Robotic storage library with queued move instructions and method of queuing such instructions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8948906-B2
Application number	US-19188108-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2008
Priority date	Aug 14, 2008
Publication date	Feb 3, 2015
Grant date	Feb 3, 2015

Abstract

A robotic tape library which queues two or more move instructions is described. Generally, the robotic system receives a first move instruction which commands a first robot to move a first tape cartridge from a shelf to a first tape drive to be loaded therein. Though the first move has not actually taken place, the library replies to the host computer that the first tape drive has been loaded with the first tape cartridge, at least to an acceptable level of engagement, at which point, the first move instruction is queued. After receiving a second move instruction from the host to move a second tape cartridge from the shelf to a second tape drive, the library reorganizes and physically carries out the move instructions in a preferred order.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A robotic storage system comprising:
a first and a second robot;
a first and a second mobile storage element;
a shelf system adapted to support said first and said second mobile storage elements;
a first and a second drive adapted to be loaded with either of said mobile storage elements in an engaging relationship whereby storage related operation can occur;
a queue system containing a first and a second move instruction received from a host wherein…

Assignees

• Starr Matthew Thomas
• Goberis Michael Gerard
• Spectra Logic Corp

Inventors

• Starr Matthew Thomas
• Goberis Michael Gerard

Classifications

• G06F3/0686

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F3/0605

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F3/0659 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic