Abstract: A tape device includes a tape drive, a storage unit, and a processor. The tape drive is configured to write plural data units in a magnetic tape formed with plural tracks. The storage unit is configured to store information indicating a reversal position set in a middle of the magnetic tape. The processor is configured to instruct the tape drive to start writing of a first data unit in the magnetic tape. The processor is configured to control the tape drive to continue the writing up to an end of the first data unit when a first write area crosses over the reversal position. The first data unit is written in the first write area. The processor is configured to control the tape drive to change a write destination from the first track to a second track after the first data unit is written and to reverse the write direction.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for preventing overwriting of data, e.g., on a magnetic medium, includes receiving a write command to write to a magnetic tape. The current location of the magnetic tape is determined. A determination is also made as to whether data corresponding to the write command is at least one of: a size and type specified for a block at the current location. Execution of the write command is disallowed in response to determining that the data corresponding to the write command is not of the specified size and/or type.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a robotic accessor for transporting media between multiple storage slots and one or more data storage drives; a controller for controlling the robotic accessor; a memory in communication with and/or integrated with the controller for storing information about the media and the storage slots, the information including data corresponding to a physical distribution of the media in the storage slots; and logic integrated with and/or executable by the controller, the logic being adapted to: position the robotic accessor at a computed optimal position during an idle period of the robotic accessor, the computed optimal position being based at least in part on the physical distribution of the media in the storage slots.

Abstract: A tape performance optimization method may include accumulating data in a memory, monitoring the accumulation of data, determining whether a certain amount of data has been accumulated in the memory, and causing the accumulated data to be migrated to a tape in a tape library. In one embodiment, the amount of data to be accumulated is set to be two wraps or a multiple thereof. Using embodiments, it can take zero or near zero time to rewind the tape when unloading occurs, eliminating wasted tape movement time and significantly increasing tape performance. In one embodiment, the accumulation of data may be terminated even if the desired amount of data has not been accumulated. In one embodiment, the termination might be triggered by a timeout condition.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a write controlling method is provided that adjusts the timing to wrap-turn the tape running direction depending on the data amount in order to reduce the time required for positioning in reading any data by performing back-and-forth data writing by positioning a magnetic head of a tape recording apparatus at a predetermined position close to a first end of the tape medium, writing data on the tape medium starting from the predetermined position toward a second end of the tape medium, wrap-turning a running direction of the tape medium when the magnetic head reaches the second end of the tape medium, and writing the data on the tape medium from the second end toward the first end.

Abstract: A method for writing a servo track according to one embodiment comprises monitoring a lateral position of a magnetic tape passing over a servo writing head during a servo track writing operation; and writing servo marks to the magnetic tape, a timing of the writing of each mark being based on the monitored position of the magnetic tape. A system for writing a servo track according to one embodiment comprises a servo writing head for writing servo marks onto a magnetic tape; a device for optically monitoring a position of the magnetic tape during a servo track writing operation; and a controller for controlling a timing of the writing of the servo marks to the magnetic tape based on the monitored position of the magnetic tape. Additional systems and methods are also presented.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a robotic accessor for transporting media between multiple storage slots and one or more data storage drives; a controller for controlling the robotic accessor; a memory in communication with and/or integrated with the controller for storing information about the media and the storage slots, the information including data corresponding to a physical distribution of the media in the storage slots; and logic integrated with and/or executable by the controller, the logic being adapted to: position the robotic accessor at a computed optimal position during an idle period of the robotic accessor, the computed optimal position being based at least in part on the physical distribution of the media in the storage slots.

Abstract: A tape performance optimization method may include accumulating data in a memory, monitoring the accumulation of data, determining whether a certain amount of data has been accumulated in the memory, causing the accumulated data to be migrated to a tape in a tape library, and tracking physical locations of files stored on tape. In one embodiment, the amount of data to be accumulated is set to be two wraps or a multiple thereof. In one embodiment, two copies of data are written to two tapes in an alternating fashion. When a file is to be read, a tape is accessed if it has a copy of the file whose physical location is determined to be closest to beginning of tape. Since file location on tape determines the time it takes to position the tape, this method can shorten the amount of time required to retrieve a file from tape.

Abstract: A tape performance optimization method may include accumulating data in a memory, monitoring the accumulation of data, determining whether a certain amount of data has been accumulated in the memory, and causing the accumulated data to be migrated to a tape in a tape library. In one embodiment, the amount of data to be accumulated is set to be two wraps or a multiple thereof. Using embodiments, it can take zero or near zero time to rewind the tape when unloading occurs, eliminating wasted tape movement time and significantly increasing tape performance. In one embodiment, the accumulation of data may be terminated even if the desired amount of data has not been accumulated. In one embodiment, the termination might be triggered by a timeout condition.

Abstract: Tape media life is increased by dynamically controlling a turn around point (TAP) on the tape media for either an end of a tape wrap or a directional change from a first longitudinal position tape section to a second longitudinal position tape section for reducing damage to the tape media caused by debris by monitoring the TAP for all tape media motion and adjusting tape deceleration for maintaining the TAP to be located at the second longitudinal position tape section.

Abstract: Tape media life is increased by dynamically controlling a turn around point (TAP) on the tape media for either an end of a tape wrap or a directional change from a first longitudinal position tape section to a second longitudinal position tape section for reducing damage to the tape media caused by debris by monitoring the TAP for all tape media motion and adjusting tape deceleration for maintaining the TAP to be located at the second longitudinal position tape section.

Abstract: A tape performance optimization method may include accumulating data in a memory, monitoring the accumulation of data, determining whether a certain amount of data has been accumulated in the memory, causing the accumulated data to be migrated to a tape in a tape library, and tracking physical locations of files stored on tape. In one embodiment, the amount of data to be accumulated is set to be two wraps or a multiple thereof. In one embodiment, two copies of data are written to two tapes in an alternating fashion. When a file is to be read, a tape is accessed if it has a copy of the file whose physical location is determined to be closest to beginning of tape. Since file location on tape determines the time it takes to position the tape, this method can shorten the amount of time required to retrieve a file from tape.

Abstract: A tape drive is disclosed. The tape drive determines a current tape width and writes data to the tape as well as the current tape width. The tape width written to the tape is associated with the data. When reading data from a tape the tape drive reads the stored tape width and adjusts the current tape width to match the stored tape width before reading the data associated with the stored tape width.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method of operating a magnetic tape drive, a magnetic tape drive and a servo control system are provided for obtaining and maintaining velocity control in a magnetic tape drive. In one embodiment, a method is provided for operating a magnetic tape drive. The tape drive includes a plurality of DC motors, and each DC motor has a plurality of Hall sensors. The DC motors are under the control of a servo system which is configured to read location information from the magnetic tape, and compute a primary tape velocity from the location information, and sense a secondary and tertiary velocity signal and compute a tape velocity based on one of the sensed secondary velocity signal and tertiary velocity. The method includes detecting if the primary velocity location information is available. In response to detecting that the primary velocity location information is available the primary velocity is employed to control the servo system.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-program product for indicating progress status of a mid-tape or data recovery operation in a tape drive. The method includes visually indicating that a recovery operation has started, periodically determining the remaining recovery time based on the remaining tape spool, and displaying the determined remaining recovery time to show progress status of the operation. The determination of the remaining recovery time includes determining the length of the tape being processed based on an estimated radius of the remaining tape spool and system parameters. The remaining recovery time is displayed with a moving track to show progress toward completion.

Abstract: An external unit is externally attached to a storage-medium storage device. The external unit includes a verification unit that verifies whether a storage medium that is about to be inserted in a storage slot of the storage-medium storage device is legitimate, and an open/close unit that opens the storage slot so that the storage medium can be inserted in the storage slot only upon the verifying unit verifying that the storage medium is legitimate.

Abstract: A method for avoiding tape stiction is provided with a tape drive with a pair of motors for driving a pair of tape reels for conveying data tape across one or more read/write heads. Tachometers measure rotation of the pair of tape reels. Motion of the tape is started and rotation of the tape reels is measured by the tachometers. The measurement of the rotation of the tape reels is compared to determine if there is enough slack associated with tape stiction. The location of tape stiction is stored and weighted. Another method stops motion of the tape at a location wherein excessive tape stiction has not been detected. A tape drive is provided for performing methods for avoiding tape stiction.

Abstract: A recording unit for recording image information and/or audio information onto a replaceable tape-shaped recording medium, filing units for filing the image information and/or the audio information which have been written onto the replaceable tape-shaped recording medium by the recording unit, and a file information writing/reading unit for writing/reading, in a non-contact state, file information of file into a random accessible memory unit provided in a manner associated with the replaceable tape-shaped recording medium are provided to thereby realize an information processing apparatus.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for determining the position of a tape-like medium are proposed. The method provides for counting pulses which are supplied to the arrangement for determining the position to be counted, blocked or cancelled depending on the respective transport state. To this end, it is established whether the transport direction has been constant for a defined amount of time or over a defined distance. The transport direction determines whether the counter is incremented or decremented. In addition, counting pulses which rapidly follow one another are blocked in order to avoid undesirable double triggering. In order to avoid losing blocked counting pulses in an undesirable manner, the latter are stored and are applied to the counter, or discarded, depending on the transport state before and after blocking.

Abstract: A fully synchronous longitudinal position (LPOS) detection system is provided for improving the reliability of servo channels in tape systems. The system is based on the interpolation of the servo channel output signal, which is sampled by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) at a fixed sampling rate, using a clock at a nominal frequency, so that interpolated signal samples are obtained at a predetermined fixed rate, independent of tape velocity. This predetermined fixed rate is defined in terms of samples per unit of length, as opposed to samples per unit of time, which is the measure of the ADC sampling rate. The resolution with which the servo channel signal is obtained at the interpolator output is thus determined by the step interpolation distance.

Abstract: A recording apparatus of a tape-shaped magnetic recording medium includes a transfer unit, a recording head, a signal-processing unit and a control unit. The transfer unit transfers a tape-shaped magnetic recording medium having an anisotropic property oblique with respect to the thickness direction in a forward or reversed direction. The recording head is positioned in such a way that a recording track is formed on the traveling tape-shaped magnetic recording medium, which is transferred by the transfer unit, in a direction parallel to the transfer direction of the tape-shaped magnetic recording medium. Connected to the recording head, the signal-processing unit receives a signal to be recorded onto the tape-shaped magnetic recording medium. The signal-processing unit then carries out signal processing required for an operation to write the signal to be recorded onto the tape-shaped magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: In one exemplary aspect of the present invention a method for cleaning a media drive transducer head is provided. The method includes transporting a portion of a cleaning tape over a transducer head under a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions associated with a cleaning process of the transducer head, and transporting the portion of the cleaning tape over the transducer head under a second set of conditions, the second set of conditions associated with a writing process.

Abstract: A recording target error rate is selected for one or more of data storage devices, and for each data storage device, a dither value is determined for each read/write head in the data storage device, wherein for each head, using a dither value for writing data, essentially provides the selected recording target error for all the heads.

Abstract: A method of centralized data position information storage comprising the steps of arranging a byte stream of data into partitioned logical data, providing an updateable centralized storage area being operable to store data position information relating to the logical data, utilizing the information to locate a target data and storing the data position information in the storage area using a first algorithm applied to the target data to update the storage area with target data position information and using a second algorithm applied to a non-target data to update the storage area with non-target data position information such that data position information is accumulated in the centralized storage area when a target data is located and accessed.

Abstract: A technique for reducing the access time in a storage system having serially accessible media. One or more duplicate copies of data are maintained at different offset locations on serial media. When a request is made to read the data, a determination is made as to which copy of the data—either the original data or one of the duplicate copies—will have the shortest access time for accessing the data. Generally, this would be the data copy that will be closest to the data transducer when the tape is positioned for access, such as a tape cartridge being loaded in a tape drive. Once the tape is ready to be accessed, the tape is positioned to access the copy of the data that is in closest linear proximity with the reading transducer. Thus, the copy of the data having the lowest access latency is chosen to satisfy the particular I/O request.

Abstract: In magnetic tape having separate longitudinal servo bands of servo information with superimposed data information, the separate servo bands have selected different superimposed data information, to identify the separate servo bands for independent addressability. The servo information comprises non-parallel laterally extending transitions to indicate lateral positioning, and the selected different superimposed data information may comprise a lack thereof in portion(s) of the servo bands. Where the superimposed data information is longitudinal position information of the tape, the selected different superimposed data information may comprise different longitudinal position information of one or more servo band(s). The selected different superimposed data information may comprise a band identifier in the superimposed data information of one or more of the servo bands.

Abstract: A method to monitor the relative position of a magnetic tape disposed in a tape drive, where that tape drive includes a first tape reel motor and a second tape reel motor. The method provides a magnetic tape disposed on a first tape reel, and releaseably attaches the first tape reel to the first tape reel motor. The method further provides a second tape reel attached to the second tape reel motor. The method operates the first tape reel motor and the second tape reel motor to transfer the tape from the first tape reel onto the second tape reel while maintaining a running second reel rotation count. The method sets a second reel rotation count limit, and determines if the running second reel rotation count exceeds that second reel rotation count limit. If the running second reel rotation count exceeds the second reel rotation count limit, then the method discontinues operation of the tape reel motors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing linear position (LPOS) estimations. If valid LPOS data may be detected from the tape, then a first method for LPOS estimation is performed using the Hall effect sensors. If valid LPOS data may not be detected from the tape, then an error recovery procedure (ERP) is invoked so that a second method for LPOS estimation is used to provide accurate LPOS information which is synchronized to a validly detected LPOS from tape within about 1 meter prior to the desired data record.

Abstract: The position of one or both edges of tape, such as magnetic tape, can be determined using a light source, such as a solid-state laser with a collimated beam, and a detector, such as a photodiode. The tape, by blocking a portion of the light, affects the amount of light reaching the detector. The detector generates signals as a function of the position of the tape. In the case of two detectors cooperating to measure the positions of opposing edges of the tape, the signals from the detectors may be processed to produce at least four useful signals, including a signal that is a function of the tape width and a signal that is a function of the position of the tape centroid.

Abstract: Formation of a partition is quickly performed. Management information areas such as a device area D1, system areas S1 and S2, an optional device area OD1, and the like are produced by writing necessary data, and with respect to a data area, a running amount of a magnetic tape corresponding to its capacity is calculated, and the magnetic tape is made to run by this running amount. Further, also with respect to a search and the like in the case where reproducing/recording is carried out from/to partitions formed in this way, a necessary running amount of the magnetic tape is calculated, and the magnetic tape is made to run by this running amount.

Abstract: A magnetic tape apparatus prevents dirt from being deposited on a magnetic tape even when the tape is repeatedly moved in a short interval. An operation monitoring unit calculates tape position from information supplied from a tape transport drive circuit and measures tape position from a previously stopped position as a reference point. The operation monitoring unit updates the reference point into a presently stopped position if the tape has moved from the reference point beyond a predetermined range and stopped, accumulates the number of times the tape has been stopped if the tape has moved from the reference point and stopped within the predetermined range, and instructs a control unit to transport the tape in a transported range greater than the predetermined range to bring an area on the tape into contact with a tape cleaner if the accumulated number of times exceeds a predetermined number of times.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing linear position (LPOS) estimations. If valid LPOS data may be detected from the tape, then a first method for LPOS estimation is performed using the Hall effect sensors. If valid LPOS data may not be detected from the tape, then an error recovery procedure (ERP) is invoked so that a second method for LPOS estimation is used to provide accurate LPOS information which is synchronized to a validly detected LPOS from tape within about 1 meter prior to the desired data record.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic tape unit having a magnetic head for reading and writing data from and onto a magnetic tape. The magnetic tape is traveled in contact with the magnetic head during a read/write operation of the magnetic head. During a rest period where the read/write operation of the magnetic head is not performed, a reciprocating motion of the magnetic tape by a small distance is performed with a predetermined period. A temperature in the vicinity of the magnetic head is detected by a temperature sensor. The predetermined period is changed according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. Accordingly, the adhesion of the magnetic tape to the magnetic head can be well prevented irrespective of the temperature inside the tape unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic tape unit having a magnetic head for reading and writing data from and onto a magnetic tape. The magnetic tape is traveled in contact with the magnetic head during a read/write operation of the magnetic head. During a rest period where the read/write operation of the magnetic head is not performed, a reciprocating motion of the magnetic tape by a small distance is performed with a predetermined period. A temperature in the vicinity of the magnetic head is detected by a temperature sensor. The predetermined period is changed according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. Accordingly, the adhesion of the magnetic tape to the magnetic head can be well prevented irrespective of the temperature inside the tape unit.

Abstract: A method of data transfer in a cache system comprising a cache buffer including a plurality of data blocks for storing data, and a cache manager for retrieving data from a disk drive and storing the data into the cache buffer. The disk drive includes a data disk having a plurality of concentric data tracks thereon, a spindle motor for rotating the data disk, and a transducer supported by a carrier for positioning the transducer over individual data tracks to write data thereto or read data therefrom.

Abstract: In a method for writing data on a data carrier tape, a central region of the tape is positioned adjacent a data recording head, data are supplied to the data recording head, and data are transferred from the data recording head to the tape, beginning at the center region of the tape, while moving the tape along a longitudinal direction of the tape. The tape transport direction can be alternatingly reversed at the opposite ends of the tape so data are recorded successively on adjacent data recording tracks on the tape, with data transfer being inhibited each time the center region of the tape passes by the data recording head. A data carrier tape for implementing the method has a hole pattern in the central region of the tape, which identifies the central region of the tape to allow positioning of the tape at the central region, and to allow recognition of the central region for inhibiting data transfer when the central region of the tape is adjacent the data recording head.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting the end of a tape within a tape drive system, wherein the tape drive system includes a take-up reel and a supply reel upon which the tape is wound. The tape is driven through the tape drive system at a closed loop velocity. A tension transducer located in a path of the tape is utilized to monitor a tension associated with the tape while the tape is being driven through the tape drive system at the closed loop velocity. The tension transducer is utilized to detect the end of the tape. The take-up reel is then moved through a predetermined arc of rotation, in response to a cessation of the driving of the tape through the tape drive system. A confirmation is then provided that the end of tape has been detected, in response to a particular output of the tension transducer.