US3732546A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Information storage and retrieval system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-02-04
•
Granted: 1973-05-08
•
Expires: 1991-02-04
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a high capacity, random access, alterable magnetic memory system employing sets of rotatable annular arrays of multi-track tape cassettes serving as the storage media. Under control of a data controller, containing a small programmable computer and direct access storage disc or drum, the cassette arrays are each rotated to bring addressed cassettes into engaging relationship with respective tape transports which receive the requisitioned cassette, position a read/write, write/read head assembly in registration with the addressed track, and drive the tape. An interface system in the controller couples the memory system to one or more host computers of the user for reading data from or writing data on the tape, without the need to stop the tape at the addressed data block site.
Inventors
- 👤 D Ronkin
- 👤 D Schwartz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 08:56
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K17/00; G06K17/0003; G06K17/0012; G06F; G06F16/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 139
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system, the combination including: 1. an annular rotatable array of tape cassettes, each with a plurality of tracks; 2. a tape transport and a cassette loader each fixed relative to said array and to each other but each moveable relative to a cassette in said array; 3. means for addressing a cassette in said array; 4. means for positioning said addressed cassette in operative relation to said cassette loader; 5. means, including said cassette loader, for loading said addressed cassette into said transport; 6. means for addressing one of said plurality of tracks on said addressed cassette; 7. means for positioning the transport head assembly in operative relation to said addressed track; and 8. means for driving said tape relative to said head assembly to thereby effect read/write operations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system, the combination including: 1. an annular rotatable array of tape cassettes, each with a plurality of tracks; 2. a tape transport and a cassette loader each fixed relative to said array and to each other but each moveable relative to a cassette in said array; 3. means for addressing a cassette in said array; 4. means for positioning said addressed cassette in operative relation to said cassette loader; 5. means, including said cassette loader, for loading said addressed cassette into said transport; 6. means for addressing one of said plurality of tracks on said addressed cassette; 7. means for positioning the transport head assembly in operative relation to said addressed track; and 8. means for driving said tape relative to said head assembly to thereby effect read/write operations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said means for positioning said addressed cassette includes servomechanism positioning means including position error sensing means and array drive means, said drive means including a drive shaft, said servomechanism being effective to approximately position said addressed cassette, and detent engagement means for accurately positioning and securing said addressed cassette when the position error and the speed of said drive shaft are within predetermined limits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
149 words
storage/retrieval means including: a. a plurality of cassette bins, each cassette bin containing a plurality of tape cassettes with each cassette having a plurality of tracks. b. a plurality of tape transducer stations, at least one said station associated with each cassette bin and fixed relative thereto but moveable relative to a cassette in said bin, each said station including a transducer means; c. means for positioning said bin and cassette therein addressed by said processor at the station associated with said addressed bin; d. cassette loader means for displacing said addressed cassette from said addressed bin into operative relation to said station associated therewith; e. means for positioning said transducer means to the track of said displaced cassette addressed by said processor; f. means for driving the tape relative to said transducer means to read data from said addressed track and transmit same to said data controller; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
149 words
storage/retrieval means including: a. a plurality of cassette bins, each cassette bin containing a plurality of tape cassettes with each cassette having a plurality of tracks. b. a plurality of tape transducer stations, at least one said station associated with each cassette bin and fixed relative thereto but moveable relative to a cassette in said bin, each said station including a transducer means; c. means for positioning said bin and cassette therein addressed by said processor at the station associated with said addressed bin; d. cassette loader means for displacing said addressed cassette from said addressed bin into operative relation to said station associated therewith; e. means for positioning said transducer means to the track of said displaced cassette addressed by said processor; f. means for driving the tape relative to said transducer means to read data from said addressed track and transmit same to said data controller; and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
100 words
storage/retrieval means including a plurality of rotatable arrays of tape cassettes, each said cassette with a plurality of tracks; a. at least one tape transport associated with each said array, each said station including transducer means; b. means for simultaneously addressing cassettes and tracks thereof in said plurality of arrays; c. means for simultaneously rotating said arrays for positioning said addressed cassettes at the associated transport station; d. means for simultaneously displacing said addressed cassettes from said arrays into operative relation to said associated transport stations; and e. means for simultaneously effecting read/write operations on said plurality of addressed cassettes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
storage/retrieval means including a plurality of rotatable arrays of tape cassettes, each said cassette with a plurality of tracks; a. at least one tape transport associated with each said array, each said station including transducer means; b. means for simultaneously addressing cassettes and tracks thereof in said plurality of arrays; c. means for simultaneously rotating said arrays for positioning said addressed cassettes at the associated transport station; d. means for simultaneously displacing said addressed cassettes from said arrays into operative relation to said associated transport stations; and e. means for simultaneously effecting read/write operations on said plurality of addressed cassettes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
a plurality of rotatable arrays of tape cassettes, each said cassette with a plurality of tracks;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
a plurality of rotatable arrays of tape cassettes, each said cassette with a plurality of tracks;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
tape transducer means fixed relative to each of said arrays but moveable relative to a cassette in each said array;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
tape transducer means fixed relative to each of said arrays but moveable relative to a cassette in each said array;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
a tape transport and a cassette loader each fixed relative to said array and to each other but each moveable relative to a cassette in said array;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
a tape transport and a cassette loader each fixed relative to said array and to each other but each moveable relative to a cassette in said array;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
a tape transducer station, including a transducer, fixed relative to said array but moveable relative to a cassette in said array;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
a tape transducer station, including a transducer, fixed relative to said array but moveable relative to a cassette in said array;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
a rotatable array of tape cassettes, each having a plurality of tracks;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
a rotatable array of tape cassettes, each having a plurality of tracks;
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
at least one tape transport station associated with each said array and fixed relative thereto but moveable relative to a cassette in said array;
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
at least one tape transport station associated with each said array and fixed relative thereto but moveable relative to a cassette in said array;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
a rotatable array of tape cassettes each having a plurality of tracks, at least one said track having a plurality of data blocks recorded thereon;
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
a rotatable array of tape cassettes each having a plurality of tracks, at least one said track having a plurality of data blocks recorded thereon;
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
at least two tape transport stations fixed relative to each other and to said array but moveable relative to a cassette in said array, each said station including tape transducer means;
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
at least two tape transport stations fixed relative to each other and to said array but moveable relative to a cassette in said array, each said station including tape transducer means;
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
a tape transducer station, including a transducer, fixed relative to said array but moveable relative to a cassette in said array;
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
a tape transducer station, including a transducer, fixed relative to said array but moveable relative to a cassette in said array;
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
8 words
means for addressing a cassette in said array;
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
8 words
means for addressing a cassette in said array;
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
a tape transducer station, including a transducer, fixed relative to said array but moveable relative to a cassette in said array;
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
a tape transducer station, including a transducer, fixed relative to said array but moveable relative to a cassette in said array;
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
means for rotating a first array to position a first addressed cassette at a first station; 4. means for rotating a second array to position a second addressed cassette at a second station;
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
means for rotating a first array to position a first addressed cassette at a first station; 4. means for rotating a second array to position a second addressed cassette at a second station;
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
means including said data controller operable to transmit said data to said host computer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
means including said data controller operable to transmit said data to said host computer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
44 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein said servomechanism positioning means includes means responsive to a digital cassette address command for converting said digital address into an analog synchro command and means for utilizing said analog command to develop an analog position error signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for rotating said array to position an addressed cassette at said station;
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for rotating said array to position an addressed cassette at said station;
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for addressing one said cassette in said array and one track thereof;
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for addressing one said cassette in said array and one track thereof;
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
11 words
means for addressing one said array and one said cassette therein;
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
11 words
means for addressing one said array and one said cassette therein;
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
40 words
at least two tape transport stations associated with each of said arrays, said stations being fixed relative to each other and to the associated array, but moveable relative to a cassette in said array, each said station including transducer means;
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
40 words
at least two tape transport stations associated with each of said arrays, said stations being fixed relative to each other and to the associated array, but moveable relative to a cassette in said array, each said station including transducer means;
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
means for rotating the array and cassette addressed by said processor to position said addressed cassette at the nearest vacant station;
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
means for rotating the array and cassette addressed by said processor to position said addressed cassette at the nearest vacant station;
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
20 words
means for rotating said addressed array to position said addressed cassette at said transducer means associated with said addressed array.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
means for rotating said addressed array to position said addressed cassette at said transducer means associated with said addressed array.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
30 words
means for displacing said addressed cassette from said array into operative relation to said transducer, including means for positioning said transducer at an addressed track of said addressed cassette; and
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
30 words
means for displacing said addressed cassette from said array into operative relation to said transducer, including means for positioning said transducer at an addressed track of said addressed cassette; and
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system the combination including:
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system the combination including:
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
20 words
means for rotating said array to position said addressed cassette at the nearest vacant one of said tape transport stations;
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
20 words
means for rotating said array to position said addressed cassette at the nearest vacant one of said tape transport stations;
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
16 words
means for rotating said array to position a cassette addressed by said processor at said station;
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
16 words
means for rotating said array to position a cassette addressed by said processor at said station;
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for positioning said addressed cassette in operative relation to said cassette loader;
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for positioning said addressed cassette in operative relation to said cassette loader;
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
17 words
means for rotating said array and for positioning a cassette addressed by said processor at said station;
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
17 words
means for rotating said array and for positioning a cassette addressed by said processor at said station;
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for displacing said addressed cassette from said array into operative relation to said transducer;
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for displacing said addressed cassette from said array into operative relation to said transducer;
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
13 words
means, including said cassette loader, for loading said addressed cassette into said transport;
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
13 words
means, including said cassette loader, for loading said addressed cassette into said transport;
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for displacing said addressed cassette from said array into operative relation to said transducer;
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for displacing said addressed cassette from said array into operative relation to said transducer;
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 4 wherein said rotatable array includes a tape storage cylinder including a plurality of recesses for storage of individual ones of said cassettes.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
17 words
means for displacing said addressed cassette from said array into operative relation to said vacant transport station;
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
17 words
means for displacing said addressed cassette from said array into operative relation to said vacant transport station;
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for displacing said addressed cassette from said addressed array into operative relation to said nearest vacant station;
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for displacing said addressed cassette from said addressed array into operative relation to said nearest vacant station;
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for driving the tape relative to said transducer to effect read/write operations.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for driving the tape relative to said transducer to effect read/write operations.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
26 words
means for respectively displacing said first and second addressed cassettes from said first and second arrays into operative relation with said first and second stations; and
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
26 words
means for respectively displacing said first and second addressed cassettes from said first and second arrays into operative relation with said first and second stations; and
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for displacing said addressed cassette from said addressed array into operative relation to said associated transducer means;
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for displacing said addressed cassette from said addressed array into operative relation to said associated transducer means;
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for positioning said transducer means at an addressed track of said addressed cassette; and
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for positioning said transducer means at an addressed track of said addressed cassette; and
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
20 words
means for simultaneously effecting read/write operations between said first and second addressed cassettes and said first and second transport stations.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
20 words
means for simultaneously effecting read/write operations between said first and second addressed cassettes and said first and second transport stations.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for positioning said transducer means at the track of said displaced cassette addressed by said processor; and
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for positioning said transducer means at the track of said displaced cassette addressed by said processor; and
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
11 words
means for positioning said transducer means at said addressed track; and
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
11 words
means for positioning said transducer means at said addressed track; and
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for positioning said transducer at a track addressed by said processor; and
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for positioning said transducer at a track addressed by said processor; and
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for addressing one of said plurality of tracks on said addressed cassette;
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for addressing one of said plurality of tracks on said addressed cassette;
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system the combination including:
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system the combination including:
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
17 words
means responsive to said processor for positioning said transducer at said track having data blocks recorded thereon;
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
17 words
means responsive to said processor for positioning said transducer at said track having data blocks recorded thereon;
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
37 words
means responsive to said processor for driving said tape relative to said transducer so as to read at least one data block from said track and to store said data block in said direct access storage means.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
37 words
means responsive to said processor for driving said tape relative to said transducer so as to read at least one data block from said track and to store said data block in said direct access storage means.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein said storage means includes drum storage means.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for driving said tape relative to said transducer to effect read/write operations.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for driving said tape relative to said transducer to effect read/write operations.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
14 words
means for driving said tape relative to said transducer means to effect read/write operations.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
14 words
means for driving said tape relative to said transducer means to effect read/write operations.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for positioning the transport head assembly in operative relation to said addressed track; and
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for positioning the transport head assembly in operative relation to said addressed track; and
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
14 words
means for driving said tape relative to said transducer means to effect read/write operations.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
14 words
means for driving said tape relative to said transducer means to effect read/write operations.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for driving said tape relative to said transducer to effect read/write operations.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for driving said tape relative to said transducer to effect read/write operations.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein said storage means includes disk storage means.
Claim 106
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for driving said tape relative to said head assembly to thereby effect read/write operations.
Claim 107
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for driving said tape relative to said head assembly to thereby effect read/write operations.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 6 in which said means for rotating and positioning said cassette includes servomechanism means responsive to a digital command from said data controller and further includes detent means for aligning said addressed cassette at said station.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data Storage and retrieval system, the combination including:
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data Storage and retrieval system, the combination including:
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein said tape transducer means includes at least two tape transport stations associated with each said array.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system according to claim 11 wherein said transport stations are separately positioned.
Claim 113
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system, the combination including:
Claim 114
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system, the combination including:
Claim 115
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 13 wherein said means for positioning said addressed cassette at said nearest vacant station includes a programmable processor for calculating the nearest vacant station.
Claim 116
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 14 wherein said processor includes means for storing the location of the next addressed cassette, means for storing the location of the currently addressed cassette and computing means for calculating the difference between said stored locations.
Claim 117
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system, the combination including:
Claim 118
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system, the combination including:
Claim 119
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 16 wherein said cassettes including lengths of tape normally positioned approximately at their mid-points.
Claim 120
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 16 wherein the tape includes data blocks recorded thereon and said means for driving said tape includes means for locating a desired data block.
Claim 121
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system according to claim 16 wherein said data controller also includes a direct access Storage means, said addressed track includes data blocks recorded thereon, and said means for effecting read/write operations includes means for reading at least one data block from said track for subsequent temporary storage by said processor in said direct access storage means.
Claim 122
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system, the combination including:
Claim 123
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system, the combination including:
Claim 124
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 20 wherein said data controller includes direct access storage means and wherein said data transmitted to said host computer is first stored in said direct access storage means.
Claim 125
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system according to claim 20 wherein at least two transducer stations are associated with each cassette bin and separately situated.
Claim 126
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 22 wherein said means for positioning said addressed bin includes means for positioning said bin to the nearer vacant one of said two stations.
Claim 127
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 20 wherein said means for positioning said bin includes servomechanism means for approximately positioning said addressed cassette at said station, and detent engagement means for accurately positioning said addressed cassette at said station.
Claim 128
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system according to claim 24 wherein servomechanism means includes means responsive to a digital address command for converting said command to an analog synchro position error signal and said detent engagement means includes means for monitoring said error signal and means for actuating said detent means when the monitored error signal is within predetermined limits.
Claim 129
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 20 wherein said transducer means includes a head assembly including read/write/write/read heads jointly positionable along one of said plurality of tracks for effecting search/erase/read/verify operations on the fly.
Claim 130
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 20 wherein said storage/retrieval unit includes electronic control means for time sharing data read/write electronics with a plurality of transducer stations.
Claim 131
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 20 wherein said storage/retrieval unit includes means for simultaneously effecting read operations from a plurality of addressed cassettes.
Claim 132
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 20 wherein said tape cassettes contain tape lengths approximately positioned at about their mid-points.
Claim 133
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system, the combination including:
Claim 134
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system, the combination including:
Claim 135
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system, the combination including:
Claim 136
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system, the combination including:
Claim 137
Dependent Claim
100 words
A system according to claim 31 wherein said data controller includes direct access storage means, said read/write operations include data modification operations and said tape cassettes include data blocks recorded thereon, the system further including a. means, including a transport station, for reading an addressed data block from an addressed cassette, b. means for temporarily storing said data block in said direct access storage means, c. means, including said processor, for modifying said data block in accordance with commands from a host computer; and d. means, including said transport station, for writing the modified data block on said addressed cassette.
Claim 138
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system, the combination including:
Claim 139
Dependent Claim
12 words
In an on-line mass data storage and retrieval system, the combination including:
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-07 | 1976-11-06 | 1977-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-07 | 1980-11-06 | 1981-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-07 | 1984-11-06 | 1985-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |