METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TAPE TRACK IDENTIFICATION

摘要

A magnetic recording tape (140) has recorded at at least one end of each of a plurality of longitudinal tracks (24, 60) therealong at least one frame (70, 72) of digitally encoded data representing the identity of each specific track. A recording/playback head assembly (12, 14, 16) is transversely positioned with respect to a longitudinal transport path along which the tape may be moved. The transverse position of the recording/playback head assembly may be monitored in response to the track identification data, to ensure positioning of the head assembly at a desired track (24, 60), to prevent recording onto an incorrect track, and to prevent playing back data from an incorrect track.