Media mobility unit (MMU) and methods of use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9586758-B2
Application number	US-201514937673-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2015
Priority date	May 11, 2011
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

In one embodiment, a media mobility unit includes a media cartridge holding portion configured to simultaneously store multiple media cartridges, a sensing mechanism for sensing at least an approximate location of the holding portion in relation to other objects, a drive mechanism for moving the holding portion from a source media library to a destination media library, and a power source electrically coupled to the sensing mechanism and/or the drive mechanism for providing current to the at least one of the drive mechanism and the sensing mechanism. In another embodiment, a method for transporting a media cartridge includes receiving one or more media cartridges from a source media library, storing the one or more media cartridges in a holding portion of a media mobility unit, sensing at least an approximate location of the media mobility unit, and transporting the one or more media cartridges to a destination library.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A media mobility unit (MMU), comprising:
a media cartridge holding portion configured to simultaneously store multiple media cartridges;
a sensing mechanism for sensing at least an approximate location of the holding portion in relation to other objects;
a drive mechanism for moving the holding portion from a source media library to a destination media library located remotely from the source media library, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a motor configured to provide rotation to each of a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel independently, and at least one swivel wheel configured to facilitate pivoting of the MMU and lateral movement of the MMU; and
a power source electrically coupled to at least one of the sensing mechanism and the drive mechanism for providing current to the at least one of the drive mechanism and the sensing mechanism.

2. The MMU as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sensing mechanism comprises at least one of:
a proximity sensor for sensing objects near the MMU;
a fiducial sensor for aligning the holding portion with a cartridge holder of a media library; and
a position reading mechanism for determining a position of the MMU.

3. The MMU as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sensing mechanism comprises a position reading mechanism, the position reading mechanism comprising a laser barcode reader for reading a plurality of barcodes positioned on one or more surfaces.

4. The MMU as recited in claim 3 , wherein the plurality of barcodes are positioned in a grid system at least between the source media library and the destination media library for indicating at least the approximate location of the MMU in the grid system, wherein the MMU uses at least the approximate location to determine a next movement of the MMU.

5. The MMU as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sensing mechanism comprises a position reading mechanism, the position reading mechanism comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) device.

6. The MMU as recited in claim 5 , wherein the RFID device comprises a RFID reader configured to read a plurality of RFID tags positioned in a grid system at least between the source media library and the destination media library for indicating at least the approximate location of the MMU in the grid system, wherein the MMU uses at least the approximate location to determine a next movement of the MMU.

7. The MMU as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sensing mechanism comprises:
at least one proximity sensor configured to detect one or more obstacles along a travel route between the source media library and the destination media library;
a fiducial sensor configured to align the holding portion with a cartridge holder of a media library; and
a position reading mechanism configured to determine a position of the MMU.

8. The MMU as recited in claim 1 , wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery, the battery being adapted for recharging when the MMU is docked at a media library.

9. The MMU as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a communication device capable of communicating with the source media library when the MMU is docked at the source media library, wherein the source media library provides a location of the destination media library during communicating with the MMU.

10. The MMU as recited in claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises the first and second drive wheels positioned opposite each other near the holding portion for propelling the MMU.

11. The MMU as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sensing mechanism comprises at least one proximity sensor configured to detect one or more obstacles along a travel route between the source media library and the destination media library.

12. The MMU as recited in claim 1 , wherein the sensing mechanism comprises at least one proximity sensor configured to sense when the holding portion is aligned with a cartridge holder of a source media library.

13. The MMU as recited in claim 1 , wherein the MMU comprises at least one machine-learning algorithm configured to calculate an optimum travel route based at least in part on one or more variables.

14. The MMU as recited in claim 13 , wherein the one or more variables are selected from a group consisting of: travel time, travel distance, number of pickups, and number of deliveries.

15. The MMU as recited in claim 1 , wherein the MMU is further configured to determine a new optimum travel route in response to detecting one or more obstacles along the travel route, wherein the new optimum travel route is determined based at least in part on one or more variables selected from travel time, travel distance, number of pickups, number of deliveries, and known obstacle locations.

16. The MMU as recited in claim 1 , wherein the MMU is configured to record travel data in real time while propelling itself between the source and destination media libraries, and
wherein the travel data comprise one or more of travel time, travel distance number of pickups, and number of deliveries.

17. The MMU as recited in claim 16 , wherein the MMU is further configured to calculate an optimum travel protocol based on comparing the travel data to variables selected from travel time, travel distance, number of pickups, number of deliveries, and known obstacle locations.

18. A media mobility unit (MMU), comprising:
a media cartridge holding portion configured to simultaneously store multiple media cartridges;
a sensing mechanism for sensing at least an approximate location of the holding portion in relation to other objects;
a drive mechanism for moving the holding portion from a source media library to a destination media library located remotely from the source media library;
a power source electrically coupled to at least one of the sensing mechanism and the drive mechanism for providing current to the at least one of the drive mechanism and the sensing mechanism; and
wherein the drive mechanism comprises:
a motor for providing rotation to each of a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel independently;
the first and second drive wheels positioned opposite each other near the holding portion for propelling the MMU; and
a swiveling caster wheel for allowing directional changes of the MMU positioned to provide stability to the MMU.

19. A media mobility unit (MMU), comprising:
a media cartridge holding portion configured to simultaneously store multiple media cartridges;
a sensing mechanism for sensing at least an approximate location of the holding portion in relation to other objects, wherein the sensing mechanism comprises:
a position reading mechanism comprising:
a laser barcode reader configured to read a plurality of barcodes positioned on one or more surfaces, wherein the plurality of barcodes are positioned in a grid system at least between a source media library and a destination media library, located remotely from the source media library, for indicating at least the approximate location of the MMU in the grid system; and
a radio frequency identification (RFID) device configured to read a plurality of RFID tags positioned in the grid system at least between the source media library and the destination media library for indicating at least the approximate location of the MMU in the grid system; and

at least one proximity sensor configured to:
detect one or more obstacles along a travel route between the source media library and the destination media library; and
align the holding portion with a cartridge holder of at least the source media library and the destina

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Acevedo Jesus R
• Ain Jonathan W

Classifications

• B65G1/137 Primary

  with arrangements or automatic control means for selecting which articles are to be removed · CPC title

• G11B15/6835

  the cassettes being transferred to a fixed recorder or player using a moving carriage · CPC title

• B65G1/1371

  with data records · CPC title

• G11B15/689 Primary

  Control of the cassette changing arrangement · CPC title

• G06F13/4208

  being a system bus, e.g. VME bus, Futurebus, Multibus · CPC title