Method for loading data on a tape at a center of the tape, and a tape for implementing the method

A method for writing data on a data carrier tape, comprising the steps of:

• providing a data carrier tape having a first end and a second end with a longitudinal direction extending between said first end and said second end and having a central region between said first end and said second end, and having a center region disposed between said first end and said second end;
• providing a data recording head;
• positioning said central region of said tape adjacent said data recording head;
• supplying said data to said data recording head;
• dividing said tape along said longitudinal direction into a plurality of data recording sections at least including a first section adjacent a first side of said center region, a second section adjacent a second side, opposite said first side, of said center region, a third section between said first end of said tape and said second section, and a fourth section between said second end of said tape and said first section, each of said plurality of data recording sections having a bottommost data recording track therein and an uppermost data recording track therein, with a plurality of data recording tracks between said bottommost data recording track and said uppermost data recording track including a penultimate bottom track adjacent said bottommost track and a penultimate upper track adjacent said uppermost track;
• transferring said data from said data recording head to said tape, beginning at said center region of said tape, while transporting said tape along said longitudinal direction by beginning transferring said data from said data recording head to said tape at a beginning, adjacent said center region of said tape, of said penultimate bottom track in said first section and transferring data successively into the data recording tracks in said first section until filling said penultimate upper track in said first section;
• moving said tape through said center region to position said data recording head at a beginning, adjacent said center region of said tape, of said penultimate upper track of said second section and filling said penultimate upper track in said second section;
• moving said data recording head in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction to a beginning of said penultimate bottom track in said second section and successively filling said data recording tracks in said second section until reaching an end, adjacent said center region, of a data recording track immediately below and adjacent said penultimate upper track in said second section;
• moving said data recording head in said direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal direction to a beginning, adjacent said center region of said tape, of said bottommost track in said second section and transferring data from said data recording head to fill said bottommost track in said second section;
• after filling said bottommost track in said second section, moving said tape to position said data recording head at a beginning of the bottommost track in said third section;
• transferring data from said data recording head to fill all of the data recording tracks, including said uppermost track, of said third section;
• after filling said uppermost track in said third section, moving said tape to position said data recording head a beginning, adjacent said third section, of said uppermost track in said second section and filling said uppermost track in said second section;
• moving said tape through said center region to position said data recording head at a beginning, adjacent said center region, of the uppermost track in said first section and filling said uppermost track in said first section;
• moving said tape to position and data recording head at a beginning, adjacent said first section, of the uppermost track in said fourth section and filling said uppermost track in said fourth section;
• after filling said uppermost track in said fourth section, moving said data recording head in said direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction to a data recording track in said fourth section which is immediately above said penultimate bottom track in said fourth section and filling said track above said penultimate bottom recording track and others of said data recording tracks in said fourth section until filling said penultimate upper track in said fourth section;
• moving said data recording head in said direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction to a beginning, adjacent said first section, of said penultimate bottom track in said fourth section;
• filling said penultimate bottom track in said fourth section, and filling said bottommost track in said fourth section;
• and
• moving said tape to position said data recording head at a beginning, adjacent said fourth section, of the bottommost track in said first section, and filing said bottommost track in said first section.