Patent ID: 7659820

Claim:
A system for tracking removable data storage media, comprising: a plurality of storage media comprising media for storing data and each including a wireless tag storing metadata and adapted to respond to an interrogatory signal by wirelessly transmitting a signal comprising the metadata; a locator comprising a tag reader transmitting the interrogatory signals to the wireless tag and receiving the metadata signals from the wireless tags and further comprising a communication module receiving location data and sending signals comprising the received location data and the received metadata signals; a media tracking system receiving the signals from the locator and determining locations of the plurality of storage media; and a cartridge housing the storage media, wherein the cartridge has an external form factor, and wherein the locator further comprises a housing in which the tag reader and communication module are positioned, the locator housing having the external form factor of the cartridge, whereby the locator is receivable in a magazine used to ship or store the storage media, wherein each of the signals transmitted by the locator comprises a time stamp indicative of a time of the receipt of the metadata signals from the plurality of storage media and wherein the media tracking system associates the time stamp with the determined locations, and wherein the media tracking system operates to receive a business process rule pertaining to one of the plurality of storage media and to verify compliance with the business process rule by processing of the time stamps and the determined locations.