VARIABLE MOBILE MEDIA STORAGE
SYSTEM
Inventors: Matthew Thomas Starr, Lafyette, CO
(US); Richard Douglas Rector, Arvada,
CO (US); Mark Lorin Lantry, Erie, CO
(US); John David Barr, Fort Collins,
CO (US)
Assignee: Spectra Logic Corporation, Denver,
CO (US)
Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 39 days.
Appl.No.: 11/735,204
Filed: Apr. 13, 2007
Prior Publication Data
US 2007/0183075 Al Aug. 9, 2007
Related U.S. Application Data
Continuation of application No. 11/011,812, filed on Dec. 14, 2004, now Pat. No. 7,253,983.
Int. CI.
G11B 19/02 (2006.01)
U.S. CI 360/69; 711/111; 711/154;
711/170
Field of Classification Search None
See application file for complete search history.
References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
6,233,654 Bl 5/2001 Aokietal. 6,324,497 Bl 11/2001 Yates etal. 6,490,648 Bl 12/2002 Kanedaetal.
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for a variable media tape based storage system for storing, retrieving, and communicating data. The system includes at least one media element having a compatible relationship with one of a plurality of drives for storing and receiving data. The at least one media element configured to operate with the at least one drive as a functional pair is considered a loaded drive. The storage system also includes switch and mapping system, which in one embodiment could be an interface bridge processor, operatively linked to each of the plurality of drives. Finally, the storage system adapted to alter at least one received and accepted tape library command from positioning a target storage tape article for use with a target tape drive to selecting one of the loaded drives via the interface bridge processor. The interface bridge processor can be adapted to receive data in a streaming protocol to be saved on the target storage tape article by the target storage drive and convert the streaming protocol to a different protocol to save the data on the physically selected loaded drive.
17 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
