Patent ID: 7366832

Claim:
A method for exporting a data storage element from a robotic data storage library comprising: defining a first and second partition associated with the library wherein each of the partitions comprise at least two storage locations wherein the storage locations are substantially comprised within the library; designating at least one of the storage locations associated with the first partition as a first virtual exit port; designating at least one of the storage locations associated with the second partition as a second virtual exit port; receiving a first storage element export command from a host computer to transport a first data storage element from one of the storage locations associated with the first partition to an actual exit port; moving the first data storage element from the first storage location to the first virtual exit port in response to the first storage element export command; responding to the host that the first data storage element has been moved to the actual exit port; receiving a second storage element export command to transport the first data storage element from the first virtual exit port to the actual exit port; moving the first data storage element from the first virtual exit port to the actual exit port in response to the second storage element export command; and exporting the first storage element out of the library.