Data recorder
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorsAkihiro Kikuchi, Yoshihiro Yoshiura
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A data recorder performs tape loading and unloading operations at high speed and without requiring the tape to be rewound to its top portion upon unloading. The data recorder records updated header information on the tape when the unloading operation is performed. The header information may contain unique values for identifying the tape and its volume. The header information including the values may be stored to a database or other memory device. The data recorder changes the position of a header information on the tape whenever the header information is updated to prevent a damage to a particular portion of the tape. Following the header information, also recorded is unload information that represents the position of the updated header information on the tape.
Claims31
A digital data recording/reproducing apparatus for recording/reproducing digital data to/from a predetermined area of a plurality of divided record/reproduction areas of a tape-shaped recording medium with a record/reproduction head, each of the divided record/reproduction areas having a first information table including the digital data, and end information representing a record end point and first management information for a respective divided record/reproduction area, the tape-shaped recording medium having a second information table including second management information for managing the digital data of the divided record/reproduction areas and information representing a position of the first information table on the tape-shaped recording medium, said digital data recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:
- means for generating a third information table including updated contents of the first information table;
- means for generating a fourth information table including position information representing a position of the third information table on the tape-shaped recording medium;
- means for determining whether the record/reproduction head is closer to the first information table position or to an end information position when an unloading operation is requested;
- and
- controlling means for recording, in response to said determining means, the third information table and the fourth information table at a predetermined position of the divided record/reproduction areas when said digital data recording/reproducing apparatus is requested to perform the unloading operation, said controlling means being adapted for unloading the tape-shaped recording medium after the third information table and the fourth information table have been recorded.
A digital data recording/reproducing apparatus with a record/reproduction head for recording/reproducing digital data, comprising:
- a tape-shaped recording medium having a plurality of divided record/reproduction areas to/from which the digital data is recorded, each of the divided record/reproduction areas having a third information table including updated contents of a first information table including the digital data, end information representing a record end point and first management information for a respective divided record/reproduction area, and a fourth information table including at least position information representing a position of the third information table on said tape-shaped recording medium, said tape-shaped recording medium further having a second information table including second management information for managing the digital data of the divided record/reproduction areas and information representing a position of the first information table on said tape-shaped recording medium;
- moving means for moving said tape-shaped recording medium in response to a control signal;
- and
- controlling means for reading the fourth information table on said tape-shaped recording medium, for detecting the position information of the third information table from the fourth information table, for controlling said moving means corresponding to the detected position information so as to move said tape-shaped recording medium, for reading the third information table from the moved tape-shaped recording medium, for detecting a position of the end information on said tape-shaped recording medium from the read third information table, for controlling said moving means corresponding to the detected position so as to move said tape-shaped recording medium, and for placing the record/reproduction head after the end information when said digital data recording/reproducing apparatus is requested to perform a loading operation.
A digital data recording/reproducing method for recording/reproducing digital data to/from a predetermined area of a plurality of divided record/reproduction areas of a tape-shaped recording medium with a record/reproduction head, each of the divided record/reproduction areas having a first information table including the digital data, and end information representing a record end point and management information for a respective divided record/reproduction area, the tape-shaped recording medium having a second information table including second management information for managing the digital data of the record/reproduction areas and information representing a position of the first information table on the tape-shaped recording medium, said method comprising the steps of:
- generating a third information table including updated contents of the first information table;
- generating a fourth information table including position information representing a position of the third information table on the tape-shaped recording medium;
- determining whether the record/reproduction head is closer to the first information table position or to an end information position when an unloading operation is requested;
- recording, based on said determining step, the third information table and the fourth information table at a predetermined position of the divided record/reproduction areas when the unloading operation is requested;
- and
- unloading the tape-shaped recording medium after the third information table and the fourth information table have been recorded.
A digital data recording/reproducing method using a record/reproduction head for recording/reproducing digital data, said method comprising the steps of:
- loading a tape-shaped recording medium having a plurality of divided record/reproduction areas to/from which the digital data is recorded, each of the divided record/reproduction areas having a third information table including updated contents of a first information table including the digital data, end information representing a record end point and first management information for a respective divided record/reproduction area, and a fourth information table including at least position information representing a position of the third information table on said tape-shaped recording medium, said tape-shaped recording medium further having a second information table including second management information for managing the digital data of the divided record/reproduction areas and information representing a position of the first information table on said tape-shaped recording medium;
- reading the fourth information table;
- detecting the position information representing the position of the third information table on said tape-shaped recording medium from the read fourth information table;
- moving said tape-shaped recording medium corresponding to the detected position information;
- reading the third information table from the moved tape-shaped recording medium;
- detecting a position of the end information on said tape-shaped recording medium from the read third information table;
- and
- moving said tape-shaped recording medium corresponding to the detected end information position so as to place the record/reproduction head after the end information.
A digital data recording/reproducing apparatus for recording/reproducing digital data to/from a predetermined area of a plurality of divided record/reproduction areas of a tape-shaped recording medium with a record/reproduction head, each of the divided record/reproduction areas having a first information table including the digital data, and end information representing a record end point and first management information for a respective divided record/reproduction area, the tape-shaped recording medium having a second information table including second management information for managing the digital data of the divided record/reproduction areas and information representing a position of the first information table on the tape-shaped recording medium, said digital data recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:
- means for generating a third information table including updated contents of the first information table;
- memory means for storing the position information of the third information table;
- means for determining whether the record/reproduction head is closer to the first information table position or to an end information position when an unloading operation is requested;
- and
- controlling means for recording, in response to said determining means, the third information table at a predetermined position of the divided record/reproduction areas, said controlling means being adapted for storing the position information representing the position of the third information table to said memory means, and for unloading the tape-shaped recording medium.
A digital data recording/reproducing apparatus with a record/reproduction head for recording/reproducing digital data, comprising:
- a tape-shaped recording medium having a plurality of divided record/reproduction areas to/from which the digital data is recorded, each of the divided record/reproduction areas having a third information table including updated contents of a first information table including the digital data, end information representing a record end point and first management information for a respective divided record/reproduction area, said tape-shaped recording medium further having a second information table including second management information for managing the digital data of the divided record/reproduction areas and information representing a position of the first information table on said tape-shaped recording medium;
- memory means for storing the position information representing the position of the third information table;
- moving means for moving said tape-shaped recording medium in response to a control signal;
- and
- controlling means for reading the position information representing the third information table stored in said memory means, for controlling said moving means corresponding to the detected position information so as to move said tape-shaped recording medium, for reading the third information table from the moved tape-shaped recording medium, for detecting a position of the end information on said tape-shaped recording medium from the read third information table, for controlling said moving means corresponding to the detected position so as to move said tape-shaped recording medium, and for placing the record/reproduction head after the end information when said digital data recording/reproducing apparatus is requested to perform a loading operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.