Patent US2576211A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5057950A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5057950A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Data storage method
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Ltd
•
Filing: 1989-01-06
•
Granted: 1991-10-15
•
Expires: 2009-01-06
Abstract
Abstract Before reading/writing a newly loaded data tape, it is known to carry out read/write tests on the tape drive concerned by using a section of the tape set aside for this purpose. This test section is generally marked off by formatting keys which must be accessed and read to identify the test section. In order to facilitate access to the test section, the disclosed data storage method locates the test section in the region of tape between a beginning-of-media BOM position and a beginning-of-recording BOR position with the latter being at a known distance from BOM. As a result, it is possible to rely simply on displacement measurement to access the test section from BOM. As a precaution, a check can be made for possible overshoot error in the tape positioning means so as to avoid testing being carried out beyond BOR.
Inventors
- 👤 Shinya Ozaki
- 👤 Masaki Yamada
- 👤 Brian A. Milthorp
- 👤 Bruce A. Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:51
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/10; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/06; G06F3/0601; G11B15/00; G11B15/02; G11B15/026; G11B20/12; G11B27/00; G11B27/10; G11B27/102; G11B27/107; G11B27/19; G11B27/28; G11B27/30; G11B27/3027; G11B27/3063; G11B27/309; G11B27/32; G11B27/327; G11B27/328; G06F3/0668; G06F3/0671; G06F3/0673; G06F3/0682; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/90; G11B2220/91; G11B2220/913
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of storing data on a recording tape, the method comprising: writing data-to-be-stored downstream from a beginning-of-recording position (BOR) the location of which along the tape is determined in terms of displacement of the tape from a fully-rewound beginning-of-media position (BOM); using a section of tape in a test phase that is upstream of BOR and its expected location to carry out read and/or write tests, this test section of tape being spaced from BOM and being accessed by displacement of the tape through a predetermined distance from BOM and a point on the tape where the position relative to BOM is known.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of storing data on a recording tape, the method comprising: writing data-to-be-stored downstream from a beginning-of-recording position (BOR) the location of which along the tape is determined in terms of displacement of the tape from a fully-rewound beginning-of-media position (BOM); using a section of tape in a test phase that is upstream of BOR and its expected location to carry out read and/or write tests, this test section of tape being spaced from BOM and being accessed by displacement of the tape through a predetermined distance from BOM and a point on the tape where the position relative to BOM is known.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said test section is spaced by a guard band from BOR.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein access to said test section is effected, at least in part, at high speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein access to said test section is affected by tape positioning means and wherein prior to carrying out said tests a check is made on the positioning means for positional overshoot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said check involves moving the tape from BOM to the region of BOR based on affecting a predetermined displacement by said positioning means, and determining any unacceptable overshoot by reading the tape for data written beyond BOR.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 5 applicable to a helical-scan recording method in which data is written in-oblique tracks extending across the tape, wherein BOR is constituted by the first track of a plurality of numbered tracks, whereby tape position relative to BOR, and thus possible overshoot, can be determined by reading the track number of a track.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein starting from BOM, positioning of the tape for said test phase includes the steps of: advancing the tape at high speed to a location approximating to the expected location of BOR, reading the tape to check for displacement overshoot in a tape previously written to, and in the absence of overshoot detection, backspacing the tape at high speed to position the tape between BOM and the expected location of BOR; the tape thereafter being advanced a its normal read/write speed for carrying out said read and/or write tests
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein for a blank tape or a tape to be overwritten, after said read and/or write tests have been carried out, the tape is further advanced to provide a guard band such that the actual BOR whereat data writing is initiated approximates its said expected location.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to any of claim 1 applied to the recording of data on a DAT-type tape cartridge using a helical scan technique, wherein BOR is predetermined to be between 300-400 mm from BOM.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3947877A
Cited
US4360842A
Cited
EP0087907A2
Cited
US4635141A
Cited
JPS59129904A
Cited
WO1985005213A1
Cited
US4764822A
Cited
US4821128A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-14 | 1995-04-15 | 1995-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-14 | 1999-04-15 | 1999-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-14 | 2003-04-15 | 2003-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |