Positioning system and formatting scheme for magnetic tape media

摘要

A positioning system for a magnetic tape system that utilizes a multiple record recording format wherein positioning data that marks the beginning of record segments, the beginning of the tape medium, and the ending of the tape medium are pre-recorded at one-fourth of the bit density of work data so that positioning data may be more accurately read at a higher tape speed during a record seek mode of operation. The system also includes detector circuitry that is enabled only upon detecting positioning data and that identifies the positioning data as an inter-record mark signal, beginning of tape signal, or an ending of tape signal. A tape drive controller is responsive to the detection circuitry for controlling the speed and direction of the magnetic tape.