Automated data storage library media handling with a plurality of pickers having multiple grippers

An automated data storage library, comprising:

• a plurality of media storage slots for storing data storage media;
• a plurality of read/write stations, at least one of said read/write stations positioned between at least ones of said plurality of media storage slots;
• at least two pickers arranged on a common guideway alongside said media storage slots and said read/write stations, each said picker having at least one gripper for fetching and delivering media at said media storage slots and said read/write stations;
• an input for receiving input commands for jobs to move media amongst said media storage slots and said read/write stations, including input commands resulting in the requirement for the exchange of media at point of exchange locations in said library, said point of exchange locations including ones of said read/write stations or ones of said media storage slots;
• and
• a controller for responding to said received input commands, determining whether, in an exchange, the source location for the medium to be delivered to the point of exchange, and the destination location for the medium to be fetched from said point of exchange, are on opposite sides of said point of exchange thereof;
• and if said determination is that the source and destination locations for said media to be exchanged are on opposite sides of said point of exchange thereof, decomposing said exchange into separate moves;
• and assigning said separate moves to different ones of said pickers.

A computer program product usable with a programmable computer processor having computer readable program code embodied therein for operating said programmable computer processor for operating an automated data storage library, said library having a plurality of media storage slots for storing data storage media, a plurality of read/write stations, at least one of said read/write stations positioned between at least ones of said plurality of media storage slots, at least two pickers arranged on a common guideway alongside said media storage slots and said read/write stations, each said picker having at least one gripper for fetching and delivering media at said media storage slots and said read/write stations, said library receiving input commands for jobs to move media amongst said media storage slots and said read/write stations, including input commands resulting in the requirement for an exchange of media at point of exchange locations in said library, said point of exchange locations including ones of said read/write stations or ones of said media storage slots, comprising:

• computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to respond to said received said input commands requiring an exchange, by determining whether the source location for the medium to be delivered to the point of exchange, and the destination location for the medium to be fetched from said point of exchange, are on opposite sides of the point of exchange thereof;
• computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to respond to said determination determining that the source and destination locations for said media to be exchanged are on opposite sides of said point of exchange thereof, by decomposing said exchange into separate moves;
• and
• computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to assign each of said separate moves to a different one of said pickers.

An article of manufacture comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for operating a programmable computer processor for operating an automated data storage library, said library having a plurality of media storage slots for storing data storage media, a plurality of read/write stations, at least one of said read/write stations positioned between at least ones of said plurality of media storage slots, at least two pickers arranged on a common guideway alongside said media storage slots and said read/write stations, each said picker having at least one gripper for fetching and delivering media at said media storage slots and said read/write stations, said library receiving input commands for jobs to move media amongst said media storage slots and said read/write stations, including input commands resulting in the requirement for an exchange of media at point of exchange locations in said library, said point of exchange locations including ones of said read/write stations or ones of said media storage slots, comprising:

• computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to respond to said received said input commands requiring an exchange, by determining whether the source location for the medium to be delivered to the point of exchange, and the destination location for the medium to be fetched from said point of exchange, are on opposite sides of the point of exchange thereof;
• computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to respond to said determination determining that the source and destination locations for said media to be exchanged are on opposite sides of said point of exchange thereof, by decomposing said exchange into separate moves;
• and
• computer readable program code which causes a computer processor to assign each of said separate moves to a different one of said pickers.