Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory – Storage accessing and control – Specific memory composition
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-28
2003-05-13
Kim, Matthew (Department: 2186)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory
Storage accessing and control
Specific memory composition
C711S161000, C360S030000, C360S069000, C369S036010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06564290
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a data storage unit, comprising an archive storage means with a storage unit for a plurality of data carrier cassettes, with at least one read/write unit for the data carrier cassettes and a transfer unit, with which a transfer of individual data carrier cassettes from the storage unit into the read/write unit and vice versa can be carried out, and further comprising a data storage control which controls the read/write unit and the transfer unit for the storage of data and which is in data interchange communication with a computer in order to store data transferred from this or to make available to the computer data stored in the data store.
Data storage units of this type are known from the state of the art. The problem with them is that due to the fact that the data is written directly onto data carrier cassettes the speed of access to different sets of data is limited.
The object underlying the invention is therefore to design a data storage unit, with which access to data with the computer is as efficient as possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is accomplished in accordance with the invention, in a data storage unit the type described at the outset, in that the data storage unit has in addition to the archive storage means at least one hard disk memory for storing data to be interchanged with the computer, that the data storage control operates the hard disk memory and the archive storage means in parallel, that the data storage control with the archive storage means and the at least one hard disk memory together form a device installable as a storage unit, in which a long-term storage of the data results by means of the data carrier cassettes and which communicates with the computer as a single storage unit.
The advantage of the inventive data storage unit is to be seen in the fact that this is designed as a device which can be installed as a unit, operates as a single storage unit with respect to communication with the computer and can thus be connected to a computer in a simple manner. The advantage of this solution is also to be seen in the fact that a device representing a unit is available to the user, in which the archive storage means, the hard disk memory and the data storage control are permanently installed with respect not only to the hardware but also to the software and so the use of this data storage unit does hot require any knowledge concerning the handling of the data storage in the two completely different storage types, namely the archive storage means and the hard disk memory, for operating the data storage unit.
The inventive data storage unit is thus simple to install since the data storage control communicates with the computer like a single, conventional memory but is in a position, internally, to convert data stored on the hard disk memory onto the data carrier cassettes as an inexpensive storage medium suitable for large amounts of data.
It is particularly favorable when the data storage control operates the archive storage means and the hard disk memory in such a manner that these allow an interchange of data with the computer in the order of magnitude of data interchange rates corresponding to a hard disk memory.
With data interchange rates in the order of magnitude of those of a conventional hard disk memory, the desired, rapid communication with the computer is possible, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, however a long-term storage of data by means of the data carrier cassettes can take place, whereby, on the one hand, an increased data protection is ensured and, on the other hand, the storage of large amounts of data is possible inexpensively.
The data storage control preferably operates such that when a data carrier cassette is not already located in the read/write unit data interchanged with the computer is stored temporarily in the hard disk memory and an interchange of data takes place between the hard disk memory and the data carrier cassettes either prior to the data communication with the computer or after the data communication with the computer.
A particularly favorable solution with respect to the installation, which has proven to be particularly favorable for the set up and operation of a data storage unit of such a construction, provides for the data storage unit to have a housing, in which the archive storage means, the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory are arranged and permanently installed.
This solution has the great advantage that with it operation and installation of such a data storage unit in conjunction with a computer can take place in such a manner as if it were a single storage unit to be connected to the computer. With respect to operation and installation expenses a particularly favorable solution is thus available.
Moreover, this solution has the additional great advantage that the operational safety is also considerably increased due to the fact that all three units, namely archive storage means, hard disk memory and data storage control are permanently installed and synchronized with one another.
Since the units archive storage means, hard disk memory and data storage control, when they are intended to be installed and operated as a uniform device, should result in as compact a device as possible, it is preferably provided for a frame of the data storage unit to have two frame segments, wherein the archive storage means is arranged in one frame segment and the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory are arranged in the other frame segment. This division of the frame into two frame segments has the great advantage that with it an optimum arrangement of the individual units can be selected with respect to the space requirements and accessibility.
In this respect, it is particularly favorable when the two frame segments are designed as flat parallelepipeds and extend parallel to a vertical line with their flat sides.
In this respect, it is particularly expedient when the two frame segments extend essentially over the entire height of the frame in a vertical direction.
It is preferably provided for the frame segments to extend with their flat sides parallel to a frame front and form directly behind the frame front a front frame segment and a rear frame segment arranged behind this.
With respect to the distribution of the individual units between the two frame segments, no further details have so far been given. It is particularly favorable, for example, with respect to the access possibly required for maintenance when the storage unit, the at least one read/write unit and the transfer unit are arranged in the front frame segment.
Furthermore, it has proven to be expedient on account of the less frequent accessibility when the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory are arranged in the rear frame segment.
With respect to the type of arrangement of the data storage control and the hard disk memories in the rear frame segment, no further details have so far been given. One advantageous embodiment, for example, provides for the rear frame segment to have receiving means for the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory, their front sides being located on one side of the frame. This means that the receiving means are easily accessible from one side of the frame so that, for example, the data storage control and/or the at least one hard disk memory are, on the one hand, easily accessible in the region of their front sides and can also be disassembled easily for the purpose of maintenance.
In this respect, it is particularly favorable when the receiving means for the data storage control and the at least one hard disk memory are arranged one above the other in a vertical direction so that the frame segment accommodating them does not require a large constructional depth.
In this respect, it is particularly favorable when the data storage control is arranged such that its flat side with the greatest extension extends parallel to the flat side of the frame segments.
In order to
Bataille Pierre Michel
Grau Software GmbH
Kim Matthew
Sheridan & Ross P.C.
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