EP0426189A2 — Mass data storage library

Claim 1

Independent Claim 186 words

A mass data storage and retrieval system comprising: a plurality of data storage modules forming a mass storage library for information storage; a data directory archive for maintaining a directory of the information contained in each data storage module and generating data location output signals; a plurality of data recorder modules for receiving a selected data storage module and individually controllable to read information from or write information to the selected data storage module in said mass storage library; interface means coupled to said data directory archive and said data recorder module for accessing information stored in and transmitting information to be stored in said data storage modules at locations identified by the data directory archive; and a control computer coupled to said interface means, the mass storage library and the data directory archive for receiving the data location output signals and in response thereto, generating a first command signal for selecting a data storage module in the mass storage library to be received by a selected data recorder module and generating a second command signal for coupling the interface means to the selected recorder module.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 186 words

A mass data storage and retrieval system comprising: a plurality of data storage modules forming a mass storage library for information storage; a data directory archive for maintaining a directory of the information contained in each data storage module and generating data location output signals; a plurality of data recorder modules for receiving a selected data storage module and individually controllable to read information from or write information to the selected data storage module in said mass storage library; interface means coupled to said data directory archive and said data recorder module for accessing information stored in and transmitting information to be stored in said data storage modules at locations identified by the data directory archive; and a control computer coupled to said interface means, the mass storage library and the data directory archive for receiving the data location output signals and in response thereto, generating a first command signal for selecting a data storage module in the mass storage library to be received by a selected data recorder module and generating a second command signal for coupling the interface means to the selected recorder module.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 151 words

A system as in Claim 1 including an input/output data channel means coupling the interface computer means to the selected data recorder module, said input/output data channel comprising: a plurality of cross-bar switches coupled to said interface means and said data recorder module and each having a plurality of independent input/output ports, any two of which may be connected; any one port of each cross-bar switch having the capability of being coupled to any one port of an adjacent cross-bar switch so as to serially connect the cross-bar switches; and a switch control module responsive to the second command signal from said control computer and coupled to each cross-bar switch for generating first output signals that couple any two selected ports in each cross-bar switch to each other and that couple selected adjacent cross-bar switches together to form signal paths that couple any interface means to any selected data recorder module.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 60 words

The system as in Claim 2 further including: means in the switch control module for generating second output signals to establish a switch diagnostic routine; and a diagnostic module coupled to the switch control module and the cross-bar switches for receiving the second output signal and generatlng diagnostic signals for performing said switch diagnostic routine on any selected cross-bar switch.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 82 words

A system as in Claim 3 having an on-line operational mode and an off-line operational mode and including: a drive controller module coupled between the input/output data channel means and the data recorder module for receiving data from the data channel means and controlling the selected data recorder module during on-line operation thereof; and said drive controller module including a controller component for performing diagnostic routines on the recorder module during off-line operation and preparing the recorder module for an on-line operation.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 77 words

A system as in Claim 4 wherein the drive controller module further includes: an interface component assembly for coupling the drive controller module to the input/output data channel means; buffer means in said drive controller module for simultaneously storing data being transmitted to the selected data recorder module and data being received from the selected data recorder module; and a recorder interface module in said drive controller module for coupling the buffer means to the recorder module.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 44 words

A system as in Claim 5 wherein the buffer means further contains read-after-write compare means for performing a bit-by-bit comparison of received data from the recorder module with the actual data written to the selected data storage module to verify accuracy of the recording.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

A system as in Claim 6 wherein the writing of data to the selected data storage module and reading of data from the selected data storage module occur simultaneously.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 34 words

A system as in Claim 1 wherein said interface means has at least four input/output data channels for simultaneously transmitting data to be recorded to and receiving data from the selected data recorder module.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 72 words

A system as in Claim 8 further including: a cross-bar switch module having input/output ports; a first data interface module coupled between each input/output data channel and a corresponding input/output port of said cross-bar switch module for synchronizing the data flow therebetween; and a second data interface module coupled between each of the input/output ports of the crossbar switch module and a selected data recorder module for synchronizing the data flow therebetween.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 143 words

A system as in Claim 1 wherein the mass storage library comprises: a plurality of rows of aligned data storage modules each of which includes a plurality of data storage means with opposing sides containing data storage means in parallel slots; each of the data storage modules providing access to the data storage means thereon; an automatic data storage means accessor associated with each row of data storage modules and with a plurality of said data recorder modules for selecting one of the data storage means in one of the data storage modules for use by one of the data recorder modules during read and write operations; and means coupled to each of trie data storage modules for selectively enabling the data storage mean on each of the opposed sides of each data storage module to be accessed by the associated automatic accessor.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 34 words

A system as in Claim 10 wherein the selectively enabling means is capable of rotating each data storage module in 90 degree increments so that manual access to the data storage means is available.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 49 words

A system as in Claim 11 wherein each of the data storage means accessors is located between adjacent rows of the data storage modules such that the data storage means on opposing sides of the data storage modules in either row may be selectively accessed by a common accessor.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 97 words

A system as in Claim 12 further comprising: a lateral transfer trolley associated with an end of each row of data storage modulhs for moving said data recording means between the rows; a data recording means storage unit associated with and movable on the trolley from one row to another, the storage unit. having slots for storage of said data recording means; and said storage unit being movable on the trolley such that the slots are accessible by each accessor so as to enable said data recording means to be transferred from one row to another row.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 168 words

A data retrieval and recording system having a computer for interfacing with a recorder module for reading data from or writing data to a predetermined area of a storage medium comprising: a multi-access buffer memory having multiple inputs and outputs; input interface means for coupling the computer to the buffer memory ; data interface means for coupling said buffer memory to the recorder module; a buffer control circuit coupled to the buffer memory for generating a read-after-write command to cause data from the computer to be stored in one area of the buffer memory and for causing the data read from the storage medium to be stored in another area of the buffer memory for simultaneous read and write operations; and controller means coupled to said input interface means and the buffer control circuit for receiving operational function commands from the computer and organizing the buffer memory to perform said storage of said data received from the computer and storage of said data read from the storage medium.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 168 words

A data retrieval and recording system having a computer for interfacing with a recorder module for reading data from or writing data to a predetermined area of a storage medium comprising: a multi-access buffer memory having multiple inputs and outputs; input interface means for coupling the computer to the buffer memory ; data interface means for coupling said buffer memory to the recorder module; a buffer control circuit coupled to the buffer memory for generating a read-after-write command to cause data from the computer to be stored in one area of the buffer memory and for causing the data read from the storage medium to be stored in another area of the buffer memory for simultaneous read and write operations; and controller means coupled to said input interface means and the buffer control circuit for receiving operational function commands from the computer and organizing the buffer memory to perform said storage of said data received from the computer and storage of said data read from the storage medium.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 134 words

The system of Claim 14 further including: a read-after-write circuit coupled to the multi-access buffer, the data interface means and the buffer control circuit for receiving said read-after-write command from said buffer control circuit and storing the data read from the storage medium in one area in the buffer and the data from said computer that is to be recorded in another area in the buffer; said read-after-write circuit further comprising means for comparing the computer data that is to be recorded with the data read from the storage medium to generate a signal indicating whether the data from the computer was recorded correctly; and means coupling the signal from said comparing means to the buffer control circuit to cause incorrectly recorded data to be rewritten on the recording medium in a different area.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 79 words

The system of Claim 15 further comprising: a drive mechanism coupled to the recorder module; a control interface means coupled to said drive mechanism and to said controller means for generating signals for said drive mechanism to control the drive speed and operation of the recorder module; and a control computer coupled to the controller means to direct the controller means to issue instruction commands to cause said control interface means to generate said signals for said drive means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 96 words

The improved system of Claim 16 further comprising: means in said recorder module for generating an error signal representing data storage medium degradation that warrants re-writing the data to the same data storage medium on initial recording and re-writing the data on the degraded data storage medium to another data storage medium on subsequent data reads; and said control interface means receiving the error signal from said recorder module and transmitting a signal to the controller means to cause the degraded data on the data storage medium to be rewritten on a different data storage medium.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 58 words

The system of Claim 17 further comprising: an auxiliary data interface criannel between said recorder module and the control interface means for transmitting auxilliary data signals from the controller means to the recorder module for storage and subsequent use in data search and retrieval and for returning the auxiliary data signals to the control interface means when accessed.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 120 words

A mass data storage system comprising: at least one recording medium storage module having sides for storing a plurality of recording media thereon; at least one recorder module for writing data to and reading data from the recording media; a recording medium accessor module associated with one side of said storage module for retrieving a recording medium from said one side and placing the recording medium in said at least one recorder module; and means for providing global access to recording media by rotating said storage module to associate the recording media on any selected side of the storage module with the accessor module such that the recording media on the selected side can be accessed by said accessor module.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 120 words

A mass data storage system comprising: at least one recording medium storage module having sides for storing a plurality of recording media thereon; at least one recorder module for writing data to and reading data from the recording media; a recording medium accessor module associated with one side of said storage module for retrieving a recording medium from said one side and placing the recording medium in said at least one recorder module; and means for providing global access to recording media by rotating said storage module to associate the recording media on any selected side of the storage module with the accessor module such that the recording media on the selected side can be accessed by said accessor module.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 17 words

A mass data storage system as in Claim 19 wherein the recording medium is a cassette tape.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 102 words

A mass data storage system as in Claim 20 further comprising: a plurality of cassette storage modules arranged in parallel rows; a cassette accessor module mounted between adjacent rows of storage modules for movement parallel to both the length and height of said rows of cassette storage modules so that all cassettes in both adjacent rows facing said accessor module may be accessed by the same accessor module; and means for individually and selectively accessing each cassette storage module in adjacent rows so that all cassettes thereon may be served by an accessor module between said adjacent rows of the storage modules.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 75 words

A mass data storage system as in Claim 21 further comprising: said at least one recorder module being located in each rotatable storage module such that said recorder module rotates with said rotatable storage module to be selectively associated with the cassette accessor module on either side of the rotatable module; and a plurality of said recorder modules in any row being selectively associated with the cassette accessor module on either side of that row.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 133 words

A mass data storage system as in Claim 22 further comprising: at least one lateral transfer module adjacent the ends of the parallel rows of cassette storage modules; said lateral transfer module having slots for containing cassette storage tapes; each cassette accessor module between rows of cassette storage modules being associated with said lateral transfer module such that cassette storage tapes are transferable between said rotatable storage module and said lateral transfer module; and means for moving said lateral transfer module between rows of said cassette storage modules so that cassette tapes in one cassette storage module in one row may be transferred to the lateral transfer module by an accessor module for movement to another row and there transferred by an accessor module to a desired storage module in said another row.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 69 words

A mass data storage system as in Claim 23 wherein said cassette accessor module includes: multiple arm/gripper mechanisms mounted on a vertical translation rod for movement in a vertical plane to access cassettes in said rotatable and lateral transfer modules; and at least one horizontal translation track for moving said vertical rod horizontally to give said gripper mechanism access to each rotatable module and to the lateral transfer module.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 182 words

A mass data storage !ibrary system comprising: mass digital data storage media including a plurality of data storage devices having areas for storing digitized data; a first computer for identifying and enabling a designated storage device to be accessed and identifying and selecting the area of the designated storage device on which data is to be written; a second computer coupled to said first computer and said storage media for transmitting digital data to be stored in the selected area of the designated storage device enabled by the first computer and for generating a code identifying said data; and a file directory module for storing file directory data identifying all digital data stored in said mass digital data storage media; said file directory module being coupled to the first computer and the second computer for receiving said file data representing the identity of the designated storage device, the area of that device selected to receive the digital data and the code identifying the digital data being stored on the accessed storage device and storing the received file data as a file directory.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 182 words

A mass data storage !ibrary system comprising: mass digital data storage media including a plurality of data storage devices having areas for storing digitized data; a first computer for identifying and enabling a designated storage device to be accessed and identifying and selecting the area of the designated storage device on which data is to be written; a second computer coupled to said first computer and said storage media for transmitting digital data to be stored in the selected area of the designated storage device enabled by the first computer and for generating a code identifying said data; and a file directory module for storing file directory data identifying all digital data stored in said mass digital data storage media; said file directory module being coupled to the first computer and the second computer for receiving said file data representing the identity of the designated storage device, the area of that device selected to receive the digital data and the code identifying the digital data being stored on the accessed storage device and storing the received file data as a file directory.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 153 words

A mass data storage library system as in Claim 25 further comprising: means coupled to the second computer for requesting selected data from said mass storage library system; said second computer requesting file data information from the file directory module identifying the storage device and the area thereon containing the selected data; said file directory module locating said requested file data information and coupling the information to said first computer; a record/playback module for selectively receiving a data storage device; a media access controller for retrieving said identified data storage device, placing it in said record/playback module and positioning the data storage device such that the requested data can be read by said record/playback module; and a switching device coupled to said first computer, said second computer and said record/playback module for receiving instructions from said first computer to couple the requested data from the identified data storage device to said second computer.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 34 words

A mass data storage library system as in Claim 26 further including: erasable optical disks forming the file directory module; and an optical disk drive for accessing the stored data on said optical disks.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 138 words

A system for controlling a drive module coupled to a cassette tape record/playback unit comprising: a buffer storage unit in the drive module for storing data being transmitted to and received from the record/playback unit to allow simultaneous read and write operations from and to storage areas of a cassette tape; a buffer control module coupled to the buffer storage unit for controlling operation of the buffer storage unit ; a first computer coupled to the buffer control module for on-line operation of a specific record/playback unit to which the buffer storage unit is connected; and a second computer coupled to the buffer control module for generating a first signal to operate the buffer storage unit in a diagnostic mode and a second signal to operate the buffer storage unit in a preparation mode for said on-line operation.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 138 words

A system for controlling a drive module coupled to a cassette tape record/playback unit comprising: a buffer storage unit in the drive module for storing data being transmitted to and received from the record/playback unit to allow simultaneous read and write operations from and to storage areas of a cassette tape; a buffer control module coupled to the buffer storage unit for controlling operation of the buffer storage unit ; a first computer coupled to the buffer control module for on-line operation of a specific record/playback unit to which the buffer storage unit is connected; and a second computer coupled to the buffer control module for generating a first signal to operate the buffer storage unit in a diagnostic mode and a second signal to operate the buffer storage unit in a preparation mode for said on-line operation.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 56 words

A drive module as in Claim 28 wherein said preparation mode enables the record/playback unit to position a cassette tape to an area storing specific data before logically connecting the record/playback unit to said first computer so as to minimize post-connection time loss due to searching for specific data on a given tape during on-line operation.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 56 words

A drive module as in Claim 29 further comprising: test equipment forming part of the drive module; and said second computer commanding the test equipment to run diagnostic tests on the record/playback unit and the drive module and monitoring the operability of the record/playback unit and the drive module as a result of said diagnostic tests.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 242 words

A system for providing any one of a plurality of host computers with access to digital data stored in a mass storage library comprising: a plurality of interface computers coupled to said host computers for receiving request signals to access data stored in said mass storage library, any one of said host computers being selectively connected to any one of said first interface computers; said mass storage data library comprising a plurality of individually accessible data storage devices; a data directory archive comprising a data storage medium for maintaining an address directory of the data stored on each data storage device for access by said interface computers; a plurality of data record/playback modules, each of said modules reading data from and writing data to a selected data storage device; a control computer coupled to said interface computers, said data directory archive and said mass storage library for receiving said data access request signals and said directory address data and generating first signals causing a data storage device containing the requested data to be loaded into a selected data record/playback module and second signals for coupling the requested data to the requesting interface computer; and switch means coupled to the control computer, the interface computers and to the selected data record/playback module and responsive to said second signals from said control computer to establish a signal path for coupling data to and from a selected data record/playback module and the requesting interface computer.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 242 words

A system for providing any one of a plurality of host computers with access to digital data stored in a mass storage library comprising: a plurality of interface computers coupled to said host computers for receiving request signals to access data stored in said mass storage library, any one of said host computers being selectively connected to any one of said first interface computers; said mass storage data library comprising a plurality of individually accessible data storage devices; a data directory archive comprising a data storage medium for maintaining an address directory of the data stored on each data storage device for access by said interface computers; a plurality of data record/playback modules, each of said modules reading data from and writing data to a selected data storage device; a control computer coupled to said interface computers, said data directory archive and said mass storage library for receiving said data access request signals and said directory address data and generating first signals causing a data storage device containing the requested data to be loaded into a selected data record/playback module and second signals for coupling the requested data to the requesting interface computer; and switch means coupled to the control computer, the interface computers and to the selected data record/playback module and responsive to said second signals from said control computer to establish a signal path for coupling data to and from a selected data record/playback module and the requesting interface computer.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 14 words

A system as in Claim 31 where said data storage devices are cassette tapes.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 20 words

A system as in Claim 32 wherein said data storage media comprising said data directory archive are optical storage disks.

Claim 40

Independent Claim 218 words

A system for providing a plurality of host computers with access to digital data stored in a mass storage library comprising: a plurality of individually accessible storage modules each containing a plurality of recording elements for mass storage of digital data; a record/playback module associated with each of said storage modules, each of said record/playback modules selectively receiving one of said recording elements for writing digital information to and reading digital information from said recording element; a plurality of crossbar switches, each having a plurality of individual input and output ports, each crossbar switch capable of coupling any one of its inputs to any one of its outputs; a plurality of record/playback module drive units, each of said units having data read and write input and output lines, said read and write lines being coupled to a corresponding one of said record/playback modules and said crossbar switches for selectively reading digital data from and writing digital data to said recording elements; a plurality of interface computers coupled between said host computers and said crossbar switches; and means generating control signals to the crossbar switches to couple a predetermined interface computer to a selected record/playback module with simultaneous reading and writing operations on the same recording element to transfer data between said host computers and said selected record/playback module.

Claim 41

Independent Claim 218 words

A system for providing a plurality of host computers with access to digital data stored in a mass storage library comprising: a plurality of individually accessible storage modules each containing a plurality of recording elements for mass storage of digital data; a record/playback module associated with each of said storage modules, each of said record/playback modules selectively receiving one of said recording elements for writing digital information to and reading digital information from said recording element; a plurality of crossbar switches, each having a plurality of individual input and output ports, each crossbar switch capable of coupling any one of its inputs to any one of its outputs; a plurality of record/playback module drive units, each of said units having data read and write input and output lines, said read and write lines being coupled to a corresponding one of said record/playback modules and said crossbar switches for selectively reading digital data from and writing digital data to said recording elements; a plurality of interface computers coupled between said host computers and said crossbar switches; and means generating control signals to the crossbar switches to couple a predetermined interface computer to a selected record/playback module with simultaneous reading and writing operations on the same recording element to transfer data between said host computers and said selected record/playback module.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 18 words

A system as in Claim 34 wherein said recording elements in said mass storage library are tape cassettes.

Claim 43

Independent Claim 114 words

A method of providing access by means of a user interface to a mass data storage and retrieval system comprising the steps of: storing digital data in particular locations in a mass storage medium; maintaining a file directory archive identifying the location of all stored data in said mass storage medium; coupling an operating interface computer to said user interface for receiving requests to access data on said mass stored medium; and coupling a control computer to said interface computer, file directory archive and said mass storage medium for utilizing the data location identified by said file directory archive to couple said interface computer to said mass storage medium to retrieve said requested data.

Claim 44

Independent Claim 114 words

A method of providing access by means of a user interface to a mass data storage and retrieval system comprising the steps of: storing digital data in particular locations in a mass storage medium; maintaining a file directory archive identifying the location of all stored data in said mass storage medium; coupling an operating interface computer to said user interface for receiving requests to access data on said mass stored medium; and coupling a control computer to said interface computer, file directory archive and said mass storage medium for utilizing the data location identified by said file directory archive to couple said interface computer to said mass storage medium to retrieve said requested data.

Claim 45

Independent Claim 137 words

A method of simultaneously reading and writing data to and from a tape cassette record with a record/playback unit comprising the steps of: providing a crossbar switch having a plurality of ports, any one of which may be connected to any one of the others without interfering with the remaining ports; receiving data to be recorded at a first cross-bar switch input port; coupling a corresponding output port of the cross-bar switch to the write terminal of said record/playback unit for recording said received data; coupling the read terminal of said record/playback unit to a second cross-bar switch input port; and receiving data read from said record/playback unit at a corresponding output port of the second cross-bar switch so as to enable simultaneously reading of data from and the writing of data to said tape cassette record.

Claim 46

Independent Claim 137 words

A method of simultaneously reading and writing data to and from a tape cassette record with a record/playback unit comprising the steps of: providing a crossbar switch having a plurality of ports, any one of which may be connected to any one of the others without interfering with the remaining ports; receiving data to be recorded at a first cross-bar switch input port; coupling a corresponding output port of the cross-bar switch to the write terminal of said record/playback unit for recording said received data; coupling the read terminal of said record/playback unit to a second cross-bar switch input port; and receiving data read from said record/playback unit at a corresponding output port of the second cross-bar switch so as to enable simultaneously reading of data from and the writing of data to said tape cassette record.

Claim 47

Independent Claim 76 words

A method of mass storing data for access comprising the steps of: storing tape cassettes in slots on at least two sides of a storage module; associating a cassette access module with said storage module for retrieving and returning cassettes from and to said slots; and selectively rotating said storage module to enable said cassette access module to retrieve and return cassettes to slots on either of said at least two sides of said storage module.

Claim 48

Independent Claim 76 words

A method of mass storing data for access comprising the steps of: storing tape cassettes in slots on at least two sides of a storage module; associating a cassette access module with said storage module for retrieving and returning cassettes from and to said slots; and selectively rotating said storage module to enable said cassette access module to retrieve and return cassettes to slots on either of said at least two sides of said storage module.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 93 words

A method as in Claim 38 further comprising the steps of: aligning a plurality of said cassette storage modules in a row; forming a plurality of said rows in a spaced, parallel relationship; locating one of said cassette access modules between rows of cassette storage modules; and selectively rotating said cassette storage modules in each of said rows so as to enable the tape cassettes in slots on either of said at least two sides of each storage module in adjacent rows to be retrieved and replaced by the same cassette access module.

Mass data storage library

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