Method and apparatus for reducing response time in automated library data retrieval systems

A data storage system comprising:

• a library unit storage subsystem;
• a plurality of unit cartridges containing storage media stored in said library unit storage subsystem;
• a picker means for retrieving the unit cartridges from the storage subsystem;
• a recorder/reproducer means for at least retrieving data from the unit cartridges;
• a managing controller for managing the data stored in the storage system;
• a multiple virtual cartridge controller (MVCC) for creating, managing and deleting multiple copies of data of each unit cartridge;
• an administrator under control of said MVCC to select whether one or more copies of the data in one unit cartridge are to be automatically copied at any selected data end, and to select whether one or more duplicated copies or data shifted copies are to be made;
• a log data accumulator under control of said MVCC for maintaining a use pattern indication criteria of each copy of the data stored on the media in the plurality of unit cartridges;
• a unit cartridge catalog under control of said MVCC for maintaining a listing of all data and unit cartridges stored in the library storage subsystem;
• and
• a logic function under control of said MVCC for receiving a request for data from the managing controller for selecting the unit cartridges from which the data is retrieved in the shortest period of time using the storage location of each unit cartridge, drive means availability, picker means location and availability, and any queues already in place for the data requested.

A data processing system comprising:

• at least one host central processor;
• at least one control unit connected to receive commands from said at least one host processor and to transmit data to at least one of said host processors;
• a library unit storage subsystem connected to at least one control unit;
• a plurality of unit cartridges containing media storage stored in said library unit storage subsystem;
• a picker means for retrieving the unit cartridges from the storage subsystem;
• a recorder/reproducer means for at least retrieving data from the media in said unit cartridges;
• a managing controller for managing the data stored on the media in the unit cartridges in the storage system;
• a multiple virtual cartridge controller (MVCC) for creating, managing and deleting multiple copies of data in each unit cartridge;
• an administrator under control of said MVCC to select whether one or more copies of the data on the media in one unit cartridge are to be automatically copied at any selected data end, and to select whether one or more duplicated copies or data shifted copies are to be made;
• a log data accumulator under control of said MVCC for maintaining a use pattern indication criteria of each copy of the data stored on the media in the plurality of unit cartridges;
• a unit cartridge catalog under control of said MVCC for maintaining a listing of all data and unit cartridges stored in the library storage subsystem;
• and
• a logic function under control of said MVCC for receiving a request for data from the managing controller for selecting the unit cartridges from which the data is retrieved in the shortest period of time using the storage location of each unit cartridge, recorder/reproducer means availability, picker means location and availability, and any queues already in place for the data requested;
• said library controller transmitting the retrieved data for use by said host processor.

A library management system for controlling the accessing of data from a plurality of unit cartridges containing the data stored on storage media in the cartridges and stored in a library storage device, said library management system comprising:

• a multiple virtual cartridge controller (MVCC) means for creating, managing and deleting multiple copies of data of each unit cartridge;
• an administrator means under control of said MVCC means for selecting whether one or more copies of the data in one unit cartridge are to be automatically copied at any selected data end, for selecting whether one or more duplicated copies or data shifted copies are to be made, for selecting the residence time for the duplicated copies, and for deleting the copies at the end of the selected residence time;
• a log data accumulator means under control of said MVCC for maintaining a use pattern indication criteria of each copy of the data stored on the media in the plurality of unit cartridges;
• a unit cartridge catalog means under control of said MVCC means for maintaining a listing of all data and unit cartridges stored in the library storage subsystem;
• and
• a logic function means under control of said MVCC means for receiving a request for data from the managing controller for selecting the unit cartridges from which the data may be retrieved in the shortest period of time using the storage location of each unit cartridge, recorder/reproducer means availability in the library devices, picker means location and availability in the library devices, and any queues already in place for the data requested.

A machine implemented method for managing a library storage system containing media storage in a unit cartridge comprising the steps of:

• maintaining a use pattern indication criteria of each copy of the data stored on the media in the plurality of unit cartridges;
• determining whether data on the media stored in the unit cartridge is to be automatically copied when full according to the use pattern maintained;
• creating copies of the data on the media under control of an operator if the data stored on the media is not to be automatically copied;
• creating copies of the data on the media by the library storage system if the data stored on the media is to be automatically copied;
• determining whether a duplicated copy or a shifted copy of the data on the media is to be made;
• selecting the number of copies to be made according to the use pattern criteria maintained of the data on the media;
• determining the resident time for the number of copies selected;
• and
• deleting the copies of the data on the media after the determined resident time has passed.

An automated storage library having a machine executed ability for selecting a unit cartridge containing a required data from a plurality of unit cartridges containing the same data, said library comprising:

• means for selecting the unit cartridges in the library;
• means for at least retrieving data from the unit cartridge selected by said selecting means;
• means for creating multiple copies of data of any unit cartridge;
• means for determining whether one or more copies of the data are to be made and wherein said creating means creates data shifted copies of the data of the unit cartridge selected for copying;
• and
• means for receiving a request for the required data and responsive thereto to activate said selecting means to select the unit cartridge from the multiple copies of unit cartridges having the required data that is retrieved in the shortest period of time using the storage location of each copy, the availability of said at least data retrieving means, the location and availability of said selecting means, and any queues already in place for the data requested.