Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to longitudinal tape, for example, for magnetic tape cartridges employed in magnetic tape drives, and more particularly to reuse of the longitudinal tape. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Longitudinal tape, such as magnetic tape for magnetic tape cartridge volumes, being a serial access media, is typically not subject to reuse until after all of the data stored on the longitudinal tape has been expired. When all of the data has been expired, the physical cartridge volume can be marked as scratch and rewritten. 
     Data may be stored by magnetic tape as various blocks or sections of data, arranged in a serial string ending with an “end of tape”, and also called an “end of data”. Subsequent additions of data begin at the previous “end of tape”, and continue, ultimately ending with a new “end of tape”. 
     Data that has been stored and subsequently modified is typically not modified in place. Rather, the updated data is stored separately at the end of the string of data and the host system identifies the superseded data as expired. 
     Thus, blocks or sections of data throughout the serial string of data may be expired. To attempt to reuse the expired blocks or sections would require movement of the tape back and forth to access the reused blocks or sections, resulting in an inefficient use of the tape. Hence, the reuse is not done, and the tape cartridge volume remains with the expired blocks or sections in place until all of the data stored by the tape cartridge volume has been expired, if that ever happens. As a further result, the space efficiency of the tape cartridges is underutilized. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Methods, data storage controls and longitudinal tape data storage drives provide reuse of partially expired physical tape volumes. 
     In one embodiment, in a longitudinal tape data storage drive, wherein data is stored as a sequence of serpentine wraps, a wrap comprising a first linear path traced on a longitudinal tape; and another linear path, laterally spaced from the first linear path, traced on the longitudinal tape; the linear paths extending from one end of the longitudinal tape to the opposite end and arranged in opposite directions; a method comprising: 
     identifying expired portions of stored data on the longitudinal tape; 
     determining whether data of a complete linear path of the longitudinal tape has been expired; and 
     allowing reuse of any determined complete linear path for storage of data. 
     In a further embodiment, the allowing step comprises employing a beginning of the complete linear path where lateral translation to the linear path normally occurs, for the allowed reuse to begin. 
     In a still further embodiment, the determining step comprises determining that at least a complete serpentine wrap has been expired, and the allowing step requires at least one complete serpentine wrap. 
     In another embodiment, the allowing step comprises allowing the reuse upon an end of data position of another linear path reaching a point wherein the normal lateral translation occurrence is aligned with the beginning of the allowed complete linear path. 
     Still another embodiment additionally comprises a step of mapping a sequence of lateral repositioning upon completion of tracing linear paths. 
     In yet another embodiment, wherein the sequence serpentine wraps comprises a sequence of the linear paths wherein an inner linear path is shingled over an adjacent linear path, and wherein the determining step comprises determining whether data of at least two complete adjacent shingled linear paths, one shingled with respect to the other, has been expired. 
     In another embodiment, the allowing step limits the reuse to exclude reuse of a linear path which is shingled by an adjacent linear path whose data is at least partially unexpired. 
     For a fuller understanding of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a removable data storage cartridge with a longitudinal tape media; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagrammatic representation of a data storage drive for handling the removable data storage cartridge of  FIG. 1 , and which may implement the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic representation of information provided on a longitudinal tape; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic representation of changes to the information of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic representation of an alternative arrangement of information provided on a longitudinal tape; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart depicting an exemplary method of operating the data storage drive of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is described in preferred embodiments in the following description with reference to the Figures, in which like numbers represent the same or similar elements. While this invention is described in terms of the best mode for achieving this invention&#39;s objectives, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations may be accomplished in view of these teachings without deviating from the spirit or scope of the invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an example of a data storage cartridge  10  comprising a longitudinal tape  11 , such as magnetic tape, is illustrated wherein the rewritable magnetic tape  11  is wound on a hub  12  of reel  13 . A cartridge memory  14  may store information regarding the data storage cartridge and, for example, comprises a transponder having a contactless interface. The illustrated magnetic tape cartridge is a single reel cartridge. Magnetic tape cartridges may also comprise dual reel cartridges in which the tape is fed between reels of the cartridge. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a magnetic tape drive  15  is illustrated. An example of a magnetic tape drive is the IBM® LTO (Linear Tape Open) magnetic tape drive  15 , with microcode, etc., to perform desired operations with respect to the magnetic tape cartridge  10 . Another example of a magnetic tape drive is the IBM® TotalStorage Enterprise magnetic tape drive. Both the above examples of magnetic tape drives employ single reel tape cartridges  10 . An alternative magnetic tape drive and magnetic tape cartridge is a dual reel cartridge and drive in which both reels  13  and  16  are contained in the cartridge. In the instant example, the magnetic tape  11  is wound on a reel  13  in the cartridge  10 , and, when loaded in the magnetic tape drive  15 , is fed between the cartridge reel and a take up reel  16  in the magnetic tape drive. Alternatively, both reels of a dual reel cartridge are driven to feed the magnetic tape between the reels. 
     The magnetic tape drive comprises a memory interface  17  for reading information from, and writing information to, the cartridge memory  14  of the magnetic tape cartridge  10 . A read/write system is provided for reading and writing information to the magnetic tape, and, for example, may comprise a read/write and servo head system  18  with a servo system for moving the head laterally of the magnetic tape  11 , a read/write servo control  19 , and a drive motor system  20  which moves the magnetic tape  11  between the cartridge reel  13  and the take up reel  16  and across the read/write and servo head system  18 . The read/write and servo control  19  controls the operation of the drive motor system  20  to move the magnetic tape  11  across the read/write and servo head system  18  at a desired velocity, and, in one example, determines the lateral location of the read/write and servo head system with respect to the magnetic tape  11 , and, in another example, determines the longitudinal position of the tape  11  by reading the tape servo tracks. In one example, the read/write and servo head system  18  and read/write and servo control  19  employ servo signals on the magnetic tape  11  to determine the location of the read/write and servo head system, and in another example, the read/write and servo control  19  employs at least one of the reels, such as by means of a tachometer, to determine the location of the read/write and servo head system with respect to the magnetic tape  11 . The read/write and servo head system  18  and read/write and servo control  19  may comprise hardware elements and may comprise any suitable form of logic, including a processor operated by software, or microcode, or firmware, or may comprise hardware logic, or a combination. 
     An interface  23  provides communication with respect to one or more host systems or processors  25 , and is configured to receive and to send information externally of the data storage drive. Alternatively, the magnetic tape drive  15  may form part of a subsystem, such as a library, and may also receive commands from the subsystem, also at interface  23 . 
     A control  24  communicates with the host interface  23 , with memory interface  17 , and communicates with the read/write system, e.g., at read/write and servo control  19 . The control  24  may comprise any suitable form of logic, including one or more processors operated by software, or microcode, or firmware, or may comprise hardware logic, or a combination. 
     The illustrated and alternative embodiments of magnetic tape drives are known to those of skill in the art, including those which employ dual reel cartridges. 
     Other types of removable data storage cartridges and data storage drives are known to those of skill in the art. Examples comprise optical disk cartridges and drives, optical tape cartridges and drives, removable computer diskettes and drives, rigid magnetic disk cartridges and drives, etc. 
     The control  24  typically communicates with the one or more host systems  25  or subsystems via interface  23 , and operates the magnetic tape drive  15  in accordance with commands originating at the host or subsystem. 
     As illustrated, the magnetic tape drive  15  provides information to the magnetic tape  11  of the magnetic tape cartridge  10 . The magnetic tape is a serial data storage means where the data may be stored as various blocks or sections of data, arranged in a serial string. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a magnetic tape  11  is illustrated with several parallel wraps of groups of parallel tracks. In the example, the magnetic tape is moved longitudinally in a first direction from the leading end of the tape while the head system reads and/or writes data with respect to one linear path of the wrap, and is reversed at the other end of the tape to be moved in the opposite direction and the head system is shifted to another linear path of the wrap, and the paths are termed “serpentine” paths. In the illustration, only one path is shown for each wrap, whereas in a physical tape a number of read and write elements are arranged to trace parallel paths within the linear path. 
     The serpentine paths may be arranged in at least two patterns. In  FIG. 3 , in one pattern, a wrap comprises laterally offset adjacent linear paths  50  and  51 . In another pattern, the wraps are arranged in an inward spiral so that a wrap comprises laterally offset paths  50  and  52 . The wrap comprising adjacent linear paths  50  and  51  has the advantage of the paths being closer together, reducing the time to translate between the paths at the ends of the tape. The wrap comprising an inward spiral of linear paths  50  and  52  is typically used when adjacent linear paths are “shingled” as shown in  FIG. 5 . Shingling is employed to increase the number of tracks that can be recorded without reducing the size of the tape write elements. As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , track  55  partially overwrites track  53 . Again, a single linear path is illustrated, while the individual write elements shingle each of the parallel paths making up the linear path. 
     The end of the string of data may be called the “end of data” and may also be called the “end of tape”. Subsequent additions of data begin at the previous “end of tape”, and continue, ultimately ending with a new “end of tape”. 
     Data that has been stored and subsequently modified is typically not modified in place. Rather, typically, the updated data is stored separately at the end of the string of data and the host system identifies the superseded data as expired. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , a block  60  of data has been marked as expired by a host (as shown by the “X”s). In accordance with the present invention, the control  24  identifies expired portions of the data stored on the tape  11 . The control further determines whether data of a complete linear path  63  of the longitudinal tape has been expired; and allows reuse of any determined complete linear path  63  for storage of data. Alternatively, the determination may be of expiration of a complete wrap  63 ,  64  and the control  24  allows reuse of the determined complete wrap. 
     The lateral translation between paths normally occurs at each end of the physical tape. When the end of tape or end of data reaches an end of the physical tape, the control  24  operates the read/write and servo  19  to translate the head  18  laterally to the next path in the sequence. In accordance with the present invention, the control, in allowing the reuse of a complete linear path or a complete wrap, when the end of tape or end of data reaches an end of the physical tape, similarly operates the read/write and servo to translate the head  18  laterally, but not to the next linear path in the sequence, but instead back to the complete linear path or wrap that has been determined to have been expired, thereby reusing the linear path or wrap. 
     Referring additionally to  FIG. 6 , in step  80 , the control  24  operates the longitudinal tape data storage drive  15  to store data received from a host or hosts  25  as directed by the host(s), storing the data as a sequence of serpentine wraps of two laterally offset linear paths on longitudinal tape  11 . The host(s) may also update the data or indicate that the data is no longer needed, and the updated data is stored in the continuing sequence of serpentine wraps, while the superseded and unneeded data is expired by the host(s). 
     In step  83 , the control identifies the expired data  60 ,  63 ,  64 , storing the identification, for example, in memory. The control prevents reuse of small segments of free space represented by the small expired blocks  60  thereby avoiding a performance impact that would be incurred due to the linear tape motion associated with finding an empty segment. Although one of the key functions that is typical of an enterprise class tape drive is the ability to do a high speed locate operation to the beginning of the expired data, doing so for a large number of small segments causes a performance impact. 
     In step  87 , the control  24  determines whether data of a complete linear path  63  or  64  of the longitudinal tape has been expired. A complete linear path allows translation to the linear path in a similar manner as a normal translation to continue the sequence of serpentine paths. Thus, if the end of tape or end of data was positioned at the physical end of tape position  89 , the normal translation would be laterally to path  52  and is instead made in the opposite direction to path  64 . 
     Alternatively, the user may prefer to operate only with wraps, and in that case, the control  24 , in step  87 , determines whether data of a complete wrap  63 ,  64  of the longitudinal tape has been expired. A complete wrap allows translation to the linear path in a similar manner as a normal translation to continue the sequence of serpentine wraps. Thus, if the end of tape or end of data was positioned at the physical end of tape position  90 , the normal translation would be laterally to path  92  and is instead made in the opposite direction to path  63 . 
     Referring additionally to  FIG. 5 , if the linear paths are shingled, as are paths  1 ,  2 ,  3 , a different scenario is conducted. Step  95  determines whether the linear paths are shingled, a determination that may be made by accessing the cartridge memory  14  where an indication is stored, as is known in the art. In the event that the longitudinal tape comprises shingled data, not only must a complete path  100  or  101 , or wrap  100 ,  101  be determined to be expired in step  87 , but in step  105 , the complete path  53  or  103  or wrap  53 ,  103  overlying the complete path  100  or  101 , or wrap  100 ,  101  must also be determined to be expired. This is because to overwrite the complete path  100  or  101 , or wrap  100 ,  101  would destroy the overlying complete path  53  or  103  or wrap  53 ,  103 . 
     If either step  87  or step  105  indicates insufficient data has been expired, the process returns to step  80  to continue to store and expire data. 
     If step  87  indicates that sufficient data has been expired to comprise a complete linear path or wrap and, if not shingled, step  110  allows the complete linear path  63  or  64  to be available for reuse, or alternatively, allows the complete wrap  63 ,  64  to be available for reuse. 
     If step  95  indicates that the linear paths are shingled, and step  87  indicates that sufficient data has been expired to comprise a complete linear path or wrap, and step  105  additionally indicates that the complete path  53  or  103  or wrap  53 ,  103  overlying the complete path  100  or  101 , or wrap  100 ,  101  has been determined to be expired, step  110  allows the complete linear path  100  or  101 , or wrap  100 ,  101  to be available for reuse, limiting the reuse to exclude reuse of a linear path which is shingled by an adjacent linear path whose data is at least partially unexpired. 
     The allowing step  110  makes the complete linear path(s) available for reuse from the beginning of the complete linear path where lateral translation to the linear path normally occurs, such as at point  112  for linear path  64 . If a serpentine wrap is expired and available, the allowing step  110  makes the complete linear path(s) available for reuse from the beginning of the complete wrap where lateral translation to the first linear path of the wrap normally occurs, such as at point  113  for linear path  63 . 
     In another way of stating the requirement, the allowing step comprises allowing the reuse upon an end of data position of another linear path reaching a point wherein the normal lateral translation occurrence is aligned with the beginning of the allowed complete linear path. Thus, allowing step  110  makes the complete linear path(s) available for reuse from the end of the complete linear path where lateral translation to another linear path normally occurs, such as at point  89  for linear path  92 . The translation becomes a lateral translation to point  112  for linear path  64  rather than to linear path  52 . Similarly, if the allowing step is to a complete wrap for reuse, allowing step  110  makes the complete wrap(s) available for reuse from the beginning of the first complete linear path of the wrap where lateral translation to the wrap normally occurs, such as at point  113  for linear path  63  rather than to linear path  92 . 
     The same holds true for shingled paths in that the allowing step  110  makes the complete linear paths available for reuse from the end of the complete linear path where lateral translation to another linear path normally occurs, such as from point  118  of linear path  100  to a point  119  for linear path  101 . Similarly, if the allowing step is to a complete wrap for reuse, allowing step  110  makes the complete wrap(s) available for reuse from the beginning of the first complete linear path of the wrap where lateral translation to the wrap normally occurs, such as at point  120  from linear path  53  to point  121  of linear path  53 . 
     In step  115 , the control  24  maps the sequence of lateral repositioning upon completion of tracing the linear paths. The mapping indicates the new sequence of the lateral positions after reuse. 
     The present invention is of importance if the host(s) is writing multiple backups on a single volume. As old backups expire, large contiguous sections of the tape can be reclaimed. 
     When data has been expired and reuse allowed of a complete linear path or complete wrap and a host has overwritten the expired data, a host may attempt to access the expired data. For example, if in  FIG. 4 , assume linear paths  63  and  64  contain logical blocks  2000  through  3999 . Then assume the complete linear paths  63  and  64  are expired, made available for reuse, and then overwritten with logical blocks  8000  through  9999 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , if the host(s) attempt to read any of the expired and overwritten data blocks  2000  through  3999  at a later time, in step  118 , the control instead returns “dummy” data blocks. An example of “dummy” data is a 1 kb X“00” pattern. In the specific example, if a host application attempts to read any logical block in the range  2000  to  3999 , “dummy” data is returned until the host reaches block  4000  (which is located at the beginning of the linear path following path  64 ). 
     Thus, the control ensures that unexpired data on the tape is always found at the same logical block offset independent of linear paths that may have been overwritten. 
     The implementations may involve software, firmware, micro-code, hardware and/or any combination thereof. The implementation may take the form of code or logic implemented in a medium, such as memory, storage and/or circuitry of control  24  where the medium may comprise hardware logic (e.g. an integrated circuit chip, Programmable Gate Array [PGA], Application Specific Integrated Circuit [ASIC], or other circuit, logic or device), or a computer readable storage medium, such as a magnetic storage medium (e.g. an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, and random access memory [RAM], a read-only memory [ROM], a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk, compact disk-read only memory [CD-ROM], compact disk-read/write [CD-R/W] and DVD). 
     Those of skill in the art will understand that changes may be made with respect to the methods discussed above, including changes to the ordering of the steps. Further, those of skill in the art will understand that differing specific component arrangements may be employed than those illustrated herein. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and adaptations to those embodiments may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.

Technology Category: 3