Data storage methods and apparatus
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorSteve Jerman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for storing data. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a tape cartridge which has a cartridge memory. The cartridge memory can store therein a set of label data and a cartridge stamp. The set of label data is read by a reader device only when the reader device, in conjunction with a controller, determines that the cartridge stamp has been updated. Methods in accordance with the present invention comprise steps of reading the set of label data if the cartridge stamp is determined to have been updated.
Claims18
A method of data storage employing a tape cartridge having a cartridge memory, the method comprising:
- storing a cartridge stamp and a set of label data in the cartridge memory;
- updating the set of label data;
- and,
- updating the cartridge stamp in response to updating the set of label data.
A method of data storage employing a tape cartridge having a cartridge memory, the method comprising:
- storing a cartridge stamp and a set of label data in the cartridge memory;
- updating the set of label data;
- updating the cartridge stamp in response to updating the label data;
- performing a first reading of the cartridge stamp;
- performing a second reading of the cartridge stamp;
- and,
- looking for a difference in the cartridge stamp between the first reading and the second reading.
A method of data storage employing a tape cartridge having a cartridge memory, the method comprising:
- storing a cartridge stamp and a set of label data in the cartridge memory;
- updating the set of label data;
- updating the cartridge stamp in response to updating the set of label data;
- determining that the set of label data has been updated;
- and,
- reading the set of label data in response to determining that the cartridge stamp has been updated.
A method of data storage employing a tape cartridge which has a length of tape with a set of general data stored thereon, and which has a cartridge memory, the method comprising:
- storing a cartridge stamp and a set of label data in the cartridge memory;
- updating the set of general data;
- and,
- updating the cartridge stamp and the set of label data as a result of updating the set of general data.
A method of data storage employing a tape cartridge which has a cartridge memory with a set of label data stored therein, and which has a length of tape with a set of general data stored thereon, the method comprising:
- storing a cartridge stamp in the cartridge memory;
- replacing the set of label data stored in the cartridge memory with an updated set of label data;
- and,
- replacing the cartridge stamp stored in the cartridge memory with an updated cartridge stamp in response to replacing the set of label data.
A method of data storage employing a tape cartridge which has a cartridge memory with a set of label data stored therein, and which has a length of tape with a set of general data stored thereon, the method comprising:
- storing a cartridge stamp in the cartridge memory;
- replacing the set of label data stored in the cartridge memory with an updated set of label data;
- providing a reader memory;
- storing the cartridge stamp in the reader memory;
- reading the updated cartridge stamp from the cartridge memory;
- comparing the updated cartridge stamp to the cartridge stamp stored in the reader memory;
- and,
- determining that the updated cartridge stamp stored in the cartridge memory does not match the cartridge stamp stored in the reader memory.
A data storage apparatus, comprising:
- a tape cartridge having a cartridge memory configured to store therein a cartridge stamp;
- and,
- a controller, wherein:
- the cartridge memory is further configured to store therein a set of label data and,
- the controller is configured to execute a sequence of computer-executable steps to:
- update the set of label data;
- and,
- update the cartridge stamp in response to updating the set of label data.
A data storage apparatus, comprising:
- a tape cartridge having a cartridge memory which is configured to store therein a cartridge stamp and a set of label data;
- a first controller configured to execute a sequence of computer-executable steps to:
- update the set of label data;
- and,
- update the cartridge stamp in response to updating the set of label data;
- and,
- a second controller configured to execute a sequence of computer-executable steps to:
- read the cartridge stamp from the cartridge memory during a first reading thereof before the cartridge stamp is updated;
- read the updated cartridge stamp from the cartridge memory during a second reading thereof after the cartridge stamp is updated;
- compare the cartridge stamp to the updated cartridge stamp;
- and,
- determine that the cartridge stamp does not match the updated cartridge stamp.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.