US 5,818,723 A · Quick access data storage library with backup capability

Abstract

The present media storage library has magazine storage bins which have front open sides and back open sides so that magazines containing data storage media can be inserted in or withdrawn from the bins from the front open sides by a front magazine picker or inserted in or withdrawn from the back open sides by a back magazine picker. Front and back transport assemblies, which provide a backup for each other, are associated with the front and back magazine pickers, respectively, for transporting magazines to magazine mounts which are located adjacent drives which, in turn, are located at first and second ends of the storage bins. A plurality of magazine mounts can be adjacent each drive for increasing the queue of requested media in close proximity to a drive. The magazines, the magazine storage bins and the magazine mounts adjacent the drives can be kept full for maximizing storage capacity, except for selected empties in some of the components for supporting an exchange scheme. The exchange scheme equalizes the load between the drives so that media is processed faster. Because of the unique configuration of the library, it is modularized for easy expansion.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A modularized library for magazines which contain removable units of data storage media (volumes) comprising:

a plurality of magazine storage bins which have front and back sides and first and second ends;
each storage bin having a front opening and a back opening and being capable of slidably receiving a magazine from either opening, storing the magazine and slidably giving the magazine from either opening;
at least one media drive and media loader combination located at at least one of the ends of the magazine storage bins and having front and back sides;
a front magazine mount and a back magazine mount located adjacent the front side and back side, respectively, of the media drive and media loader combination, each magazine mount being capable of receiving and supporting a magazine adjacent a respective media drive and media loader combination;
each media loader being capable of transporting a medium between a magazine in any respective adjacent magazine mount and a respective media drive;
and
a front magazine transport assembly capable of transporting a magazine from the front side of any magazine storage bin to any front magazine mount and a back magazine transport assembly capable of transporting a magazine from the back side of any magazine storage bin to any back magazine mount.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Quick access data storage library with backup capability

Life of this patent

Quick access data storage library with backup capability

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23