Media library having internal media sorting and media drives having internal random-access media handling facilities

摘要

A media library has optical disks carried in caddies. Each one of a plurality of magazines each carry a number of the optical disks on the caddies. A two-dimensional array of media receptacles receive said magazines for storage. Each of the magazines have an opening for receiving the caddies. Storage of the magazines in the media receptacles is with the magazines opening facing into the media receptacles. One of more media drives are disposed in the two-dimensional array. Each media drive has a plurality of drive ports for receiving the media. Some of the drive ports can receive the magazine while other drive ports receive media removed from the magazines. Usually one media drive has one type of port. Transfer of media from and to the drive ports to and from a play position of a media play device in the media drive is random access. Media sorters and temporary magazine holders are provided in the array. Controls are provided to sort media based on changes in job streams of a data processor and based upon detecting error-prone media. The error-prone media are collected for removal from the library. <IMAGE>