Data storage device monitoring system, method and removable data carrier for use with data storage system

Abstract

A data storage device comprises a removable and replaceable magnetic tape cassette provided with a software control write protect switch. The switch is adapted to have a first condition in which data may be written to said magnetic tape and a second condition in which said switch is adapted to cause the blocking of a write operation to said tape. The switch is contained within a non-volatile electronic memory device and is electronically configurable between its first and second conditions remotely via a control signal.

1 - 71 . (canceled)  
   
   
       72 . A data storage device comprising a removable and replaceable magnetic tape cassette including a software control write protect switch, said switch having a first condition in which data can be written to said magnetic tape and a second condition in which said switch can block a write operation to said tape, said switch being electronically configurable between its first and second conditions remotely via a control signal.  
   
   
       73 . A data storage device according to  claim 72  wherein said cassette includes a non-volatile electronic memory device.  
   
   
       74 . A data storage device according to  claim 73  wherein said memory device is not a magnetic tape.  
   
   
       75 . A data storage device according to  claim 73  wherein said memory device includes a semiconductor chip.  
   
   
       76 . A data storage device according to  claim 73  wherein said memory device comprises said write protect switch.  
   
   
       77 . A data storage device according to  claim 72  wherein said cassette has encoded on said memory device any one of the following: 
 (i) historic usage data indicative of the amount of use that said tape has had;    (ii) historic tape performance data indicative of the level of problems experienced by said device as a result of the tape being read from or written to;    both (i) and (ii).    
   
   
       78 . A data storage device according to  claim 72  wherein said cassette has encoded on said memory device historic tape performance data indicative of the level of problems experienced by said device as a result of the tape being read from or written to.  
   
   
       79 . A data storage device according to  claim 72  wherein said cassette has encoded on said memory device historic usage data indicative of the amount of use that said tape has had.  
   
   
       80 . A magnetic tape cassette comprising magnetic tape and a memory in a cassette device having a software control write protect switch, said switch having a first condition in which data can be written to said magnetic tape and a second condition in which said switch can cause the blocking of a write operation to said tape, said switch being electronically configurable between its first and second conditions remotely via a control signal.