Patent ID: 6038638
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for pausing and resuming applications running on a computer, said method comprising:accessing an active tape drive, on which is mounted a first tape, by a first application running on the computer, said accessing being through a pause/resume handler;pausing the first application responsive to an operator intervention to the pause/resume handler, said first application being in a paused state awaiting data from said tape drive;storing parameters in the computer including location parameters indicating where the first tape was positioned on the tape drive when the first application paused;mounting a second tape on the tape drive;accessing said second tape on said tape drive by a second application running on the computer;after said second application has completed access to the tape drive, removing said second tape from said tape drive and remounting said first tape;resuming said first application by an operator command to said pause/resume handler, said pause/resume handler repositioning said first tape to the location indicated by said stored location parameters, whereby said first application resumes at the same location on the first tape where it was paused by said operator intervention.