User authentication in a removable media storage system

Abstract

An authentication mechanism for dynamic self-provisioning of a magnetic tape cartridge library by a plurality of users for community accessed data storage. Authenticating a host computer and/or users of the host computer for accessing and processing data on a magnetic tape cartridge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 authenticating access to a tape cartridge library;   displaying, on a user-interface, available drives in the tape cartridge library;   determining a set of user-owned cartridges and empty cartridges in the tape cartridge library;   receiving a drive selection through the user-interface;   receiving a request for a cartridge in the tape cartridge library;   determining the cartridge is an empty cartridge;   recording user information on a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag in the empty cartridge to create a user-owned cartridge;   loading the user-owned cartridge in a drive associated with the tape cartridge library; and   granting access for processing data on the user-owned cartridge;   wherein:
 the user information includes a password, a username, and a security preference; 
 the security preference includes encryption software to be used for data encryption on the user-owned cartridge; 
 the request for the cartridge is received from a geographically remote device; 
 the tape cartridge library is accessible to a plurality of users; 
 authenticated access is available individually to a plurality of users according to respectively corresponding credentials; and 
 only a portion of tape cartridges in the tape cartridge library is accessible by authenticated access based on credentials corresponding to a user of the plurality of users.