JPH0397025A - Recording medium replacing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transpose recording mediums in the order of frequency in use to shorten the access time by providing a means which detects the frequency in use of a storage medium, a means which records this frequency in use, and a means which learns the frequency in use and managing the frequency in use. CONSTITUTION:A controller 10 which controls the whole of a recording/ reproducing system, medium driving devices 20 and 30 which record data in recording mediums and reproduce recorded data, a means 100 (medium use frequency detector) which detects the frequency in use of the recording medium, a means 101 (medium use frequency recording device) which records this fre quency, a means 102 (medium use frequency learning device) which learns this frequency, and a means 40 which transposes recording mediums based on learn ing results so that a replacing mechanism 42 can replace the recording medium by the shortest route are provided. Thus, the operation time of the recording medium replacing device 40 is considerably shortened to improve the efficiency.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording medium exchange device for automatically exchanging recording media such as optical disks.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY FIG. 4 shows a recording/reproducing system using a conventional recording medium drive device 20.30. a media drive device 20 that plays
．． 30, and a recording medium exchange device 40 for exchanging the recording medium of the medium drive device 20.30.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Conventionally, in this type of recording and reproducing system, once a recording medium is inserted into a medium exchange device, the storage location of the recording medium is fixed, or it has to be replaced manually and the medium management data is changed. I had to revise it again. Therefore, the storage location of the recording medium is automatically changed depending on the frequency of use of the recording medium.
It is not possible to store the media near the media drive device in order of frequency of use, and frequently used recording media have to be transported from a storage space far away from the media drive device, which increases the time required to replace the recording media. There is a problem that

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to enable frequently used recording media to be always stored near the media drive device, thereby substantially shortening the recording media exchange time. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium exchange device.

Means for Solving the Problems To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides means for detecting the frequency of use of a recording medium, means for recording the frequency of use of a recording medium, means for learning the frequency of use of a recording medium, Based on this learning result, the exchange mechanism is equipped with a means for rearranging the recording media so that they can be exchanged via the shortest route.

According to the above-mentioned structure, the present invention makes it possible to manage the frequency of use of recording media, and because the recording media are sorted in descending order of frequency of use, access time can be shortened.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of a recording/reproducing system using a recording medium exchange device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of main parts of the recording medium exchange device of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1, 10 is a controller that controls the entire recording and reproducing system, 20 and 30 are medium drive devices that record data on a recording medium (not shown) and reproduce recorded data, and 40 is a medium drive. This is a recording medium exchange device that exchanges the recording medium of the device 20.30.

The controller 10 records and reproduces data on a recording medium by SC.
A data control unit 11 for transmitting and receiving data between an external host computer (not shown) and a medium drive device 20.30 via an SI bus 50, and a recording medium loading/unloading detection signal to be described later. Host computer, media drive device 20, 30
, an operation control unit 12 for transmitting and receiving data between the medium exchange device 40, an SCS I connection unit 14 that serves as an interface for transmitting and receiving recording/reproducing data and various control information between the SCS T bus 50, and a medium drive It is generally composed of a medium drive device connection section 15 that serves as an interface for transmitting and receiving recording and reproduction data and various control information to and from the devices 20 and 30.

The operation control unit 12 includes a recording medium usage detection device 100 , a recording medium usage frequency recording device 101 , and a recording medium usage frequency learning device 102 . It is possible to rearrange the media. Media drive 20.3
0 is a head that records data on a storage medium, plays back recorded data, takes the recording medium from the loading/unloading position to the recording/playback position, rotates the recording medium taken into the recording/playback position, and rotates the recording medium taken into the recording/playback position. A controller connection section that serves as an interface between the recording and playback section 21.31, which has a mechanism for ejecting the media from the recording and playback position to the take-in/discharge position, a control section that controls this mechanism, and the like, and the medium drive device connection section 15 of the controller 10. It is roughly constructed from 22.32.

The recording medium exchange device 40 includes a storage 41 in which a large number of cartridges having storage media are stored, and a storage 41 that transports the cartridges from the storage 41 to a loading/unloading position of a medium drive device 20. An exchange mechanism 42 such as a motor that transports the recording medium from the main body to the storage 41, an inlet 43 that takes the recording medium in and out of the main body, control information from the host computer, control information from the operation control unit 12 of the controller 10, and the medium drive device 20. The loading/unloading detection signal from 30 causes storage 41 and
Between the exchange mechanism 42 , a central processing unit (CPU) 51 that controls the inlet 43 , a drive circuit 47 that amplifies control information of the CPU 51 for the exchange mechanism 42 and the motor of the storage 41 , and the SCSI bus 50 . It is generally composed of an SCSI connection section 52 that serves as an interface for transmitting and receiving various control information.

The recording medium exchange device also includes a sensor 44 that detects when the exchange mechanism 42 grips or releases the grip on the recording medium;
A display unit 45 that displays various operating states and this sensor 44
, an input/output section (I/O) 46 that transmits control information between the display section 45 and the CPU 51 and is connected to the recording/reproducing section 21.31 of the medium drive device.

Next, the operation will be explained based on the above configuration. recording the frequency of use of the recording medium by a recording medium usage frequency detection device 100 and a recording medium usage frequency recording device 101;
The recording medium usage frequency learning device 102 learns the usage frequency. Based on the learning result of the recording medium usage frequency learning device 102, the operation control unit 12 outputs an instruction to change the recording medium arrangement of the storage 41 to the recording medium exchange mechanism 42 through the SCSI interface 14, and the recording medium is not used. Rearranged in order of frequency.

FIG. 2 shows the mechanical arrangement of the recording/reproducing system. If recording media are stored randomly as in the conventional case, the average exchange path of the exchange mechanism 42 is shown by solid lines L, . It becomes like L. If the recording media are rearranged near the media drive device 20.30 according to the frequency of use, the dashed line L3. The exchange mechanism 42 operates as in L4. As a result, the recording medium exchanger 42
The operating distance is shortened, and the replacement time is also shortened.

Solid lines L, . L2 indicates the operation path when the recording medium exchange mechanism 42 normally moves as described above, and the broken line L3. L4 indicates an operation path when the recording medium exchange mechanism 42 has already completed moving the frequently used recording medium 1 to the medium drive device 20.30 side in the storage 4 based on the command from the CPU 51.

Therefore, when the recording medium exchange mechanism 42 grips the frequently used recording medium 1, the above-mentioned broken line L3. The shortest path indicated by L4 is selected, and the recording medium 1 can be gripped in a short time.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, there are provided a means for detecting the frequency of use of a recording medium, a means for recording the frequency of use of a recording medium, a means for learning the frequency of use of a recording medium, Based on this learning result, the exchange mechanism is equipped with means for rearranging the recording media so that they can be exchanged through the shortest route, so the operating time of the recording medium exchange device is significantly shortened and efficiency is improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an embodiment of the recording medium exchanging device of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are explanatory diagrams of the mechanism arrangement and operation path of the exchanging mechanism, and FIG. 4 is a recording medium exchanging device of the conventional example. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a media exchange device. 10... Controller, 12... Operation control section, 10
0... Recording medium usage frequency detection device, 101... Recording medium usage frequency recording device, 102... Recording medium usage frequency learning device. Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] A means for detecting the frequency of use of a recording medium, a means for recording the frequency of use of a recording medium, a means for learning the frequency of use of a recording medium, and a means for causing an exchange mechanism to exchange the recording medium in the shortest route based on the learning result. A recording medium exchange device having means for rearranging recording media.