Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record transport with head stationary during transducing – Tape record
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-18
2001-05-29
Klimowicz, William (Department: 2652)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record transport with head stationary during transducing
Tape record
C360S096300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239942
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to improved data storage tape assemblies. Configurations reducing the average time-to-access data under conditions of load are disclosed.
Computer, audio, and video systems typically require a means of storing large volumes of information (analog and digital). Magnetic tape drives packaged as individual units or packaged as a part of an automated tape library system have been one means for storing this information. Optical tape drives have also been used. Within an automated tape library, mechanisms are provided for sequentially: a) moving a stored tape to one of the provided tape drives (or moving the tape and the tape drive); b) loading the tape; c) advancing the tape to the desired location; d) reading or writing data; e) returning the tape to the starting position; f) unloading the tape; g) and returning the tape to it's storage location. Larger automated tape libraries may provide multiple mechanisms, but even with multiple mechanisms, the operations remain essentially sequential. Overall system performance is a function of the capabilities of the tape movement mechanisms, the loading mechanisms, tape technology, speed of the tape drive, tape length, size of the information to be handled, and location of the information on the tape. Many of today's production systems can take several minutes to complete a full tape operation commencing with picking the tape out of storage and concluding with the return of the tape to a storage location. One product utilizes self-contained tape cartridges with a simple magazine structure to achieve an advertised tape load time of 4 seconds and an average access time of 8 seconds (¼ tape length), for a combined average time-to-data of 12 seconds and an average cycle-time (return tape to starting location) of 20 seconds.
While the prior art has recognized the value of a wide range of design features, those properties may be utilized in combination and in select configurations to: a) enable almost instantaneous (hard disc like delays) access to initial data fragments of a stored information object; b) reduce time-to-data under all conditions; c) increase parallel operations within each logical operation; d) further reduce time-to-data under conditions within which multiple operations are queued; e) reduce overall system costs; and f) further increase physical storage density.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention arise from novel constructs which: a) store the initial fragment of an information object, such as a multi-media video clip, on faster devices such as hard discs or in memory, thereby enabling immediate access, and store subsequent fragments on devices with greater delay, and transfer those subsequent fragments to disc or memory during the time provided by the handling of the initial fragment which resided on discs or in memory; b) provide a surplus of independent tape transport (motive) units relative to read/write head assemblies and apply the surplus tape transport units to the task of pre-positioning randomly specified tapes to any approximate starting location to minimize head delay in preparation for reading or writing; c) mount the head assemblies on a lightweight platform with a motive mechanism enabling rapid positioning over the appropriate tape media; d) provide configurations within which one or more heads may service a given number of tapes; e) provide configurations within which multiple head assemblies may be positioned to simultaneously operate on one tape; f) provide configurations within which a pair of heads assemblies are dynamically paired for read after write operations and alternately operate independently to maximize overall read operation performance; g) provide the control mechanisms to enable these components to operate successfully together; h) configure one or more spools of magnetic tape within a single assembly; i) provide vibration damping mechanisms; j) configure multiple spool tape housings within which at least one tape spool is permanently housed and at least one tape spool may be removed and replaced.
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