JP2014191850A - Library device, medium information management method, and medium information management program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a library device and the like which enable selection of a cartridge using a handwritten character written on a label.SOLUTION: A library device 1 according to the present invention includes: an imaging unit 6 which captures a label attached to an outside of a cartridge; medium information recording means 7 which stores therein, as a medium table for each slot number of a storage, a bar code value embedded in a label and scanned from a bar code; image information recording means 8 which stores therein, as an image table, an image of a label and a slot number by associating each other; and information sending and receiving means 9 which sends, when a bar code value is inquired by an upper-level device 2, an image of a label corresponding to the bar code value back to the upper-level device.

Description

  The present invention relates to a library apparatus, a medium information management method, and a medium information management program, and more particularly to a library apparatus that enables a cartridge to be selected using handwritten characters written on a label.

  Needless to say, in a computer device, particularly a computer device that stores a large amount of data used for business, such as a server computer, it is necessary to back up the data. For this reason, a library that allows a cartridge containing a storage medium such as magnetic tape or magnetic disk to be mounted on a drive using a transfer robot (accessor) as needed, thereby enabling backup and restoration of large amounts of data. The device is being used.

  When using the library apparatus, it is necessary to select a necessary cartridge from a large number of cartridges and mount it in the drive. What is often used at that time is information such as a barcode attached to the outer surface of the cartridge or a volume serial number recorded in a means such as a nonvolatile memory built in the cartridge. .

  Such information cannot be directly discriminated by the user, but is suitable for use via backup software and content management software. Therefore, the user selects the cartridge directly. Even if data reading / writing is not performed, cartridge selection is automatically performed if necessary data is designated for such software. Therefore, no particular problem has occurred.

  In recent years, however, a technology has appeared that makes the contents written in the library device look like an ordinary file system, such as LTFS (Linear Tape File System), and this allows the user to directly use the cartridge of the library device via the desktop OS. It is possible to read and write data directly to the cartridge.

  In relation to this, there are the following technical documents. Among them, Patent Document 1 describes a technique in which a user can visually check the internal state of a library apparatus using a cartridge incorporating a camera. Patent Document 2 describes a method of adjusting the focus of a camera for reading a barcode attached to a cartridge in a library apparatus.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a library apparatus that incorporates an image input unit in a picker that pulls out a cartridge, and acquires information about a failure that has occurred. Patent Document 4 describes a magnetic tape cartridge provided with a memo writing unit under which a person can write management information by hand under a bar code label.

  Patent Document 5 describes a computer system in which a volume serial number is recorded on a case (cartridge) affixed with a magnetic tape, thereby managing the recording medium. Non-Patent Document 1 describes the outline of the aforementioned LTFS (Linear Tape File System).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-162461 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-115027 Japanese Patent No. 4665918 JP 2010-049727 A Japanese Patent No. 2688420

Masafumi Ishimori, “Executable in the same way as files: Does LTFS expand the possibilities of tape drives?” July 27, 2010 [Search March 12, 2013], ITmedia Enterprise, IT Media Corporation, Internet <URL: http://www.itmedia.co.jp/enterprise/articles/1007/27/news009.html>

  As described above, the media management method of the library device is often used for barcodes attached to the outer surface of the cartridge or information recorded in a nonvolatile memory built in the cartridge. Thus, it is impossible for the user to determine the contents directly from these pieces of information.

  For example, it is also one method that the user writes a summary of the contents in handwritten characters on a label attached to the outer periphery of the cartridge. As an advantage of this method, even if it cannot be read by the machine, it only needs to be character information that can be read by humans. For example, the character may be fine or poor. You can also include simple illustrations and pictograms.

  However, once the cartridge is inserted into the library apparatus, the label is no longer visible from the outside. Furthermore, most of the users do not touch the library device directly, but use it from other devices connected via the network. Therefore, it is impossible to select a cartridge using handwritten characters written on the label.

  In each of the above-mentioned documents, a technique for monitoring the inside of a library apparatus by incorporating a camera in a cartridge as in Patent Documents 1 and 3, and a barcode label and handwritten characters as in Patent Document 4 are compatible. There are those that describe cartridges to be made. However, the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 3 both make it possible to visually check the internal state of the library apparatus in order to generate an abnormality and specify the cause thereof. None of Patent Documents 1 to 5 and Non-Patent Document 1 describe a technique that allows the user to select a cartridge using the handwritten characters.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a library apparatus, a medium information management method, and a medium information management program that can select a cartridge using handwritten characters written on a label.

  In order to achieve the above object, a library apparatus according to the present invention reads and writes data from and to a storage medium having a plurality of slots for storing cartridges containing a storage medium and a storage medium built in the cartridge by mounting the cartridge. A library device having a drive for carrying out and a transport robot for taking out the cartridge from the hangar and mounting it on the drive. The library device has an imaging device for photographing a label affixed to the outside of the cartridge, and is read from a barcode included in the label Medium information recording means for storing a barcode value as a medium table for each slot number of the hangar, image information recording means for associating a label image with a slot number and storing it as an image table, Corresponds to the barcode value when inquired from the device That it and an information transmitting and receiving means for returning to the host device an image of the label, characterized by.

  In order to achieve the above object, a medium information management method according to the present invention includes a storage having a plurality of slots for accommodating a cartridge incorporating a storage medium, and data stored in the storage medium incorporated in the cartridge by mounting the cartridge. A library apparatus having a drive for reading and writing data and a transport robot for taking out the cartridge from the storage and mounting it in the drive, the library apparatus including an imaging device for photographing a label attached to the outside of the cartridge, and included in the label The bar code value read from the bar code is stored as a medium table by the medium information recording unit for each slot number of the hangar, and the image information recording unit stores the label image and the slot number in association with each other as the image table. When the barcode value is queried from the host device The broadcast receiving unit returns the image of the label corresponding to the bar code value to the host apparatus, characterized by.

  In order to achieve the above object, a medium information management program according to the present invention provides a storage having a plurality of slots for accommodating a cartridge containing a storage medium and data stored in the storage medium built into the cartridge by mounting the cartridge. The library apparatus includes a drive for reading and writing data, and a transport robot that takes out the cartridge from the storage and mounts the cartridge in the drive. The library apparatus includes an imaging device that photographs a label attached to the outside of the cartridge, and the library apparatus includes A procedure for storing the barcode value read from the barcode included in the label as a medium table for each slot number of the storage, and a procedure for storing the image of the label and the slot number in association with each other as an image table, And barcode value higher Thereby performing the steps of returning an image of the label corresponding to the bar code value when it is placed et inquiry to the host device, and wherein.

  Since the present invention is configured to return the image of the label corresponding to the barcode value to the host device when the barcode value is inquired from the host device as described above, the handwritten character written on the label is used. Thus, it is possible to provide a library apparatus, a medium information management method, and a medium information management program having an excellent feature that cartridges can be selected.

It is explanatory drawing shown about the structure of the library apparatus which concerns on the basic form of this invention. It is explanatory drawing shown about the structure of the library apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing shown about the external appearance of the label affixed on the cartridge shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of storage contents of a medium table illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of storage contents of an image table illustrated in FIG. 2. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an inventory operation performed in the library apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2 to acquire information about cartridges in the apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when a cartridge is moved in the library apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when media information is requested from a host device in the library device illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing shown about the structure of the library apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing shown about the external appearance of the label affixed on the cartridge shown in FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation performed in the library apparatus illustrated in FIG. 9 to acquire information about cartridges in the apparatus.

(Basic form)
Hereinafter, the basic configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The library apparatus 1 according to the basic mode includes a storage 3 having a plurality of slots for accommodating cartridges 3a containing a storage medium, and a drive 4 for reading and writing data to and from the storage medium built into the cartridge by mounting the cartridge. A library device including a transfer robot 5 that takes out a cartridge from a storage and mounts it on a drive, and includes an imaging device 6 that captures a label attached to the outside of the cartridge, and a bar read from a barcode included in the label Medium information recording means 7 for storing the code value as a medium table for each slot number of the hangar, image information recording means 8 for storing the image of the label and the slot number in association with each other, and the barcode value Corresponds to the barcode value when inquired from the host device 2 And an information transmitting and receiving means 9 for returning the image of the label to the host device.

As a result, in the library apparatus 1, it is possible to select a cartridge using handwritten characters written on a label.
A more detailed configuration of each unit / means will be described as the next embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Next, the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the basic content of the present embodiment will be described, and then more specific content will be described.
The library apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes a storage 15 having a plurality of slots for accommodating cartridges 13 containing a storage medium, and a drive for reading and writing data to and from the storage medium built in the cartridge by mounting the cartridge 13. 14 and a transfer robot 16 that takes out the cartridge from the storage and mounts it on the drive, and includes an image pickup device 16a that photographs the label attached to the outside of the cartridge, and is read from the barcode included in the label. Medium information recording means 101 for storing the barcode value as a medium table 111 for each slot number of the hangar; image information recording means 102 for storing the image of the label and the slot number in association with each other as an image table 112; Queries the barcode value from the host device The image of the label corresponding to the bar code value when it and an information transmitting and receiving means 104 to reply to the host device.

  Here, the imaging device 16 a is equipped on the transfer robot 16. In addition, the medium information recording unit 102 and the image information recording unit 103 have a function of recording data in the medium table 111 and the image table 112 during an inventory operation for acquiring information about all cartridges in the storage.

As a result, in the library apparatus 10, cartridges can be selected using handwritten characters written on the labels.
Hereinafter, this will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the library apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The library device 10 is connected to a host device 20 (such as a server computer), and includes a processor 11 that is an operation subject of a computer program, a storage unit 12 that stores an operating program and data, and a storage medium. A cartridge 13 (13a, 13b,...) And a drive 14 that can read and write data in a storage medium therein by mounting the cartridge 13 are provided.

  Further, the library apparatus 10 has a storage box 15 having a plurality of slots for individually accommodating the cartridges 13, and takes out the cartridges 13 from the storage box 15 and attaches them to the drive 14, or takes out the cartridges 13 from the drive 14 and returns them to the storage box 15. A transfer robot 16. The transfer robot 16 can also take out the cartridge 13 from one slot of the storage 15 and move it to another slot.

  The transfer robot 16 is also provided with an imaging device 16a that captures the label 130 that is attached to a position outside the cartridge 13 and visible from the outside even when stored in the storage box 15.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the appearance of the label 130 attached to the cartridge 13 shown in FIG. The label 130 includes two types of information: a handwritten character portion 131 and a barcode 132. The bar code 132 may be a one-dimensional bar code or a two-dimensional bar code (QR code (registered trademark)), as long as the bar code value such as a number or a symbol can be recognized from an image photographed by the imaging device 16a. Other than these may be used.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the processor 11 functions as the medium moving unit 100, the medium information recording unit 101, the image information recording unit 102, the barcode reading unit 103, and the information transmitting / receiving unit 104 by operating the medium management program. . The storage unit 12 stores a medium table 111 and an image table 112.

  The medium moving unit 100 controls the transport robot 16 in accordance with a command from the host device 20 to move the cartridge 13 from the storage 15 to the drive 14 or vice versa. The medium information recording unit 101 stores the presence / absence of the medium in each slot of the drive 14 and the storage 15 and the barcode 132 in the medium table 111. The image information recording unit 102 stores information about the handwritten character portion 131 and the barcode 132 of the label 130 of each cartridge 13 in the image table 112.

  The barcode reading unit 103 recognizes and outputs a barcode value such as a number or a symbol from the image captured by the imaging device 16a. If the barcode value cannot be recognized, it is recognized that the cartridge with the barcode attached is not accommodated in the slot, and the null value is output. The information transmission / reception unit 104 returns information about the designated medium in response to a command from the host apparatus 20.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents stored in the medium table 111 shown in FIG. The medium table 111 includes a slot number 111a for each slot of the hangar 15, a medium presence / absence 111b which is binary data indicating the presence / absence of the cartridge 13 in the slot, and a barcode 132 of the label 130 attached to the cartridge 13. It consists of a barcode value 111c recognized by the barcode reading means 103.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the stored contents of the image table 112 shown in FIG. The image table 112 includes an image ID 112a for uniquely identifying each stored image, image data 112b corresponding to the label 130, a slot number 112c in which the cartridge 13 corresponding to the image is accommodated, and the cartridge 13 It consists of the barcode value 112d recognized by the barcode reading means 103 from the barcode 132.

  Here, the image data 112 b is image data of the entire label 130 including both the handwritten character portion 131 and the barcode 132. The slot number 112c and the barcode value 112d correspond to the slot number 111a and the barcode value 111c in the medium table 111. When the cartridge 13 is attached to the drive 14, the slot number 112c is set to "1001" in the example shown in FIG. When the cartridge 13 is in the storage 15, the slot number 112c is an integer between 0 and 1000. Of course, the method of assigning this value is only an example. In the following description, when the term “slot” is simply used in the present specification, both the drive 14 and the hangar 15 can be included.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an inventory operation that is performed in the library apparatus 10 shown in FIG. The library device 10 reads a barcode and photographs a label surface during the inventory operation.

  When the inventory operation is started, the transport robot 16 first moves to the first slot of the storage 15 under the control of the medium moving means 100, and the imaging device 16a takes a picture of the slot under the control of the medium information recording means 101 (step S101). ). Subsequently, the medium information recording unit 101 confirms whether or not the cartridge 13 is stored in the slot (step S102).

  Here, whether or not the cartridge 13 is stored may be confirmed depending on whether or not the barcode reading unit 103 can recognize the barcode from the photographed image, whether or not there is mechanical resistance, or It may be performed by a switch provided in each slot. Alternatively, the barcode may be read after confirming that the cartridge 13 is stored.

  The medium information recording unit 101 stores the information obtained in steps S101 and S102 in the medium table 111 (step S103). If the confirmation result of step S102 is “cartridge 13 is stored”, the image pickup device 16a takes the label 130 under the control of the image information recording means 102 (steps S104 to 105), and the information obtained thereby. Is stored in the image table 112 by the image information recording means 102 (step S106).

  In step S106, the image information recording unit 102 sets the captured image as the image data 112b, issues an image ID 112a, and stores it in the image table 112 together with the slot number 112c. When the barcode value 111c corresponding to the slot number 112c is stored in the medium table 111, the image information recording unit 102 also stores it as the barcode value 112d of the image table 112. If a record with the same slot number 112c as the slot number to be saved already exists in the image table 112, the older record is deleted.

  In the case where “cartridge 13 is not stored” in step S104, if the record of the slot number 112c exists in the image table 112, the record is deleted (step S107). The above processing is performed for all slots of the drive 14 and the storage 15 (steps S108 to S109).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation when the cartridge 13 is moved in the library apparatus 10 shown in FIG. When the medium moving unit 100 moves the cartridge 13 from a specific slot to another slot in response to a command from the host apparatus 20 (step S201), the medium information recording unit 101 stores the destination slot of the medium table 111. Information on the cartridge is recorded in the record, and the record of the movement source slot is deleted (step S202). Then, the image information recording unit 102 changes the slot number of the movement source slot recorded in the slot number 112c of the image table 112 to the slot number of the movement destination slot (step S203).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation when the host device 20 requests medium information in the library device 10 shown in FIG. When the host device requests media information by specifying the slot number 111a (112c) or the barcode value 111c (112d) (step S301), the information transmission / reception means 104 that has received this information from the image table 112 The corresponding image data 112b is searched and specified (step S302), and this is returned to the higher-level device 20 (step S303).

(Overall operation of the first embodiment)
Next, the overall operation of the above embodiment will be described.
The medium information management method according to the present embodiment operates in response to a command from a higher-level device, and is built into the cartridge by installing a cartridge having a plurality of slots for housing the cartridge containing the storage medium and mounting the cartridge. A library apparatus having a drive for reading and writing data to a storage medium and a transport robot for taking out the cartridge from the storage and mounting it on the drive, the library apparatus including an imaging device for photographing a label affixed to the outside of the cartridge The bar code value read from the bar code included in the label is stored in the medium table by the medium information recording unit for each slot number of the storage (FIG. 6, step S103), and the label image and the slot number are associated with each other. The image information recording means stores it as an image table. Figure 6 step S106), the bar code value queried When information transmitting and receiving means from the host device replies the image of the label corresponding to the bar code value to the host apparatus (8 steps S301~303). Here, during the inventory operation, an operation of recording data of the media table and the image table is performed.

Here, each of the above-described operation steps may be programmed to be executable by a computer, and may be executed by the processor 11 of the library apparatus 10 that directly executes each of the steps. The program may be recorded on a non-temporary recording medium, such as a DVD, a CD, or a flash memory. In this case, the program is read from the recording medium by a computer and executed.
By this operation, this embodiment has the following effects.

  According to this embodiment, it is possible to select a cartridge using handwritten characters written on a label from another apparatus connected via a network without opening the library apparatus.

(Second Embodiment)
In the library device 410 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, the imaging device 417 is fixed at a position where the upper surface of the cartridge can be photographed. Further, when a medium movement (MOVE MEDIUM) command is received from the host device 20, the medium information recording unit 421 and the image information recording unit 422 record the data of the medium table 111 and the image table 112.

In addition to obtaining the same effect as in the first embodiment, this configuration can also use a label affixed to the upper surface of the cartridge, so that a larger area can be used than in the case of a label affixed to the back surface. . Further, it becomes easier to add the imaging device 417 to the library device 410 later than in the case of the first embodiment.
This will be described in more detail below.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the library apparatus 410 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The library device 410 is connected to the same host device 20 as in the first embodiment, and is also the same processor 11, storage means 12, cartridge 13 (13a, 13b,...), Drive 14, and storage as in the first embodiment. 15. A transfer robot 416 not provided with an image pickup device and an image pickup device 417 fixed to a position where the upper surface of the cartridge 13 can be photographed when the cartridge 13 is inserted into the drive 14 are provided.

  In other words, the imaging device 417 is not provided along with the transport robot 416 but is fixed so as not to move inside the library device 410, which is the biggest difference from the first embodiment.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing the appearance of the label 430 attached to the cartridge 13 shown in FIG. The label 430 includes two types of information, the handwritten character portion 431 and the barcode 432, which are the same as those in the first embodiment, but is attached to the “upper surface” of the cartridge 13. There is an advantage that a larger area than the form can be used.

  Each means that functions by the operation of the program in the processor 11 is such that the medium moving means 420, the medium information recording means 421, and the image information recording means 422 are different from those in the first embodiment. The barcode reading unit 103 and the information transmitting / receiving unit 104 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The medium table 111 and the image table 112 of the storage unit 12 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation performed in the library apparatus 410 shown in FIG. 9 to acquire information about the cartridge 13 in the apparatus. When a medium movement (MOVE MEDIUM) command is received from the host apparatus 20 and the transport destination is the drive 14 (step S501), the medium moving means 420 determines the movement target from the command from the host apparatus 20. The current slot number of the cartridge 13 is obtained (step S502).

  Subsequently, the image information recording unit 422 searches the image table 112 to determine whether there is a record in which the slot number 112c matches the acquired slot number (step S503). If the slot number record already exists, the label of the cartridge has already been photographed, and the process proceeds to step S506 described later.

  If the record of the slot number does not exist, the label of the cartridge has not been shot yet, so the medium moving means 420 controls the transport robot 416 to move the cartridge 13 to the shooting enabled position (step S504). The imaging device 417 photographs the label 430 under the control of the image information recording unit 422 (step S505).

  Then, as in the first embodiment, the image information recording unit 422 updates the image table 112 (step S506) and ends the process. At this time, the image information recording unit 422 adds a number corresponding to the transport destination drive to the slot number 112c, and further searches the medium table 111 for the barcode value 112d corresponding to the transport source slot acquired in step S502. Add.

  If the transport destination of the medium movement is not the drive 14 or if the label of the cartridge has already been photographed, only the slot number 112c of the image table 112 is updated (step S506), and the process ends. The operation of the library apparatus 410 when media information is requested from the host apparatus 20 is the same as that in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  According to this embodiment, even if the imaging device 417 is fixed and installed in the library device 410, the same effect as that described in the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, since the label attached to the upper surface of the cartridge 13 is photographed, there is an advantage that larger image information can be used as medium management information, and the barcode label surface can be used as it is.

  Furthermore, adding the imaging device 417 to the existing library device 410 that does not include the imaging device can be performed more easily than in the case of the imaging device provided in the transport robot as in the first embodiment. There is also an advantage that the present invention can be easily implemented by the library apparatus 410 of the present invention.

  In this embodiment, the image pickup apparatus is installed near the top of the drive in the library apparatus. However, the image pickup apparatus may be arranged in front of the drive so as to photograph the barcode label surface as in the first embodiment. Further, for example, information may be recorded at the time of an inventory operation as in the first embodiment, without being triggered by a medium movement (MOVE MEDIUM) command, or attached to a library device instead of a host device. It may be triggered by media movement using the operation panel. In addition, a dedicated command for recording information may be prepared.

  The present invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, and any known hitherto provided that the effects of the present invention are achieved. Even if it is a structure, it is employable.

  Regarding the embodiment described above, the main points of the new technical contents are summarized as follows. In addition, although part or all of the said embodiment is summarized as follows as a novel technique, this invention is not necessarily limited to this.

(Supplementary Note 1) A storage having a plurality of slots for accommodating a cartridge containing a storage medium, a drive for reading / writing data from / to a storage medium built in the cartridge by mounting the cartridge, and removing the cartridge from the storage A library apparatus comprising a transfer robot that is taken out and attached to the drive,
An imaging device for photographing a label affixed to the outside of the cartridge;
Medium information recording means for storing a barcode value read from the barcode included in the label as a medium table for each slot number of the hangar;
Image information recording means for associating and storing the image of the label and the slot number as an image table;
A library apparatus, comprising: an information transmission / reception unit configured to return an image of the label corresponding to the barcode value to the host apparatus when the barcode value is inquired from the host apparatus.

(Additional remark 2) The said imaging device is equipped with the said conveyance robot, The library apparatus of Additional remark 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.

(Additional remark 3) The function which records the data of the said media table and the said image table by the said media information recording means and the said image information recording means in the case of the inventory operation | movement which acquires the information about all the said cartridges in the said storage. The library apparatus according to appendix 1, characterized by comprising:

(Additional remark 4) The said imaging device is being fixed to the position which can image | photograph the upper surface of the said cartridge, The library apparatus of Additional remark 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.

(Supplementary Note 5) When a medium movement (MOVE MEDIUM) command is received from the host device, the medium information recording unit and the image information recording unit have a function of recording data of the medium table and the image table; The library apparatus according to appendix 1, wherein:

(Supplementary Note 6) A storage having a plurality of slots for accommodating a cartridge containing a storage medium, a drive for reading / writing data from / to a storage medium built in the cartridge by mounting the cartridge, and removing the cartridge from the storage In a library apparatus having a transport robot to be taken out and attached to the drive,
The library apparatus includes an imaging device for photographing a label attached to the outside of the cartridge,
The bar code value read from the bar code included in the label is stored as a medium table by the medium information recording unit for each slot number of the hangar,
The image information recording means stores the image of the label in association with the slot number as an image table,
When the barcode value is inquired from a higher-level device, an information transmitting / receiving unit returns an image of the label corresponding to the barcode value to the higher-level device.

(Supplementary note 7) The medium information management according to supplementary note 6, wherein data of the medium table and the image table is recorded in an inventory operation for acquiring information about all the cartridges in the storage. Method.

(Supplementary note 8) The medium information management method according to supplementary note 6, wherein data of the medium table and the image table is recorded when a medium movement (MOVE MEDIUM) command is received from the host device.

(Supplementary Note 9) A storage having a plurality of slots for accommodating a cartridge containing a storage medium, a drive for reading and writing data to a storage medium built in the cartridge by mounting the cartridge, and removing the cartridge from the storage In a library apparatus having a transport robot to be taken out and attached to the drive,
The library apparatus includes an imaging device for photographing a label attached to the outside of the cartridge,
In the processor provided in the library device,
A procedure for storing a barcode value read from a barcode included in the label as a medium table for each slot number of the hangar;
A procedure for storing the image of the label and the slot number in association with each other as an image table,
And a medium information management program for executing a procedure of returning an image of the label corresponding to the barcode value to the host device when the barcode value is inquired from the host device.

(Supplementary note 10) The medium information management according to supplementary note 9, wherein data of the medium table and the image table is recorded in an inventory operation for acquiring information about all the cartridges in the storage. program.

(Supplementary note 11) The medium information management program according to supplementary note 9, wherein data of the medium table and the image table is recorded when a medium movement (MOVE MEDIUM) command is received from the host device.

  The present invention can be generally used in a library apparatus.

1, 10, 410 Library device 2, 20 Host device 3, 15 Storage 3a, 13 Cartridge 4, 14 Drive 5, 16, 416 Transport robot 6, 16a, 417 Imaging device 7, 101, 421 Medium information recording means 8, 102 422 Image information recording means 9, 104 Information transmitting / receiving means 11 Processor 12 Storage means 100, 420 Medium moving means 103 Bar code reading means 111 Medium table 112 Image table 130, 430 Label 131, 431 Handwritten character part 132, 432 Bar code

Claims (10)

A storage having a plurality of slots for accommodating a cartridge containing a storage medium, a drive for reading and writing data to a storage medium built in the cartridge by mounting the cartridge, and taking out the cartridge from the storage and driving the drive A library device having a transfer robot to be mounted on
An imaging device for photographing a label affixed to the outside of the cartridge;
Medium information recording means for storing a barcode value read from the barcode included in the label as a medium table for each slot number of the hangar;
Image information recording means for associating and storing the image of the label and the slot number as an image table;
A library apparatus, comprising: an information transmission / reception unit configured to return an image of the label corresponding to the barcode value to the host apparatus when the barcode value is inquired from the host apparatus.   The library apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is provided in the transfer robot.   The medium information recording unit and the image information recording unit have a function of recording data of the medium table and the image table in an inventory operation for acquiring information about all the cartridges in the storage. The library apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that:   The library apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device is fixed at a position where the upper surface of the cartridge can be photographed.   The medium information recording unit and the image information recording unit have a function of recording data of the medium table and the image table when a medium movement (MOVE MEDIUM) command is received from the host device. The library apparatus according to claim 1. A storage having a plurality of slots for accommodating a cartridge containing a storage medium, a drive for reading and writing data to a storage medium built in the cartridge by mounting the cartridge, and taking out the cartridge from the storage and driving the drive In a library apparatus equipped with a transfer robot to be mounted on
The library apparatus includes an imaging device for photographing a label attached to the outside of the cartridge,
The bar code value read from the bar code included in the label is stored as a medium table by the medium information recording unit for each slot number of the hangar,
The image information recording means stores the image of the label in association with the slot number as an image table,
When the barcode value is inquired from a higher-level device, an information transmitting / receiving unit returns an image of the label corresponding to the barcode value to the higher-level device.   The medium information management method according to claim 6, wherein data of the medium table and the image table is recorded in an inventory operation for acquiring information about all the cartridges in the storage.   7. The medium information management method according to claim 6, wherein when a medium movement (MOVE MEDIUM) command is received from the host device, data of the medium table and the image table are recorded. A storage having a plurality of slots for accommodating a cartridge containing a storage medium, a drive for reading and writing data to a storage medium built in the cartridge by mounting the cartridge, and taking out the cartridge from the storage and driving the drive In a library apparatus equipped with a transfer robot to be mounted on
The library apparatus includes an imaging device for photographing a label attached to the outside of the cartridge,
In the processor provided in the library device,
A procedure for storing a barcode value read from a barcode included in the label as a medium table for each slot number of the hangar;
A procedure for storing the image of the label and the slot number in association with each other as an image table,
And a medium information management program for executing a procedure of returning an image of the label corresponding to the barcode value to the host device when the barcode value is inquired from the host device.   The medium information management program according to claim 9, wherein data of the medium table and the image table is recorded in an inventory operation for acquiring information about all the cartridges in the storage.

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