Method of accessing multifile storage medium and library system

A library system, comprising:

• at least one portable multifile storage medium storing a plurality of files, each file being managed with respective independent identification symbols;
• a shelf for housing a plurality of multifile storage media;
• at least one storage medium driving means for performing an information recording/reproducing operation for said multifile storage medium;
• handling means for performing transportation of said multifile storage medium between said medium driving means and said shelf;
• control information storing means for recording control information indicating correspondence between said identification symbols and said multifile storage medium;
• control means for controlling said handling means to effect mounting/demounting of said multifile storage medium on/from said storage medium driving means on the basis of an identification symbol received from a host system and said control information;
• and
• means for optimizing said plurality of access requests so that said plural access requests conform to a physical sequence in which said plural files stored in said multifile storage medium are accessed by suspending correspondingly a plurality of access requests for a plurality of said files stored in said multifile storage medium.

A method of accessing portable multifile storage media from a shelf, each multifile storage medium storing a plurality of individual files, said files each having respective independent identification symbols, comprising the steps of:

• storing correspondence relations between an identification symbol of each file and the medium in which said files are stored;
• loading, upon receiving a movement instruction indicative of a file designation from one or more host computers, a medium having the designated file or files stored therein into a driving means for performing a recording/reproducing operation for a portable multifile storage medium;
• transferring individual files stored in said loaded medium on a file-by-file basis between said multifile storage medium and a plurality of buffers which can be accessed independently of one another;
• and
• processing access requests from said one or more host computers to said individual files in parallel within said buffers.