EFFICIENT MOVES VIA REPOSITORY

摘要

A storage library is described that includes a shelf system adapted to support a number of tape cartridges. The storage library further includes a tape drive adapted to read and write data to and from tape cartridges. The storage library further possesses a temporary repository near the tape drive that is adapted to facilitate an exchange of a first tape cartridge intended to be loaded in the tape drive with a second tape cartridge ready to be removed from the tape drive with a single tape picker device.

主权项

1. A storage library arranged to perform a method comprising:
receiving an unload request from a host computer to unload a first tape cartridge from a tape drive and return the first tape cartridge, via a return request, to a designated location in a shelf system; responding to the host computer that the unload request and the return request are complete, even though the unload request and the return request have not been physically carried out; receiving a load request from the host computer to load a second tape cartridge in the tape drive after receiving the unload request; transporting the second tape cartridge from the shelf system to a repository near the tape drive and disposing the second tape cartridge in the repository; removing the first tape cartridge from the tape drive and disposing the first tape cartridge in the repository after disposing the second tape cartridge in the repository; removing the second tape cartridge from the repository after disposing the first tape cartridge in the repository; loading the second tape cartridge in the tape drive; and removing the first tape cartridge from the repository and transporting the first tape cartridge back to the shelf system after loading the second tape cartridge.