Patent ID: 6789161
Filing Date: 2004-09-07
Classification: G06F,G06Q,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for selectively controlling reutilization of data space in a virtual tape system having a disk buffer and at least one multiple volume tape cartridge the method comprising:a remote user transferring data volume files to the virtual tape system for the virtual tape system to store; the disk buffer receiving the data volume files transferred by the remote user and then transferring the data making up the data volume files as virtual tape volumes to different locations of the at least one multiple volume tape cartridge for the at least one multiple volume tape cartridge to store; a remote user selectively designating a particular data volume file for the virtual tape system to automatically delete from storage after a predetermined expiration date included as part of the data volume file has elapsed by automatically deleting the virtual tape volumes corresponding to the particular data volume file designated for automatic deletion from the at least one multiple volume tape cartridge, in order to allow the virtual tape system to automatically reuse the storage space of the at least one multiple volume tape cartridge corresponding to the deleted virtual tape volumes of the particular data volume file designated for automatic deletion without any further action by the user; detecting if a data volume file received by the disk buffer and transferred by the disk buffer as virtual tape volumes to the at least one multiple tape volume for storage has been designated by the user for automatic deletion; and prohibiting the virtual tape system from automatically deleting the received data volume file from storage after a predetermined expiration date included as part of the received data volume file has elapsed if the received data volume file was not designated by the user for automatic deletion; and allowing the virtual tape system to delete the received data volume file from storage after the predetermined expiration time associated with the received data volume file has expired if the received data volume file was not designated by the user for automatic deletion and if the user reuses the virtual tape volumes of the received data volume file in order for the virtual tape system to store a new data volume file.