Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a tape drive having a regenerative braking system. The tape drive comprises a first reel; a first spindle coupled to the first reel; a first motor coupled to the first spindle, wherein the first motor is configured to rotate the first spindle; a second reel; a second spindle coupled to the second reel; a second motor coupled to the second spindle, wherein the second motor is configured to rotate the second spindle; and a regenerative braking circuit coupled to the first motor and the second motor, wherein during a braking of the motors, the regenerative braking circuit and the motors convert a mechanical energy of the motors to electrical energy for a power storage mechanism, thereby providing resistance to the rotation of the spindles.

Abstract: A direct-to-consumer financial advisor rating system has a website in electronic communication with a server and is provided on a subscription basis. The server includes a scorer which retrieves a first rating, a second rating, and a third rating upon receiving a search request for an advisor, the first rating quantifying the advisor's qualifications and expertise, the second rating quantifying the advisor's communication, work flexibility and performance skills, the third rating quantifying the advisor's ethics and independence from conflicts. The scorer uses the first, second and third ratings to calculate an overall rating score for the advisor, the overall rating score shown as a single number and representing a comprehensive analysis of a quality of the advisor, the overall rating score providing a measure with which to benchmark the advisor against other advisors. The website displays the overall rating score to the user who made the search request.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, system, and program product are disclosed for Tape positioning. One method includes identifying a first position on a first tape between a start of the first tape and an end of the first tape. The method includes determining that an access position of the first tape reaches the first position. The method also includes providing an indication indicating that the access position of the first tape has reached the first position.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an interactive television system for recording television programming. The interactive television system may include components for providing personal video recorder (PVR) functionality, such as an interactive television program guide (IPG), PVR extensions, PVR application programming interfaces (APIs), a PVR device, any suitable hardware or software, or a combination thereof. These components may be implemented in, for example, an arrangement having an integrated PVR-compliant device with a PVR device, or in an arrangement having a PVR-compliant device (e.g., a set-top box) coupled to PVR equipment (e.g., a remote PVR server or a PVR sidecar) with a PVR device. The PVR-compliant device may include software and hardware configured to implement the IPG. The PVR APIs may be a library of intelligent vendor-specific and vendor-independent APIs able to determine the type of PVR device being used.

Abstract: A system that transmits a request to initiate a communication session with a member device of a social network may include, for example, activating a speech capture element, maintaining activation of the speech capture element in accordance with a pattern of prior speech messages, detecting a speech message at the activated speech capture element, and transmitting the detected speech message, or a derivative thereof, to the member device of the social network. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A motor driving apparatus for causing drive current to flow in first and second armature coils of two-phases to rotate a rotator, includes a drive unit configured to give first and second PWM pulse signals to ends of the first and second armature coils. The drive unit includes a first shift unit configured to, when a difference between pulse widths of the first PWM pulse signals given to the ends of the first armature coil is less than or equal to a first predetermined value, shift forward any one of pulses of the first PWM pulse signals, and a second shift unit configured to, when a difference between pulse widths of the second PWM pulse signals given to the ends of the second armature coil is less than or equal to a second predetermined value, shift backward any one of pulses of the second PWM pulse signals.

Abstract: A handheld singing apparatus, capable of being cooperated with a handheld electronic device having a screen for operation, includes a holding member, a supporting seat and a connecting portion. The holding member is approximately formed as rod shaped and has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The supporting seat is capable of receiving and fastening with the handheld electronic device, so that the screen is faced to a direction far from the holding member. The connecting portion is connected between the first end of the holding member and the supporting seat, so that the supporting seat is rotatable relative to the holding member.

Abstract: An optical disc library apparatus, on which plural optical discs and plural optical drives are mounted, has the ability to reduce the degradation of recording/reproduction capability owing to the variation of temperature. In the optical disc library apparatus, causes for the quality degradation of the optical discs are analyzed; temperature inside the optical disc library apparatus is measured in order to make recoveries in accordance with the causes; an inspection cycle for inspecting the optical discs is determined on the basis of the measured temperature; and the inspection of recording qualities of optical discs on which data have already been recorded and that are stored in the optical disc library apparatus is performed by the optical drives on the basis of the measured temperature.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes biasing, by a biasing circuit, an electrically conductive structure to a predefined and/or selected voltage. A resistive link is coupled to both the biasing circuit and the electrically conductive structure, the electrically conductive structure being positioned proximate to a media hearing surface. A method according to another embodiment includes biasing, by a biasing circuit, a conductive bus to a predefined and/or selected voltage, the conductive bus being coupled to at least one of a plurality of transducers and a plurality of electrically conductive structures. Resistive links are electrically coupled between the conductive bus and the electrically conductive structures and/or the transducers.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to tape drive systems having overlapped operations. In one aspect, a system includes a head for performing read and/or write operations, a first set of motors for performing positioning operations on a first tape, a second set of motors for performing positioning operations on a second tape, and a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor. The logic is configured to cause the first set of motors to pass the first tape over the head while causing the second set of motors to perform at least one of a coarse locate and a rewind operation on the second tape. Additional systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided are a storage device, method, and program for controlling a tape speed to manage a tape drive buffer. A tape speed is increased from a current tape speed to a target tape speed on a predetermined speed-change timing to control the reading or writing of data between the buffer and the tape medium.

Abstract: A maximum velocity is dynamically determined during a tape drive operation to obtain a statistical standard deviation of a position error signal (PES) that yields an amount of stopwrite (SW) operations that avoids backhitching. The tape velocity is adjusted to the maximum velocity.

Abstract: In a method for operating a tape storage device comprising a tape head for reading and/or writing data from/to a tape in the tape storage device, a first tape skew value concerning a skew of the tape is determined and the first tape skew value is converted into a first skew control signal by means of a skew feedback controller. A second tape skew value concerning the skew of the tape is determined, and the second tape skew value is converted into a second skew control signal by a feed-forward controller. At least one compensation signal for the second skew control signal is determined, and at least one of a rotational orientation of the tape head and a tape motion direction of the tape is controlled dependent on the second skew control signal and the compensation signal in case the first skew control signal fails.

Abstract: A cell stores a plurality of magnetic tapes. A conveyance mechanism manages movement of the magnetic tapes stored in the cell. An interlock switch cam moves in a predetermined direction when a pressing force from an inner door claw is removed. An interlock switch shuts off power supply to the conveyance mechanism when the interlock switch cam moves in the predetermined direction. A disabling button moves on a moving path of the interlock switch cam by receiving an instruction from an operator and prevents the interlock switch cam from moving in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a hard disk drive, an acceleration detection portion, and a controller. The hard disk drive has a protective function for moving a head from a recording area of a disk to an evacuation position. The acceleration detection portion is configured to detect, as a detection target acceleration, an acceleration in one of a vertical direction and an almost-vertical direction with respect to a gravity direction. The controller is configured to detect a movement based on the acceleration detected as the detection target acceleration and determine whether to activate the protective function of the hard disk drive based on the detected movement.

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 magnetic tape apparatus includes a first and second suction tubes, each of which couples the blade with an edge part of the roller of the roller guide, the first suction tube having a blade side opening area at a location where air is sucked by the blade during a forward rotation of a motor, a second suction tube having a blade side opening area at a location where air is sucked by the blade during the backward rotation of the motor, a shutter unit to perform opening and closing of the first and second suction tubes, and an opening and closing control unit to control the shutter unit to open the first suction tube during the forward rotation and open the second suction tube during the backward rotation.

Abstract: A transducer positioning apparatus is provided that supports a read/write head on a data storage machine and biases the head against rotation. The transducer positioning apparatus may comprise a base that includes a linear drive motor and a support frame to which the read/write head is secured. The support frame is reciprocally driven by the linear drive motor relative to the base. A magnetic coupling is provided between the base and the support frame that resists movement of the frame other than the reciprocal movement of the support frame relative to the base. A method is also disclosed for magnetically biasing a movable head of a transducer against rotation.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for performing data write and data read operations on a tape storage medium. A dual head/tape actuator assembly, comprising two head/tape actuator assemblies, is implemented to perform data write and data read operations on a tape medium. Each of the head/tape actuator assemblies comprises a set of data writer elements and a set of data reader elements. During data write operations, the data writer elements on one head/tape actuator assembly are used to write data to a tape medium and the data reader elements on the other head/tape actuator assembly are used to read the data from the tape medium. During read operations, half of the data readers on one head/tape actuator assembly are used to read data from half of the written data tracks on the tape medium and half of the data readers on the other head/tape actuator assembly are used to read the other half of the written tracks.

Abstract: A method for controlling writing for a tape recorder that is connected to a host and sequentially records, as a transaction, a plurality of records that are transferred from the host and stored in a buffer is provided, including receiving a synchronous command for a first transaction from the host; in response to the synchronous command, sequentially writing the plurality of records stored in the buffer to a tape as the first transaction; receiving the size of a second transaction following the first transaction from the host; calculating time for a backhitch associated with an operation of the synchronous command for the first transaction on the basis of the size; and performing the backhitch on the basis of the time for the backhitch.

Abstract: A lubricant compound for a magnetic disk is provided which can realize further reduction of the magnetic spacing and moreover, has high reliability under a lower floating amount of the magnetic head involved with the recent rapid increase in the recording density and under extremely severe environmental resistance involved with diversification of the applications. A lubricant compound is contained in a lubrication layer of a magnetic disk in which at least a magnetic layer, a protective layer, and a lubrication layer are sequentially provided on a substrate, and the lubricant compound contains a component A and a component B expressed by the following chemical formula: [Chemical formula] 1 Component A: X=OH Component B: X=OCH2CH(OH)CH2OH and a component C made of a specific compound having a phosphezene ring in the structure thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for writing data accumulated in a buffer on a tape medium in such a way that overwriting is prevented. The apparatus comprises a write unit configured for writing first data in a first position extending over a first track and an area adjacent to the first track, writing second data in a second position extending over a second track and an area adjacent to the second track, and writing the first data and the second data in a third position extending over a third track and an area adjacent to the third track. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a processing unit configured for preventing the first data written in the first position from being overwritten with the second data written in the second position or with the first data written in the third position.

Abstract: A magnetic tape driving apparatus, which does not cause damage to either a magnetic head or a magnetic tape when making transition of the magnetic tape from a stopped state to a running state, when making transition of the magnetic tape from a running state to a stopped state, or when reversing the transportation direction of the magnetic tape, is provided. In a state where any one of a magnetic head and a magnetic tape moves and the other rests (i.e., a state where static friction may occur), such as at the time of starting transportation of the magnetic tape, at the time of stopping the tape in a running state, and at the time of reversing the transportation direction of the magnetic tape, a head displacing portion vibrates the magnetic head under the control by a displacement control portion, and thus no static friction occurs between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a hard disk drive, an acceleration detection portion, and a controller. The hard disk drive has a protective function for moving a head from a recording area of a disk to an evacuation position. The acceleration detection portion is configured to detect, as a detection target acceleration, an acceleration in one of a vertical direction and an almost-vertical direction with respect to a gravity direction. The controller is configured to detect a movement based on the acceleration detected as the detection target acceleration and determine whether to activate the protective function of the hard disk drive based on the detected movement.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the traveling of a tape is provided. The system and method include passing data in a buffer to a channel input/output unit for writing the data to a tape. A determining unit determines if second data is to be written to the tape without performing a backhitch after first data is written to the tape. The determination unit also determines a state of the system before writing the first data to the tape and compares an amount of second data written to the tape prior to writing first data to the tape with an amount of second data expected to be written to the tape to an area up to a position on the tape where writing the first data commenced, for determining if the second data is to be written to the tape without performing a backhitch. A speed adjusting unit adjusts the speed of the tape to prevent a backhitch due to the buffer running out of data when the determination unit determines that the second data is to be written to the tape without performing a backhitch.

Abstract: Reuse of partially expired physical tape volumes reuse is attained in a longitudinal tape data storage drive, wherein data is stored as a sequence of serpentine wraps, a wrap comprising a first linear path traced on a longitudinal tape; and another linear path, laterally spaced from the first linear path, traced on the longitudinal tape; the linear paths extending from one end of the longitudinal tape to the opposite end and arranged in opposite directions. One embodiment of a method comprises identifying expired portions of stored data on the longitudinal tape; determining whether data of a complete linear path of the longitudinal tape has been expired; and allowing reuse of any determined complete linear path for storage of data.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a power management module of a storage device executes a process of stopping rotation of a disk storage medium by selectively using one of a first mode of stopping the rotation of the disk storage medium on condition that a media access command is not received during a predetermined time from last reception of a media access command, and a second mode of stopping the rotation of the disk storage medium on condition that a media access command which causes access to the disk storage medium is not received during a predetermined time from last reception of a media access command which causes access to the disk storage medium. In addition, the power management module executes a process of starting the rotation of the disk storage medium by selectively using one of a third mode and a fourth mode.

Abstract: A method to write information to a tape storage medium by disposing a tape storage medium in a tape drive apparatus comprising a write head. The method moves the tape storage medium in a first direction, writes data from a buffer to the tape storage medium, and thereby empties the buffer while the tape storage medium is moving in the first direction. The method determines, while the tape storage medium is moving in the first direction, whether to enable a backhitchless write wherein the tape storage medium is not stopped and moved in a second and opposition direction, prior to writing new data to the tape storage medium. By not stopping the movement of the tape storage medium, and by not moving the tape storage medium in a reverse direction to reposition the write head, the method eliminates the time overhead required to stop the tape and reposition the tape head. Applicants' method achieves this time efficiency without adverse impact to the nominal storage capacity of the tape information medium.

Abstract: A method and circuit to stop a spindle motor in the absence of the external supply voltage in which the spindle motor is structured to move a hard disk provided with at least one reading or writing head moved by a voice coil motor, the spindle motor provided with a plurality of coils. The method includes rectifying the backelectromotive force of the spindle motor to produce a braking current, driving the voice coil motor with at least a portion of the braking current until the speed of the spindle motor becomes lower than a predetermined stop speed, and, after the parking of the at least one reading or writing head of the voice coil motor, stopping the spindle motor by short-circuiting the coils of the spindle motor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for reducing occurrences of tape stick conditions in magnetic tape, the method including stopping functional rotation of each of two bi-directionally rotatable reels of a reel-to-reel tape drive that includes a length of magnetic tape at least partially wound around each reel, a portion of the length of tape extending between the two moveable reels and contacting a head positioned between the two reels; wherein the stopping creates a stop condition in the tape drive, actuating a fractional rotation at least one of the two bi-directionally movable reels a fraction of a reel turn in a first direction during the stop condition, causing the portion of the length of tape to at least temporarily break contact with the head via the fractional rotation, and re-starting functional rotation of each of the reels, ending the stop condition via the re-starting.

Abstract: An auto-identification system is described that includes a plurality of distributed auto-id nodes that are operable to track physical objects as they move through an operation of an enterprise, such as, for example, a supply chain network or a sales network. The auto-id nodes are distributed across sites of the network, and are in communication with enterprise application systems and/or data acquisition systems such as RFID readers or sensor devices. By focusing on their respective sites, the auto-id nodes minimize the amount of data tracked by their respective enterprise applications. Further, a simulator may be associated with one or more of the auto-id nodes. In this case, the simulator may project certain movements of the physical objects through an environment of an auto-id node, and then feed corresponding data to the auto-id node. In this way, the auto-id node may be tested and optimized, without requiring actual, physical testing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to reduce the stopping time of a spindle motor are disclosed. An example method includes detecting a dissipation current flowing in a spinning motor; determining when the dissipation current drops below a threshold value; and, in response to the dissipation current dropping below the threshold value, applying a voltage to the motor to increase the dissipation current for a duration. In some examples, the voltage is removed from the motor when the motor reaches a predetermined rotational velocity to avoid reverse rotation.

Abstract: A method for accelerating a tape backup system restore process receives a list of files that are to be restored and searches a tape catalogue to find tape volume and file sequence numbers for each file in the list of files, where the catalogue is an alphabetical listing of the contents of one or more backup tape volumes. The process appends the tape volume and file sequence numbers for each of the files to the list of files and then sorts the list of files according to tape volume and file sequence number. Accordingly, a list is obtained including the files that are to be restored, ordered according to the location of the files on the backup tape volumes. The restore process is accelerated by restoring files sequentially from this list and skipping over any intermediate files that are not on the list.

Abstract: A bidirectional disc sweep routine accelerates the transducer in a storage device from a first predefined radius toward the inner radius to a second predefined radius, and accelerates the transducer from a third predefined radius toward the outer radius to a fourth predefined radius.

Abstract: A hard disk drive is disclosed including a voice coil motor and a magnetic sensor communicating with a control circuit. A magnetic sensor reading is created and used to stop access operations in response to the reading of an external magnetic field that may be strong enough to disrupt a slider accessing a rotating disk surface. Also disclosed are a main flex circuit and head stack assembly including the magnetic sensor for use in a hard disk drive. Control circuits and processors are disclosed for receiving the magnetic reading to stop access operations in hard disk drives. The hard disk drive may be a Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (PMR) hard disk drive.

Abstract: A method for controlling read velocity in a disk device is provided. When reading data on the disc, the method first reads each SYNC of blocks to form an ECC code, read data to decode, and checks and corrects decoded data to generate decoded errors. The type of decoded errors are classified and counted to form reference parameters of a rule base. A fuzzy engine checks if the counting number exceeds the threshold of the parameter, and executes the operation of the rule to control read velocity and enhance the data transfer rate in the disk device.

Abstract: A method for evaluating data transfer performance within a data recording apparatus is disclosed. The data recording apparatus includes a buffer and a recording medium. Initially, a Pause time P when data transfer between the buffer and a host being stopped temporarily is measured. Then, an ideal Pause time Y is determined. Next, a determination is made whether or not the Pause time P exceeds a sum of the ideal Pause time Y and an allowance a. If the Pause time P exceeds a sum of the ideal Pause time Y and the allowance a, a warning signal is sent to the host.

Abstract: A disk drive system is set forth that comprises a rotatable storage medium adapted to store data, a spindle motor disposed to rotate the rotatable storage medium, and a spindle motor control system. The spindle motor control system brakes rotation of the spindle motor in response to inductive sensing of the rotation of the spindle motor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for reducing occurrences of tape stick conditions in magnetic tape, the method including stopping functional rotation of each of two bi-directionally rotatable reels of a reel-to-reel tape drive that includes a length of magnetic tape at least partially wound around each reel, a portion of the length of tape extending between the two moveable reels and contacting a head positioned between the two reels; wherein the stopping creates a stop condition in the tape drive, actuating a fractional rotation at least one of the two bi-directionally movable reels a fraction of a reel turn in a first direction during the stop condition, causing the portion of the length of tape to at least temporarily break contact with the head via the fractional rotation, and re-starting functional rotation of each of the reels, ending the stop condition via the re-starting.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk drive apparatus includes a sensor to detect mechanical shocks to the disk drive apparatus and to provide a shock output signal representative of such mechanical shocks, a first filter coupled to the sensor to filter the shock output signal to pass signals having a first frequency component, a second filter to independently filter the shock output signal to provide signals having a second frequency component, a detector to inhibit write operations of the disk drive apparatus responsive to the shock output signal from the first filter, and a controller coupled to the second filter to compensate for low frequency mechanical disturbances during write operations to a track on the disk drive apparatus responsive to low frequency component.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for reducing occurrences of stick conditions in tape, the method including stopping rotation of a supply reel and take-up reel of a drive that includes a length of tape, a portion of the tape extending between the reels and contacting a head between the reels, wherein the stopping creates a stop condition in the drive, determining if the tape is stuck to the head, dropping tension in the tape between the reels, freeing the tape for movement in a z-direction via the dropping tension, moving the head in y-directions, moving the tape in an x-direction via a rotation of the supply reel a fraction of a rotation, and causing the tape to break contact with the head via the dropping, moving of the tape in the z-direction, moving of the tape in the x-direction, and/or moving of the head in the y-directions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method and apparatus for minimizing unload times in a tape drive system is disclosed. The method includes: writing to a tape in serpentine format; reaching a comparison point on the tape, wherein at the comparison point an actual capacity is compared to an expected capacity; utilizing the comparison at the comparison point to estimate a distance from the comparison point until a guaranteed capacity for the tape is reached; and determining a turn-around point on the tape based on the estimated distance, wherein at the turn-around point a tape drive writing to the tape to stop writing in a first direction and then continue writing in a second direction opposite from the first direction and towards a physical beginning of the tape. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method and apparatus for minimizing unload times in a tape drive system is disclosed. The method includes: writing to a tape in serpentine format; reaching a comparison point on the tape, wherein at the comparison point an actual capacity is compared to an expected capacity; utilizing the comparison at the comparison point to estimate a distance from the comparison point until a guaranteed capacity for the tape is reached; and determining a turn-around point on the tape based on the estimated distance, wherein at the turn-around point a tape drive writing to the tape to stop writing in a first direction and then continue writing in a second direction opposite from the first direction and towards a physical beginning of the tape. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical disc drive 1 includes a spindle motor 11 for rotating the optical disc 2 and a spindle driver for driving the spindle motor 11 equipped with a rotation number counter 232 for measuring the rotation number of the spindle motor 11. A brake for braking the spindle motor 11 to reduce the rotation number thereof, can include at least three types of brake modes, and a selector for selecting one of the types of brake modes in response to the rotation number measured by the rotation number counter 232 when the rotation number of the spindle motor 11 is to be reduced. The optical disc drive 1 may further include a judging circuit for judging whether the rotation number of spindle motor 11 measured by the rotation number counter 232 reaches a predetermined target rotation number when the rotation of the optical disc 2 is to be stopped by the spindle motor 11.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a spindle motor having a plurality of windings including at least a first winding, a second winding, and a third winding. During a spin-up operation, a voltage is applied to the first winding and a first rise time is measured for current flowing through the first winding to reach a predetermined threshold. A voltage is applied to the second winding and a second rise time is measured for current flowing through the second winding to reach a predetermined threshold. A voltage is applied to the third winding and a third rise time is measured for current flowing through the third winding to reach a predetermined threshold. A difference is computed in response to the first rise time, the second rise time, and the third rise time, and an angular position of the spindle motor is estimated by computing an arctangent in response to the difference.

Abstract: Synchronized data is written to magnetic tape while reducing the number of backhitches. A controller detects a pattern of synchronizing events for received data records to be written to tape; writes each transaction of data records to the magnetic; tape; accumulates the synchronized transactions in a buffer; and subsequently recursively writes the accumulated transactions of data records from the buffer to the magnetic tape in a sequence. A single backhitch may be employed to place the recursively written accumulated data records following the preceding data, maximizing performance and capacity.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head actuated over the disk, and a spindle motor for rotating the disk, the spindle motor comprising a plurality of windings. Disk control circuitry executes a spin-down operation of the spindle motor by estimating an angular position of the spindle motor by applying a voltage to at least one of the windings and evaluating a rise time of current flowing through the winding. The windings are commutated in response to the estimated angular position, and a driving current is applied to the windings to brake the spindle motor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing tape media edge damage in data regions. The present invention controls where popped strand occur by shifting the wrap turn around/stream points in the tape media to an unused region of tape. As data is written for the length of the tape, when a wrap turn around point is reached, the write current is shut off. However, the servo motors in the tape drive continue to stream the tape for a predefined distance past the turn around point. The head may then be moved transversely to acquire a new track. The tape may then be spooled in the reverse direction on the new track. When a wrap point is encountered, the write current may be turned on and the next track (wrap) may be written. This combination of steps may be repeated for each serpentine wrap on the tape.

Abstract: A magnetic tape apparatus for controlling a running of magnetic tape, and being able to control a cleaning medium to clean a magnetic head. The apparatus including a feed reel shaft and a take-up reel shaft respectively adapted to hold a feed reel and a take-up reel of the cleaning medium; a magnetic head; a control part controlling the feed reel shaft and the take-up reel shaft so as to reel the cleaning medium; and a cleaning section determining part determining a cleaning section on the cleaning medium that is used for a single cleaning step of the magnetic head. The control part controls the feed reel shaft and the take-up reel shaft to clean the magnetic head for the cleaning section by the cleaning medium.

Abstract: A system and method of the present invention allow users to access, manage, and edit information about content data, often referred to as metadata. Metadata is collected from various sources, added, and maintained in a metadata database. In addition, metadata is dynamically read from the metadata database and dynamically displayed in a graphical user interface in an organized manner, such as a hierarchical tree. In the graphical user interface, a user may add, delete, and/or modify the metadata. As the user changes the metadata, the metadata database is updated and the user's changes are propagated throughout the graphical user interface such that the hierarchical tree is displays the changed metadata.