Tape, driver, tape system, and electronic apparatus

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a magnetic tape, a driver, a magnetic tape system and electronic equipment, and aims to avoid failure of the whole magnetic tape system due to breakage of the magnetic tape in the magnetic tape system. The magnetic tape system comprises a magnetic tape, a read-write magnetic head, a page extractor and a controller, the magnetic tape comprises a plurality of storage pages which are arranged in a stacked mode, and in the read-write process of the magnetic tape, the controller can determine at least one target storage page from the storage pages. And then the controller can control the page fetcher to fetch the target storage page and control the read-write magnetic head to read data in the target storage page or write the data into the target storage page. The data is stored in the multiple storage pages, in the working process, the page taking device makes contact with the target storage page so as to take out the target storage page, compared with the mode that a magnetic tape is wound on a reel, the stress of the storage pages is small, and therefore the situation that the magnetic tape in a magnetic tape system breaks, and consequently the whole magnetic tape system fails is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present application relate to the technical field of data backup, and in particular, to a magnetic tape, a drive, a magnetic tape system, and an electronic device. Background Art

[0002] In the related art, a magnetic tape system includes a first reel, a second reel, and a magnetic tape. One end of the magnetic tape is fixed on the first reel, the other end of the magnetic tape is fixed on the second reel, and a part of the magnetic tape can be wound around the first reel. Magnetized areas are provided on the magnetic tape, and data is stored in the magnetized areas. During use, generally, a magnetic tape drive drives the second reel to rotate, thereby driving the first reel to rotate, so that a part of the magnetic tape is unwound from the first reel, and the magnetic tape between the first reel and the second reel moves towards the second reel and is wound around the second reel. During this process, the magnetic tape drive can read the data on the magnetic tape between the first reel and the second reel, or write data to the magnetic tape between the first reel and the second reel.

[0003] However, during the process that the magnetic tape drive drives the second reel to rotate and thereby drives the first reel to rotate, the magnetic tape between the first reel and the second reel will be subjected to a tensile force. When the tensile force exceeds the threshold that the magnetic tape can withstand, the magnetic tape will break, thereby causing the entire magnetic tape system to fail. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present application provide a magnetic tape, a drive, a magnetic tape system, and an electronic device, aiming to avoid the breakage of the magnetic tape in the magnetic tape system, so that the entire magnetic tape system fails.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the embodiments of the present application adopt the following technical solutions:

[0006] On the one hand, the embodiments of the present application provide a magnetic tape system, including a magnetic tape, a read / write head, a pager, and a controller. The magnetic tape includes a plurality of storage pages arranged in a stacked manner, and the storage pages are used for storing data. The read / write head is used for reading the data on the storage pages or writing data to the storage pages. The controller is electrically connected to both the read / write head and the pager. The controller is used to determine at least one target storage page from the plurality of storage pages, and control the pager to take out the target storage page. The controller is further used to control the read / write head to read the data in the target storage page, or write data to the target storage page.

[0007] The tape system provided in the embodiments of the present application includes a tape, a read / write head, a page picker, and a controller. The tape includes a plurality of storage pages arranged in layers. During the process of reading and writing the tape, the controller can determine at least one target storage page from the plurality of storage pages, and then the controller can control the page picker to take out the target storage page and control the read / write head to read the data in the target storage page or write data into the target storage page. The data is stored in the plurality of storage pages. During operation, the page picker contacts the target storage page to take out the target storage page. Compared with the tape being wound around a reel, the stress on the storage page is smaller, thereby avoiding the breakage of the tape in the tape system and the failure of the entire tape system.

[0008] In some embodiments, the storage page includes a storage area and an identification area. The storage area is used to store data, and the identification area is used to identify the identification information of the storage page. The tape system further includes an identification reader electrically connected to the controller. The controller determining at least one target storage page from the plurality of storage pages includes: the controller controlling the identification reader to identify the identification information on each storage page and determining at least one storage page according to the identification information.

[0009] Through the above settings, during the process of the tape system reading and writing the tape, the controller can control the identification reader to find one or more target storage pages that need to be read and written, and then perform the operations of taking out and reading / writing on the target storage pages. In the embodiments of the present application, the identification reader first identifies the identification areas of the plurality of storage pages, which can reduce the addressing time for the part of the tape that needs to be read and written (i.e., the target storage page), thereby reducing the addressing time before reading and writing the tape and improving the reading and writing efficiency of the tape system.

[0010] In some embodiments, the storage page further includes a scan code, the scan code records the identification information, and the scan code is set in the identification area. The identification reader includes a barcode scanner or a camera.

[0011] Through the above settings, the barcode scanner or the camera identifying the scan code can simplify the process of the identification reader identifying the identification information, and can achieve the simultaneous identification of multiple identification areas, improving the efficiency of the identification reader identifying the identification information and shortening the addressing time of the tape system.

[0012] In some embodiments, the identification area is arranged near the first end of the storage page, and each identification area is arranged in a stepped manner.

[0013] Through the above settings, the identification areas of each storage page are all located at the first end of the storage page, and each identification area is arranged in a stepped manner. Then, in the arrangement direction of the storage area and the identification area on the storage page, the distance between each identification area can be reduced, which is convenient for the identification reader to identify each identification area.

[0014] In some embodiments, the magnetic tape includes a first storage group and a second storage group. Both the first storage group and the second storage group include a plurality of storage pages. The first ends of the storage pages in the first storage group are close to the first ends of the storage pages in the second storage group.

[0015] With the above arrangement, the distance between the identification areas of the storage pages in the first storage group and the identification areas of the storage pages in the second storage group can be reduced, facilitating the identification of each identification area by the identification reader.

[0016] In some embodiments, the magnetic tape further includes a storage cassette. The storage cassette encloses a receiving cavity. An opening is provided at one end of the storage cassette. Each storage page is disposed in the receiving cavity, and the first end of each storage page extends out of the receiving cavity through the opening to expose the identification area.

[0017] With the above arrangement, the storage cassette can limit the positions of the plurality of storage pages and maintain the stacked form of the plurality of storage pages, preventing the plurality of storage pages from being scattered during the process of taking out or putting back the storage pages, thereby affecting the continuous reading and writing of the plurality of storage pages.

[0018] In some embodiments, the storage cassette includes a closed end and an open end which are oppositely arranged. The opening is provided on the open end. An adjusting surface is provided on the closed end. The adjusting surface is inclined with respect to the plane where the storage pages are located. The second ends of each storage page away from the first end abut against the adjusting surface, so that each identification area is arranged in a stepped manner.

[0019] With the above arrangement, the opening is used to expose the identification areas of each storage page, facilitating the identification of each identification area by the identification reader. The adjusting surface is inclined with respect to the plane where the storage pages are located, so that the identification areas of each storage page are arranged in a stepped manner. Then, in the arrangement direction of the storage area and the identification area on the storage page, the distance between each identification area can be reduced, further facilitating the identification of each identification area by the identification reader.

[0020] In some embodiments, there are a plurality of read / write heads. The controller is configured to determine at least one target storage page from the plurality of storage pages. The number of target storage pages includes a plurality. The controller controls the page picker to take out the determined plurality of target storage pages. The controller is further configured to control each read / write head to read the data in the corresponding target storage page or write data into the corresponding target storage page.

[0021] With the above arrangement, the plurality of read / write heads can simultaneously read the data in the plurality of target storage pages or simultaneously write different data into the corresponding target storage pages, improving the read / write efficiency of the magnetic tape system for the magnetic tape.

[0022] In some embodiments, the page picker includes a roller and a motor that is drivingly connected to the roller. The motor is electrically connected to the controller;

[0023] The page taker takes out the target storage page, including: making the roller contact with the target storage page, and the motor drives the roller to rotate to take out the storage page.

[0024] Through the above settings, when the controller confirms the target storage page, the controller can control the roller to contact the exposed part of the target storage page, and then control the motor to work so that the motor drives the roller to rotate. The roller takes out the target storage page through friction, which can reduce the pulling force on the target storage page, thereby avoiding damage or breakage of the target storage page, and thereby avoiding breakage of the tape in the tape system and causing failure of the entire tape system.

[0025] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application also provides a magnetic tape, which includes a plurality of stacked storage pages, the storage page including a storage area and an identification area, the identification area is arranged near the first end of the storage page, and each identification area is arranged in a stepped manner, the storage area is used to store data, and the identification area is used to identify identification information of the storage page.

[0026] In some embodiments, the magnetic tape further includes a first storage group and a second storage group, each of the first storage group and the second storage group includes a plurality of storage pages, and a first end of each storage page in the first storage group is close to a first end of each storage page in the second storage group.

[0027] Through the above arrangement, the length of the steps formed by the plurality of storage pages in the staggered direction can be shortened, making it easier for the identification reader to identify each identification area.

[0028] In some embodiments, the storage page further includes a scan code, the scan code records identification information, and the scan code is set in the identification area.

[0029] Through the above arrangement, the process of the identification reader identifying identification information can be simplified, the efficiency of the identification reader identifying identification information can be improved, and the addressing time of the magnetic tape system can be shortened.

[0030] In some embodiments, the magnetic tape further includes a storage box, which is enclosed by a receiving cavity, one end of which is provided with an opening, each storage page is arranged in the receiving cavity, and the first end of each storage page extends from the opening to the outside of the receiving cavity to expose the identification area.

[0031] Through the above settings, the storage box can limit the positions of multiple storage pages and maintain the stacked form of multiple storage pages, thereby avoiding the multiple storage pages from being scattered during the process of taking out or putting back the storage pages, thereby affecting the continuous reading and writing of multiple storage pages.

[0032] In some embodiments, the storage box includes a closed end and an open end that are relatively arranged, and the opening is arranged on the open end; an adjustment surface is arranged on the closed end, and the adjustment surface is inclined relative to the plane where the storage pages are located; the second end of each storage page away from the first end is pressed against the adjustment surface, so that each identification area is arranged in a stepped shape.

[0033] With the above settings, the opening is used to expose the identification areas of the respective storage pages, so as to facilitate the identification reader to identify the respective identification areas. The adjustment surface is inclined relative to the plane where the storage pages are located, so that the identification areas of the respective storage pages are arranged in a stepped manner. Then, in the arrangement direction of the storage areas and the identification areas on the storage pages, the distance between the respective identification areas can be reduced, further facilitating the identification reader to identify the respective identification areas.

[0034] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application further provides a drive for the above-mentioned magnetic tape. The drive includes a read / write head, a page picker, and a controller. The read / write head is used to read data on the storage page or write data into the storage page; the controller is electrically connected to both the read / write head and the page picker. The controller is used to determine at least one target storage page from multiple storage pages and control the page picker to take out the target storage page. The controller is also used to control the read / write head to read the data in the target storage page or write data into the target storage page.

[0035] In some embodiments, the drive further includes an identification reader electrically connected to the controller. The controller determining at least one target storage page from multiple storage pages includes: the controller controlling the identification reader to identify the identification information on each storage page and determining at least one storage page according to the identification information.

[0036] With the above settings, by identifying the identification areas of multiple storage pages through the identification reader, the addressing time for the part of the magnetic tape that needs to be read and written (i.e., the target storage page) can be reduced, thereby reducing the addressing time before reading and writing the magnetic tape and improving the read / write efficiency of the magnetic tape system.

[0037] On the other hand, an embodiment of the present application further provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes the above-mentioned magnetic tape system and a server, and the server is electrically connected to the controller; alternatively, the electronic device includes the above-mentioned magnetic tape, the above-mentioned drive, and a server, and the server is electrically connected to the controller.

[0038] It can be understood that for the magnetic tape, drive, and electronic device provided in the above embodiments of the present application, the beneficial effects that can be achieved can refer to the beneficial effects of the storage device in the above text, which will not be elaborated here. Description of the Drawings

[0039] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the present application, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in some embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only the drawings of some embodiments of the present application, and those of ordinary skill in the art can also obtain other drawings based on these drawings. In addition, the drawings in the following description can be regarded as schematic diagrams and do not limit the actual dimensions of the products, the actual processes of the methods, the actual timings of the signals, etc. involved in the embodiments of the present application.

[0040] Figure 1 It is a block diagram of an electronic device in an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of related technologies in an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of a plurality of stacked storage pages in an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic of a storage page in an embodiment of the present application Figure 1 ;

[0044] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of taking out a target storage page from a plurality of storage pages in an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic of a storage page in an embodiment of the present application Figure 2 ;

[0046] Figure 7 It is a structural schematic of a storage page in an embodiment of the present application Figure 3 ;

[0047] Figure 8 It is a structural schematic diagram of a page picker including rollers in a tape system in an embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Figure 9 It is a structural schematic diagram of a page picker including rollers and a motor in a tape system in an embodiment of the present application;

[0049] Figure 10 It is a structural schematic diagram of a page picker including a suction cup in a tape system in an embodiment of the present application;

[0050] Figure 11 It is a structural schematic diagram of a tape system including an identification reader in an embodiment of the present application;

[0051] Figure 12 It is a structural schematic of a tape system including a read / write head and a read / write platform in an embodiment of the present application Figure 1 ;

[0052] Figure 13 Structural schematic of a tape system including a read / write head and a read / write platform in an embodiment of the present application Figure 2 ;

[0053] Figure 14 Structural schematic of a tape system including a read / write head and a read / write platform in an embodiment of the present application Figure 3 ;

[0054] Figure 15 Structural schematic diagram of a tape system including multiple read / write heads in an embodiment of the present application;

[0055] Figure 16 Structural schematic diagram of a tape system including multiple target storage pages in an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] Figure 17 Structural schematic of a tape including a first storage group and a second storage group in an embodiment of the present application Figure 1 ;

[0057] Figure 18 Structural schematic of a tape including a first storage group and a second storage group in an embodiment of the present application Figure 2 ;

[0058] Figure 19 Structural schematic diagram of a tape system including a storage cassette in an embodiment of the present application.

[0059] Explanation of reference numerals: 1, electronic device; 3, tape memory; 4, server; 5, tape system; 6, controller; 7, tape; 8, drive; 9, read / write head; 10, first reel; 11, second reel; 12, storage page; 13, page picker; 14, target storage page; 15, storage area; 16, identification area; 17, identification reader; 18, blank area; 19, scan code; 20, roller; 21, motor; 22, suction cup; 23, first robotic arm; 24, second robotic arm; 25, third robotic arm; 26, reading platform; 27, first storage group; 28, second storage group; 31, storage cassette; 32, adjustment surface. Detailed implementation manners

[0060] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Apparently, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present application. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0061] Hereinafter, terms such as "first", "second", etc. are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first", "second", etc. may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features.

[0062] In addition, in the embodiments of the present application, orientation terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "horizontal", and "vertical" are defined relative to the orientation in which the components in the drawings are schematically placed. It should be understood that these directional terms are relative concepts, which are used for relative description and clarification and can change accordingly with the change of the orientation in which the components in the drawings are placed.

[0063] In the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the term "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integrated; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium.

[0064] It should be noted that in the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "connection" in the terms should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection or an integral connection; it can also be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be the communication inside two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application can be understood according to specific situations.

[0065] Please refer to Figure 1 , the embodiments of the present application provide an electronic device 1. The electronic device 1 may include a data center. The data center may include a plurality of tape systems 5 and servers 4. The servers 4 are connected to the tape systems 5, and the servers 4 can obtain the data in the tape systems 5.

[0066] Continuing to refer to Figure 1 , in the above embodiments, the tape system 5 may include a tape 7 and a drive 8. Among them, the drive 8 is a tool for reading and writing the tape 7. The tape 7 may be covered with a magnetic storage material to form a storage surface. A plurality of magnetized regions arranged in an array are provided on the storage surface. The magnetic material in each magnetized region has two different magnetization states to represent "0" and "1" of binary information. The drive 8 may include a read / write head 9 and a controller 6. The read / write head 9 is electrically connected to the controller 6. The controller 6 controls the read / write head 9 to read data on the storage surface of the tape 7 or controls the read / write head 9 to write data on the storage surface of the tape 7. It can be understood that in the implementation manner of connecting the tape system 5 and the server 4, the server 4 can be connected to the controller 6 in the drive 8.

[0067] Please refer to Figure 2 In the related art, a tape system includes a tape, a first reel 10, and a second reel 11. Magnetized regions are provided on the tape, and data is stored in the magnetized regions. One end of the tape is fixed to the first reel 10, and the other end of the tape is fixed to the second reel 11. A part of the tape is wound around the first reel 10, and another part is wound around the second reel 11. The first reel 10 and the second reel 11 are spaced apart, and the tape cannot be fully wound on both the first reel 10 and the second reel 11 at the same time, so the space utilization rate in the tape system is not high. During the reading and writing process, when the tape drive drives the second reel 11 to rotate, the tape between the first reel 10 and the second reel 11 can be gradually wound around the second reel 11 to drive the first reel 10 to rotate, so that a part of the tape on the first reel 10 is unwound. The part of the tape wound around the first reel 10 gradually moves between the first reel 10 and the second reel 11, and the tape at a specific position is located between the first reel 10 and the second reel 11 to cooperate with the tape drive to read the data on the tape. However, this will increase the addressing time of the tape system, resulting in a large delay in reading and writing data. And during the process that the tape drive drives the second reel 11 to rotate and then drives the first reel 10 to rotate, the tape between the first reel 10 and the second reel 11 will be subjected to the pulling forces from the first reel 10 and the second reel 11. When the pulling force exceeds the threshold that the tape can withstand, the tape will break, the first reel 10 will not continue to rotate with the rotation of the second reel 11, a part of the tape on the first reel 10 will not move between the first reel 10 and the second reel 11, and the tape connecting the first reel 10 and the second reel 11 will fail (the tape loses the function of being read or written), thus causing the entire tape system to fail. In addition, in the related art, the thickness of the tape is relatively large to increase the threshold of the pulling force that the tape can withstand and avoid the tape from breaking. However, when the tape with a relatively large thickness is wound around the first reel 10 or the second reel 11, the capacity density of the tape system will be reduced.

[0068] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown in Figure 5as shown), and control the pager 13 to take out the target storage page 14; after the pager 13 takes out the target storage page 14, the controller 6 is further configured to control the read / write head 9 to read data from the target storage page 14 or write data into the target storage page 14. Wherein, the target storage page 14 can be defined as the storage page 12 for which read / write operations need to be performed on the data on the storage page 12.

[0069] The tape system 5 provided in the embodiment of the present application includes a magnetic tape 7, a read / write head 9, a pager 13, and a controller 6. The magnetic tape 7 includes a plurality of storage pages 12 arranged in a stacked manner. During the process of reading and writing the magnetic tape 7, the controller 6 can determine at least one target storage page 14 from the plurality of storage pages 12, and then the controller 6 can control the pager 13 to take out the target storage page 14 and control the read / write head 9 to read data from the target storage page 14 or write data into the target storage page 14. The data is stored in the plurality of storage pages 12. During the working process, the pager 13 contacts the target storage page 14 to take out the target storage page 14. Compared with the related art where the magnetic tape is wound around the first reel 10 (as Figure 2 shown) and the second reel 11 (as Figure 2 shown), the stress on the storage page 12 is smaller, thereby avoiding the breakage of the magnetic tape 7 in the tape system 5 and the failure of the entire tape system 5.

[0070] Continue to refer to Figure 3 , in the tape system 5 provided in the embodiment of the present application, the magnetic tape 7 includes a plurality of storage pages 12 arranged in a stacked manner. Compared with the related art, the space utilization rate in the tape system 5 is improved. At the same time, during the process of reading and writing the magnetic tape 7, since the plurality of storage pages 12 are relatively independent, if the target storage page 14 (as Figure 5 shown) is damaged or broken during the process of taking out or reading and writing, only the storage page 12 determined as the target storage page 14 will fail, while the other storage pages 12 in the magnetic tape 7 still have the function of reading data or writing data, so as to avoid the damage or breakage of some storage pages 12 and further cause the failure of the entire tape system 5. And during the process of reading and writing the magnetic tape 7, the target storage page 14 only contacts the pager 13, that is, the target storage page 14 only receives the pulling force of the pager 13, reducing the pulling force received by the target storage page 14 during the taking-out process. The threshold value of the pulling force that the storage page 12 can withstand can be appropriately reduced. In some embodiments, the threshold value of the pulling force that the storage page 12 can withstand can be reduced by reducing the thickness of a single storage page 12. Since the thickness of the storage page 12 is reduced, more storage pages 12 can be included in the magnetic tape 7 of the same volume, improving the capacity density of the tape system 5.

[0071] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 5, in the embodiments of the present application, the storage page 12 includes a storage area 15 and an identification area 16. The storage area 15 is used to store data, and the identification area 16 is used to identify the identification information of the storage page 12. The tape system 5 further includes an identification reader 17 electrically connected to the controller 6; the controller 6 can determine at least one target storage page 14 from multiple storage pages 12. Among them, the identification information in the identification area 16 of each storage page 12 corresponds to the data in the storage area 15 of this storage page 12, and the storage page 12 corresponding to it can be uniquely determined according to the identification information. The controller 6 stores the mapping relationship between the data and the identification information. During the process of reading and writing the tape 7, the controller 6 first determines an identification information (the first identification information), and then controls the identification reader 17 to identify multiple identification information (multiple second identification information, and at least one third representation information is included in the multiple second identification information) on each storage page 12. Then, the first identification information and the second identification information are compared, and the third identification information identical to the first identification information is found in the second identification information. The position of the target storage page 14 is determined through the third identification information. Then, the controller 6 controls the page fetching device 13 to take out the target storage page 14, and controls the read / write head 9 to read the data in the target storage page 14 or write the data into the target storage page 14.

[0072] Through the above settings, during the process of the tape system 5 reading and writing the tape 7, the controller 6 can control the identification reader 17 to find one or more target storage pages 14 that need to be read and written, and then perform the operations of taking out and reading / writing on the target storage page 14. Compared with the related art, during the reading and writing process of the tape 7, the tape 7 passes through the reading head between the first reel 10 and the second reel 11 in sequence from the end close to the second reel 11 fixed to the tape 7 to the end close to the first reel 10 fixed to the tape 7. In the embodiments of the present application, the identification reader 17 first identifies the identification areas 16 of multiple storage pages 12, which can reduce the addressing time for the part (i.e., the target storage page 14) that needs to be read and written in the tape 7, thereby reducing the addressing time before reading and writing the tape 7 and improving the reading and writing efficiency of the tape system 5.

[0073] In the above implementation manner, the storage area 15 of the storage page 12 is covered with a magnetic storage material. The identification area 16 and the storage area 15 are located on the same side of the storage page 12, and the side of the stacked storage pages 12 covered with the magnetic storage material faces the same direction; in the storage page 12, the identification area 16 is arranged near the first end of the storage page 12, and the identification areas 16 are arranged in a stepped manner. That is to say, among the multiple stacked storage pages 12, the storage page 12 located above only covers the storage area 15 of the storage page 12 located below and adjacent to it, and the exposed identification areas 16 are arranged in a stepped manner to expose the identification information on the identification areas 16.

[0074] Through the above arrangement, the identification area 16 of each storage page 12 is located at the first end of the storage page 12, and each identification area 16 is arranged in a stepped manner. Then, in the arrangement direction of the storage areas 15 and the identification areas 16 on the storage page 12, all the identification areas 16 can be exposed to facilitate the identification reader 17 to identify the identification areas 16; at the same time, the spacing between the identification areas 16 can be reduced, which is convenient for the identification reader 17 to identify multiple identification areas at the same time, or shorten the moving distance of the identification reader 17 when identifying each identification area 16, thereby shortening the addressing time.

[0075] Please refer to Figure 6 In the above implementation, the storage page 12 may further include a blank area 18, and the blank area 18 is located between the storage area 15 and the identification area 16. The blank area 18 serves as a buffer area between the storage area 15 and the identification area 16, which can avoid the situation where, when multiple storage pages 12 are stacked and the upper storage page 12 covers the lower and adjacent storage page 12, the upper storage page 12 covers part of the identification area 16 of the lower storage page 12, or the lower storage page 12 not only exposes the identification area 16 but also exposes part of the storage area 15, so as to interfere with the process of the identification reader 17 identifying the identification area 16.

[0076] In some embodiments, the identification area 16 may also be covered with a magnetic storage material, and the identification information on the identification area 16 may also be represented by different magnetization states. Accordingly, the identification reader 17 may be a magnetic head for identifying the identification information on the identification area 16 .

[0077] Please refer to Figure 7 In other embodiments, the storage page 12 further includes a scan code 19, which is set in the identification area 16. The scan code 19 records the identification information, and the scan code 19 may include a barcode, a two-dimensional code, etc. Correspondingly, the identification reader 17 includes a barcode scanner or a camera to identify each identification area 16 in cooperation with the scan code 19. The barcode scanner or the camera identifying the scan code can simplify the process of the identification reader 17 identifying the identification information, and can realize the identification of multiple identification areas 16 at the same time, thereby improving the efficiency of the identification reader 17 in identifying the identification information and shortening the addressing time of the magnetic tape system 5.

[0078] Please refer to Figure 8 and Figure 9 In the implementation mode where each marking area 16 is arranged in a stepped manner, the page taker 13 may include a roller 20 and a motor 21 connected to the roller 20, the motor 21 and the controller 6 (such as Figure 1electrically connected as shown. The controller 6 is used to control the motor 21 to work or stop working, and the motor 21 is used to drive the roller 20 to rotate. It can be understood that when the motor 21 works, the roller 20 rotates, and when the motor 21 stops working, the roller 20 stops rotating. The process of the page picker 13 taking out the target storage page 14 includes: bringing the roller 20 into contact with the target storage page 14, and the motor 21 driving the roller 20 to rotate to take out the storage page 12.

[0079] With the above arrangement, when the controller 6 identifies the target storage page 14, the controller 6 can control the roller 20 to contact the exposed part of the target storage page 14, and then control the motor 21 to work, so that the motor 21 drives the roller 20 to rotate, and the roller 20 takes out the target storage page 14 through friction, which can reduce the pulling force on the target storage page 14, thereby avoiding damage or breakage of the target storage page 14, and further avoiding breakage of the tape 7 in the tape system 5 resulting in the failure of the entire tape system 5.

[0080] Please refer to Figure 10 , in the above implementation manner, the page picker 13 may further include a suction cup 22 and an air pump (not shown) connected to the suction cup 22. The air pump is used to extract air from the suction cup 22 or inject air into the suction cup 22. When the controller 6 identifies the target storage page 14, the controller 6 can control the suction cup 22 to contact the exposed part of the target storage page 14, and control the air pump to extract air from the suction cup 22 to make the suction cup 22 adsorb to the target storage page 14, and then control and move the suction cup 22. The suction cup 22 takes out the target storage page 14 through the adsorption force, which can also reduce the pulling force on the target storage page 14, thereby avoiding damage or breakage of the target storage page 14, and further avoiding breakage of the tape 7 in the tape system 5 resulting in the failure of the entire tape system 5.

[0081] Please refer to Figure 11 , in the embodiment of the present application, the tape system 5 includes a first robotic arm 23, and the first robotic arm 23 is connected to the controller 6 (such as Figure 2electrically connected as shown, the first robotic arm 23 is connected to the identification reader 17, wherein the initial position of the identification reader 17 is set at an interval from the magnetic tape 7. During the operation of the magnetic tape system 5 for reading and writing the magnetic tape 7, the controller 6 is used to control the first robotic arm 23 to drive the identification reader 17 to move above each identification area 16 (if the initial position of the identification reader 17 is already above each identification area 16, there is no need to move the identification reader 17). In some embodiments, the identification range of the identification reader 17 can cover all the identification areas 16, and the identification reader 17 determines the position of the target storage page 14 according to the identification information in the identification area 16 of the storage page 12 (i.e., the target storage page 14) that needs to be read and written, and transmits it to the controller 6. In other embodiments, the identification range of the identification reader 17 can only cover at least some of the identification areas 16. The identification reader 17 identifies the identification information in the current identification area 16. During the identification process, the controller 6 synchronously controls the first robotic arm 23 to drive the identification reader 17 to move sequentially between the identification areas 16 until the identification reader 17 has completed the identification of all the identification information in the identification areas 16. During the process of the identification reader 17 identifying the identification information, similarly, the identification reader 17 determines the position of the target storage page 14 according to the identification information in the identification area 16 of the target storage page 14, and transmits it to the controller 6.

[0082] Please refer to Figures 8 to 10, in the above embodiments, the tape system 5 includes a second robotic arm 24. The second robotic arm 24 is electrically connected to the controller 6 and is connected to the pager 13. Among them, the initial position of the pager 13 is set at an interval from the tape 7. During the operation of the tape system 5 for reading and writing on the tape 7, the controller 6 is configured to control the second robotic arm 24 to drive the pager 13 to move above the exposed part of the target storage page 14 and make the pager 13 contact the target storage page 14. In the implementation where the pager 13 is a roller 20, after the roller 20 contacts the target storage page 14, the controller 6 controls the motor 21 to drive the roller 20 to rotate to take out the target storage page 14. After the target storage 14 is taken out, the controller 6 controls the second robotic arm 24 to drive the roller 20 to return to the initial position. In the implementation where the pager 13 is a suction cup 22 and an air pump, after the suction cup 22 contacts the target storage page 14, the controller 6 controls the air pump to extract the air in the suction cup 22 to make the suction cup 22 adsorb to the target storage page 14, and controls the second robotic arm 24 to drive the suction cup 22 to move away from the storage page 12 to take out the target storage page 14. After the target storage 14 is taken out, the controller 6 controls the air pump to inject air into the suction cup 22 to separate the suction cup 22 from the target storage page 14 to put down the target storage page 14. Then the controller 6 controls the second robotic arm 24 to drive the suction cup 22 to return to the initial position. In the above implementation, after the pager 13 takes out the target storage page 14, after the read-write head 9 reads the data in the target storage page 14 or writes data into the target storage page 14, the controller 6 controls the second robotic arm 24 to drive the pager 13 to put the read-and-written target storage page 14 back on top of the stacked storage pages 12 and return the pager 13 to the initial position. Combining the above embodiments, if the identification reader 17 and the first robotic arm 23 are located on the path where the second robotic arm 24 drives the pager 13 to move, the controller 6 can control the first robotic arm 23 to drive the identification reader 17 to transfer.

[0083] Please refer to Figures 12 to 14, in the above embodiments, the tape system 5 includes a third robotic arm 25 and a reading platform 26. The third robotic arm 25 is electrically connected to the controller 6. In some implementation manners, the third robotic arm 25 is connected to the read / write head 9. Among them, the position of the reading platform 26 is fixed and is arranged at an interval from the tape 7, and the read / write head 9 is located above the reading platform 26. During the operation of the tape system 5 for reading and writing the tape 7, the pager 13 takes out the target storage page 14 onto the reading platform 26. The controller 6 is used to control the third robotic arm 25 to drive the read / write head 9 to move sequentially on each magnetization region of the target storage page 14, so as to read the data in the target storage page 14 or write data into the target storage page 14. In other implementation manners, the third robotic arm 25 is connected to the reading platform 26. Among them, the initial position of the reading platform 26 is arranged at an interval from the tape 7, the read / write head 9 is located above the reading platform 26, and the position of the read / write head 9 is fixed. During the operation of the tape system 5 for reading and writing the tape 7, the pager 13 takes out the target storage page 14 onto the reading platform 26. The controller 6 is used to control the third robotic arm 25 to drive the reading platform to move, so that the read / write head 9 moves sequentially relative to each magnetization region on the target storage page 14, so as to read the data in the target storage page 14 or write data into the target storage page 14.

[0084] Please refer to Figure 15 and Figure 16 , in the above embodiments, the controller 6 can also be used to determine at least one target storage page 14 from multiple storage pages 12. Exemplarily, the number of target storage pages 14 includes multiple. The controller 6 controls the pager 13 to take out the determined multiple target storage pages 14, and the multiple target storage pages 14 can all be placed on the above-mentioned reading platform 26. The read / write head 9 can also include multiple, and the number of read / write heads 9 is greater than or equal to the number of target storage pages 14. Correspondingly, the third robotic arm 25 can also include multiple. The controller 6 is further used to control each read / write head 9 to read the data in the corresponding target storage page 14 or write data into the corresponding target storage page 14.

[0085] Through the above settings, multiple read / write heads 9 can simultaneously read the data in multiple target storage pages 14, or simultaneously write different data into the corresponding target storage pages 14, improving the reading and writing efficiency of the tape system 5 for the tape 7.

[0086] Please refer to Figure 17 and Figure 18 , in some embodiments, the tape 7 can include a first storage group 27 and a second storage group 28. The first storage group 27 and the second storage group 28 are stacked in the thickness direction. Both the first storage group 27 and the second storage group 28 can include, for example, Figure 5The first end of each storage page 12 in the first storage group 27 is close to the first end of each storage page 12 in the second storage group 28. In some implementations, the first end of the first storage group 27 and the first end of the second storage group 28 are aligned in the thickness direction, which can shorten the length of the steps formed by the multiple storage pages 12 in the staggered direction, making it easier for the identification reader 17 to identify each identification area 16.

[0087] In the implementation mode in which the storage page 12 includes the identification area 16, the front section of the identification information in the identification area of the plurality of storage pages 12 belonging to the first storage group 27 is the same, and the front section of the identification information in the identification area of the plurality of storage pages 12 belonging to the first storage group 27 is different from the front section of the identification information in the identification area of the plurality of storage pages 12 belonging to the second storage group 28; in the process of reading and writing the magnetic tape 7, the controller 6 first determines an identification information (the first identification information), and then controls the identification reader 17 to identify the plurality of identification information (the plurality of the second identification information) on the plurality of storage pages in the first storage group 27. Second identification information, multiple second identification information include at least one third representation information), if the front part of the identification information corresponding to the storage page 12 in the first storage group 27 is different from the front part of the first identification information, the controller 6 controls the identification reader 17 to transfer to the second storage group 28, and compares the front part of the identification information of the storage page 12 in the second storage group 28, and so on; if the front part of the identification information corresponding to the storage page 12 in the first storage group 27 is the same as the front part of the first identification information, the identification reader 17 identifies the complete identification information until the target storage page 14 is found.

[0088] Please refer to Figure 19 , the magnetic tape 7 includes a plurality of storage pages 12 (such as Figure 5 ) or the tape 7 includes a first storage group 27 and a second storage group 28 (as shown Figure 17 In the implementation method shown in the figure, the magnetic tape 7 also includes a storage box 31, the storage box 31 is surrounded by a receiving cavity, an opening is provided at one end of the storage box 31, each storage page 12 is arranged in the receiving cavity, and the first end of each storage page 12 extends from the opening to the outside of the receiving cavity to expose the identification area 16.

[0089] Through the above settings, the storage box 31 can limit the positions of multiple storage pages 12 and maintain the stacked form of multiple storage pages 12, thereby avoiding the scattering of multiple storage pages 12 during the process of taking out the storage pages 12 or putting the storage pages 12 back, thereby affecting the continuous reading and writing of multiple storage pages 12.

[0090] Continue to refer to Figure 19In the above implementation, the storage box 31 includes a closed end and an open end that are relatively arranged, and the opening is arranged on the open end; an adjustment surface 32 is arranged on the closed end, and the adjustment surface 32 is inclined relative to the plane where the storage page 12 is located; the second end of each storage page 12 away from the first end abuts against the adjustment surface 32, so that each identification area 16 is arranged in a stepped shape.

[0091] Through the above arrangement, the opening is used to expose the identification area 16 of each storage page 12, so as to facilitate the identification reader 17 (such as Figure 11 As shown in the figure, each identification area 16 is identified, and the adjustment surface 32 is inclined relative to the plane where the storage page 12 is located, so that the identification area 16 of each storage page 12 is arranged in a stepped manner. Then, in the arrangement direction of the storage area 15 and the identification area 16 on the storage page 12, the distance between each identification area 16 can be reduced, which further facilitates the identification reader 17 to identify each identification area 16.

[0092] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein by equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A tape system, characterized in that, include: A magnetic tape, the magnetic tape comprising a plurality of storage pages arranged in a stacked manner, the storage pages being used to store data; A read / write head, the read / write head is used to read data on the storage page or write data into the storage page; A page fetcher and a controller, wherein the controller is electrically connected to the read / write head and the page fetcher, the controller is used to determine at least one target storage page from the multiple storage pages, and control the page fetcher to fetch the target storage page, and the controller is also used to control the read / write head to read data from the target storage page or write data to the target storage page.

2. The tape system according to claim 1, wherein The storage page includes a storage area and an identification area, the storage area is used to store data, and the identification area is used to identify identification information of the storage page; The magnetic tape system further includes an identification reader electrically connected to the controller; The controller determines at least one target storage page from the plurality of storage pages, including: the controller controls the identification reader to identify the identification information on each of the storage pages, and determines at least one of the storage pages according to the identification information.

3. The tape system according to claim 2, wherein The storage page also includes a scan code, the scan code records the identification information, and the scan code is set in the identification area.

4. The tape system according to claim 3, wherein The identification reader includes a barcode scanner or a camera.

5. The tape system according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that, The identification area is arranged close to the first end of the storage page, and each identification area is arranged in a stepped shape.

6. The tape system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The magnetic tape includes a first storage group and a second storage group, each of the first storage group and the second storage group includes a plurality of storage pages, and the first end of each storage page in the first storage group is close to the first end of each storage page in the second storage group.

7. The tape system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, The magnetic tape also includes a storage box, which is surrounded by a receiving cavity. An opening is provided at one end of the storage box, and each storage page is arranged in the receiving cavity. The first end of each storage page extends out of the receiving cavity from the opening to expose the identification area.

8. The tape system according to claim 7, wherein The storage box includes a closed end and an open end that are arranged opposite to each other, and the opening is arranged on the open end; an adjustment surface is arranged on the closed end, and the adjustment surface is inclined relative to the plane where the storage pages are located; the second end of each storage page away from the first end abuts against the adjustment surface, so that each identification area is arranged in a stepped shape.

9. The tape system according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The read-write heads include multiple ones, and the controller is used to determine at least one target storage page from the multiple storage pages. The number of the target storage pages includes multiple ones. The controller controls the page fetcher to fetch the determined multiple target storage pages. The controller is also used to control each of the read-write heads to read data from the corresponding target storage page or write data to the corresponding target storage page.

10. The tape system according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The page taker comprises a roller and a motor drivingly connected to the roller, and the motor is electrically connected to the controller; The page extractor extracts the target storage page, including: making the roller contact with the target storage page, and the motor drives the roller to rotate, so as to extract the storage page.

11. A magnetic tape, characterized in that, The magnetic tape includes a plurality of storage pages arranged in a stack. Each storage page includes a storage area and an identification area. The identification area is arranged near the first end of the storage page. The identification areas are arranged in a stepped manner. The storage area is used to store data, and the identification area is used to identify the identification information of the storage page.

12. The magnetic tape according to claim 11, wherein, The magnetic tape includes a first storage group and a second storage group. Both the first storage group and the second storage group include a plurality of the storage pages. The first ends of the storage pages in the first storage group are close to the first ends of the storage pages in the second storage group.

13. The magnetic tape according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The storage page further includes a scan code, which records the identification information. The scan code is arranged in the identification area.

14. The magnetic tape according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The magnetic tape further includes a storage cassette, which encloses a receiving cavity. An opening is provided at one end of the storage cassette. Each storage page is arranged in the receiving cavity, and the first end of each storage page extends out of the receiving cavity through the opening to expose the identification area.

15. The magnetic tape according to claim 14, wherein The storage cassette includes a closed end and an open end arranged opposite to each other. The opening is provided on the open end. An adjusting surface is provided on the closed end. The adjusting surface is inclined with respect to the plane where the storage pages are located. The second ends of the storage pages, which are away from the first ends, abut against the adjusting surface, so that the identification areas are arranged in a stepped manner.

16. A driver for a magnetic tape according to any one of claims 11-15, characterized in that, The drive includes: A read / write head, which is used to read the data on the storage page or write data into the storage page; the controller is electrically connected to both the read / write head and the page picker; A page picker and a controller. The controller is used to determine at least one target storage page from a plurality of the storage pages and control the page picker to take out the target storage page. The controller is further used to control the read / write head to read the data in the target storage page or write data into the target storage page.

17. The driver according to claim 16, wherein, The drive further includes an identification reader, which is electrically connected to the controller. The controller's determination of at least one target storage page from a plurality of the storage pages includes: the controller controls the identification reader to identify the identification information on each storage page and determines at least one of the storage pages according to the identification information.

18. An electronic device, characterized in that, Including the magnetic tape system and the server according to any one of claims 1-10, the server is electrically connected to the controller; Or, including the magnetic tape according to any one of claims 11-15, the drive according to claim 16 or 17, and the server, the server is electrically connected to the controller.

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