Patent ID: 6968257

Claim:
An automated data storage library, comprising: a plurality of storage shelves for storing portable data storage media; at least one data storage drive for transferring data with respect to said portable data storage media; a plurality of accessors which separately access and transport portable data storage media with respect to said plurality of storage shelves and said at least one data storage drive, along at least one path, and which interfere with one another along said at least one path; and a library controller for operating said plurality of accessors, said library controller, detects restricted movement of one of said plurality of accessors at a position along said at least one path by failure to move said one of said plurality of accessors to a service bay, and determines a range of motion of another of said plurality of accessors along said at least one path which avoids interfering with said accessor having said restricted movement, at said position along said at least one path.