Abstract: An LDPC coding system includes a number of LDPC encoders and a number of LDPC decoders. The number of encoders/decoders is between one and one fewer than the total number of tracks on the high density tape are provided. The LDPC encoders are operable to break data from an incoming data sector into the data blocks to be written to the high density tape. The LDPC decoders are operable to assemble the data blocks into data sectors.

Abstract: An LDPC coding system includes a number of LDPC encoders and a number of LDPC decoders. The number of encoders/decoders is between one and one fewer than the total number of tracks on the high density tape are provided. The LDPC encoders are operable to break data from an incoming data sector into the data blocks to be written to the high density tape. The LDPC decoders are operable to assemble the data blocks into data sectors.

Abstract: A method for dynamically adjusting read margin and write margin in a tape drive system to recover data is disclosed. The method includes the operations of monitoring a write driver to determine if a change in rewrite activity to a medium has changed and adjusting a percentage of error correcting code (ECC) capability to be used for write errors if the rewrite activity has changed. An apparatus including a tape medium and a read/write controller for performing the method is also disclosed. In one embodiment, the percentage of ECC is decreased if the rewrite activity to the medium increases.

Abstract: A method for increasing recording format reliability in a tape drive system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying a default media information region (MIR) on a media, wherein the default MIR includes MIR information divided into segments, reading the MIR information, rotating the MIR information into a first rotation MIR information by rotating the segments by one segment; and writing the first rotation MIR information into a first MIR on the media. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for contiguously appending data onto media in a tape drive system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes reading existing data recorded on a media, determining an append point on the media, and contiguously appending new data on the media starting at the append point such that any end pad is eliminated and no intermediate pads are resulted. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for increasing recording format reliability in a tape drive system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes identifying a default media information region (MIR) on a media, wherein the default MIR includes MIR information divided into segments, reading the MIR information, rotating the MIR information into a first rotation MIR information by rotating the segments by one segment; and writing the first rotation MIR information into a first MIR on the media. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for contiguously appending data onto media in a tape drive system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes reading existing data recorded on a media, determining an append point on the media, and contiguously appending new data on the media starting at the append point such that any end pad is eliminated and no intermediate pads are resulted. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tape drive for use with magnetic tapes includes a housing for receiving a magnetic tape having multiple parallel tracks, and a tape head for reading and writing the parallel tracks of the magnetic tape. A plurality of partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) equalization/detection channels are provided for processing the data signals to determine the data stream for each data signal. The plurality of PRML equalization/detection channels includes at least one PRML equalization/detection channel pre-assigned to each track. The plurality of PRML equalization/detection channels further includes at least one floating PRML equalization/detection channel dynamically assignable on an as-needed basis. The invention also contemplates an ASIC, a generic drive, and a PRML method.

Abstract: A method and system for determining degradation of a tape drive and tape includes generating a count signal indicative of the number of data blocks read from tape having more than a predetermined threshold of data bytes in error. A degradation signal indicative of tape drive and tape degradation is generated if the ratio of corrected blocks versus the total number of blocks read from the tape is above a predetermined ratio. The degradation signal is indicative of tape drive degradation if the ratio of blocks having more than a predetermined number of error data bytes along a single track versus total number of blocks is above a predetermined ratio, and is indicative of tape degradation if the ratio of blocks having more than a predetermined number of tracks for a given data byte being in error versus total number of blocks read is above a predetermined ratio.

Abstract: A method for correcting data track placement in a magnetic tape drive is provided. The invention comprises writing at least one data track on a magnetic tape, wherein the data track is written in a location determined by tracking a servo track on the tape. The tape drive reads the data track(s) at a plurality of offset positions, wherein each offset position is determined by deviating the servo track a specified distance from a servo reader. An optimal offset position is then determined based on collected read error data versus offset position data. During subsequent write operations, tapes are offset according to the optimal offset position.

Abstract: A system for recording the history associated with writing data onto rewriteable media includes an access head for writing data onto the media and reading data from the media. A drive motor moves the media past the access head. A write formatter formats data into a device block to be written onto the media. A read formatter detects errors in data read from the media. A control unit determines an error recovery procedure based on an error detected in reading the media and enables the write formatter to insert an indication of the error recovery procedure into the device block. The error recovery procedure is then attempted. The process is repeated until either a successful write occurs or the media is determined to be bad.

Abstract: Reducing the gap distance between existing data and appended blocks increases the information density written onto magnetic tape. A narrow gap spacing may be achieved by reading the existing block of data with a read module leading the write module in the tape direction. The end of the existing data is determined from data read by the leading read module. Delaying appending data by a gap period introduces the gap between the existing block of data and the new block of data to be appended. The new block of data is written following the gap and verified by reading with a read module following the write module in the tape direction.

Abstract: Write on the fly certification of magnetic media includes detecting the start of a defect. A sequence of defect matrices is written over the defect with a write element in a read-after-write head. Each defect matrix in the sequence is read with a read element in the read-after-write head. A check is made to determine if an error exists in the data read from each defect matrix. The defect is determined to extend through each defect matrix if an error exists in the read data.

Abstract: A method and system for determining degradation of the tape drive and the tape in a multichannel recording system provides refined definition of correction for data recording statistics. The method and system generate a count signal indicative of the number of data blocks read from multi-track tape having more than a predetermined threshold of data bytes in error. The method and system generate a degradation signal indicative of tape drive and tape degradation if the ratio of corrected data blocks versus the total number of data blocks read from the tape is above a predetermined ratio. The degradation signal is indicative of tape drive degradation if the ratio of data blocks having more than the predetermined number of error data bytes along a single track versus the total number of data blocks read from the tape is above a predetermined ratio.

Abstract: An improved tape storage device having information for converting longitudinal physical positions written in a medium to logical positions used by a tape drive. The conversion information, an offset and an optional maximum physical position value, are stored in one or more locations in the tape storage device. Methods of operating the tape drive are disclosed to determine and store the conversion information in the tape storage device. Another method of operation enables the tape drive to read the conversion information and convert the physical positions to logical positions. The method works for both center loading and end loading medium. Possible numeric rollover of the physical positions is detected by one of several methods including the step values between adjacent physical positions, comparing the logical positions with an upper and lower boundary, and generating a lookup table where the rollover is represented by a wraparound between the top and bottom of the table.

Abstract: A system for recording the history associated with writing data onto rewriteable media includes an access head for writing data onto the media and reading data from the media. A drive motor moves the media past the access head. A write formatter formats data into a device block to be written onto the media. A read formatter detects errors in data read from the media. A control unit determines an error recovery procedure based on an error detected in reading the media and enables the write formatter to insert an indication of the error recovery procedure into the device block. The error recovery procedure is then attempted. The process is repeated until either a successful write occurs or the media is determined to be bad.

Abstract: A system for recording the history associated with writing data onto rewritable media includes an access head for writing data onto the media and reading data from the media. A drive motor moves the media past the access head. A write formatter formats data into a device block to be written onto the media. A read formatter detects errors in data read from the media. A control unit determines an error recovery procedure based on an error detected in reading the media and enables the write formatter to insert an indication of the error recovery procedure into the device block. The error recovery procedure is then attempted. The process is repeated until either a successful write occurs or the media is determined to be bad.

Abstract: A method and a mechanism enabling the method are described to aid in distinguishing new information from old information on a medium. A new variable called a Master Write Pass Count is created for the medium. The Master Write Pass Count is initialized once, advanced on each occasion that new information is written in the medium, and it is never reinitialized or regressed. During each write session the Master Write Pass Count is copied into a Write Pass Count variable associated with each block receiving the new information. The Write Pass Counts may be stored in the header or trailer of the associated block, or external to the block. When the blocks are read from the medium, the Write Pass Counts may be used alone, or in combination with other information associated with the blocks, such as a block identification number, to aid in distinguishing new information from old information.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for detecting the velocity of a tape in a tape transport system having a write head and a read head separated by a known distance and formatting the tape using marks. The tape transport system generates a write signal indicating when one of the marks is written to the tape by the write head and a read signal indicating when one of the marks is read from the tape by the read head. An accumulator determines the amount of time between the write signal and the read signal. A velocity detector determines the velocity of the tape based on the time determined by the accumulator and the known distance between the write head and the read head.