Tape cartridge auxiliary memory containing tape drive functional status information

A data storage library comprising:

• a tape cartridge possessing an auxiliary radio frequency memory device;
• a tape drive capable of displaying functional status of at least one aspect of interaction between said tape drive and said tape cartridge when at least forming a cooperating relationship on a single character display, said tape drive possessing an auxiliary reader and writer device capable of transferring information associated with said functional status to and from said auxiliary radio frequency memory device wherein said information associated with said functional status is maintained in said auxiliary radio frequency memory device;
• said information from said auxiliary radio frequency memory device is transmittable to a display device that can be viewed by an end user, said auxiliary memory reader and writer device is capable of transmitting said single character display information as read from said auxiliary radio frequency memory device to said display device viewed by said end user;
• an auxiliary storage device capable of receiving and retaining said single character display information from said auxiliary memory reader and writer device wherein said auxiliary storage device capable of retaining all of said single character display information from all of said tape cartridges, all of said single character display information from all of said tape cartridges are capable of being manipulated via an algorithm to generate at least one statistic related to said single character display information wherein said at least one statistic is transmitted to said display device.

A method comprising steps of:

• providing a library with a tape drive that possesses a means for identifying functional status, a tape drive auxiliary memory reader and writer device associated with said tape drive, a designated cumulative auxiliary storage location, and a tape cartridge that possesses an auxiliary memory device;
• loading said tape cartridge in a cooperating relationship with said tape drive for a first time;
• storing a first functional status of said loaded tape drive to said auxiliary memory device via said tape drive auxiliary memory reader and writer device;
• reading said first functional status stored in said auxiliary memory device with said tape drive auxiliary memory reader and writer device;
• transmitting said first functional status from said tape drive auxiliary memory reader and writer device to said designated cumulative auxiliary storage location;
• recording said first functional status in said designated cumulative auxiliary storage location wherein said cumulative auxiliary storage location is capable of recording other functional status information associated with a plurality of other tape cartridges and transmitted thereto via said tape drive auxiliary memory reader and writer device;
• and
• unloading said tape cartridge from said tape drive.