Data recording system having unique end-of-recording and start-of-recording format indicators

Claim 1

A system adapted to selectively record and reproduce digital information data from a host source on a magnetic tape, said system comprising: helical means adapted to selectively record and reproduce information data and system format data in physical blocks of predetermined size on a helical recording area of said tape, with each physical block being recorded on a set of tracks, with each set comprising a first portion and a second portion of tracks, said helical means recording data along the tape and being disabled from recording in response to a disabling signal being received; servo means adapted to selectively record and reproduce servo information on a servo control track that extends in the longitudinal direction of said tape, said servo means being adapted to control the movement of said tape and moving said tape at a predetermined speed in a forward direction during recording by said helical means; processing means for generating said system format data during recording and for providing said information data and said system format data to said helical means for recording thereby on said tape, said processing means generating a subarea matrix of said system format data for recording on predetermined helical tracks, said system format data including data which can identify any of said physical blocks as a physical block of a first type; said processing means being adapted to receive instruction data commanding said system to record a physical block of information data as a physical block of said first type, and in response to receiving said commanding data, said processing means disabling said helical means from recording during a first portion of said set of tracks and permitting recording of the remainder of said set of tracks, said processing means including system format data which identifies said physical block as a physical block of said first type in predetermined tracks in said second portion.

Claim 2

A system adapted to selectively record and reproduce digital information data from a host source on a magnetic tape, said system comprising: helical means adapted to selectively record and reproduce information data and system format data in physical blocks of predetermined size on a helical recording area of said tape, with each physical block being recorded on a set of tracks, with each set comprising a first portion and a second portion of tracks, said helical means recording data along the tape and being disabled from recording in response to a disabling signal being received; servo means adapted to selectively record and reproduce servo information on a servo control track that extends in the longitudinal direction of said tape, said servo means being adapted to control the movement of said tape and moving said tape at a predetermined speed in a forward direction during recording by said helical means; processing means for generating said system format data during recording and for providing said information data and said system format data to said helical means for recording thereby on said tape, said processing means generating a subarea matrix of said system format data for recording on predetermined helical tracks, said system format data including data which can identify any of said physical blocks as a physical block of a first type; said processing means being adapted to receive instruction data commanding said system to record a physical block of information data as a physical block of said first type, and in response to receiving said commanding data, said processing means disabling said helical means from recording during a first portion of said set of tracks and permitting recording of the remainder of said set of tracks, said processing means including system format data which identifies said physical block as a physical block of said first type in predetermined tracks in said second portion.

Claim 8

A system adapted to selectively record digital user data from a host source on a magnetic tape, and to reproduce recorded data, the host source being of the type which forwards operating commands to said system, said system comprising: helical means adapted to selectively record and reproduce user data and system format data in physical blocks of predetermined size on a helical recording area of said tape, with each physical block being recorded on a set of tracks, with each set being comprised of a first portion and a second portion of tracks, said helical means being disabled from recording in response to a disabling signal being received; processing means for generating said system format data during recording and for providing said user data and said system format data to said helical means for recording thereby on said tape, said processing means generating a subarea matrix of said system format data for recording on predetermined helical tracks, said system format data including data which can identify any of said physical blocks as a physical block of a first type; said processing means being adapted to receive an operating command which commands said system to record a physical block of user data as a physical block of said first type, the receipt of which command causes said processing means to produce said disabling signal to said helical means during said first portion of said set of tracks and not producing said disabling signal during said second portion, said processing means producing system format data which identifies said physical block as a physical block of said first type in predetermined tracks in said second portion.

Claim 9

A system adapted to selectively record digital user data from a host source on a magnetic tape, and to reproduce recorded data, the host source being of the type which forwards operating commands to said system, said system comprising: helical means adapted to selectively record and reproduce user data and system format data in physical blocks of predetermined size on a helical recording area of said tape, with each physical block being recorded on a set of tracks, with each set being comprised of a first portion and a second portion of tracks, said helical means being disabled from recording in response to a disabling signal being received; processing means for generating said system format data during recording and for providing said user data and said system format data to said helical means for recording thereby on said tape, said processing means generating a subarea matrix of said system format data for recording on predetermined helical tracks, said system format data including data which can identify any of said physical blocks as a physical block of a first type; said processing means being adapted to receive an operating command which commands said system to record a physical block of user data as a physical block of said first type, the receipt of which command causes said processing means to produce said disabling signal to said helical means during said first portion of said set of tracks and not producing said disabling signal during said second portion, said processing means producing system format data which identifies said physical block as a physical block of said first type in predetermined tracks in said second portion.

Claim 14

A system adapted to selectively record digital user data from a host source on a magnetic tape, and to reproduce recorded data, said system comprising: helical means adapted to selectively record and reproduce information data including said user data and system format data in physical blocks of predetermined size on a helical recording area of said tape, with each physical block being recorded on a set of tracks; processing means for generating said system format data during recording and for providing said user data and said system format data to said helical means for recording thereby on said tape, said processing means generating a subarea matrix of said system format data for recording on predetermined helical tracks, said system format data including data which can identify any of said physical blocks as a physical block of a predetermined end type; said processing means producing system format data which identifies said physical block as a physical block of said end type, and causes said helical means to record said physical block of said predetermined end type after the recording of user data has been completed.

Claim 15

A system adapted to selectively record digital user data from a host source on a magnetic tape, and to reproduce recorded data, said system comprising: helical means adapted to selectively record and reproduce information data including said user data and system format data in physical blocks of predetermined size on a helical recording area of said tape, with each physical block being recorded on a set of tracks; processing means for generating said system format data during recording and for providing said user data and said system format data to said helical means for recording thereby on said tape, said processing means generating a subarea matrix of said system format data for recording on predetermined helical tracks, said system format data including data which can identify any of said physical blocks as a physical block of a predetermined end type; said processing means producing system format data which identifies said physical block as a physical block of said end type, and causes said helical means to record said physical block of said predetermined end type after the recording of user data has been completed.

Claim 23

A system adapted to selectively record digital user data from a host'source on a magnetic tape, and to reproduce recorded data, said system comprising: helical means adapted to selectively record and reproduce information data including said user data and system format data in physical blocks of predetermined size on a helical recording area of said tape, said user data being contained in data blocks that are identified by files, said system records each of said files of user data in at least one associated file section, each physical block being recorded on a set of tracks; servo means for controlling the movement of said tape in a forward direction and a reverse direction, said servo means moving said tape in said forward direction during normal recording and reproducing, said servo means including means adapted to selectively record and reproduce servo information on a servo control track that extends in the longitudinal direction of said tape; error detecting means adapted to receive said reproduced data from said helical means for detecting writing errors during a recording process, said error detecting means producing an error signal for a particular physical block when writing errors exceed a predetermined criteria; buffer means having a capacity to retain physical blocks of data, said buffer means being in communication with said helical means and selectively forwarding physical blocks of data thereto for recording, said buffer means producing an underflow signal for a particular physical block when sufficient user data is not present in said buffer means for forwarding to said helical means for recording; processing means for generating said system format data during recording and for providing said user data and said system format data to said helical means for recording thereby on said tape, said processing means generating a subarea matrix of said system format data for recording on predetermined helical tracks, said system format data including data which can identify any of said physical blocks as a physical block of one of a first, second and third predetermined end type; said processing means producing system format data which identifies said physical block as a physical block of one of said predetermined end types, and causes said helical means to record said physical block of one of said predetermined end types after the recording of user data has been completed; said processing means causing said helical means to record said physical block as a second predetermined end type physical block after the recording of user data has been completed and said error detecting means has produced an error signal for at least one prior physical block, said second predetermined end type physical block indicating that said prior recording was unsuccessfully completed; said processing means causing said helical means to record said physical block as a physical block of a third predetermined end type after the recording of user data has been completed and said buffer means has produced an underflow signal for at least one prior physical block, said third predetermined end type physical block indicating that said prior recording was unsuccessfully completed.

Claim 24

A system adapted to selectively record digital user data from a host'source on a magnetic tape, and to reproduce recorded data, said system comprising: helical means adapted to selectively record and reproduce information data including said user data and system format data in physical blocks of predetermined size on a helical recording area of said tape, said user data being contained in data blocks that are identified by files, said system records each of said files of user data in at least one associated file section, each physical block being recorded on a set of tracks; servo means for controlling the movement of said tape in a forward direction and a reverse direction, said servo means moving said tape in said forward direction during normal recording and reproducing, said servo means including means adapted to selectively record and reproduce servo information on a servo control track that extends in the longitudinal direction of said tape; error detecting means adapted to receive said reproduced data from said helical means for detecting writing errors during a recording process, said error detecting means producing an error signal for a particular physical block when writing errors exceed a predetermined criteria; buffer means having a capacity to retain physical blocks of data, said buffer means being in communication with said helical means and selectively forwarding physical blocks of data thereto for recording, said buffer means producing an underflow signal for a particular physical block when sufficient user data is not present in said buffer means for forwarding to said helical means for recording; processing means for generating said system format data during recording and for providing said user data and said system format data to said helical means for recording thereby on said tape, said processing means generating a subarea matrix of said system format data for recording on predetermined helical tracks, said system format data including data which can identify any of said physical blocks as a physical block of one of a first, second and third predetermined end type; said processing means producing system format data which identifies said physical block as a physical block of one of said predetermined end types, and causes said helical means to record said physical block of one of said predetermined end types after the recording of user data has been completed; said processing means causing said helical means to record said physical block as a second predetermined end type physical block after the recording of user data has been completed and said error detecting means has produced an error signal for at least one prior physical block, said second predetermined end type physical block indicating that said prior recording was unsuccessfully completed; said processing means causing said helical means to record said physical block as a physical block of a third predetermined end type after the recording of user data has been completed and said buffer means has produced an underflow signal for at least one prior physical block, said third predetermined end type physical block indicating that said prior recording was unsuccessfully completed.