US4337659A — Computer tape and reel signature for computer dat…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 152 words

A method of developing a wrapping profile, or winding signature, for a tape web segment adapted to be wrapped upon a prescribed reel, this method being adapted to enhance computer tape file security so that each time such a web is wound upon a reel, the winding mode, after repeated windings, is assumed to leave the array of wrapped web edges in a unique edge wrap profile represented by the position of each winding edge as sighted radially along one side of the reel, such a profile constituting the winding signature, this method involving: providing electronic means for automatically monitoring the relative positions of these web-edges and so detecting this "winding-signature", and also for electronically representing and storing these position values as a prescribed encoded "signature" representation each time the web is wound; this means being adapted to automatically make such "signature" representations available for use in monitoring unspooling and respooling operations.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 152 words

A method of developing a wrapping profile, or winding signature, for a tape web segment adapted to be wrapped upon a prescribed reel, this method being adapted to enhance computer tape file security so that each time such a web is wound upon a reel, the winding mode, after repeated windings, is assumed to leave the array of wrapped web edges in a unique edge wrap profile represented by the position of each winding edge as sighted radially along one side of the reel, such a profile constituting the winding signature, this method involving: providing electronic means for automatically monitoring the relative positions of these web-edges and so detecting this "winding-signature", and also for electronically representing and storing these position values as a prescribed encoded "signature" representation each time the web is wound; this means being adapted to automatically make such "signature" representations available for use in monitoring unspooling and respooling operations.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 55 words

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said representations are arranged to be used by arranging for the automatic electronic recordation of such edge positions as encoded signature representations each time a web is so wound; and also providing means to compare such a recordation with a previously-determined wrapping profile of a subject reel.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 88 words

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein such signature representations are generated by providing a winding reel with reference surface means and with edge position detect means which is electronically controlled; said reference surface means being arranged to establish a reference locus along which the tape edges will normally lie; and by scanning said detect means across said reference surface means and across the edge of the so-reeled web whereby to provide a position-value output, indicating the variance of tape web winding edges from said reference locus.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 86 words

A method of ascertaining whether a given reel of tape has been unspooled and respooled as a means of enhancing tape file security, this method comprising: providing electronic means for automatically detecting the wrapping profile of the tape edges in the form of a prescribed "wrapping signature"; this "signature" comprising electronic representations of the relative positions of said tape edges; and also providing associated electronic compare-means for comparing this signature with a known standard derived as electronic representations of prior or reference positions of the edges.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 86 words

A method of ascertaining whether a given reel of tape has been unspooled and respooled as a means of enhancing tape file security, this method comprising: providing electronic means for automatically detecting the wrapping profile of the tape edges in the form of a prescribed "wrapping signature"; this "signature" comprising electronic representations of the relative positions of said tape edges; and also providing associated electronic compare-means for comparing this signature with a known standard derived as electronic representations of prior or reference positions of the edges.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method as recited in claim 4, involving establishing a reference plane using reference surfaces associated with the tape reel; scanning the wrapped web and detecting the position of successive loop edges relative to said reference plane; electronically assigning values to the deviations of each loop edge relative to said reference plane.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 42 words

The method as recited in claim 4, wherein such a wrapping profile is automatically detected for each and every tape-spooling sequence by detecting loop-edge position and electronically encoding the successive position readings to generate a unique "fingerprint" characteristic of each wrapping operation.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 79 words

Apparatus for developing a "stacking fingerprint", or wrap signature, to uniquely identify each tape wrapping operation automatically and electronically on associated tape reel means, this apparatus comprising: position detect means adapted to be mounted on one side of said tape reel and to be scanned radially across the so-wrapped tape to automatically detect and indicate the position of each wrapped edge and responsively generate an output indication thereof; and electronic output means adapted to receive and process said indication.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 79 words

Apparatus for developing a "stacking fingerprint", or wrap signature, to uniquely identify each tape wrapping operation automatically and electronically on associated tape reel means, this apparatus comprising: position detect means adapted to be mounted on one side of said tape reel and to be scanned radially across the so-wrapped tape to automatically detect and indicate the position of each wrapped edge and responsively generate an output indication thereof; and electronic output means adapted to receive and process said indication.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

The combination as recited in claim 7, as combined with electronic code generating means adapted to automatically convert said indication to a "wrapping code" representation.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 68 words

The combination as recited in claim 8, as combined with means for receiving and automatically storing the wrapping code representation each time a tape is spooled, whereby a monitoring sequence is facilitated during which a wrapped tape segment may be rescanned to generate a "present wrapping code" representation for comparison with the so-stored automatic representation of a prior wrapping code, this as a means for checking file security.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 108 words

Tape reel storage means including cylindrical reel hub means on which record tape may be spooled, this hub means including a hollow center portion for mounting upon reel rotation means; and a pair of sides mounted on said hub means and adapted to confine and protect the tape as wrapped; at least one of said sides being arranged to include reference edge means adapted to establish a reference-locus against which the wrapped edge position of the tape loops may be compared, this side also being adapted to accommodate automatic electronic signature detect means adapted to scan the coiled edges of said tape to detect the relative positions thereof.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 108 words

Tape reel storage means including cylindrical reel hub means on which record tape may be spooled, this hub means including a hollow center portion for mounting upon reel rotation means; and a pair of sides mounted on said hub means and adapted to confine and protect the tape as wrapped; at least one of said sides being arranged to include reference edge means adapted to establish a reference-locus against which the wrapped edge position of the tape loops may be compared, this side also being adapted to accommodate automatic electronic signature detect means adapted to scan the coiled edges of said tape to detect the relative positions thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 45 words

The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein at least one of said reel sides includes a radial slot adapted to receive said detect means, together with a pair of reference surface stubs projected from said reel sides so that their surfaces define said reference-locus.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 67 words

An improved method of winding recording tape on a prescribed spool means so as to later ascertain whether the tape has been unspooled and respooled, this method comprising: automatically detecting the wrapping profile of the tape edges in the form of a prescribed wrapping signature each time tape is so spooled; and electronically encoding and storing this "signature" so as to compare it with a known standard.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 67 words

An improved method of winding recording tape on a prescribed spool means so as to later ascertain whether the tape has been unspooled and respooled, this method comprising: automatically detecting the wrapping profile of the tape edges in the form of a prescribed wrapping signature each time tape is so spooled; and electronically encoding and storing this "signature" so as to compare it with a known standard.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method as recited in claim 12, including the step of providing a reference wrapping locus and automatically determining the position of each wrapped tape edge relative to said locus.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said tape edge positions are automatically detected and encoded into a chain of edge-position-indicia signals and wherein those indicia signals are automatically stored as a representation of the wrapping signature of the tape each time the tape is spooled.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method as recited in claim 14, wherein, each time said tape is spooled, the wrapping signature signals developed, representing the edge-wrapping pattern of the spooled tape, are stored by electronic storage means adapted to facilitate electronic comparison of the so-developed signals with a standard pattern representing a prior or an idealized wrapping.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 56 words

The combination as recited in claim 7, as combined with said tape reel means on which the tape may be so wrapped, this reel means including reference-surface means, and wherein said detect means is disposed and adapted to coact with said reference-surface means to thereby establish a reference-locus for normalizing the position values of tape edges.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1985-07-05	1986-01-04	1986-07-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1989-07-05	1990-01-04	1990-07-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1993-07-05	1994-01-04	1994-07-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Computer tape and reel signature for computer data file security

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