JP2824013B2 - Library apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a library device used for a removable storage medium such as a magnetic tape cartridge, and more particularly, to a transfer robot mechanism for selecting a medium stored in a cell and carrying it to a recording device. The present invention relates to a library device that performs reading and writing. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent computer systems, as the number of media such as magnetic tapes and optical disks as external storage devices increases, operational efficiency, maintainability, and reliability have been required. For this reason, there has been provided a library apparatus for automatically storing a medium and transporting the medium to a recording / reproducing apparatus using a robot mechanism.

In a library apparatus, as the number of running jobs and the number of connected host computers increase, access requests per unit time increase. FIG. 20 schematically shows a conventional library device. The library device 400 is used as an information storage of the host computers 20-1 to 20-4, and includes two directors 402 as input / output control units. For example, the director 402
It has four channels D and E to F. In this case, channels A and B and channels E and F are used.

A cell block 410 is provided inside the library device 400 as a medium storage for storing a medium such as a magnetic tape cartridge.
Two accessors 408 are provided as a medium transport robot mechanism that travels on a rail 414 along. Accessor 408 is controlled by machine controller 406. An accessor controller 404 is provided above the machine controller 406.

[0004] Normally, one accessor 408 operates to execute transport control, and the other accessor 408 does not operate. This is because two accessors 408 operate on one rail 414 and cannot operate at the same time.
This is because one control unit performs centralized management so as to operate separately by the exclusive control method.

A plurality of magnetic tape units (MTU: Magnetic Tape Unit) are connected to the director 402, and the medium carried by the accessor 408 is loaded to perform a read operation or a write operation. Return to cell block 410. In such a library device, it is an important factor how quickly mounting (mounting) and removal (demounting) of the magnetic tape cassette to and from the magnetic tape device 416 can be performed.

That is, the magnetic tape cassette designated from the cell block 410 is conveyed as soon as possible at the start of the read or write processing, and the magnetic tape cartridge ejected after the end of the read or write is returned to the original cell as soon as possible. Is required to improve the performance of the library device. The mounting and demounting of the medium in the conventional library apparatus is as follows.

First, in the mounting process, the host OS, which is a library support program provided in the host computer, changes the cell address of the cell block 410 from the source address (From Address), and the logical unit number of the magnetic tape device 416 to be used. The destination address (To Address)
A move command having command data as follows is issued.

[0008] The director 4 receiving this move command
02 instructs the accessor controller 404 to operate, and the accessor 408 takes out the magnetic tape cassette from the cell block 410, transports it to the specified magnetic tape device 416, and puts it into the insertion slot. When the device end is obtained at the end of the transport, the host OS issues a load command to transfer the transported magnetic tape cassette to the magnetic tape device 4.
Load 16 When the device end of loading is obtained, the host OS issues a read command or a write command, and performs a read operation or a write operation.

When the read operation or the write operation is completed,
The host OS performs a demount process. In the demount process, first, an unload command is issued, and an unload operation for ejecting the magnetic tape cassette from the magnetic tape device 416 that has completed the read or write operation is performed. When the unload command is completed by the device end, the host OS issues a move command for returning the magnetic cassette tape to the cell block. That is, a move command having command data in which the machine number of the magnetic tape device that has completed the unload operation is the source address and the position of the original cell block is the destination address is issued.

When the accessor 408 becomes empty, under control of the accessor controller 404 based on command data from the director 402, the accessor 408 stores the ejected magnetic tape cartridge in the cell block 410.
Return to the original position. Thus, a series of processing ends. FIG. 21 is a time chart showing details of the demount processing in the conventional library device. FIG. 20 shows the host OS, director 402, and magnetic tape device 4 in the upper horizontal direction.
16, the accessor 408, and the vertical direction is the time axis, and shows the state of commands, instructions, and responses between units.

In FIG. 20, first, a host computer (host OS) 20 issues an unload command to a director 402 by designating a logical unit number of a magnetic tape device. When the director 402 normally receives the unload command, the director 402 returns an initial status 602 of “00” to be a channel end. The director 402 issues an unload instruction 604 to the magnetic tape device 416 of the logical machine number designated based on the unload command 600.

Upon receiving the unload instruction 604, the magnetic tape device 416 first rewinds the magnetic tape in the cassette, performs an eject operation after the rewind is completed, and reports the unload completion 614 to the director 402. The operation time from the start to the end of the unloading takes about 10 to 60 seconds. On the other hand, the director 412
When the unload instruction 604 is issued to the control unit 16, the control end, unit end and unit check statuses are returned as the end status 606 for the unload command 600, and the host computer 20 recognizes the normal end of the command issuance.

Subsequently, the host computer 20 performs a sense process during the unload operation. First, sense command 6
08, an initial status as a channel end based on command reception and a predetermined number of bytes of sense data are returned from the director 402. Next, the final status 612 of the device end is returned, and the state of the library device is recognized. This sensing process is performed at a constant timer cycle.

The director 402 that has received the unload completion 614 at the end of the unload operation of the magnetic tape device 416
Reports the attention status 616 having the logical device number # 8 assigned to the accessor 408 to the host computer 20. The host computer 20 recognizes the unload operation upon receiving the attention status 616 of # 8, and issues a move command 618. When the move command 618 is normally received by the director 402, the initial status of “00” is returned and the channel ends, and then the source address and the destination address data 622 are issued as command data.

If the accessor 408 is vacant at this time, the director 402 issues a move instruction 624 based on the source address and the destination address.
Is started. This transport operation requires about 10 seconds on average, depending on the cell position. Accessor 408
Reports the operation completion 628 to the director 402, the minimum status 63
0 is reported, and a device end indicating the normal end of the move command is obtained.

[0016]

However, in such a conventional library apparatus, the demount processing after the completion of the read or write processing is performed by unloading / reading from the host.
When the command is issued and the operation is completed, a special attention status is reported to the host, and in response to this, a move command for returning the medium to the original cell is issued from the host OS, and the unload operation and the transport operation are performed. Are sequentially performed.

Therefore, only after the unloading operation is completed, the accessor starts operating toward the position of the magnetic tape device from which the magnetic tape cassette has been ejected. Therefore, there is a problem that a processing time at least including the unloading operation time and the transport time is required until the end of the demounting, and the processing time is unnecessarily long. The background of this problem has come to the fore in today's world, where the amount of data stored in the database is becoming enormous for users, and it is essential to speed up the processing of such data in order to use the library device. That was the condition. Further, the improvement of the processing performance of the library device has been demanded more strongly than the user's needs with the appearance of other competing devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem by shortening the processing time required for demounting a medium that has been read or written and thereby improving the processing performance, and a control method therefor. I will provide a.

[0019]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention. First, the library device of the present invention includes a recording / reproducing device 34 for reading / writing a removable storage medium, a loading / unloading device 15 for loading / unloading a storage medium, a medium storage 10 for storing a plurality of storage media, and a storage medium. To media storage 1
0 and a recording / reproducing device 34 or a medium transport device 25 for transporting between the medium storage 10 and the input / output device 15. These devices operate according to an instruction from an input / output control device (director) 26 that has received a command from the host device 20.

The input / output control device 26 sequentially receives a first move command, a load command, a read or write command, an unload command, and a second move command from the host device 20, and performs a series of mounting and demounting processes. First, the mounting process is performed based on the first move command.
5, the storage medium is transported from the medium storage 10 or the loading / unloading device 15 to the recording / reproducing device 34, and then the storage medium transported by the load command is loaded into the recording / reproducing device 34 and read or written based on the read / write command. A read or write operation is performed.

In the demounting process, after the read or write operation is completed, the recording / reproducing device 34 is executed based on an unload command.
Then, the storage medium ejected based on the second move command is finally transported to the medium storage 10 or the loading / unloading apparatus 15 by the medium transport device 25. For such a library device, the present invention provides the input / output control device 26 with the pseudo device to the host device 20 from the start of the medium ejection operation to the end of the unload operation from the recording / reproducing device 34 based on the unload command. A first pseudo status reporting means 216 for reporting the end of the unload operation and issuing a second move command is provided.

For example, the first pseudo status report means 21
No. 6 instructs the recording / reproducing device 34 to perform an unload operation based on the unload command, and at the same time, notifies the host device 20 of the pseudo unload operation end report and issues the second move command. When a magnetic tape cartridge is used in the recording / reproducing device 34, the first pseudo stator reporting means 216 receives the completion report of the tape rewinding of the magnetic tape cartridge from the recording / reproducing device 34 based on the unload command, and Alternatively, the host apparatus 20 may be notified of the end of the pseudo unload operation and issue the second move command.

In this case, based on the pseudo unload end report from the first pseudo status report control means 216, the second move command is issued in advance during the unload operation from the host device 20, so that The received second move command is suspended, and when the unload operation completion report is received from the recording / reproducing device 34, the transport operation based on the suspended second move command is instructed to the medium transport device 25.

As a modification of the present invention, in addition to the first pseudo status reporting means 216, a second pseudo status reporting means and a machine number conversion means are further provided. The second pseudo status reporting unit is configured to transmit the unloaded operation by the first pseudo status reporting unit 216 in a pseudo completion report.
When the second move command is received from 0, a pseudo end report of the transport operation for returning the storage medium ejected from the recording / reproducing device 34 to the original position is performed, and the command based on the new input / output request is sent to the host device 20. Is issued.

The serial number conversion means transmits the same recording / reproducing device 34 from the higher-level device 20 in response to the report of the completion of the pseudo transport operation.
Is received, for example, when the instruction having the logical device number # 0 is received, the logical device number # 0 specified by the instruction is converted into, for example, the logical device number # 1 of the other recording / reproducing apparatus 12 in the idle state. And instruct the operation according to the instruction. Here, the device number conversion means performs the first completion of the same device number # 0 accompanying the new input / output request received until the completion of the unload operation of the recording / reproducing device 12 of the device number # 0 that has performed the pseudo completion report. About the move instruction,
For each of the load instruction, read / write instruction, unload instruction, and second move instruction of the same machine number # 0 following the first move instruction, an operation instruction is performed by converting the logical machine number # 0 to # 1. .

[0026]

According to the library apparatus of the present invention, the recording / reproducing apparatus is instructed to perform the unload operation, and at the same time, the end of the pseudo unload operation is reported, and the medium is returned to the original state during the unload operation. The transport operation is started by issuing a 2-move command from the host device.

For this reason, at the start point where the medium is ejected upon completion of the unloading operation, whether the medium transport device has already moved to the position of the recording / reproducing device specified by the source address, or
I'm coming close. Therefore, the medium is immediately picked up and conveyed to the original position upon completion of the unloading, and the processing time corresponding to the overlap of the unloading operation and the conveying operation can be reduced.

Also, the completion of the pseudo transport operation is reported for the second move command issued along with the pseudo completion report during the unload operation, and the same operation is performed with a new input / output request. A command is issued to the recording / reproducing device of the device number. If a new move command is issued specifying the logical unit number of the recording / reproducing device that is being unloaded, this move instruction is normally received without terminating the busy response of the recording / reproducing device, and the logical device number is set to an empty device. By changing the logical machine number to the instruction number and instructing the instruction operation, the input / output request of the host device can be efficiently processed.

[0029]

【Example】

<Table of Contents> 1. System configuration and mechanism structure 2. Hardware and functions of library device 3. First embodiment of the present invention Second embodiment of the present invention5. Third Embodiment of the Present Invention System Configuration and Mechanism Structure FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the library device of the present invention. The library device is divided into a plurality of frames, and the device can be configured by combining these frames.

The library device is provided with a cell block 10 as a medium storage. The cell block 10 contains a large number of media cartridges containing recording media such as magnetic tapes, magnetic disks, and optical disks. In the following embodiments, a case where a magnetic tape cartridge is used as a recording medium will be described as an example.

In the library device, rails 14 are laid on the left and right sides of the frame, and the rails 14 have accessors 12-1 and 12- operating as a medium transport robot.
2 is provided movably. On the opposite side of the cell block 10 across the rail 14, a deck unit 16-
1, 16-2 and control unit 18-1, 1
8-2 is installed.

The deck units 16-1 and 16-2 are provided with a plurality of magnetic tape devices.
From 12-2, the cartridge carried from the cell block 10 is loaded to read and write data. Furthermore,
A media input / output port 15 is provided on the front of the frame of the library device.
Is provided to take the cartridge in and out.

FIG. 3 shows the accessor of FIG. 2 taken out. The accessors 12-1 and 12-2 have two rails 14
Can be driven by the drive of the running motor 44 provided in the running section 40. A column 42 is erected on the running unit 40, and a lift unit 46 that can move up and down along the column 42 is provided, and a robot hand 48 is mounted on the lift unit 46. Details of the robot hand 48 are shown in FIGS.
Is shown in

The lift 46 on which the robot hand is mounted is driven up and down along the column 42 by the rotation of the screw shaft 50. Further, a swing pulley 56 is provided in the lift section 46, and the rotation of the swing motor 52 is transmitted by a wire belt 54 to rotate the robot hand 48 horizontally. At the turning portion of the robot hand 48, a medium holding portion 62 provided with a fixing plate 64 that can be seen with the upper lid of FIG. 5 removed is provided.

The medium holding unit 62 can move horizontally from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the front position shown in FIG. 5 by driving the wire belt 60 by the slide motor 58. In the state where the medium holding unit 62 is fed in the horizontal direction, the cartridge housed in the cell block or the like can be sandwiched between the fixed plate 64 and the lower movable plate (not shown). 2. Hardware and Functions of Library Apparatus FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the library apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 6, the library device 2 of the present invention
In this embodiment, 4 is used as the upper-level device.
Host computers 20-1 to 20-4 are provided. Each of the host computers 20-1 to 20-4 is connected to the library device 24 by a channel interface bus 22-1 to 22-4. As the channel interface buses 22-1 to 22-4, for example, a block multiplexer channel interface (BMC interface) is used.

In the library device 24, for example, four directors 26-1 to 26-4 are installed as input / output control devices. The directors 26-1 to 26-4 have eight channels indicated by A to H, respectively. Director 2
The maximum number of channels 6-1 to 26-4 can be six. The channel A of the directors 26-1 and 26-3 is connected to the channel interface bus 22-1 from the host computer 20-1, and the channel B is connected to the channel interface bus 22-1 from the host computer 20-2.
The interface bus 22-2 is connected.

The channel E of the directors 26-2 and 26-4 is connected to the channel interface bus 22-3 from the host computer 20-3.
Is connected to a channel interface bus 22-4 from the host computer 20-4. The channels C and D of the directors 26-1 and 26-3 and the channels G and H of the directors 26-2 and 26-4 are not used in this embodiment.

Two channels a and b are provided on the terminal side of the directors 26-1 to 26-4. Channel a is for a recording / reproducing device, and channel b is for accessor control. The directors 26-1 and 26-2 share the six magnetic tape devices 34-1 to 34-6 provided on the left side,
Device interface bus 36 from channel a
-1 and 36-2 are connected.

Accordingly, the directors 26-1 and 26-2 are connected to the recording / reproducing devices 34-1 to 34-34 on the left side of the channel a.
6, a write access or a read access can be executed. These six magnetic tape devices 34-1
To 34-6, host computers 20-1 to 20-20
On the -4 side, logical machine numbers # 0 to # 5 are assigned in advance, and the logical machine numbers are designated when a command is issued.

The directors 26-3 and 26-4 share the same six magnetic tape units 34-7 to 34-12 shown on the right side, and the device interface from the channel a.
Buses 36-3 and 36-4 are connected. Therefore, the directors 26-3 and 26-4 are connected to the right recording / reproducing device 34-.
Write access or read access is executed for 1-34-12. The right magnetic tape unit 34-7
Similarly, logical machine numbers # 0 to # 5 are assigned in advance to 〜34-12.

Incidentally, in an actual apparatus, a maximum of eight magnetic tape apparatuses can be mounted on one side, so that the logical machine number is # 0.
To # 7. Directors 26-1 and 26-2
A medium transport mechanism 25-1 is provided under the control of 6-2, and a medium transport mechanism 25-2 is also provided under the directors 26-3 and 26-4. Here, the medium transport mechanism 25-1
Becomes a regular use, and the medium transport mechanism 25-2 becomes a reserve use.

The medium transport mechanism 25-1, which is commonly used, will be described. The device interface bus 38-2 drawn from the directors 26-1 and 26-2 is connected to the channel a of the accessor controller 28. Similarly, the device interface bus 38-2 drawn from the directors 6-3 and 26-4 is connected to the channel b of the accessor controller 30 on the spare side.

The channels a and b of the accessor controllers 28 and 30 are connected together. For this reason, the accessor controllers 28 and 30 have the directors 26-1 to 26-1.
Upon receiving an instruction from any one of the modules 26-4, the transport processing is executed. Under the accessor controllers 28 and 30, machine controllers 32-1 and 32-2 for controlling the accessors 12-1 and 12-2 are provided, respectively. The accessor controllers 28 and 30 and the machine controllers 32-1 and 32-2 are cross-connected.

In the following description, the ordinary medium transport mechanism 25-1 will be described, and the spare medium transport mechanism 25-1 will be described.
-2 is omitted. Each of the host computers 20-1 to 20-4 provided as upper devices of the library device 24 receives a logical device number address (hereinafter simply referred to as a “device #I), the magnetic tape cartridge is transported, and the read and write operations are performed.

Here, the magnetic tape devices 34-1 to 34-34
6 and 34-7 to 34-12 are assigned machine number addresses # 0 to # 5, respectively. Since up to eight machines can be mounted on each side, machine number addresses # 0 to # 7 are assigned to the magnetic tape device. used. In contrast, the medium transport mechanism 25-
For 1, the machine number address # 8 is set. Specifically, the machine number address # 8 is assigned to the accessor controller 28.

In the library device 24, a cell address is defined in advance at a location where the magnetic tape cartridge exists. FIG. 7 shows the cell addresses assigned to the library device. The accessor hand, the input / output port 15, the cell block 10, and the magnetic tape devices 34-1 to 34-12 each have a cell shown in hexadecimal as shown. An address is assigned in advance. 3. Command Issuing Function of Host Computer FIG. 8 shows a processing function of an input / output command to the library device on the host computer side shown in FIG. When an arbitrary job 66 is executed by the host computer 20, the job 66 starts a job control program 70 of an operating system (hereinafter referred to as “OS”).

In this state, when an input / output request to the library device 24 occurs, a read command or a write command is created by the data management program 72, and the library support / operation device that operates as an OS for the library device via the data conversion program 74. Access the program 76. Data conversion program 7
No. 6 converts the data to a data format for displaying data on a CRT display provided on the console panel 80 since the library device was initially constructed on the premise of operator operation.
The program 76 can be received as it is.

The request command from the OS 68 to the library support program 76 specifies at least a read or write command type, a medium number such as a volume number, a sector address, and a data block length.

A control disk unit 78 is provided for the library support program 76 and stores a control data set. The library support program 76 reads a control data set from the control disk device 78, generates transport information of a medium corresponding to an input / output request from the OS 68, and issues a command necessary for the library device 24 through the input / output subsystem processing unit 82. Issue

The processing from the normal host computer 20 to the library device 24 is divided into mounting processing and demounting processing. Mount processing is cell block 10
This is a process for carrying out a read or write operation after transporting the magnetic tape cartridge to the magnetic tape device and loading it. The demount process is a process of unloading the magnetic tape cartridge from the magnetic tape device after the end of the read operation or the write operation, and transporting the unloaded magnetic tape cartridge to the original cell block.

To execute the mounting process, the host computer 20 issues a move command (first command) for transporting the magnetic tape cartridge from the cell block to the magnetic tape device.
Move command), a loading command, and a read command or a write command. In the demounting process, the host computer 20 sequentially issues an unload command and a move command (second move command) for returning the medium to the original position of the cell block.

When issuing each command in such mounting processing and demounting processing, the machine number address #i of the magnetic tape devices 34-1 to 34-12 (however,
i = 0 to 7) are designated. For the command for transporting the medium, the machine number address # 8 is specified. The library device 24 in FIG. 8 shows the execution state of the command specifying the machine number address # 0 of the magnetic tape device 34-4. That is, the library support program 76 of the host computer 20 first issues a move command specifying the machine number address # 8.

For this move command, the cell address of the cell block containing the magnetic tape cartridge to be input / output in the cell block is used as the source address, and the magnetic tape cartridge is mounted, for example, using the magnetic tape device 34-. Source / destination address data is issued using the cell address of No. 1 as the destination cell address.

The accessor controller 28 moves the accessor 12-1 to the position of the cell block specified by the source address issued with the move command, picks up the magnetic tape cartridge, and is specified by the destination address. It is transported to the tape input port of the magnetic tape device 34-1 and the magnetic tape cartridge is inserted. When the transport operation by the accessor 12-1 is completed, the host computer 20 issues a loading command designating the machine number address # 0, receives the load instruction from the director 26-1, and is transported by the magnetic tape device 34-1. Loading of the magnetic tape cartridge is performed.

When the loading of the magnetic tape cartridge is completed, the library support program 76 issues a read command or a write command, and
In response to a read instruction or a write instruction from -1, data is read from or written to a magnetic tape cartridge in the magnetic tape device 34-1. When the read operation or the write operation is completed, an unload command is sent from the library support program 76 to the machine number address # 0.
Issued with the designation. For this reason, the director 26-1 operates the magnetic tape device 34-1 specified by the machine number address # 0.
Is instructed to unload.

The magnetic tape device 3 receiving the unload instruction
In 4-1, first, the tape of the magnetic tape cartridge is rewound, and an ejection operation for discharging the tape to the outside upon completion of the rewound is performed. In the library device 24 of the present invention, upon receiving the unload command from the host computer 20, the unload command is issued to the magnetic tape device 34-1. , Specifically, an attention status that specifies the machine number address # 8 to the accessor controller 28.

That is, a pseudo unload end report is made before the library device 24 completes the unload operation, and in response to this, the library support program 76 of the host computer 20 recognizes the completion of the unload operation. Then, a move command for returning the ejected magnetic tape cartridge to the cell block is issued. The move command issued during the unload operation of the magnetic tape device 34-1 is held by the director 26-1.

When an actual unload completion report is received from the magnetic tape device 34-1, the accessor controller 2
8, the accessor 12-1 starts the transport operation of returning the cell data to the cell block 10. 3. First Embodiment of the Present Invention FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the director 26-1 shown as a representative of the library device 24 of FIG.

In FIG. 9, the director 26-1 has M
A PU unit 90 is provided. In the MPU unit 90, a host processing unit 92, an MTU processing unit 94, and an accessor processing unit 96, which are realized by program control, are provided.
The director 26-1 includes a host interface circuit section 98, a data transfer circuit section 100, and a buffer circuit section 10.
2, a read / write circuit unit 104, an MTU interface circuit unit 106, and an accessor interface circuit unit 108 are provided, and are connected by a data bus indicated by a solid line.

The MPU 90 is connected to the MPU 90 by a control bus 110 shown by a broken line, and each circuit operates under the control of the MPU 90. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing details of the host processing unit 92 provided in the MPU unit 90 in FIG. In FIG. 10, the host processing unit 92 is the overall control unit 2
00, a start acceptance processing unit 202, a command fetching unit 204, a selected I / O availability check unit 206, an initial status processing unit 208, a final status processing unit 210,
Idle processing unit 212 and status interrupt processing unit 2
14.

The start acceptance processing unit 202 accepts an activation request from the host computer 20 and activates the processing after the command fetch unit 204. The command fetch unit 204 fetches and decodes a command issued from the host computer. Selectable I / O availability check unit 2
06 checks whether the input / output device specified by the device number address #i specified by the command analyzed by the command fetching unit 204, specifically, the magnetic tape device and the accessor controller are available. If it can be used, the process is passed to the initial status processing unit 208.

The initial status processing unit 208 reports normal reception of the command to the host computer 20 because there is an available input / output device. If the selected I / O availability check unit 206 cannot use the input / output device specified by the device number address, it returns a busy response to the host computer. After returning a busy response,
When the corresponding input / output device returns to the usable state, a busy release response is issued to the host computer to prompt another command issuance.

When the initial status processing unit 208 reports the normal reception of the command to the host computer, the MTU
The processing is delivered to the processing unit 94 or the accessor processing unit 96. That is, in the case of a load command, a read command, a write command, and an unload command, MT
The processing is delivered to the U processing unit 94. On the other hand, in the case of a move command, the processing is passed to the accessor processing unit 96.

When transferring the processing to the accessor processing section 96, the address data of the source address and the destination address obtained as the command data are transferred. MTU processing unit 94 and accessor processing unit 96
Executes an instruction based on each command to the magnetic tape device and the accessor controller.

When the operation instruction to the magnetic tape device by the MTU processing unit 94 or the operation instruction to the accessor controller by the accessor processing unit 96 is completed, the processing is transferred to the final status processing unit 210. The final status processing unit 210 sets the device end to the host computer 20 when the instruction operation to the input / output device ends normally.
Report final status for recognition.

When the status report to the host computer by the final status processing section 210 is completed, a series of commands becomes a device end, and the processing is handed over to the idle processing section 212. Idle processing unit 212
In this case, the process exits from either a start request from the host computer or an interrupt request from the input / output device, and passes the process to the start acceptance processing unit 202 or the status interrupt processing unit 214.

The status interrupt processing unit 214 issues an operation instruction to the magnetic tape device by the MTU processing unit 94 or an operation instruction to the accessor controller side by the accessor processing unit 96, and separates them. It operates by receiving the obtained operation end report as an interrupt activation request, and makes a necessary status report to the host computer 20.

The status interrupt processing unit 214
First pseudo status report unit 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention
16 is newly provided. First pseudo status report unit 2
Reference numeral 16 denotes a status report indicating pseudo unload completion to the host computer without waiting for an actual unload completion report when the MTU processing unit 94 issues an unload instruction based on an unload command from the host computer. Execute

The status indicating the pseudo unloading completion by the first pseudo status report unit 216 includes:
An attention status specifying the machine number address # 8 of the accessor controller 28 is used. The host computer 20, which has received the pseudo unload operation completion attention status report from the first pseudo status report unit 216, judges that the unload operation has already been completed, and places the unloaded magnetic tape cartridge in the cell. It will issue a move command to return to the position below the block.

Accordingly, in the library apparatus of the present invention provided with the first pseudo status report section 216 shown in FIG. 10, during the unload operation, the magnetic tape device in the unload operation is set as the source address. The transport operation by the move command is started in parallel. FIG. 11 is a time chart showing details of the demount processing in the library device of the present invention when the director 26-1 includes the host processing unit 92 shown in FIG. Note that the demount processing of FIG. 11 shows a case where the read operation or the write operation is completed and the demount processing is performed in the magnetic tape device 34-1 having the machine number address # 0.

In FIG. 11, the library support program 76 (hereinafter referred to as “host OS”) issues an unload command 300 specifying the machine number address # 0 of the magnetic tape device 34-1 to the director 26-1. When the director 26-1 successfully receives the unload command 300, an initial status 302 of "00" is reported, and the channel ends. Upon receiving the unload command 300, the director 26-1 issues the machine number address #
An unload instruction 304 is issued to the magnetic tape device 34 designated by 0, whereby the magnetic tape device 34-1 starts an unload operation.

In the unload operation, first, the magnetic tape is rewound, and the cartridge is ejected when the rewind is completed. The director 26-1 reports a control end, a unit end, and a unit check as an end status 306 to the host OS 76 at the same time as the unload instruction 304 for the magnetic tape device 34-1.

Further, at the same time as the unload instruction 304, an attention status 308 designating the machine number address # 8 of the accessor controller 28 is pseudo-issued, and the completion of the unload operation is pseudo-reported to the host OS 76. Upon receiving the attention status # 308 of # 8, the host OS 76 can recognize that the unloading of the magnetic tape device 34-1 has been completed.

Subsequently, a sense command issuance process is performed. In the sense command issuance processing, first, the host OS 76 issues the sense command 310, and reports the initial status of “00” and the sense data 312 of a predetermined byte from the director 26-1 as command normal reception.
When this is done, final status 3 for device end
Report 14.

This sensing process is performed at regular intervals during the idle time of command issuance. Then host O
From S76, as a recognition result of the pseudo unload completion report based on the report of the attention status 308 of # 8 from the director 26-1, the accessor / return device for returning the unloaded magnetic tape cartridge to the original position of the cell block. A move command 316 specifying the machine number address # 8 of the controller 28 is issued.

At this time, if the accessor 12-1 controlled by the accessor controller 28 is idle, the channel end initial status 318 indicating the normal reception of the command is returned. In response to the initial status 318, the host OS 76 moves the source / destination address data 320
Is issued to the director 26-1. Director 26-1
Indicates a move instruction 322 to the accessor controller 28 based on a source address and a destination address as command data issued with the move command 316.
I do.

According to the move instruction 322, the accessor
The controller 28 sets the accessor 12-1 to the magnetic tape device 3 during the unload operation specified by the source address.
The transport operation for moving to the cartridge discharge position of 4-1 is started. At this time, the unloading operation of the magnetic tape device 34-1 and the carrying operation of the accessor 12-1 by the accessor controller 28 are performed concurrently.

When the magnetic tape cartridge is ejected after the tape has been rewound by the magnetic tape device 34-1, the director 26-1 is notified of the completion of unloading 326. At this time, the accessor 12-1 is connected to the magnetic tape device 34.
If the movement has been completed before -1 and the robot hand is in a state of waiting for medium removal by the robot hand, a report of unload completion 326 via the director 26-1 is transmitted to the accessor controller 28.

Accordingly, the magnetic tape cartridge is picked up by the robot hand of the accessor 12-1, and after the pick-up, the magnetic tape cartridge is transported back to the position of the cell block specified by the destination address. This accessor controller 28
When the transport operation of the accessor 12-1 by the user is completed, the operation completion 328 is reported to the director 26-1.
In response, the director 26-1 reports to the host OS 76 the final status 330 of the device end for terminating the move command 316 normally, and ends a series of demount processing.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a series of processing operations for performing a mounting process and a demounting process on a library device in the library support program of the host computer 20 shown in FIG. In FIG. 12, first, an input / output request from a host OS is checked in step S1, and if there is no input / output request, the process is in an idle process in step S13. Top OS
When the input / output request is received, the process proceeds to step S2, where the load command processing is executed first.

That is, a move command is issued to the library device with the cell address of the medium to be input / output determined from the control data set as the source and the cell address of the specific magnetic tape device as the destination. In response to the move command processing based on such a move command, when a status report indicating a device end is obtained in step S3 from the library apparatus side, the process proceeds to the read / write command processing in step S4.

In response to the read / write command processing,
When the device end is determined in step S5 by the status report indicating the normal end from the library device side, the process proceeds to step S6, and an unload command specifying the machine number address of the magnetic tape device that has been read or written is issued. In response to the issue of the unload command, step S7
When it is determined from the library device that an initial status indicating normal command reception has been received, the process proceeds to step S8, where an end status is received.

If the end status can be normally received, the flow advances to step S9 to wait for the reception of the attention status specifying the machine number address # 8, which is a pseudo completion report of the unload operation. When this attention status is received, a sense command issuance process is performed in step S10, and in step S11, the cell address of the magnetic tape device for which the unload operation has been completed is determined as the source address, and the original storage position of the cell block is determined. A move command process is performed by issuing a move command as a destination address.

In response to this move command processing, if a device end is obtained from the library device in step S12, it is determined that the move command has ended normally, and step S1 is executed again.
Return to FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the overall processing operation of the director 26-1 provided in the library device of the present invention shown in FIGS.

In FIG. 13, when the library device is activated, first, an initialization process is performed in step S0, and the reception of a command from the host computer is checked in step S1. If no command has been received, the idle process of step S2 is repeated. When a command is received in step S1, it is checked in step S3 whether or not the command is a load command. If the command is a load command, in step S4, a loading process for loading a magnetic tape cartridge into a magnetic tape device designated by the machine number address is performed.

If the command received in step S5 is an unload command, an unload process in step S6 is performed. In step S7, if the received command is a move command, the process proceeds to step S8, and the medium is transported by the accessor. In step S9, if the received command is a read command or a write command, the process proceeds to step S10 to perform read / write processing.

If the command received in step S11 is a sense command, a sense process is performed in step S12. Further, if the received command is any other command, processing corresponding to the command is performed. FIG. 14 shows the unload processing shown in step S6 of FIG. In FIG. 14, in the unloading process, first, in step S1, the magnetic tape device of the machine number address specified by the unload command is instructed to rewind the tape.
Subsequently, in step S2, the attention status of the accessor controller's machine number address # 8 is returned to the OS of the host computer, and a pseudo unload operation completion report is made.

Subsequently, the end of the tape rewind is checked in step S3, and when the tape rewind is completed, the ejection of the magnetic tape cassette is instructed in step S4.
If it is determined in step S5 that the ejection has been completed, the flow advances to step S6 to check whether a move command corresponding to the attention status issued in step S2 from the host OS has been received.

If the move command has been received, the flow advances to step S7 to instruct the accessor controller to execute the received move command. Subsequently, in step S8, the transport end report from the accessor controller is monitored, and upon receiving the transport end report, step S8 is executed.
At step 9, an end process is performed, and the process returns to the main routine of FIG. 13 again.

Note that steps S3, S5, S6 in FIG.
The process of waiting for the report in S8 is actually performed by the interrupt process of the status interrupt processing unit 214 shown in FIG. 10, and during this time, the director is in an idle state. Further, the attention status reporting that reports the pseudo completion of the unload operation shown in step S2 is performed as a process by the first pseudo status reporting unit 216 provided in the status interrupt processing unit 214 of FIG. 4. Second Embodiment of the Present Invention FIG. 15 is a time chart showing a second embodiment of the demount process in the library device of the present invention.

In the first embodiment shown in the time chart of FIG. 11, when the director 26-1 issues an unload instruction 304 to the magnetic tape device 34-1 based on the unload command 300, An attention status 308 indicating pseudo completion of the load operation is returned to the host OS 76. On the other hand, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 15, based on the unload command 400 from the host OS 76, the director 26-1 issues an unload instruction 404 to the magnetic tape device 34-1 to execute the unload operation. When the tape rewinding, which is started and performed at the beginning of the unloading operation, is completed and the tape rewinding completion 414 is reported to the director 26-1, this triggers the accession of the accessor controller 28 to the machine number address # 8. The attention status 416 is returned to the host OS 76.

The procedure is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 11 except that the pseudo unload completion report of the magnetic tape device 34-1 is made upon the completion of the tape rewind. This second
Even in the embodiment, when the tape rewinding is completed during the unloading operation of the magnetic tape device, a pseudo completion report of the unloading operation is sent to the host OS, and the move is performed during the next magnetic tape cassette ejecting operation. Since the commander is issued and the accessor can be moved to the magnetic tape device during the unloading operation, it is possible to shorten the medium transport operation time after the unloading is actually completed.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing details of the unload processing in the third embodiment of FIG. FIG.
In the third embodiment, when the completion of the tape rewinding in step S2 is determined and the process proceeds to step S3, the attention status of the machine number address # 8 is reported to the host OS in a pseudo unload operation completion report. FIG. 14
Is different from the flowchart of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
Other processes are the same as those of the first embodiment in FIG. 5. Third Embodiment of the Present Invention FIG. 17 shows details of the MPU unit of FIG. 9 in a third embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 19, in addition to the status interrupt processing unit 214 of the host processing unit 92, a second pseudo status report unit 218 is newly provided.

Also, the selected I / O availability check section 206
Machine number conversion processing unit 2 between
20 is newly provided. Other points are the first in FIG.
It is the same as the embodiment. Second pseudo status report section 218
Reports the end status of the device end in response to the move command issued from the host OS by using the attention status of # 8 (simulated report of unload completion) by the first pseudo status report unit 216.

The address data of the received move command is held in the accessor processing unit 96, and the actual move instruction is performed in response to the report of the unload end from the magnetic tape device. When the pseudo end status is reported in response to the mum command by the second pseudo status report unit 218, the host OS issues a command accompanying the next input / output request to the currently unloaded magnetic tape device. Become.

In the third embodiment, a new input / output request command designating the unloaded magnetic tape device from the host OS can be accepted and processed as it is. When the host processing unit 92 receives a command issued from the host OS by designating the machine number address of the magnetic tape device that is currently being unloaded, the selected I / O availability check unit 206 displays the currently available state. Is selected, and the device number conversion processing unit 220 converts the device number address specified by the command to the device number address of another magnetic tape device in an idle state, and issues a new input / output request command. To process.

FIG. 18 is a time chart showing the processing operation of the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 18, first, the host OS 76 issues an unload command 50 specifying the machine number address # 0 of the magnetic tape device 34-1, whereby an unload instruction 504 for the magnetic tape device 34-1 is performed, and the unload command is issued. The operation starts. In response to the unload instruction 504, the director 26-1 reports the attention status 514 of the machine number address # 8 of the accessor controller 28 to the host OS 76, and simulates that the unload operation of the magnetic tape device 34-1 has been completed. Report

Upon receiving the attention status 514 of # 8, the host OS 76 issues a move command 516 specifying the machine number address # 0 of the magnetic tape device 34-1. The destination address data 520 is issued. The source / destination address data 520 associated with the move command 516 is held in the director 26-1 as indicated by 522.

Further, the director 26-1 issues a secondary status 524 at the channel end and a final status 526 at the device end indicating that the move command 516 for returning the medium to the cell block has been pseudo-normally completed. In response to the secondary status 524 and the final status 526, the host OS 76 sets the magnetic tape device 34
It is determined that the move command 516 for -1 has been completed normally.

However, in the magnetic tape device 34-1, the unload operation is actually being performed, the unload operation is not completed, and the medium transport operation is not completed. Subsequently, the host OS 76 is connected to the magnetic tape device 3
Since the pseudo report in 4-1 recognizes that the unload operation and the medium transport operation have been completed, the machine number address of the magnetic tape device 34-1 is used for mounting processing based on the next new input / output request. A move command 528 specifying # 0 has been issued.

In response to the move command 528, the director 26-1 returns the initial status 530 of the channel end.
The host OS 76 then sends source / destination address data 532 for mounting a new input / output request. For the move operation based on the new input / output request, the director 26-1 refers to the management table indicating the status of the plurality of magnetic tape devices, and determines the empty magnetic tape device, for example, the magnetic tape device 34-2.
Select

The machine number address # 0 specified by the move command 528 is converted into the machine number address # 1 of the selected empty magnetic tape device 34-2, and the move instruction 534 is changed to another empty magnetic tape device. 34-2 is instructed to the accessor controller 28 as a destination address. For this reason, in the move command from the host OS 76, the transfer destination is the magnetic tape device 34-1, but in the actual transport operation, the transport operation is performed with the magnetic tape device 34-2 as the destination.

The magnetic tape device 34- of the machine number address # 1
When the operation completion 536 is reported to the director 26-1 by the completion of the transport of the magnetic tape cartridge to the host 26, the final status 538 of the device end is reported to the host OS 76, and the normal end of the move command 528 of the machine number address # 0 is recognized. I do. When the host OS 76 recognizes the final status 538 of the device end, it recognizes the end of the mount processing in the new input / output request, and then issues a read / write command 540 specifying the machine number address # 0.

Upon receiving the read / write command 540, the director 26-1 converts the machine number address # 0 specified by the command into # 1, and issues a read / write instruction 542 to the magnetic tape device 34-2. The read operation or the write operation is performed by another magnetic tape device 34-2 different from the magnetic tape device 34-1 recognized by the host OS 76.

When the operation of the magnetic tape device 34-2 ends and the read / write end 544 is reported, the director 26-1 sends the final status 546 of the device end to the host OS 76, and the normal end of the read / write command. Recognize. At this time, when the unloading operation of the magnetic tape device 34-1 is completed and the unloading completion 548 is reported to the director 26-1, the director 26-1 changes the device number for the new input / output request thereafter. A conversion cancel operation 550 for canceling the conversion process is performed.

The currently performed operation of converting the machine number address # 0 to # 1 is effective until the unload command and the move command for the remaining demount processing are completed. Subsequently, a move instruction 552 based on the source / destination address data 520 associated with the move command 516 held in the move instruction holding operation 522 for the machine number address # 0 of the director 26-1 is issued to the accessor controller 28. A transport operation is performed to transport the magnetic tape cartridge from the magnetic tape device 34-1 after the unload operation to the original position of the cell block.

When the transport operation is completed and the operation completion 554 is reported to the director 26-1, at this point, a series of demount processing started from the unload command 500 of the address number # 0 ends. Become. FIG. 19 shows the director 26-1 in the third embodiment shown in FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing details of the unloading process.

In FIG. 19, a tape rewind instruction is issued to the magnetic tape device of the machine number address #i specified by the unload command received in step S1, and in response to this, the machine number address # is sent to the host OS in step S2. The attention status of No. 8 is simulated, and a pseudo unload operation completion report is made. Subsequently, in step S3,
It is checked whether or not the move command of the machine number address #i has been received. If the move command has been received, in step S4, a hold operation for holding a move instruction based on the move command is performed.

Subsequently, in step S5, the device end of the device number address #i is notified to the host OS in a simulated manner, whereby the series of demount processing is all simulated to be reported. For this reason, the host OS receives the pseudo device end report in step S5, proceeds to the next new input / output request, and issues a move command for the mount process specifying the same device number address #i.

If a move command specifying the same machine number address #i as that of the magnetic tape device that is currently unloading is received in step S6, an empty magnetic tape unit other than the specified machine number address #i is received in step S7. Then, for example, the magnetic tape device of the machine number address #j is selected. Subsequently, in step S8, load processing is performed in which the machine number address #i specified by the move command is converted into the machine number address #j of the selected empty magnetic tape device.

After the loading process in step S8 is completed, in step S9, the reception of the read command or the write command designating the device number address #i is converted into the device number address #j selected in step S7. Performs a reader write process. Subsequently, in step S10, it is checked whether the unloading of the magnetic tape device of the machine number address #i currently in the unloading operation is completed.

When the end of unloading is recognized, step S
In step 11, the function of converting the machine number address #i to the machine number address #j given by each command of the mount process and the demount process following the new input / output request is reset. Of course, the unload command and the move command in the remaining demount processing of the currently executing I / O request that has already proceeded to the read processing or the write processing are performed from the machine number address #i to the machine number address #j.
The conversion function to is valid as it is and processing is continued.

Subsequently, in step S12, the operation of the move command accompanying the completion of the unloading operation of the currently suspended machine number address #i, which was held in step S4, is instructed to the accessor side, and the unloading is completed. Machine number address # 1
The medium is picked up from the magnetic tape device, and a transport operation for moving to the original position of the cell block is performed. When the end of the transport operation is recognized in step S3, the process proceeds to step S4, performs necessary end processing, and returns to the main routine shown in FIG.

In the third embodiment, a pseudo completion report is issued for both the unload command and the move command in the demount process, so that an input / output request from the host computer is promptly accepted by the library device. The processing efficiency of input / output requests to the library device can be improved. In the above embodiment, a magnetic tape cartridge is used as an example of a recording medium. However, when an optical disk device is used as an input / output device, an optical disk cartridge may be used as a storage medium. The present invention can be applied to a library device using an appropriate recording medium which is detachably attached to the device.

The present invention is, of course, not limited by the numerical values shown in the above embodiments.

[0117]

As described above, according to the present invention, in response to an unload command from a higher-level device, a pseudo unload completion report is issued from when an unload operation is instructed until the operation is completed. Raises the command to issue a move command for transporting the medium after the completion of unloading.As a result, the unloading operation and the transporting operation of the medium can be performed in parallel, and the recording medium is converted from the reproducing / recording apparatus to the cell block. The processing time of the demounting process for returning can be reduced. Specifically, it has been confirmed that the time is reduced by about 5 seconds as compared with the conventional apparatus.

Simultaneously, a pseudo completion report is issued for the unload command, and a pseudo completion report is also issued for the next move command. It is possible to pretend that all of the demounting processes have been completed, and to start mounting processing in response to a new input / output request for the same recording / reproducing device. For this reason, it is possible to increase the efficiency of accepting an input / output request to a higher-level device of the library device,
Processing performance can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the apparatus configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the accessor of FIG. 2 taken out therefrom;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing details of the robot hand of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing details of a robot hand with an upper lid removed in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a cell address assigned to a library device.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing functions of the host computer of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing details of the director of FIG. 9;

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing details of an MPU unit in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a time chart showing a demount processing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the library support program of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a main routine of the director of FIG. 8;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the first embodiment of the unloading process of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a time chart showing a demount processing operation according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a second embodiment of the demount processing of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram showing details of an MPU unit in FIG. 9 in a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a time chart showing a demount processing operation according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

19 is a flowchart showing a third embodiment of the demount processing of FIG. 18 as a subroutine;

FIG. 20 is a schematic explanatory view of a conventional device.

FIG. 21 is a time chart showing a demount processing operation of the conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Cell block (medium storage) 12, 12-1, 12-2: Accessor (medium transport mechanism) 14: Rail 15: Medium inlet / outlet 16-1, 16-2: Deck unit 18-1, 18- 2: Control unit 20-1 to 20-4: Host computer (upper device) 22-1 to 22-4: Channel interface bus 24: Library device 26, 26-1 to 26-4: Director (input / output control device) 28: Accessor controller 30: Accessor controller (spare) 32-1, 32-2: Machine controller 34: Recording / reproducing device 34-1 to 34-12: Magnetic tape device (MTU) 36-1, 36- 2, 38-1, 38-2: Device
Interface bus 40: Traveling part 42: Strut 44: Traveling motor 46: Lifting part 48: Robot hand 50: Screw shaft 52: Turning motor 54, 60: Pulley belt 56: Pulley 58: Motor 62: Medium holding part 64 : Fixed plate 66: job 68: OS 70: job control program 72: data management program 74: data conversion program 76: library support program 78: control disk unit 80: console panel 82: input / output subsystem processing unit 90: MPU section 92: Host processing section 94: MTU processing section 96: Accessor processing section 98: Host interface circuit section 100: Data transfer circuit section 102: Buffer circuit section 104: Read / write circuit section 106: MTU interface Source circuit unit 108: accessor interface circuit unit 110: control bus 200: overall control unit 202: activation reception processing unit 204: command fetch unit 206: selected I / O availability check unit 208: initial status processing unit 210: final status Processing unit 212: Idle processing unit 214: Status interrupt processing unit 216: First pseudo status report unit 218: Second pseudo status report unit 220: Machine number conversion processing unit

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. A recording / reproducing device (34) for reading / writing a removable storage medium, and a loading / unloading device (15) for loading / unloading the storage medium.
A medium storage (10) for storing a plurality of the storage media; a medium storage (10) for storing the storage medium;
4) Or a medium transport device (25) transported between the media storage (10) and the loading / unloading device (15), and a first move command, a load command, a read or write command, and an unload command from the host device (20). A load command and a second move command are sequentially received, and the storage medium is transferred from the medium storage (10) or the input / output device (15) to the recording / reproducing device by a medium transport device (25) based on the first move command. (34), and then load the storage medium carried by the load command into the recording / reproducing device (34) to perform a read or write operation based on the read or write command. After the end of the operation, the storage medium is ejected from the recording / reproducing device (34) based on the unload command, and finally the storage medium ejected based on the second move command. An input / output controller (26) for transporting a medium to the medium storage (10) or the loading / unloading device by the medium transport device (25). ), During the period from the start of the medium discharge operation of the recording / reproducing device (34) based on the unload command to the end of the unload operation, a report of the pseudo end of the unload operation to the host device (20). A library device comprising a first pseudo status reporting means (216) for executing the second move command. 2. The library device according to claim 1, wherein:
The first pseudo status reporting means (216) instructs the recording / reproducing device (34) to perform an unload operation based on the unload command, and at the same time, simultaneously issues the unload operation instruction to the host device (2).
A library apparatus that reports a pseudo unload operation end report to the second move command and issues the second move command. 3. The library device according to claim 1, wherein
The recording / reproducing device (34) uses a magnetic tape cartridge as a storage medium, and the first pseudo status reporting means (216) receives the completion report of the tape rewinding from the recording / reproducing device (34) at the same time as receiving the report. Host device (2
A library apparatus that reports a pseudo unload operation end report to the second move command and issues the second move command. 4. The library device according to claim 2, wherein the input / output control device (26) responds to the pseudo unload end report from the first pseudo status report means (216). The second move command issued from the higher-level device (20) is suspended, and when a report of the end of the unload operation is received from the recording / reproducing device (34), the second move command is transported based on the suspended second move command. A library device for instructing an operation to the medium transport device (25). 5. The library device according to claim 1, wherein:
Further, upon receiving the second move command from the higher-level device (20) with a pseudo end report of the unload operation, the storage medium discharged from the recording / reproducing device (34) is returned to the original position. A second pseudo status reporting unit for performing a pseudo end report of the returning transport operation and causing the higher-level device (20) to issue a command based on a new input / output request; and in response to the pseudo transport operation end report. When an instruction having the logical unit number (#i) designating the same recording / reproducing apparatus (34) is received from the higher-level apparatus (20), the logical unit number (#i) specified by the instruction is vacated. And a device number converting means for converting to a logical device number (#j) of another recording / reproducing device (34) and instructing operation according to the instruction. 6. The library device according to claim 1, wherein
The serial number conversion unit is configured to execute the first move command for the first move command accompanying a new input / output request received until the completion of the unload operation of the recording / reproducing device (34) that has performed the pseudo completion report. Instructions followed by a series of load instructions, read or write instructions, unload instructions, and second
A library apparatus for instructing an operation by converting a logical machine number for each move instruction. 7. The storage medium is transferred from a medium storage (10) or an input / output device (15) to a recording / reproducing device (34) by a medium transport device (25) based on a first move command from a higher-level device (20). Loading the storage medium transported in the first transporting process to the recording / reproducing device based on a first transporting process of transporting and a load command from the higher-level device following the first move command. A load step of causing the recording / reproducing apparatus (34) to perform a read or write operation based on a read command or a write command from the higher-level device (20) following the first move command; The host device (2) following the instruction or the write instruction
0) discharging the storage medium from the recording / reproducing device (34) based on an unload command from the recording / reproducing device (34).
During the unloading operation from the start to the ejection of the storage medium from the storage device, a first pseudo-unload operation is reported to the upper-level device (20) to issue the second move command. Based on a status report process and a second move command from the higher-level device (20) following the unload command, the storage medium discharged in the unload process is stored in the medium storage by the medium transport device (25). (10) A control method for a library device, comprising: or a second transporting process of transporting the library to the loading / unloading device. 8. The method of controlling a library device according to claim 7, wherein said first pseudo status reporting step includes simultaneously instructing said recording / reproducing apparatus (34) to perform an unload operation in said unloading step. Controlling the upper-level device (20) to issue a second move command by issuing a pseudo-unload operation end report. 9. The method for controlling a library device according to claim 7, wherein said recording / reproducing device (34) uses a magnetic tape cartridge as a storage medium, and said first pseudo status reporting step includes said unloading step. Receiving the completion report of the tape rewinding of the magnetic tape cartridge from the recording / reproducing device (34) at the same time, and reporting the end of the pseudo unload operation to the host device (20) to execute the second move command. A library device control method. 10. The method for controlling a library device according to claim 8, wherein the second transporting step includes the step of transmitting the higher-level device based on a pseudo unload end report by the first pseudo status reporting step. ) Issued from the second
When a move command is suspended and an unload operation completion report is received from the recording / reproducing device (34), a transport operation is instructed to the medium transport device (25) based on the suspended second move command. A method for controlling a library device. 11. The method for controlling a library device according to claim 7, further comprising the step of receiving the second move command from the higher-level device (20) together with a pseudo end report of the unload operation. A second report is sent to the host device (20) to issue a command based on a new input / output request by performing a pseudo end report of a transport operation for returning the storage medium discharged from the recording / reproducing device (34) to its original position. Receiving a command having a logical machine number (#i) designating the same recording / reproducing device (34) from the higher-level device (20) in response to the pseudo status report process and the end report of the pseudo transport operation. Then, the logical device number (#i) specified by the instruction is converted to the logical device number (#j) of another recording / reproducing apparatus (34) in an empty state, and the device number conversion for instructing the operation by the instruction is performed. And a process. Method of controlling the library system. 12. The method for controlling a library device according to claim 7, wherein the serial number conversion step is performed by the time the unload operation of the recording / reproducing device (34) that has performed the pseudo end report is completed. For the first move instruction accompanying the new input / output request, a logical unit number is assigned to each of the first move instruction and a series of subsequent load instructions, read or write instructions, unload instructions, and second move instructions. A method of controlling a library apparatus, wherein an operation instruction is issued by conversion of a library.