Abstract:
An apparatus for recording information on a magnetic recording tape. A head positioning motor (144) vertically positions a head according to signals from a positioning motor drive (158). A capstan controls motor (150) controls the motion of the tape according to signals from a capstans driver (156). A control processor (130) controls the positioning of the head motor (144) and the capstan motor (150) to cause the head to interact with a particular portion of the tape. The control processor (130) uses partitions on the tape which are configured as rectangular collection of physical frames. The control processor further interacts with a partition directory or partition frame by two points on a diagonal of the tape. The control processor further receives information indicating the type of tape device. The control processor further interacts with early warning markers recorded on the tape.
Abstract:
A method for controlling on magnetic tape the recording of data collected as a physical block comprising a plurality of packets is recorded. When an instruction for reading out the data corresponding to a packet in the physical block is issued from a host unit, the data of the whole of the physical block are read out from the magnetic tape, and stored in a buffer. When a write instruction and data to be recorded are outputted from the host unit at an arbitrary position in the physical block on the magnetic tape, one physical block is reorganized using the data stored in the buffer and the data to be recorded, and this data reorganized as the physical block is recorded on the magnetic tape.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus are provided for re-recording of a frame on magnetic tape (22) when a first recording of the frame is determined to be defective. A frame whose first recording is defective is re-recorded at a spare or reserved location on the tape. The reserved location is dedicated to re-recording of frames, and otherwise cannot have data stored therein. The tape contains a defect map frame (326) which is used to pair physical locations of defective frames with the reserved location whereat the frame is re-recorded. In one embodiment, the reserved location whereat a frame is re-recorded is a reserved physical frame on the same track in which the defective frame is recorded. In another embodiment, the reserved location is on a reserved portion of a track (TG39R) which is not the original track (TG39) upon which the frame is recorded. For embodiments having multi-channel or multi-track frames, the reserved location employs a corresponding plurality of tracks.
Abstract:
A serpentine recording arrangement for use with a magnetic tape (32), in which a warning marker (CEW) is generated and recorded. The warning marker (32) indicates that the head (100) is approaching a boundary position on the tape (32) at which the head (100) must change tracks to continue recording or reading frames. The warning marker (32) is preferably included in the auxiliary portion of some tracks and can have a value indicating the number of frames that can be recorded before reaching the boundary position. The warning marker (CEW) is monitored to determine the need to cache data before track changing. Caching data can be initiated by a host (66, 68) or internal to the drive in which case the related speed between the tape (32) and the head (100) can be adjusted in anticipation of track changing.
Abstract:
The tape in a data cartridge tape has a beginning of tape (BOT) zone adjacent a leading end, a load point (LP) zone adjacent the BOT zone, an end of tape (EOT) zone adjacent a trailing end, an early warning (EW) zone adjacent the EOT zone, and a data recording (DR) zone between the LP and EW zones. Servo tracks extending between the BOT and EOT enable the closed-loop servo operation of a tape deck during the recording of data at data flux transition densities within a predetermined range of flux transition densities. A BOT indicator includes a first type magnetic marker extending throughout the BOT zone and has a BOT flux density. An LP indicator includes a spaced second type magnetic markers on the servo tracks at the border of the LP and DR zones. An EW indicator which is identical to the LP indicator is located on the servo tracks at the border of the DR and EW zones. An EOT indicator includes a first type marker extending throughout the EOT zone and has an EOT flux density. Digitally encoded cartridge information indicators including the spaced second type markers are located in each of the BOT and EOT zones. The BOT and EOT flux densities are different from one another, and sufficiently different from the data flux transition densities to enable the BOT and EOT indicators to be distinguished from the data. The second type markers of the LP and EW and cartridge information indicators are sufficiently different from the servo carrier flux density to enable the indicators to be distinguished from the servo carrier.
Abstract:
Large angle azimuth recording methods and devices. In one aspect of the invention methods of recording one or data tracks having data transitions oriented at a large azimuth angle are provided. In another aspect of the invention methods of reading a data track having data transitions oriented at a large azimuth angle are provided. Such methods include steps of suppressing a side track signal. In other aspects of the invention, head modules and devices for writing and/or reading large azimuth angle data tracks are provided.
Abstract:
A buried servo signal (TS) on tape (32) is modulated to provide information. According to the modulation, each of a plurality of sets of cycles (cyc) has at least a selected cycle modulated to represent at least two modulation values. The modulation of the selected cycles of a group of sets of cycles (cyc) provides a string of modulation values. The modulation values form identifiers of longitudinal physical location on tape or other tape identifying information.
Abstract:
A magnetic tape drive dynamically adjusts a transport rate of tape (32) in accordance with a host data rate. The host data rate is assessed in relation to a data fill level of a buffer (116). A controller (130) of the drive compares the data fill level of the buffer with a buffer normalization value and generates an adjustment value for adjusting a signal indicative of the desired linear velocity of the tape. In one embodiment, the controller also dynamically changes the buffer normalization value to reflect e.g., historical performance of the host. In another embodiment the controller adjusts the transport rate when a head (100) is within a predetermined distance of a boundary point whereat the head must change tracks.
Abstract:
A tape cartridge has a tape detection means embedded therein. The tape detection means comprises a plurality of tape identification holes, preferably in octal 06 arrangement, and a single load point hole located about 30 inches from the nearest set of beginning of tape holes. A method of detecting a tape cartridge with a tape detection means embedded therein comprises the steps of: locating a set of beginning of tapes holes; locating a load point hole that is 30 inches from the nearest set of beginning of tape holes; measuring the length of tape between the load point hole and the beginning of tape holes; if the length of tape is between 28 and 32 inches determining whether tape identification holes in octal 06 arrangement are present; and identifying the tape as a valid tape cartridge if the length of tape is between 28 and 32 inches and tape identification holes in octal 06 arrangement are present. An apparatus for detecting a tape cartridge with a tape detection means embedded therein comprises a tape identification transducer for reading and scanning for the tape detection data and a microprocessor electrically connected to the tape idenfication transducer for responding to signals from the transducer.
Abstract:
An equipment and method for allowing synchronous dubbing and tag recording without using a large-capacity buffer memory. A reference signal from a cylinder servo circuit and tape driving servo circuit of a transmitter is converted into an isochronous packet and is outputted to a 1394 cable from a digital interface transmitting circuit. Then, a receiver converts the received isochronous packet back into a reference signal as it was before by means of an isochronous packet converting circuit, and then supplies it to the cylinder servo circuit and tape driving servo circuit. By this method, the transmitter and the receiver are synchronized and thereby synchronous dubbing and tag recording are made available. Signal regeneration by the transmitter and recording by the receiver are conducted at a timing based on the reference signal, and therefore there is no necessity of a buffer memory for time synchronization.