Patent ID: 7124292

Claim:
A method of recording data within an automatically configuring storage array including a plurality of media storage devices comprising: a. receiving a record command to record a stream of data at one of the media storage devices; b. determining a next available media storage device, wherein the media storage devices determine the next available media storage device after the record command is received; c. recording the stream of data on media within the next available media storage device, thereby forming a recorded stream of data; d. recording an object descriptor including identifying and pointing information about the stream of data; e. sending control communications from the next available media storage device to other media storage devices within the automatically configuring storage array; and f. repeating determining a next available media storage device, recording the stream of data on media, recording an object descriptor and sending control communications from the next available media storage device when the next available media storage device does not have capacity to record remaining portions of the stream of data, until the stream of data is fully recorded.