Abstract: The invention provides a system and a method for securely providing a secret data from a sender to one or more receivers. The receiver uses a sequence of functions originating from a hierarchy of functions to migrate the secret data from an input transform space to an output transform space using a mathematical transformation under control of one or more seeds. The seeds are provided to the receiver by the sender. The sender conditionally allows the receiver to obtain the secret data by controlling the seeds.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a drum assembly associated with a digital betacam video tape machine is disclosed. The method includes providing a helical scan drum assembly having a stationary upper drum, a stationary lower drum and a plurality of rotating read/write heads disposed between the stationary upper and lower drums. The rotating read/write heads reading and writing digital information to and from a tape. The method further includes inserting air grooves in the outer peripheral surface of the upper drum. The air grooves are configured to reduce sticktion between the tape and the outer peripheral surface of the upper drum when the tape is moved around the outer peripheral surface of the upper drum. The method additional includes mounting an adjustable band to the outer peripheral surface of the lower drum. The adjustable band is configured to guide the tape around the drum assembly in accordance with helical scans when the tape is moved around the outer peripheral surface of the upper drum.

Abstract: The invention provides a tape drive comprising a head mounted on a turntable. The turntable rotates to allow the head to access first and second sides of a data storage tape. Techniques for accessing the first and second sides may include rotating the turntable to position the head in first and second positions. In addition, the techniques may further include raising and lowering the turntable relative to the data storage tape in order to facilitate access to both sides of the data storage tape without requiring the data storage tape to be unspooled and re-spooled.

Abstract: A recording system comprises a read-write head with a length that is substantially smaller than the width of the tape, the small mass of the head allows high frequency track following. The head contacts only that area of the tape currently being accessed, significantly reducing the tape and the head wear. The head flies over the tape with the flying height tightly controlled even at high tape speed and low tape tension. Several methods to stabilize the tape in the recording area are disclosed. The stabilizer can be a second recording head allowing dual sided recording. A first implementation uses a linear actuator and a second implementation uses a rotary actuator. A mechanism moves the head from the path of a threading mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for helical scan recording/playback of preselected tacks on a flexible tape medium comprising a linear slide structure capable of movement transversely relative to a longitudinal direction of the tape medium, the linear slide structure including a scanner/drum capable of sliding movement relative to a longitudinal direction of the tape medium between opposed edges of the tape medium defining a recording area, the scanner/drum having a head stack for helical scan recording/playback of the preselected tracks, and a stepper motor on a trolley end of the linear slide structure for causing the scanner/drum to slide transversely relative to the longitudinal direction of the tape medium.