducing unit relative to the other, the movement unit causing relative movement between the housing section and the recording and/or reproducing unit in an arraying direction of the plural trays housed in the housing section and a pull-out unit for pulling out from the housing section one of the plural trays housed within the housing section.

Abstract: In general, the present invention provides an autochanger device having a cavity for receiving a magazine containing a media cartridge, wherein a retention arm of the cavity retrains the media pieces within the magazine while the magazine fills the cavity. In particular, a detent mechanism attached to the magazine interacts with the retention arm of the library, via a magazine transport handle, to secure media cartridges contained within the magazine as the magazine is received by a cavity of the autochanger.

Abstract: A cartridge receiving apparatus comprises a receiving unit for receiving at least one cartridge; at least one support unit for supporting the cartridge received; and a detection device for detecting a position of the support unit. A decision as whether receipt of the cartridge is completed or not is made in accordance with detection results obtained by the detection device.

Abstract: Tray supporting a recording medium is transferred horizontally to a designated destination component and stored in the destination component along with the recording medium. The tray has one end facing the destination component and this one end has a surface slanted with respect to a front wall surface of an entry/exit of the destination component. With the provision of such a slanted end surface, even when the tray being transferred comes into collision with the front wall, the tray is allowed to gradually slide along the wall surface into the destination component. As a consequence, the recording medium supported on the tray can be smoothly passed into the destination component.

Abstract: Prior to the control of disk transportation, from each of plural incorporated disk drives, a changer controller acquires an identifier peculiar to the disk drive via a local bus line, and recognizes correspondence relationships between element addresses and the disk drives. In response to arrival of a first request command, the recognized correspondence relationships are sent to a computer system serving as the request source. Furthermore, in response to arrival of a second command, also each of the disk drives sends the identifier to the computer system serving as the request source via the SCSI controller.

Abstract: A supporting mechanism is provided to be moved between a disc insertion opening and a disc storing device, and a driving roller is rotatably mounted on the supporting mechanism for carrying a disc inserted in the opening toward the disc storing device. The supporting mechanism is moved between the opening and the disc storing device, and the driving roller is driven for carrying the disc from the opening to the disc storing device.

Abstract: A MD loading mechanism for a multidisk MD reproducing apparatus capable of storing a plurality of MDs and of reproducing information recorded on the plurality of MDs successively comprises: a plurality of cartridge holders for holding MD cartridges therein, respectively; a MD cartridge storage unit for storing the plurality of cartridge holders therein in a stack so that the back end surfaces of the MD cartridges held within the cartridge holders can be seen from outside, provided with a plurality of insertion slots through which the MD cartridges are inserted in the cartridge holders and cartridge holder locking means for locking the cartridge holders within the MD cartridge storage unit; and a cartridge holder transfer means for transferring the cartridge holder holding a desired MD cartridge from the MD cartridge storage unit to the MD reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: Tray supporting a recording medium is transferred horizontally to a designated destination component and stored in the destination component along with the recording medium. The tray has one end facing the destination component and this one end has a surface slanted with respect to a front wall surface of an entry/exit of the destination component. With the provision of such a slanted end surface, even when the tray being transferred comes into collision with the front wall, the tray is allowed to gradually slide along the wall surface into the destination component. As a consequence, the recording medium supported on the tray can be smoothly passed into the destination component.

Abstract: A magazine casing is composed of a magazine upper section and a magazine lower section. A chassis unit includes a magazine shift unit for lifting the magazine upper section, a vertical-tracking unit for selecting a desired disk, a swing unit transferred into a space between the divided magazine upper section and the magazine lower section, and a drive unit provided on the swing unit for playing back the selected disk. A vertical guide hole is formed in the magazine upper section. The chassis unit is provided with a vertical guide shaft that is inserted into the guide hole when lifting the magazine upper section.

Abstract: A magazine casing is composed of a magazine upper section and a magazine lower section. A chassis unit includes a magazine shift unit for lifting the magazine upper section, a vertical-tracking unit for selecting a desired disk, a swing unit transferred into a space between the divided magazine upper section and the magazine lower section, and a drive unit provided on the swing unit for playing back the selected disk. A vertical guide hole is formed in the magazine upper section. The chassis unit is provided with a vertical guide shaft that is inserted into the guide hole when lifting the magazine upper section.

Abstract: A disc storage is provided for storing a plurality of trays, each for holding a disc. The trays are stacked in the storage. A movable member is provided to be moved in the vertical direction. A disc player, a tray moving device are mounted on the movable member. The tray moving device is provided to be engaged with trays for moving the trays and for forming spaces between trays for receiving disc player. A driving device is provided for vertically moving the movable member.