System for converting digital data from magnetic tape format apparatus and method for converting a sequentially accessible magnetic tape data format to directly accessible write-once disk data format to worm optical disk format

A method of translating data from a first format having sequential data blocks and block associated information interspersed between said sequential data blocks to a media having second addressable random access format, comprising the steps of:

• storing the data blocks in a data buffer;
• electronically generating a record map of the data stored in the data buffer stored in a record buffer;
• repeating the steps of storing the data blocks and generating a record map until said data buffer and said record buffer are full;
• electronically transferring the data and the record map from the respective full buffers to said media;
• electronically generating a record map list having the media address of the stored data and record map;
• electronically generating a directory referencing at least one record map list;
• and
• storing said directory and said record map list on said media;
• wherein:
• said media comprises a serial media having a first and a second end selected from the beginning and end of said serial media;
• said step of electronically transferring comprises transferring to a first end of said media subsequent to any data and record maps previously transferred;
• and
• said step of storing said record map list comprising the steps of storing said record map list at said second end subsequent to any previously stored record map lists;
• said first format comprises magnetic tape format;
• said block associated information includes data block gaps and file marks, said method further including the steps of
• generating secondary information related to said block associated information;
• and
• storing said secondary information in said record map.

A method of translating data from a first format having sequential data blocks and block associated information interspersed between said sequential data blocks to a media having second addressable random access format, comprising the steps of:

• storing the data blocks in a data buffer;
• electronically generating a record map of the data stored in the data buffer stored in a record buffer;
• repeating the steps of storing the data blocks and electronically generating a record map until said data buffer and said record buffer are full;
• transferring the data and the record map from the respective full buffers to said media;
• electronically generating a record map list having the media address of the stored data and record map;
• electronically generating a directory referencing at least one record map list;
• and
• storing said directory and said record map list on said media wherein:
• said media comprises a serial media having a first and a second end selected from the beginning and end of said serial media;
• said step of transferring comprises transferring to a first end of said media subsequent to any data and record maps previously transferred;
• said step of storing said record map list comprising the steps of storing said record map list at said second end subsequent to any previously stored record map lists;
• and
• said step of generating a record map includes at least one of the steps of:
• generating a record block address;
• generating an offset value;
• generating a record size value;
• and
• generating a media identification number.