Correlating Power Signatures with Automated Equipment

Abstract

A system for monitoring an activity of a tape drive system having one or more electro-mechanical components, said electro-mechanical components receiving electrical current from a power supply. The system comprises a mechanism for sampling an actual current supplied to said electro-mechanical component from said power supply during said activity; a mechanism for reading a theoretical current for said activity; a mechanism for calculating a statistical value for said actual current and said theoretical current; a mechanism for comparing said statistical value to at least one threshold value; and a mechanism for outputting information to at least one of a user, another system, and another process based on said comparison of said statistical value to said at least one threshold value.

1 . A system for monitoring an activity of a tape drive system having one or more electro-mechanical components, said electro-mechanical components receiving electrical current from a power supply, the system comprising:
 a mechanism for sampling an actual current supplied to said electro-mechanical component from said power supply during said activity;   
     a mechanism for reading a theoretical current for said activity;
 a mechanism for calculating a statistical value for said actual current and said theoretical current; 
 a mechanism for comparing said statistical value to at least one threshold value; and 
 a mechanism for outputting information to at least one of a user, another system, and another process based on said comparison of said statistical value to said at least one threshold value. 
 
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said statistical value is compared to a first threshold value; wherein said information includes a diagnostic message that said activity occurred correctly when said statistical value passes said first threshold value. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a mechanism for shutting down said electro-mechanical component when said statistical value fails said second threshold value; wherein said information includes a diagnostic message that said activity failed when said statistical value fails said second threshold value.   
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the electromechanical component is a motor of the tape drive, wherein the actual current is sampled at the motor of the tape drive. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the electromechanical component is a motor of the tape drive, wherein the actual current is sampled at a power supply of the tape drive. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electromechanical component is a tape threader of the tape drive.