JPH09312083A - Recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the reliability of data without lowering working rates of a data recorder and a computer by recording the history information indicating the condition of tapes wound onto individual cartridges, on an auxiliary storage device. SOLUTION: The system is constituted of computers 3a-f, auxiliary storage devices 2a-f and data recorders 1a-f, and each network is constituted with plural clients against a host. The records recorded in the auxiliary storage device are corresponded to the individual cartridges, and one record is constituted of three blocks, whereon the kind of cartridges, a number of auxiliary storage device objective for backup and the date/time of backup are recorded, and also the history informations provided in individual cartridges such as the number of times of tape pass, the state of error rate, recording current, the number of times of tape loading, etc., are recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data recorder connected to a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a cartridge used in a data recorder, history information such as the number of tape passes, an error rate, and a recording current of each tape is recorded at a predetermined position at the beginning of winding the tape. The area where this history information is written is called the header. When using the cartridge,
In order for the data recorder to recognize the tape status, it is necessary to read the header area first. In addition, when the use of the cartridge is finished, the tape is rewound to a predetermined position at the beginning of winding, and then the information in the header area is updated. Therefore, when the end of the tape is used, it takes time to rewind the tape to the header area.

[0003]

Therefore, since the number of times of recording / reproducing in the header area increases, there is a risk of data loss due to a decrease in error rate. Further, since the same portion of the tape is loaded and unloaded, the tape may be damaged. If the data recording portion is the end portion of the tape, rewinding time is required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a system that improves the reliability of data without lowering the operating rates of data recorders and computers.

[0005]

First, the tape of a cartridge in which a tape is wound is run at a constant speed by a tape driving means, and a plurality of heads perform data signal processing in accordance with recording specifications. In a data recorder for recording or reproducing, history information indicating the tape state wound on each cartridge, such as the number of tape passes of the tape wound on the cartridge and the error rate, is recorded in the auxiliary storage device.

Secondly, the recording location of the history information is a location searchable from all the computers having data recorders connected by the network.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic connection diagram showing a case where the present invention is used in a network environment. There are two types of environment, network A and network B,
Each system is composed of a computer, an auxiliary storage device, and a data recorder, and each network is composed of a plurality of clients with respect to a host. In each system, 1a to f are data recorders, 2a to f
Is an auxiliary storage device, 3a to f are computers, and 4a to f are interfaces. Each system is network 5
It is connected by a and 5b, and data can be transferred between the client and the host. Also, the network means 5
The a and 5b can transfer data by connecting the hosts of each other's networks.

Next, the outline of the devices constituting the system will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the computer 3a. Arrows indicate the direction of data flow. The computer 3a includes a central processing unit 6a and a temporary storage means 7.
a, interface means 8a, network means 9
a, a non-volatile storage means 10a. A non-volatile storage means 10a, a temporary storage means 7a, and a network means 9a are connected to the central processing unit 6a, and data is transferred in the direction of the arrow shown in the drawing, and the central processing unit 6a
The data processing is performed by. Beyond the network means 9a are connected computers 3b and 3c having the network means shown in FIG. Interface means 8
A is connected to a temporary storage means, and is further connected to the auxiliary storage device 2a and the data recorder 1a in the form of a bus. In addition, bidirectional data transfer is possible to peripheral devices. Further, although FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of a computer used in the network A, other computers have the same configuration.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the data flow in the auxiliary storage device 2a. Arrows indicate the direction of data flow. The auxiliary storage device 2a comprises an interface means 11a, a signal processing circuit 12a, a recording / reproducing circuit 13a, a recording / reproducing head 14a and a disk 15a, and the interface means 11a, the signal processing circuit 12a and the recording / reproducing circuit. 13a and the recording / reproducing head 14a are connected in this order and data is transferred in the direction of the arrow shown. Records 16a, 1 recorded by the recording / reproducing head 14a on the disk 15a
7a and 18a are recorded. The interface means 11a has a bus form and is connected to a computer 3a which is a higher-level device and a data recorder 1a which is a peripheral device to enable bidirectional data transfer. Further, regarding the above configuration, the configuration related to the data flow of the auxiliary storage device used in the network A is shown, but other auxiliary storage devices have the same configuration.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the data recorder 1a. The arrows indicate the directions in which data, signals, etc. flow. In the data recorder 1a, 19a is a signal processing circuit for encoding data to a recording specification and decoding a reproduced signal, and verifying write data and read data to detect a data error,
It is an error detection circuit that calculates an error rate. 20a
In the temporary storage means, data and history information of the recording medium are separately stored. 21a is a signal processing circuit 19a
A reproducing circuit connected to the recording medium for reproducing a signal recorded on the recording medium, and a recording circuit 22a for recording the signal processed by the signal processing circuit 19a in accordance with the recording specifications on the recording medium. Reference numeral 23a is a signal transmission means for transmitting the reproduction signal and the recording signal to the head, and a rotary transformer is used here. Reference numeral 24a denotes a rotary drum, on which a tape 25a is wound at a predetermined angle, and a recording head 26a for recording on the tape 25a and a reproducing head 27a for reproducing.
Is attached to the rotary drum 24a at a position opposed to the rotary drum 24a by 180 ° and is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow. A servo controller 28a is connected to the system controller 31a, receives a command from the system controller 31a, and outputs a control signal to an actuator such as the tape drive unit 30a based on an input signal from the sensor 29a. The system controller 31a is connected to a non-volatile memory means 32a in which operation procedures are described, an interface means 33a to which a higher-level device is connected, and a cartridge individual code recording / reproducing means 34a, which are cartridge individual codes installed in a cartridge described later. The contents are written into and read from the recording means, and the cartridge identification code is read. Further, the system controller 31a includes the temporary storage means 20a,
The signal processing circuit 19a and the servo controller 28
a, which is also connected to a, receives an instruction from the computer 3a through the interface means, issues an operation instruction to the servo controller 28a, and transfers the data in the temporary storage means 20a to the signal means 19a. Are in control. Further, regarding the above configuration, the configuration of the data recorder used in the network A is shown, but other auxiliary storage devices have the same configuration.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a cartridge 36 equipped with a renewable cartridge individual code recording means 35. The code content 37 not shown is the cartridge type, the backup auxiliary storage device number, the date and time of the last use, and the like. The code content 37 can be updated by using a memory IC, a magnetic recording bar code or the like as the recording medium of the cartridge individual code recording means 35. When the cartridge 36 is mounted on the data recorder 1a, the code content 37 is automatically recorded by the cartridge individual code recording / reproducing means 34a.
Is read.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the records 16a to 18a recorded in the auxiliary storage device 2a. Each record corresponds to each cartridge, and one record corresponds to one cartridge. One record is composed of three blocks, which are a 0th block, a 1st block, and a 2nd block. The 0th block records the cartridge type, the backup target auxiliary storage device number, and the backup date and time.
The content is the same as the code content 37 recorded in the cartridge individual code recording means 35 shown in FIG. The first block is the number of tape passes, error rate status, recording current,
It is history information that each cartridge has such as the number of times of tape loading. The second block is a spare of the first block. In addition, all the blocks mentioned above can be updated.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a cartridge 39 equipped with a cartridge identification code 38. For example, the cartridge identification code 38 uses a printed bar code and the contents cannot be updated. When the cartridge 39 is attached to the data recorder 1a, the cartridge identification code 38 is automatically read by the reading function of the cartridge individual code recording / reproducing means 34a provided.

FIG. 8 shows the structure of a record recorded in the auxiliary storage device 2a, which corresponds to the case where the cartridge identification code cannot be updated, unlike the case shown in FIG. Each record corresponds to each cartridge, and one record corresponds to one cartridge. One record is composed of three blocks, which are a 0th block, a 1st block, and a 2nd block. The 0th block has the same contents as the cartridge identification code 38 mounted on the cartridge 38.
It cannot be updated. The first and second blocks can be updated and are the same as those shown in FIG.

Next, the operation of the present invention when a cartridge equipped with a renewable cartridge individual code is used will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. Here, consider a case where the data recorder 1b of the network A backs up the auxiliary storage device 2a. 9 and 10 show the schematic configurations of the client side computer 3b and the data recorder 1b, respectively. The configuration conditions and functions are the same as those in the states shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, respectively, and the end of the reference numeral is b. FIG. 11 shows the flow of processing. The cartridge 36 shown in FIG. 5 is inserted into the data recorder 1b shown in FIG.

In (Process 1), the code content 37 recorded in the cartridge individual code recording means 35 is read by the cartridge individual code recording / reproducing means 34b.

In (Process 2), the code content 37 read in Process 1 is transferred to the computer 3b, and a code collation request is issued to the host computer 3a. The above processing 1 and processing 2 are performed by the data recorder 1b and the computer 3b on the client side.

(Processing 3) is a computer 3a on the host side.
Is the acceptance of the verification request.

(Processing 4) is the computer 3a on the host side.
Is the reading of the code contents 37 and the record recorded on the disk 15a of the auxiliary storage device 2a. Also, the records are read in order.

(Judgment 1) is the read code content 37
And the 0th block of the first record 16a. True if they match.

At (Process 6), since the code content 37 and the record match in judgment 1 by judgment 1, backup permission is issued to the client computer 3b by using the cartridge 36.

(Determination 2) is a determination as to whether or not there is a remaining record to be compared and collated, which is true when there is no record.

(Processing 5) increments the record number to be compared.

(Judgment 3) is true when the new cartridge is confirmed by the confirmation of the new cartridge.

(Processing 7) creates a new record and new code content.

In (Processing 8), the code content 37 does not match all of the records, and since it is not a new cartridge, it is regarded as a cartridge which cannot be recognized by the system.

The above processing is the flow of processing on the host side relating to cartridge discrimination. As a result, the system a on the host side has three types of return values for the system b on the client side: backup permission by matching individual cartridge codes, new creation of code content and record, and system incompatible.

The client side performs three kinds of operations based on the above results. First, consider the case where the code content and the record match.

(Processing 9) transfers the data in the auxiliary storage device 2a to the temporary storage means 20b of the data recorder 2b.

(Processing 10) is recording and verification of the signal decoded by the signal processing circuit 19b of the data recorder 1b. The error rate and the number of recordings become new history information.

(Process 11) The contents of the history information storage portion of the temporary storage means 20b are updated.

The (judgment 4) is true when the processing is completed by confirming the end of the data, and returns to processing 9 when it is false.

(Processing 12) transfers the history information contents of the temporary storage means 20b to the host computer 3a.

Next, consider the case where the contents of the record and the cartridge individual code are newly created.

(Processing 13) is the reception of the new code content by the computer 3b on the client side.

(Processing 14) records the new code content in the cartridge individual code recording means. Then, it progresses to the process 9. On the other hand, the cartridge that is not compatible with the system is the same as the normal backup method.

(Processing 18) Normal backup,
For details, first, the header information recorded on the tape is read, and when the cartridge is taken out, the header information is rewound by rewinding the tape. The above is the processing on the client side regarding backup.

After the backup is completed, the computer 3a on the host side obtains new history information by the process 12.

(Processing 15) is a record update, and processing 12
Due to the transfer of the history information, the host computer recognizes the end of backup. Also, all blocks of the record are updated.

(Processing 16) is the transfer of the updated code contents 37 to the client side and the cartridge 36.
It is permission to take out. The code content 37 is processing 15
It has the same contents as the 0th block of the record updated by.

(Determination 5) is a determination as to whether or not there is permission to take out the cartridge, and is true when permission is given.

(Processing 17) Updating of the code content 37 recorded in the cartridge individual code recording means 35. Cartridge individual code recording / reproducing means 34b
Thus, the code content 37 is updated.

(Processing 18) is cartridge removal.

(Processing 19) is a backup by the conventional cartridge using method.

Next, the operation of the present invention when the cartridge 39 equipped with the cartridge identification code 38 that cannot be updated is used will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 shows the flow of processing when the present invention is used on the network A shown in FIG. 1, and considers a case where the data recorder 1b backs up the auxiliary storage device 2a. 9 and 10 show the schematic configurations of the client side computer 3b and the data recorder 1b, respectively. The configuration conditions and functions are the same as those in the states shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, respectively, and the end of the reference numeral is b. The cartridge 36 shown in FIG. 5 is inserted into the data recorder 1b shown in FIG.

In (Process 1), the cartridge identification code 38 is read by the cartridge individual code recording / reproducing means 34b.

In (Process 2), the cartridge identification code 38 read in Process 1 is transferred to the computer 3b, and a collation request is made to the computer 3a on the host side. The above processing 1 and processing 2 are performed by the data recorder 1b and the computer 3b on the client side.

(Process 3) is the computer 3a on the host side.
Is the acceptance of the verification request.

(Processing 4) is the computer 3a on the host side.
Read the cartridge identification code 38 and the record recorded on the disk 15a recorded on the auxiliary storage device 2a. Also, the records are read in order.

(Judgment 1) is a collation of the read cartridge identification code 38 with the 0th block of the first record. True if they match.

In (Process 6), judgment 1 judges that one of the cartridge identification code 38 and the record matches and uses the cartridge 39 to the client-side computer 3b to issue a backup permission.

(Determination 2) is a determination as to whether or not there is a record remaining to be compared and collated, which is true when there is no record.

(Processing 5) increments the record number to be compared.

(Judgment 3) is true when the new cartridge is confirmed by the confirmation of the new cartridge.

(Process 7) is to create and register a new record and to permit the backup to the client.

In (Process 8), since the cartridge identification code 38 does not match all the records and it is not a new cartridge, it is regarded as a cartridge which cannot be recognized by the system.

The above processing is the flow of processing on the host side regarding cartridge discrimination. As a result, the system a on the host side has three types of return values for the system b on the client side: backup permission by matching the individual cartridge codes, new record creation, and system non-correspondence.

On the client side, two kinds of operations are performed based on the above results. First, let us consider a case where the cartridge identification code 38 and the record match.

(Processing 9) transfers the data in the auxiliary storage device 2a to the temporary storage means 20b of the data recorder 2b.

(Processing 10) is recording and verification of the signal decoded by the signal processing circuit 19b of the data recorder 1b. The error rate and the number of recordings are history information.

(Process 11) The contents of the history information storage portion of the temporary storage means 20b are updated.

The (judgment 4) becomes true when the processing is completed by confirming the end of the data, and the processing returns to the processing 9 when it is false.

(Processing 12) transfers the history information contents of the temporary storage means 20b to the host computer 3a. When a new record is created by the process 7, it is backed up as a new cartridge.

Finally, in the case of a cartridge that is not compatible with the system, it is the same as the normal backup method.

(Processing 16) Normal backup,
For details, first, the header information recorded on the tape is read, and when the cartridge is taken out, the header information is rewound by rewinding the tape. The above is the processing on the client side regarding backup.

After the backup is completed, the computer 3a on the host side obtains new history information by the process 12.

(Processing 13) is record updating, and processing 12
According to the history information transferred to the host side by
The contents of 2 blocks are updated.

(Processing 14) is the permission to take out the cartridge 36 from the client side.

(Determination 5) is a determination as to whether or not there is permission to take out the cartridge, and it is true when the permission is given.

(Processing 15) is cartridge removal.

As described above, by managing the individual code of the cartridge and the history information by using the auxiliary storage device without using the recording medium itself, the manageability of the cartridge is improved, and the operation rate of the data recorder and the computer is also improved. Not only that, but the reliability of the data is improved because the data is centralized and managed. Note that the above is an embodiment, and other specifications such as record specifications, cartridge individual code recording means specifications, and processing algorithms can be adopted. On the other hand, even in a stand-alone system, it is possible to manage the cartridge using the connected auxiliary storage device. Further, by sharing a record between different networks as shown in FIG. 1, the cartridge can be used in another network apart from the cartridge. Further, depending on the operating conditions of the driver software and the data recorder, the history information can be written not only in the auxiliary storage device but also in the tape itself. In this way, after using a cartridge that has history information on both sides in a stand-alone system, when using it again in the network, it is possible to detect the difference between the history information on the auxiliary storage device that has already been recorded and the history information on the tape. It can be used in both network and stand-alone situations.

[0073]

As described above, the present invention is applied to the data recorder,
In particular, when used in a data recorder connected via a network, the manageability of the cartridge is improved, and the operating rates of the data recorder and the computer are improved. In addition, the number of tape passes due to rewinding is reduced, and the tape loading and unloading portions of the tape are not limited to specific locations, so that damage to the tape is reduced and data reliability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network for explaining the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a host computer.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a data flow in a host side auxiliary storage device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a host-side data recorder.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a cartridge equipped with a renewable cartridge individual code.

FIG. 6 is a schematic 1 of a cartridge identification record.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a cartridge equipped with a non-renewable cartridge identification code.

FIG. 8 is a schematic 2 of a cartridge identification record.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a client-side computer.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a client-side data recorder.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart 1 showing the processing method of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart 2 showing the processing method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a to f ... Data recorder, 2a to f ... Auxiliary storage device,
3a-f ... computer, 4a-f ... interface,
5a, 5b ... Network, 16a ... Record 1, 17
a ... Record 2, 18a ... Record 3, 19a, b ... Data recorder signal processing circuit, error detection circuit, 20
a, b ... Temporary storage means of data recorder, 35 ... Cartridge individual code recording means, 38 ... Cartridge identification code.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A tape wound around a cartridge is run at a predetermined speed by a tape driving means to convert data into a predetermined recording specification, then written by a head, and a signal recorded on the tape is read and reproduced by the head. In a data recorder having a signal processing unit for returning to data based on specifications, a unit for detecting an error based on data before and after recording, and a unit for managing a tape operation state by a system controller, the tape pass count of the tape, an error, etc. A recording system characterized by recording history information indicating a tape state in an auxiliary storage device or a rewritable nonvolatile storage means. 2. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein the writing location of the history information is a storage means that can be searched by a computer connected by a network.