JPH03102511A - Recording medium selecting method for device with large storage capacity - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate necessity for managing a cell address by a host device and to reduce the burden of an operating system by selecting a recording medium, which is desired for the host device, by a control means and transporting the management information of the recording medium. CONSTITUTION:A host device 23 sends out the cell address, which stores the recording medium inserted to an inserting/ejecting mechanism part 27, to a control means 24 of a large capacity storage device and instructs the transportation. The control means 24 positions a medium moving mechanism part 29 to the inserting/ejecting mechanism part 27 through a medium move control part 28 and the recording medium is transported to the designated cell and housed in the cell. The host device 23 sends out a signal for distinguishing the recording medium to the control means 24 corresponding to the cell address and instructs recording to a non-volatile storing means 25. When the host device 23 executes the read/write of data to the recording medium, the symbol of the desired recording medium is sent out to the control means 24 and the write/ read is instructed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Table of Contents] Overview Industrial Application Fields Conventional Technology Problems to be Solved by the Invention Means for Solving the Problems Actions Examples Effects of the Invention [Summary] Large capacity storage medium management information The present invention relates to a recording medium selection method for a large-capacity storage device that reduces the burden on the OS and eliminates the loss of time in a computer system by constantly updating and retaining information in the storage device.
In order to prevent the occurrence of lost time in the computer system, the system includes multiple cells each storing multiple recording media, an input/output mechanism section that takes in and discharges the recording media, and a system that transports the recording media taken out from the cells. Insert the recording medium into the drive device and take it out from the drive device and put it back into the i! I! I! At the same time, the recording medium taken out from the drive device or cell is transported to and set in the loading/unloading mechanism section, and the recording medium loaded into the loading/unloading mechanism section is transported to and set in the cell or drive device. A non-volatile storage device that records management information for selecting a recording medium specified by a host device in a large-capacity storage device that includes a mechanism section and a control means that controls a medium movement mechanism section and a drive device based on instructions from a host device. After the second-level device stores the management information of the recording medium inserted into the loading/unloading mechanism in the non-volatile storage device, the higher-level device
The configuration is such that the Y: device selects and transports the desired recording medium based on the symbol that distinguishes the recording medium.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a mass storage device used as an external storage device of a computer system, and in particular, the mass storage device constantly updates and retains management information of a recording medium, thereby reducing the burden on an OS (operating system). The present invention also relates to a recording medium selection method for a mass storage device that eliminates the occurrence of lost time in a computer system.

In recent years, as computer systems have become larger and faster, the amount of data to be processed has also increased dramatically. Therefore, an external storage device for storing this data is required to have a large capacity, high speed, and low cost per bit.

However, there is no device that satisfies the above three requirements, so there are two types: one with small storage capacity and high bit cost but high-speed access, and one with large storage capacity and slow access speed but low bit cost. It is used in layers.

That is, data that is frequently accessed is stored in an external storage device that can be accessed at high speed, and data that is accessed infrequently is stored in an external storage device that is accessed slowly. The latter type includes optical disk devices.

Optical discs have been commercialized from non-rewritable ones, but recently rewritable optical discs have been commercialized. Rewritable optical disks are used in the same way as magnetic disks, but although they have a large capacity, they have the drawback of slow access speed.

Mass storage devices, ie, library devices, are commercialized using this rewritable optical disk. This library device includes a storage shelf that accommodates a large number of optical disks, stores the optical disks in a plurality of cells provided on the storage shelf, and uses an accessor equipped with a mechanical hand to take out the necessary optical disks from the cells. The optical disk is carried to the drive device and read/written, and when the writing/reading of data is completed, the accessor takes out the optical disk from the drive device again, carries it to the cell of the storage shelf, and stores it. It consists of a type of automatic warehouse in which optical discs that are no longer needed are transported to an ejection port and removed by an operator according to instructions from a host device, and the optical discs that the operator puts into the input port are transported to a cell and stored.

By the way, in such a library device, it is necessary to manage information such as in which cell the optical disk for writing/reading data is stored, and in which cell it is stored. It is necessary to avoid increasing the burden or causing loss of time to the computer system.

[Conventional technology] Figure 5 shows an example of printing an optical disk library device. 6 FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the optical disc library device is provided with a plurality of storage shelves 10 for accommodating optical disc cartridges l1, and the optical disc ridge 11 stored in the cells of the storage shelves 10 is placed in the access 4J3. The attached picker 4 takes it out from the storage shelf 10, holds it, carries it to the drive device 13 or drive device 13', and sets the optical disk cartridge I1 in the drive device 13 or 13'.

Then, write data to the drive device 13/
When the reading is completed, it is taken out from the drive device 13 again and stored in the cell of the storage shelf 10.

Therefore, the accessor 3 moves in the direction of the arrow A-B, moves the pincer 4 in the direction of the arrow C-D, and stores the required storage shelf 1.
It is necessary to position the picker 4 at the position of cell 0 and move the picker 4 in the direction of the arrow EF to take out or store the optical disc cartridge 1l.

Therefore, the accessor 3 is guided by the rails 1 and 2,
The arrow A is driven by the screw 9 driven by the rotation of the motor 8.
The bell 110, which is driven by the rotation of the motor 7, moves the picker 4 in the direction of the arrow C-D. move in the direction of arrow E-F.

Further, the drive device 13 is an optical disk drive 11.
Since the storage shelf 10 and the optical disk ridge 11 are stored vertically, the wooden body of the disk 4 is rotated by the axis driven by the shaft 12. It can be rotated.

In addition, the optical disc cartridge 11 that has been written/read by the drive 13 is transferred to an optical disc access station (hereinafter referred to as OA
When the picker 4 receives an instruction to eject the optical disk from the drive device 13,
1 and can be pulled out in the direction of arrow G○
Set it to AS14.

Also, when instructed to take in the optical disc force-1-ridge 11 inserted into the OAS 14, the binka 4
1. The optical disc cartridge 11 is taken out from 4, transported to the designated cell position, and stored.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the prior art.

The central processing unit 15 operates based on instructions from the OS. Then, via the channel 17, the DI R lill control section 18
○AS1. of the optical disc library device 19.
The motor 7 causes the accessor 3 and the picker 4 to operate the optical disc cartridge 11 inserted into the picker 4 as described above.
.

Then, the central processing unit l5 instructs the magnetic disk controller 21 via the channel 20 to
2 to record the management information stored in the main memory 16.

The central processing unit 15 includes an optical disk car 1-IJ drive 1
When reading data from 1, the management information is read from the magnetic disk device 22 to the main memory 16, and the corresponding optical disk power -1 is read from the volume name in which the required data is recorded.
- By indexing the address of the cell in which the ring I1 is stored and notifying it to the DIR control unit l8 via the channel 17, the corresponding optical disk cartridge 11 is taken out from the cell and the drive 13 or 13' is loaded. − to make.

When the data reading is completed, the central processing unit 15 again specifies the cell address and sets the optical disk cartridge 1.
Stores 1 in the specified cell.

The management information of the magnetic disk device 22 is also updated if there is any change.

The same applies when writing data to the optical disk drive-1/ringe 11.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, conventionally, the central processing unit 15
When taking out the 1.ridge l1 from the cell, the optical disk car I.ridge 11 reads the management information from the magnetic disk unit W2 2 and writes/reads the data.
It is necessary to index which cell the optical disk cartridge 11 is in and specify the cell address when returning the optical disk cartridge 11 to the cell. It is necessary to update the management information of 22, which places a heavy burden on the central processing unit 5, that is, on the OS.

Moreover, since the management information on the magnetic disk device 22 may be lost due to a failure such as a head crash, a plurality of magnetic disk devices 22 are installed.
This management information needs to be recorded in duplicate, and
There is a problem in that this increases the burden on S.

Also, if the management information is not recorded in duplicate,
When management information is lost, it is necessary to reconstruct the management information, and this reconstruction takes an enormous amount of time, resulting in a problem that the loss time during which the computer system is essentially unusable increases.

In view of these problems, it is an object of the present invention to propose a recording medium selection method for a mass storage device that reduces the burden on the OS and prevents loss of time in the computer system.

[Means to solve the problem] FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the tree invention.

The host device 23 provides control means 24 for the mass storage device,
A cell address for storing the recording medium loaded into the loading/unloading mechanism section 27 is sent to instruct transportation. Control 1000 steps 24
The medium movement mechanism section 29 is positioned at the loading/unloading mechanism section 27 via the medium movement control section 28, and when the recording medium is taken out, it is transported to a designated cell and the recording medium is stored in this cell.

The host device 23 sends a symbol for distinguishing the recording medium to the control stage 24 in accordance with the address of the cell, and instructs the non-volatile storage means 25 to record it.

Therefore, the symbol of the control stage 24 is recorded as management information in the non-volatile storage stage 25 corresponding to the cell address 1/response.

” When writing/reading data to/from a recording medium, the second device 23 sends the symbol of the desired recording medium to the control means 2.
4 to instruct data writing/reading. The control stage 24 reads the management information recorded in the non-volatile memory stage 25, extracts the cell address corresponding to the designated symbol, and then moves the medium moving mechanism unit 2 to the position of this cell address.
9 is positioned, the recording medium is taken out, and then transported and set in the drive unit W13.

At the time of writing, the control stage 24 causes the data sent by the host device 23 to be sent to the drive device 13 via the drive device control unit 26, and written to the recording medium. Further, at the time of reading, when the drive device 13 receives the data read from the recording medium via the drive device control unit 26, it is transferred to the host device 23.

When data writing/reading is completed, the control means 24 controls the medium moving mechanism section 29 to take out the recording medium from the drive device 13 and, if there is no instruction from the host device 23, to position it in the cell of the original address. , the recording medium is stored in this cell.

[Effect]

By taking precautions as described above, after the host device 23 stores the management information of the recording medium input into the loading/unloading mechanism section 27 in the non-volatile memory 25, the host device W2 3 sends out the record. Based on the symbol that distinguishes the medium, the host device 2
In order for the control means 24 to select and transport the desired recording medium 3, it is necessary for the host device 23 to manage the cell address where the desired recording medium is stored. Since it is only necessary to send the symbol , and instruct writing or reading, the burden on the OS can be reduced.

Furthermore, since there is no need to record management information in the magnetic disk device, the management information is not lost, and it is possible to prevent lost time from occurring in the computer system.

13 14 [Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a circuit showing an embodiment of the present invention.

The same reference numerals as in FIGS. 5 and 6 indicate the same functions.

At the start of operation, no optical disc cartridge is stored in the cell of the optical disc library device 19, so
An operator inserts an optical disk cartridge into AS1.4 shown in FIG. 5 and instructs a central processing unit (not shown) to perform processing.

Therefore, the central processing unit specifies a cell address to the processor 34 via the channel 17 and the channel interface circuit 31 of the DIR control unit 30, and instructs the movement of the optical disk cartridge inserted into the OAS 14.

The processor 34 operates by reading a program stored in the control memory 35, and when instructed to move the optical disk car I ridge of the OAS 14, the processor 34 reads the program stored in the control memory 35 and moves the optical disk library device 19 via the accessor interface circuit 38.
The accessor 3 of the OAS 1 is driven as described above.
The optical disk cartridge placed in the optical disc cartridge 4 is transported and stored in a cell at a designated address on the storage shelf.

Next, in order to record management information on the optical disc, the central processing unit specifies a cell address and instructs the processor 34 to write a volume label via the channel 17 and the channel interface circuit 3l.

Therefore, the processor 34 drives the accessor 3 in the same manner as described above to cause the drive device 13 to set the optical disk car I ridge stored at the designated cell address.

The buffer memory 3 then passes through the buffer control circuit 33.
2 and stores the volume label that the channel 7 sends out via the channel interface circuit 3]. Then, the data stored in the buffer memory 32 passes through the drive interface circuit 37. - Make the drive device 13 send out the Muraheru and write it on the optical disk.

A volume list written on an optical disk includes a volume list, that is, V T O C (Volume T
ablaofContents). This VTO
At least the data set I name and the address on the optical disk where the data of the data set is written are written in C.

When the central processing unit writes the volume label to the optical disk, it notifies the processor 34 that the volume label has been written to the optical disk using a newly defined command different from the write command. and,
Depending on the parameters of this command, the same contents as the volume label written on the optical disk are transferred.

Upon receiving the newly defined command, the browser 34 causes the control memory 35 to temporarily store the contents of the volume label transferred as a parameter.

When receiving an instruction to return the optical disk cartridge on which the volume label has been written to the cell, the accessor 3 is driven to transfer the optical disk cartridge from the drive device 13 to the optical disk cartridge.
・Take out the ridge, transport it to the cell at the specified address, and store it.

Once this movement is complete, processor 34 transfers control memory 35 to control memory 35.
Read the contents of the volume label stored in the
For example, EF. PROM3
6, is written in correspondence with the cell address in which the optical disc cartridge is stored.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating format 1 of the EEFROM.

The EEPROM 36 stores management information in a format as shown in FIG. 3(a). That is, the cell addresses are from ■ to N, and the volume name and a plurality of data center names (from (1) to M) can be recorded.

And the volume name and dataset name are, for example, 16
It is written in base numbers, and oo is initially recorded in all columns.

Here, as mentioned above, if the address of the cell in which the optical disk cartridge storage is stored is ■, and the name of the hollip obtained from the contents of the volume Rahel is lJslliRO2, then as shown in Fig. 3(b). As shown, 11 SE R O 2 is written in the volume name column of cell address ■.

17 18 Next, the central processing unit writes the data set to the optical disk, but in this case, it specifies the volume name L]SERO2 and sends out a write command. Processor 34 is EEPR
Refer to OM36 and enter the volume name II S E R
O 2 optical disk car I ridge is cell address■
It recognizes that the optical disc cartridge exists at the cell address (2), drives the accessor 3 as described above, and sets the optical disc cartridge stored at the cell address (3) in the drive device 13.

After the data to be transferred is stored in the buffer memory 32, the data is sent out by the drive device 136 to be written on the optical disc. At this time, the central processing unit notifies the processor 34 of the behavior of the data center l, using the newly defined command, and transfers the data set name as a parameter.

The processor 34 temporarily stores the data set name in the control memory 35. When an instruction is received to return the optical disc cartridge for which writing of the data set 1 has been completed to the cell at the specified address, the accessor 3 stores the optical disc cartridge 1 ridge in the cell at the specified address. After that, the Holly 1 room name and Data Center 1 name are stored in the EEPROM corresponding to the specified cell address 6.
3 Write in 6.

That is, for example, if the specified cell address is ■, as shown in FIG.
If it is an EOI, in the data center name (1) column,
FILIEOI is written. And cell address■
oo is written in the volume name column of , and the record of USERO2 is erased.

Generally, when the optical disc Rizola+J device 1g is in operation, optical disc cartridges are stored in a plurality of cells.

In this case, E E P R O M 3 '6 has the third
As shown in Figure (d), the volume name of each of a plurality of optical disk cartridges is recorded in the volume name column of each cell address from ■ to N. Dataset name (1).
The name of each data set is recorded in the column (2).

Therefore, when the central processing unit specifies a desired optical disk, the volume name or data set name is specified by the processor 3.
4, the processor 34 can index the cell address from the contents of the EEPROM 36, so the central processing unit does not need to manage the cell address where the desired optical disk cartridge is stored.

For example, if the data set name D A 'r A 0 6 specifies the desired optical disk cartridge and a data read command is sent, the processor 34
Referring to the contents shown in FIG. 3(d) of EPROM36,
The cell address of the specified optical disc cartridge is ■
Recognize that.

The processor 34 positions the accessor 3 at the cell address ■, and reads the optical disk car 1 from the cell address ■.
- The ridge is taken out and transported by the drive device 13 for seven seconds. Then, the drive device 13 is driven through the drive interface x-hess circuit 37, and the specified data center DATAO6 is outputted from the optical disk, stored in the breadboard memory 32, and then transferred to the channel 17 through the channel interface circuit 3I. send it out.

When data reading is completed, if no cell address is specified, the processor 34 causes the accelerator 3 to take out the optical disc cartridge from the drive device 13,
Store it in II at the cell address ■.

If, as mentioned above, an address other than cell address ■ is specified and six specified cell addresses are stored, E E I) R. iiT the contents of O M 3 6
Correct it in the same way as We.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart 1 to explain the operation of FIG. 2.

The processor 34 monitors the reception of the -l command in step 2, and when a command is received, it is checked in step 0 whether it is a newly defined command. If it is not a newly defined command, the process executes the command specified in step @, and then returns to the process in step [phase].

If it is determined in step (2) that it is a newly defined command 2I 22 , the contents notified by the parameters in step (2) are temporarily stored in the control memory 35. That is, the content of the volume Rahel or the data center name is stored.

Then, in step [phase], it waits for a command to move the optical disk car 1 and the linkage, and when the movement command is received, it moves the optical disc drive -1 and the linkage in step [phase], and causes the accessor 3 to transfer the optical disc from the drive device 13. The cartridge is taken out and transported to the original cell address or to the cell at the specified cell address.

Then check whether the movement is complete in step ■. That is, when it is detected that the optical disk cartridge is stored in the original cell or the designated cell, the EEPROM 36 is
The contents notified by the parameters stored in the control record 1t35 are recorded in correspondence with the cell address, and when the recording is completed, the process returns to step [phase].

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, in the present invention, there is no need for the central processing unit to manage cell addresses, and the central processing unit sends the name of the person or data center of the recording medium on which data is to be written/read, and instructs writing or reading. OS
It is possible to reduce the burden of

In addition, since there is no need to record management information on a magnetic disk device or the like, there is no need to record management information on a magnetic disk device, etc., so no management information is lost, and no JJI loss occurs in the machine system. 'i interval occurs II) j
I can shift by 1L.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a circuit showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining formats 1 to 1 of the cell management information memory. 1 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the structure of the optical library device, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the conventional technique. In the figure, 12 is a rail, 3 is an accessor, 4 is a picker, 5 is a mechanism, 6 is a belt, 7.8.12 is a motor, 9 is a screw, 10 is a storage shelf, 11 is an optical disc cartridge, 13. 13' is a drive device, 14 is an OAS, 15 is a central processing unit, 16 is a main memory, 17.20 is a channel, 1.8.30 is a DIR control unit, 19 is an optical disk library device, 21 is a magnetic disk control device, 22 is a magnetic disk device, 23 is a host device, 24 is a control means, 25 is a non-volatile storage means, 26 is a drive device control section, 27 is an input/output mechanism section, 28 is a medium movement control section, 29
3 is a medium moving mechanism, 31 is a channel interface circuit, 32 is a buffer memory, 33 is a buffer control circuit, 3
4 is the processor, 35 is ffil1? 1, 36 is an EEPROM, 37 is a drive interface circuit, and 38 is an accessor interface circuit. 25 26 Block diagram explaining an example of conventional fujutsu Figure 6-79-

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A plurality of cells each storing a plurality of recording media, an input/ejection mechanism unit (27) that takes in the recording media from outside the device and discharges them from the device, and a loading/unloading mechanism section (27) that takes the recording media out of the device, and stores the recording media taken out from the cells. It is transported, set in a drive device (13) that records/reproduces data on the recording medium, and then
3) The recording medium taken out from the drive device (13) or the cell is transported again to the cell and stored therein, and the recording medium taken out from the drive device (13) or the cell is transported to the loading/unloading mechanism section (27) and set therein. A medium moving mechanism section (29) that transports and sets the recording medium input into the ejection mechanism section (27) to a cell or drive device (13), and a host device (23).
In a mass storage device comprising the medium moving mechanism section (29) and a control means (24) for controlling the drive device (13) based on an instruction from the host device (23), a recording medium specified by the host device (23) is selected. A non-volatile storage means (25) is provided for recording management information for the above-mentioned host device (23) to store the management information of the recording medium inserted into the input/output mechanism section (27) in the non-volatile storage means. After storing it in the host device (25), the host device (23) uses a symbol to distinguish the recording medium sent out from the host device (23).
3) A recording medium selection method for a mass storage device, characterized in that a desired recording medium is selected and transported.