Patent ID: 8127068

Claim:
A removable cartridge storage device comprising: a plurality of cartridge holders, each of the cartridge holders including an electrical connector configured to removably couple with a mating electrical connector of each of a plurality of portable data cartridges, each such portable data cartridge having an electronic interface and at least one of the portable data cartridges including a data set independent of data stored on others of the portable data cartridges; a system controller configured to process commands transmitted to the removable cartridge storage device, wherein the system controller includes an interface to receive media changer commands and to map the received media changer commands into electronic switching operations; and a switch, coupled between the cartridge holders and the system controller, to execute the electronic switching operations to electronically switch connections between the system controller and the cartridge holders to make or break a connection between the system controller and the at least one of the portable data cartridges when the electronic interface of the at least one of the portable data cartridges is coupled with the electrical connector of one of the cartridge holders.