Patent ID: 7539786

Claim:
A simulated data storage medium insertion/ejection system, comprising: an import/export station having a plurality of I/O slots adapted to transfer storage media to and from a storage library, wherein at least one I/O slot is full and at least one I/O slot is empty; a memory device for storing a variable having a value representing a status of each of the plurality of import/export station I/O slots; a processor in communication with the memory device; and a sensor for detecting the status of each import/export station I/O slot in communication with the processor; wherein the processor is adapted to ascertain a correct value of the variable for each import/export I/O slot using said sensor, modify the value of the variable so as to be inconsistent with the status of the import/export station I/O slot and to simulate an opening and closing of a door of the import/export station I/O slots, thereby triggering a scan by the sensor of the-import/export station I/O slots to determine the status of each of the plurality of import/export station I/O slots; wherein the processor is further adapted to update the value of the variable so as to be consistent with the status of the import/export station I/O slots based on said scanning; and wherein the processor is further adapted to report the update of the value of the variable to an external device.