Patent ID: 7475205

Claim:
An automated data library system, comprising: a plurality of cartridges, each cartridge including a cartridge memory; at least one cartridge storage slot physically configured to store the plurality of cartridges; and an inventory controller operable to generate an inventory of the plurality of cartridges as stored within the at least one cartridge storage slot, wherein a generation of the inventory of the plurality of cartridges as stored within the at least one cartridge storage slot includes: the inventory controller simultaneously accessing cartridge identification information on at least two cartridge memories wherein the simultaneous accessing of the cartridge identification information on the at least two cartridge memories includes: establishing a first radio frequency communication between a first cartridge memory of a first cartridge and a first antenna associated with a first cartridge storage cell storing the first cartridge; and establishing a second radio frequency communication between a second cartridge memory of a second cartridge and a second antenna associated with a second cartridge storage cell storing the second cartridge; and the inventory controller generating the inventory including at least two cartridges of the plurality of cartridges corresponding to the cartridge identification information wherein the first cartridge storage cell and the second cartridge storage cell are physically situated in a single cartridge storage slot and, further comprising: a flexible cable including the first antenna and the second antennas, wherein the flexible cable extends the first antenna and the second antenna into the single cartridge storage slot.