US 10,379,756 B2 · Logical format utilizing lateral encoding of data for storage on magnetic tape

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving data to store to a magnetic tape medium using a tape drive, the data being organized into a predetermined number of two-dimensional arrays, each two-dimensional array including a plurality of narrow-spread (NS) codewords positioned orthogonally to a plurality of wide-spread (WS) codewords (relative spread referring to space occupied on the magnetic tape medium when written). The method also includes successively writing each of the NS codewords onto a plurality of tracks of the magnetic tape medium using a first number of channels of the tape drive capable of writing data to tape tracks simultaneously. A first NS codeword from a first two-dimensional array is completely written to the magnetic tape medium prior to starting to write a second NS codeword from the first two-dimensional array. Also, the plurality of NS codewords are protected with a stronger encoding than the plurality of WS codewords.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A tape drive, comprising:

a plurality of write head elements;
a processing circuit;
and
logic integrated with the processing circuit, executable by the processing circuit, or integrated with and executable by the processing circuit, the logic being configured to cause the processing circuit to:
receive data to store to a magnetic tape medium using the plurality of write head elements, the data being organized into a predetermined number of two-dimensional arrays, each two-dimensional array comprising a plurality of narrow-spread (NS) codewords positioned orthogonally to a plurality of wide-spread (WS) codewords;
and
successively write each of the NS codewords onto a plurality of tracks of the magnetic tape medium using a first number of the plurality of write head elements capable of writing data to tape tracks simultaneously, wherein a first NS codeword from a first two-dimensional array is completely written to the magnetic tape medium prior to starting to write a second NS codeword from the first two-dimensional array,
wherein the plurality of NS codewords are protected with a stronger encoding than the plurality of WS codewords.

5 more elements

A method for providing low-latency narrow-spread symbols to a decoder to drive timing recovery, the method comprising:

receiving data to store to a magnetic tape medium using a tape drive, the data being organized into a predetermined number of two-dimensional arrays, each two-dimensional array comprising a plurality of narrow-spread (NS) codewords positioned orthogonally to a plurality of wide-spread (WS) codewords;
and
successively writing each of the NS codewords onto a plurality of tracks of the magnetic tape medium using a first number of channels of the tape drive capable of writing data to tape tracks simultaneously, wherein a first NS codeword from a first two-dimensional array is completely written to the magnetic tape medium prior to starting to write a second NS codeword from the first two-dimensional array,
wherein the plurality of NS codewords are protected with a stronger encoding than the plurality of WS codewords.

1 more element

A computer program product, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the embodied program instructions being executable by a processing circuit to cause the processing circuit to:

receive, by the processing circuit, data to store to a magnetic tape medium using a tape drive, the data being organized into a predetermined number of two-dimensional arrays, each two-dimensional array comprising a plurality of narrow-spread (NS) codewords positioned orthogonally to a plurality of wide-spread (WS) codewords;
and
successively write, by the processing circuit, each of the NS codewords onto a plurality of tracks of the magnetic tape medium using a first number of channels of the tape drive capable of writing data to tape tracks simultaneously, wherein a first NS codeword from a first two-dimensional array is completely written to the magnetic tape medium prior to starting to write a second NS codeword from the first two-dimensional array,
wherein the plurality of NS codewords are protected with a stronger encoding than the plurality of WS codewords.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Logical format utilizing lateral encoding of data for storage on magnetic tape

Life of this patent

Logical format utilizing lateral encoding of data for storage on magnetic tape

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20