JPH04229451A - Method for controlling cartridge library device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quickly return a cartridge library device to a state that it can be used by automatically returning a recording medium to an original cartridge housing shelf when a power source is turned on next in the case that the power source is unexpectedly turned off. CONSTITUTION:By a library controller 4, information whether a magnetic tape exists in an accessor robot 9 and respective magnetic tape devices 11 or not is always monitored and the access of a non-volatile memory 5 which is made non-volatile by a battery 6 is executed. Then, the monitored information whether the magnetic tape exists or not is stored and updated. In the case that the power source is unexpectedly turned off, the magnetic tape is returned to the prescribed cell of the cartridge housing shelf 10 by the robot 9 based on the monitored information stored in the memory 5 when the power source is turned on next. Therefore, the library device is automatically made to rise so that it can be used.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling a cartridge library device, and particularly to a cartridge library device control method suitable for quickly and automatically starting up the cartridge library device after an unexpected power outage occurs. Regarding the method.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In general, unmanned operation and automation are important points in cartridge library devices. Therefore, it is necessary not only to ensure reliability but also to automatically recover from any failure. In particular, when an unexpected power outage such as a power outage occurs, it is necessary to automatically start up when the power is turned on.

However, if the power is turned off while the accessor robot in the cartridge library device is transporting a recording medium or after the recording medium is loaded into the recording/playback device in the cartridge library device, the next time the power is turned on. Sometimes, the accessor robot is left holding the recording medium or the recording medium is loaded into the recording/reproducing device, which may make it impossible to continue the work without operator intervention.

In such a case, it is difficult for the entire system including the host device to start up normally unless at least the recording medium is returned to its original cartridge storage shelf and the cartridge library device is brought into its initial state. Also,
In order for a host device (such as a CPU) to return the recording medium to its original cartridge storage shelf, it is necessary to manage the location of the recording medium in a timely manner. However, considering the case where multiple host devices are connected to the library device, this becomes a considerable burden and is virtually impossible. In addition, as a prior art related to the present invention, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1986-
The invention disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 82549 is mentioned.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, in the conventional technology, when an unexpected power outage occurs, the recording medium being transported by the accessor robot or the recording medium loaded in the recording/playback device is However, there was a problem in that no consideration was given to the process of automatically returning the cartridge to the cartridge storage shelf, and automatic recovery was not possible.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and even if an unexpected power outage occurs when an accessor robot is transporting a recording medium or loading a recording medium into a recording/playback device, the following To provide a control method for a cartridge library device that automatically returns a recording medium to its original cartridge storage shelf when power is turned on and quickly makes it ready for use.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A control method for a cartridge library device according to the present invention includes a recording and reproducing device for recording and reproducing data on and from cartridge-type recording media, and a plurality of cells that accommodate a large number of cartridge-type recording media. an accessor robot that takes out a cartridge-type recording medium from the storage shelf and loads it into the recording/playback device, or stores the cartridge-type recording medium taken out from the recording/playback device in the storage shelf according to instructions from a host device; and,
An input device for inputting a cartridge-type recording medium from the outside, an ejection device for ejecting the cartridge-type recording medium to the outside, a non-volatile memory that records the storage position of the cartridge-type recording medium, etc., and a control for controlling each of the above parts. It is applied to a cartridge library device equipped with a device, and in particular, a storage shelf home cell address for cartridge-type magnetic tapes held by the accessor robot;
It non-volatilely stores the access address of the accessor robot, the above-mentioned storage shelf home cell address and a valid flag indicating the validity of the access address, and also stores the storage shelf home cell address of the cartridge-type recording medium loaded in the magnetic tape device and its validity. A valid flag indicating the validity of each storage shelf home cell address is stored in a non-volatile memory, and a valid flag indicating the validity of each storage shelf home cell address is also stored in a non-volatile memory.If an unexpected power outage occurs, the non-volatilely stored contents are stored the next time the power is turned on. The present invention is characterized in that the cartridge-type recording media in the accessor robot and the recording/reproducing device are automatically returned to their original storage shelves in accordance with the read information.

[0008]

According to the present invention, even if an unexpected power outage occurs, the storage shelf home cell address to which the cartridge-type recording medium should be returned and the valid flag indicating its validity are stored in the nonvolatile memory. By referring to the stored contents of the nonvolatile memory, the cartridge type recording medium can be automatically returned to the original storage shelf.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a cartridge library device to which the present invention is applied, and 2 is a host CPU. As shown in the figure, the cartridge library device 1 includes a magnetic tape control device 3 and a library control device 4.
, a nonvolatile memory 5 , a battery 6 , an accessor robot control device 7 , a rail 8 , an accessor robot 9 , a cartridge storage shelf 10 , a plurality of magnetic tape devices 11 , a cartridge type magnetic tape loading device (hereinafter referred to as loading device) 12 , and A cartridge type magnetic tape ejecting device (hereinafter referred to as ejecting device) 13. Here, the magnetic tape control device 3 controls reading/writing of a plurality of magnetic tape devices 11, and symbols MTU0 to MTUn added to each magnetic tape device 11 indicate device numbers. The library control device 4 also controls the entire device, puts the accessor robot control device 7, magnetic tape device 11, cartridge-type magnetic tape input device 12, and cartridge-type magnetic tape ejection device 13 under its control, and controls each of them. It is possible to receive and send status information and commands. The accessor robot 9 also has an accessor robot control device 7.
The robot moves on the rail 8 according to instructions from the user, and uses its hand to take out and store cartridge-type magnetic tapes from the magnetic tape device 11 and the cartridge storage shelf 10. Also,
A plurality of cartridge storage shelves 10 are provided, and each cartridge storage shelf 10 is provided with a large number of cells for storing cartridge-type magnetic tapes.

The basic operation of the cartridge library device shown in FIG. 1 is as follows. That is, the host CPU 2 instructs the library control device 4 to load the cartridge-type magnetic tape (hereinafter referred to as magnetic tape) in the cartridge storage shelf 10 into the magnetic tape device 11, and instructs the library control device 4 to load the target magnetic tape into the magnetic tape device 11. It is issued along with the storing shelf cell address and the device number of the target magnetic tape device. The library control device 4 that received the command,
A command to take out the magnetic tape is issued to the accessor robot control device 7 along with the target storage shelf cell address. Upon receiving the above command, the accessor robot control device 7 activates the accessor robot 9, moves the accessor robot 9 to the position of the storage shelf cell address instructed by the library control device 4, and operates the hand to obtain the desired magnetic field. Take out the tape. Thereafter, the accessor robot control device 7 reports the completion to the library control device 4. Next, upon receiving the completion report, the library control device 4 sends the CPU to the accessor robot control device 7.
The device number of the magnetic tape device 11 is issued along with a command to load the magnetic tape into the target magnetic tape device 11 that has received the instruction from No. 2. Upon receiving the command, the accessor robot control device 7 starts up the accessor robot 9, loads a cartridge-type magnetic tape into the magnetic tape device 11 instructed by the library control device 4, and then sends a completion report to the library control device 4. Let's do it. On the other hand, after the cartridge-type magnetic tape is loaded, the magnetic tape device 11 performs a loading operation and prepares for recording and reproducing. The library control device 4 includes a CPU 2
It is reported to the CPU 2 that the command received from the CPU 2 has been completed. Furthermore, the CPU 2 records and reproduces data on the magnetic tape through the magnetic tape control device 3. When recording and reproducing data is completed, the CPU 2 issues an unload command to the magnetic tape device 11, and issues a command to the library control device 4 to return the magnetic tape from the magnetic tape device 11 to the cell of the cartridge storage shelf 10. . Upon receiving the command, the library control device 4 returns the magnetic tape from the magnetic tape device 11 to the cartridge storage shelf 10 in the reverse order to that described above. As explained above, the magnetic tape mounting and demounting operations that were conventionally performed by operators are automated.

When a magnetic tape is loaded into the library apparatus 1 from the outside, the magnetic tape is stored in the cartridge storage shelf 10 in the same manner as described above for loading a cartridge-type magnetic tape from the magnetic tape loading device 12. When a magnetic tape is to be ejected from the library device 1, the magnetic tape is moved to a magnetic tape ejection device 13 so that it can be ejected to the outside.

Note that the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is an example,
The library control device 4, the magnetic tape control device 3, and the accessor robot control device 7 may be configured as the same control device, and the number of magnetic tape devices 11 and the number of accessor robots 9 are not limited.

In the magnetic tape transport control described above, the library control device 4 controls the accessor robot 9.
and constantly monitors information on the presence/absence of magnetic tape in each magnetic tape device 11, accesses the non-volatile memory 5 made non-volatile by the battery 6, and stores the monitor information on the presence/absence of the magnetic tape. ·Update. Based on the monitor information stored in the nonvolatile memory 5, the magnetic tape is returned to a predetermined cell in the cartridge storage shelf 10 by the accessor robot 9 when the power to the apparatus is cut off. Next, the contents of this process are shown in Figures 2 to 5.
This will be explained in detail using .

FIG. 2 shows a memory map of the nonvolatile memory 5, and part of it includes an area ACT for the accessor robot 9 and an area MTT for the magnetic tape device 11 (area MTT is the device area for the magnetic tape device 11). Number MTU0~M
MTT1 to MTTn are provided corresponding to TUn, respectively. ) is provided. The area ACT is a home cell address (HOME CELL ADDRESS) 1 indicating the original storage cell position in the cartridge storage shelf 10 of the magnetic tape taken out by the accessor robot 9.
5, and an access address (ACCESS ADRESS) 18 indicating the cell address or device number of the magnetic tape device that the accessor robot 9 is currently accessing.
A valid flag (VALiD) indicating the validity of these
FLAG) 14.

Similar to the area ACT, the area MTT includes the magnetic tape device 1 corresponding to each device number of the magnetic tape device 11.
Home cell address 1 of the magnetic tape stored in 1
7 and a valid flag 16 indicating its validity.

Further, an area CLT is provided corresponding to each cell in each storage cartridge storage shelf 10, and indicates whether or not a cartridge-type magnetic tape is present.
Valid flag (VALiD FLAG) 1 is inside T.
9 is provided.

Next, the process when the accessor robot 9 takes out the magnetic tape stored in the cartridge storage shelf 10 will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG. When the CPU 2 issues a command to transport the magnetic tape from the cartridge storage shelf 10 to the magnetic tape device 11, the library control device 4 sets the cell address of the cartridge storage shelf to be taken out in the access address 18 of the area ACT and the home cell address 15. Write, then area A
Writes "Undetermined" in the valid flag 14 of CT and the valid flag 19 corresponding to the cell of the cartridge storage shelf 10 indicated by the access address 18 of the area ACT (
Steps 10, 20, 30).

Next, the library control device 4 issues a command to the accessor robot control device 7 to take out the magnetic tape, and ends the operation (steps 35 and 40).
). When the magnetic tape ejection process is completed, it is checked whether it has ended normally (step 50). In the case of normal termination, "confirmed" is written in the valid flag 14 of the area ACT, and the cell of the cartridge storage shelf 10 indicated by the access address 18 of the area ACT (i.e.,
Write "invalid" to the valid flag 19 corresponding to the cell in the cartridge storage shelf 10 from which the magnetic tape was taken (
Steps 60, 70). In the case of abnormal termination, a magnetic tape holding detector using a general sensor or the like (not shown) is used to check whether the accessor robot 9 is holding the magnetic tape. As a result of the check, if it is determined that the data is held, the same process as steps 60 and 70 described above is performed (step 80). If it is determined that the magnetic tape is not held, then it is determined whether the error is caused by the fact that there was no magnetic tape in the target cell of the cartridge storage shelf 10 (step 90).
. If it is determined that the magnetic tape originally existed, the accessor robot 9 determines that it could not take out the magnetic tape, and moves the magnetic tape to the target cell of the cartridge storage shelf 10 indicated by the access address 18 of area ACT (i.e., removes the magnetic tape). The valid flag 19 corresponding to the cell of the cartridge storage shelf 10 from which the cartridge is to be taken out is set to "confirmed" (step 100). If there was originally no cartridge type magnetic tape in the target cell of the cartridge storage shelf 10, the valid flag 19 corresponding to the target cell of the cartridge storage shelf 10 is invalidated (step 120). Thereafter, the valid flag 14 of the area ACT is set to "invalid" (step 110).

Next, the process of storing a magnetic tape in the magnetic tape device 11 will be explained using the flowchart shown in FIG. When loading a magnetic tape into the magnetic tape device 11 after the magnetic tape ejecting process shown in FIG.
The destination address, that is, the address of the magnetic tape device 11, is written in 8 (step 200). In this case, since the destination address is a magnetic tape device, the home cell address 15 of the area ACT is copied to the home cell address 17 of the area MTT. Destination address is magnetic tape device 11
Otherwise, do nothing and move on to the next step (step 21).
0,220). Next, check the valid flag 19 of the cell indicated by the access address 18 of the area ACT in the area CLT and the area MT corresponding to the target magnetic tape device 11.
Valid flag 16 of Ti (i=0~n) is “uncertain”
is set (step 230). Next, the valid flag 14 of the area ACT is set to "uncertain" (step 240). Thereafter, the library control device 4 instructs the accessor robot control device 7 to store the magnetic tape (step 250). When the magnetic tape storage process is completed, it is checked whether it has completed normally (step 2).
60,270). If it is determined to be normal, the valid flag 16 of the area MTTi corresponding to the magnetic tape device 11 indicated by the access address 18 of the area ACT is
is set to "confirm" (step 280), and the valid flag 14 of area ACT is set to "invalid" (step 290).
Thereafter, a normal completion report is sent to the CPU 2.

If it is determined in step 270 that the process has ended abnormally, it is first checked whether the accessor robot 9 is holding a magnetic tape (step 300). As a result of the check, if it is determined that the data is not held, the processes of steps 280 and 290 described above are performed. If it is determined that the area is held, the area ACT valid flag 14 is set to "confirmed", and the area MTTi valid flag 16 corresponding to the magnetic tape device 11 indicated by the access address 18 of area ACT is set to "invalid". (Steps 310, 320).

In contrast to the above operation, the magnetic tape device 11
to the cartridge storage shelf 10, or from the loading device 12 to the cartridge storage shelf 10, or from the cartridge storage shelf 10.
Operations such as conveying the magnetic tape from the magnetic tape to the ejecting device 13 are basically performed by the processes shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and are controlled while updating the management information of each magnetic tape as needed. In addition, in the event of an abnormal termination, the process moves to error recovery processing, but even when the magnetic tape is transported during that process, by performing the above-mentioned control, the magnetic tape should always be returned to the cartridge storage shelf under all circumstances. Cell addresses within 10 are managed.

[0023] As a method of indicating "definite", "uncertain", and "invalid" for the valid flags 14, 16, and 19, each can be coded, for example, "11", "01", etc.
, "00", etc. can be easily realized.

Next, a description will be given of the process when the library device 1 is powered on. FIG. 5 shows that the library device 1 is powered on and a series of power-on processing such as program loading processing is completed, and then the cartridge-type magnetic tape existing in the accessor robot 9 or the magnetic tape device 11 is transferred to the original cartridge. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of returning a cell to a cell on a storage shelf 10. Note that when the accessor robot 9 operates when the power is turned on, if the cartridge-type magnetic tape is held half-heartedly, a process is performed to correctly hold it again.

First, it is checked whether the accessor robot 9 is holding a cartridge-type magnetic tape (step 400), and if it is not holding it, nothing is done and the process returns to step 5.
Move to 10. If so, it is determined whether the valid flag 14 of the area ACT is "invalid" (step 4).
50). If it is determined that it is not "invalid", it is determined whether the home cell address 15 of the area ACT is a cell in the cartridge storage shelf 10 (step 460). If it is determined in step 450 that the home cell address 15 of the area ACT is not "invalid" and it is determined in step 460 that the home cell address 15 of the area ACT is a cell in the cartridge storage shelf 10, the magnetic field held by the accessor robot 9 In order to return the tape to the home cell, the home cell address 15 of the area ACT is set to the access address 18 of the area ACT (step 470). Step 450
If it is determined to be "invalid" in step 46, and
If it is determined at 0 that the cell is not in the cartridge storage shelf 10, it is determined that the magnetic tape has no return destination, and the access address 18 of the area ACT is set in the ejection device 13 (step 500). Next, according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the magnetic tape held by the accessor robot 9 is returned to the original home cell in the cartridge storage shelf 10, or is ejected from the ejection device 13. step 480). Next, it is determined whether or not the above-described magnetic tape return processing has ended abnormally. If it is determined that it has ended abnormally, the process moves to error recovery processing, and if it is determined that it has ended normally, the process moves to step 510. Migrate (step 490).

Next, in step 510, it is checked whether a magnetic tape is loaded in the magnetic tape device 11. If there is no magnetic tape in the magnetic tape device 10, nothing is done and the process moves to step 590; if there is a magnetic tape, the magnetic tape device is ready.
) state (step 520).
. If it is determined that the check is in the ready state, there is a possibility that the CPU 2 is currently recording/playing the magnetic tape through the magnetic tape control device 3, so no processing is performed. Move on to the next step. If it is determined that the magnetic tape device 11 is not in the ready state as a result of the check (at this time, it is checked that the magnetic tape device 11 has been unloaded, and if it is determined that the magnetic tape device 11 has not been unloaded, the library control device 4 (This is omitted in the flowchart shown in FIG. 5.), the valid flag of the area MTT corresponding to the magnetic tape device 11 is executed. 16 is "invalid" (step 530). If it is determined that it is not "invalid", it is determined whether the home cell address 17 of the area MTT is a cell in the cartridge storage shelf 10 (step 540). If it is determined in step 530 that it is not "invalid" and in step 540 that the home cell address 17 of the area MTT is a cell in the cartridge storage shelf 10, the magnetic tape device 11
In order to return the magnetic tape loaded in the cell to the home cell,
The home cell address 17 of the area MTT is set to the access address 18 of the area ACT (step 550). If it is determined in step 530 that the cell is "invalid" and if it is determined in step 540 that the cell is not in the cartridge storage shelf 10, it is determined that the magnetic tape has no return destination, and the access address of area ACT is 18 is set in the discharge device 13 (step 580).

Next, the magnetic tape is taken out from the magnetic tape device 10 by the process shown in FIG. Perform processing (
step 560). If the return process ends abnormally, the process moves to error recovery process (step 570), and if it ends normally, the process moves to step 590. The above steps are performed for all magnetic tape devices (step 590).

When the above-described processing is completed, the cartridge library device 1 starts up normally. Although this embodiment uses a magnetic tape library device as an example, it can also be applied to a library device using other recording media such as an optical disk.

As is clear from the above description, according to the above embodiment, in all cases, such as when an accessor robot takes out a recording medium or when loading it into a recording/reproducing device, the information originally recorded on the nonvolatile memory is always retained. The address of the cartridge storage shelf in which the medium was stored is stored and managed and controlled for each accessor robot and each recording/playback device. Therefore, when the power is turned on after an unexpected power outage occurs, based on the contents of the non-volatile memory, the accessor robot retains the recording medium or the recording/playback device loaded. The stored recording media can be automatically returned to the original cartridge storage shelf. Therefore, it is possible to automatically start up the library device so that it can be used, and there is an effect that it can be unmanned and automated.

Furthermore, since it is possible to determine whether a cartridge-type recording medium is stored in each cell of the accessor robot, recording/reproducing device, or cartridge storage shelf by referring to the contents of the nonvolatile memory, the upper Another advantage is that the device can easily determine whether a cartridge is present or not.

[0031]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, even if an unexpected power outage occurs, the storage shelf home cell address to which the cartridge-type recording medium should be returned and the valid address indicating the validity thereof can be maintained. Since the flag is stored in the nonvolatile memory, the cartridge type recording medium can be automatically returned to the original storage shelf by referring to the stored contents of the nonvolatile memory.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a cartridge library device showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cartridge management table in nonvolatile memory shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing cartridge removal processing.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing cartridge storage processing.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing cartridge return processing when power is turned on.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Cartridge library device 2 CPU 3 Magnetic tape control device 4 Library control device 5. Non-volatile memory 6 Battery 7 Accessor robot control device 8 Rail 9 Accessor robot 10 Cartridge storage shelf 11 Magnetic tape device. 12. Feeding device 13　Discharge device 14 Valid flag 15 Home cell address 16 Valid flag 17 Home cell address 18 Access address 19 Valid flag

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A recording and reproducing device for recording and reproducing data on and from a cartridge type recording medium, a storage shelf having a plurality of cells for storing a large number of cartridge type recording media, and a cartridge type recording medium according to an instruction from a host device. an accessor robot that takes out a cartridge type recording medium from the storage shelf and loads it into the recording/reproducing device, or stores a cartridge type recording medium taken out from the recording/reproducing device in the storage shelf; and a loading device that inputs the cartridge type recording medium from the outside; In the cartridge library device equipped with an ejecting device for ejecting a cartridge-type recording medium to the outside, a non-volatile memory for recording the storage position of the cartridge-type recording medium, and a control device for controlling each of the above parts, the accessor robot The storage shelf home cell address of the cartridge-type magnetic tape held by the storage shelf home cell address, the access address of the accessor robot, and the valid flag indicating the validity of the storage shelf home cell address and access address are stored in a non-volatile memory, and the magnetic tape device The storage shelf home cell address of the loaded cartridge-type recording medium and a valid flag indicating its validity are stored in a non-volatile manner, and the valid flag indicating the validity of each storage shelf home cell address is also stored in a non-volatile manner to prevent unexpected power supply. If a power failure occurs, the non-volatile memory will be read out the next time the power is turned on, and the cartridge-type recording media in the accessor robot and recording/playback device will be automatically returned to the original storage shelf according to the read information. A method of controlling a cartridge library device, the method comprising controlling the cartridge library device.