# US 2012/0084500 A1 · System, method, and computer program product for creating a single library image from multiple independent tape libraries > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0084500 A1 - Document ID: US20120084500A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/895,742 - Filed: 2010-09-30 - Published: 2012-04-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-30 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Leonard G. Jesionowski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120084500A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0686: {Libraries, e.g. tape libraries, jukebox} - G06F 3/0617: {in relation to availability} - G06F 3/0647: {Migration mechanisms} - G11B 15/689: {Control of the cassette changing arrangement} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract In one embodiment, a system includes a library manager for communicating with a plurality of logical libraries having data organized therein and stored on sequential access media therein, wherein the library manager controls movement operations of a plurality of shuttle cars along one or more shuttle pathways, wherein each of the shuttle cars are for transporting a sequential access medium between any of the plurality of logical libraries, wherein each of the logical libraries comprises at least one local station for sending and/or receiving shuttle cars to and/or from the plurality of logical libraries, wherein the one or more shuttle pathways connect the stations in a multi-drop arrangement, wherein each destination station is represented by a unique export-only address, and wherein all source stations are represented by a common import-only address. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are also described according to various embodiments. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a library manager for communicating with a plurality of logical libraries having data organized therein and stored on sequential access media therein, wherein the library manager controls movement operations of a plurality of shuttle cars along one or more shuttle pathways, wherein each of the shuttle cars are for transporting a sequential access medium between any of the plurality of logical libraries, wherein each of the logical libraries comprises at least one local station for sending and/or receiving shuttle cars to and/or from the plurality of logical libraries, wherein the one or more shuttle pathways connect the stations in a multi-drop arrangement, wherein each destination station is represented by a unique export-only address, and wherein all source stations are represented by a common import-only address. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising: the plurality of logical libraries; and logic operable to instruct one of the shuttle cars to transfer a first sequential access medium from a first logical library to a second logical library, wherein each of the logical libraries comprises at least one sequential access media drive, wherein the one or more shuttle pathways allow for direct transfers of sequential access media between any of the plurality of logical libraries. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the first sequential access medium is transferred when each of the at least one drive of the first logical library is in use, and further comprising logic operable to cause the at least one drive of the second logical library to read and/or write from and/or to the first sequential access medium. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, further comprising logic for creating a mapping of multi-drop unidirectional addresses representing the stations, wherein the mapping uses unidirectional addressing to represent all possible transfers of sequential access media between the stations. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein an import element address for a sequential access medium transferred from a first station is different than an export element address for the sequential access medium transferred to the first station. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the multi-drop unidirectional address comprises a unique unidirectional connected media changer (CMC) import/export element (IEE) address. ### Claim 7 A method, comprising: requesting access to a media drive located at a first station for loading a media cartridge therein, wherein the media cartridge is physically located at a second station; and receiving a response indicating a multi-drop unidirectional address specified in the response, wherein a shuttle car physically moves the media cartridge from the second station to the first station. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising creating a mapping of multi-drop unidirectional addresses representing a plurality of stations, wherein the mapping uses unidirectional addressing to represent all possible transfers of media cartridges between the plurality of stations. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein an import element address for the media cartridge transferred from the second station is different than an export element address for the media cartridge transferred to the second station. ### Claim 10 A computer program product for managing at least one logical library, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code configured to request access to a media drive located at a first station for loading a media cartridge therein, wherein the media cartridge is physically located at a second station; and computer readable program code configured to receive a response indicating a multi-drop unidirectional address specified in the response, wherein a shuttle car physically moves the media cartridge from the second station to the first station. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising computer readable program code configured to create a mapping of multi-drop unidirectional addresses representing a plurality of stations, wherein the mapping uses unidirectional addressing to represent all possible transfers of media cartridges between the plurality of stations. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The computer program product of claim 10, wherein an import element address for the media cartridge transferred from the second station is different than an export element address for the media cartridge transferred to the second station. ### Claim 13 A system, comprising: a plurality of logical libraries, each logical library comprising: at least one sequential access media drive; at least one local station for sending and/or receiving shuttle cars to and/or from the plurality of logical libraries; and sequential access media for storing data therein; and a library manager for communicating with the plurality of logical libraries, wherein the library manager controls movement operations of a plurality of shuttle cars along one or more shuttle pathways, wherein each of the shuttle cars are for transporting a sequential access medium between any of the plurality of logical libraries, wherein the one or more shuttle pathways connect the stations in a multi-drop arrangement, wherein each destination station is represented by a unique export-only address, wherein all source stations are represented by a common import-only address, and wherein an import element address for a sequential access medium transferred from a first station is different than an export element address for the sequential access medium transferred to the first station.