Storage structure for storing formatted data on a random access medium

A method for providing a structure for storing data of a linear sequential format on a random access medium, said medium having a plurality of equal sized logical sectors as a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered, comprising:

• organizing data of said linear sequential format in a stream of sequential device blocks of variable lengths for writing and reading;
• recording a construct comprising at least one region for writing and reading data in said linear sequential format, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said device blocks and to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• and
• providing each said device block with a device block header with a plurality of backwards references, each referencing a separate previous device block in said stream, one of said references to an immediately adjacent said previous device block, at least one of said references to a closely adjacent said previous device block, and at least one of said references to a distant said previous device block.

A method for providing a structure for storing data of a linear sequential format on a random access medium, said medium having a plurality of equal sized logical sectors as a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered, comprising:

• organizing data of said linear sequential format in a stream of sequential device blocks of variable lengths for writing and reading;
• recording a third level construct comprising at least one region for writing and reading data in said linear sequential format, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said device blocks and to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• providing each said device block with a device block header with a plurality of backwards references, each referencing a separate previous device block in said stream, one of said references to an immediately adjacent said previous device block, at least one of said references to a closely adjacent said previous device block, and at least one of said references to a distant said previous device block;
• recording a second level construct comprising a global device block map having at least one global device block element for each said region, each said global device block element identifying bounds of said data recorded in said region in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• and
• recording a first level construct comprising at least one format identifier having a pointer indicating location and size of said second level construct, said location and size in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors.

A data storage file system for providing a mapping structure for storing data of any of various formats on a random access medium, said medium having a plurality of equal sized logical sectors as a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered, comprising:

• a data storage recording system coupleable to said random access medium for writing and reading information on said random access medium, said data storage recording system:
• recording a third level construct comprising at least one region for writing and reading data in one of said various formats, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said one format of said data and related to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• recording a second level construct comprising a global device block map having at least one global device block element for each said region, each said global device block element identifying bounds of said data recorded in said region in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• and
• recording a first level construct comprising at least one format identifier having a pointer indicating location and size of said second level construct, said location and size in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors.

A data storage file system for providing a structure for storing data of a linear sequential format on a random access medium, said medium having a plurality of equal sized logical sectors as a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered, comprising:

• a data storage recording system coupleable to said random access medium for writing and reading information on said random access medium, said data storage recording system:
• organizing data of said linear sequential format in a stream of sequential device blocks of variable lengths for writing and reading;
• recording a construct comprising at least one region for writing and reading data in said linear sequential format, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said device blocks and to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• and
• providing each said device block with a device block header with a plurality of backwards references, each referencing a separate previous device block in said stream, one of said references to an immediately adjacent said previous device-block, at least one of said references to a closely adjacent said previous device block, and at least one of said references to a distant said previous device block.

A data storage file system for providing a structure for storing data of a linear sequential format on a random access medium, said medium having a plurality of equal sized logical sectors as a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered, comprising:

• a data storage recording system coupleable to said random access medium for writing and reading information on said random access medium, said data storage recording system:
• organizing data of said linear sequential format in a stream of sequential device blocks of variable lengths for writing and reading;
• recording a third level construct comprising at least one region for writing and reading data in said linear sequential format, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said device blocks and to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• providing each said device block with a device block header with a plurality of backwards references, each referencing a separate previous device block in said stream, one of said references to an immediately adjacent said previous device block, at least one of said references to a closely adjacent said previous device block, and at least one of said references to a distant said previous device block
• recording a second level construct comprising a global device block map having at least one global device block element for each said region, each said global device block element identifying bounds of said data recorded in said region in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• and
• recording a first level construct comprising at least one format identifier having a pointer indicating location and size of said second level construct, said location and size in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors.

A removable random access medium for storing data of any of various formats, comprising:

• a plurality of equal sized logical sectors, said logical sectors comprising a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered;
• a third level construct comprising at least one region for writing and reading data in one of said various formats, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said one format of said data, and related to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• a second level construct comprising a global device block map having at least one global device block element for each said region, each said global device block element identifying bounds of said data recorded in said region in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• and
• a first level construct comprising at least one format identifier having a pointer indicating location and size of said second level construct, said location and size in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors.

A random access medium for storing data of a linear sequential format, comprising:

• a plurality of equal sized logical sectors, said logical sectors comprising a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered;
• a format for said data of said linear sequential format comprising a stream of sequential device blocks of variable lengths for writing and reading;
• a construct comprising at least one region for writing and reading data in said linear sequential format, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said device blocks and to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• and
• each said device block having a device block header with a plurality of backwards references, each referencing a separate previous device block in said stream, one of said references to an immediately adjacent said previous device block, at least one of said references to a closely adjacent said previous device block, and at least one of said references to a distant said previous device block.

A random access medium for storing data of a linear sequential format, comprising:

• a plurality of equal sized logical sectors, said logical sectors comprising a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered;
• a format for said data of said linear sequential format comprising a stream of sequential device blocks of variable lengths for writing and reading;
• a third level construct comprising at least one region for writing and reading data in said linear sequential format, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said device blocks and to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• each said device block having a device block header with a plurality of backwards references, each referencing a separate previous device block in said stream, one of said references to an immediately adjacent said previous device block, at least one of said references to a closely adjacent said previous device block, and at least one of said references to a distant said previous device block;
• a second level construct comprising a global device block map having at least one global device block element for each said region, each said global device block element identifying bounds of said data recorded in said region in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• and
• a first level construct comprising at least one format identifier having a pointer indicating location and size of said second level construct, said location and size in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors.

A method for providing a mapping structure for storing data of any of various formats on a random access medium, said medium having a plurality of equal sized logical sectors as a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered, comprising:

• recording a third level construct comprising a plurality of regions, each said region for writing and reading data in one of said various formats, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said one format of said data, and related to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• recording a second level construct comprising a global device block map having at least one global device block element for each said region, each said global device block element identifying bounds of said data recorded in said region in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors, and additionally identifying at least one set of said regions by a partition identifier, and identifying each said region of said set by a region sequence number;
• and
• recording a first level construct comprising at least one format identifier having a pointer indicating location and size of said second level construct, said location and size in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors.

A method for providing a structure for storing data of a linear sequential format on a random access medium, said medium having a plurality of equal sized logical sectors as a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered, comprising:

• organizing data of said linear sequential format in a stream of sequential device blocks of variable lengths for writing and reading, each said device block organized in stream of device packets;
• recording a construct comprising at least one region for writing and reading data in said linear sequential format, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said device blocks and to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• and
• providing each said device block with a device block header with a plurality of backwards references, each referencing a separate previous device block in said stream, one of said references to an immediately adjacent said previous device block, at least one of said references to a closely adjacent said previous device block, and at least one of said references to a distant said previous device block, and, placing in each said device block header, a device packet header element for each of said device packets of said device block.

A method for providing a structure for storing data of a linear sequential format on a random access medium, said medium having a plurality of equal sized logical sectors as a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered, comprising:

• organizing data of said linear sequential format in a stream of sequential device blocks of variable lengths for writing and reading, each said device block organized in a stream of device packets;
• recording a third level construct comprising at least one region for writing and reading data in said linear sequential format, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said device blocks and to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• providing each said device block with a device block header with a plurality of backwards references, each referencing a separate previous device block in said stream, one of said references to an immediately adjacent said previous device block, at least one of said references to a closely adjacent said previous device block, and at least one of said references to a distant said previous device block, and, placing in each said device block header, a device packet header element for each of said device packets of said device block;
• recording a second level construct comprising a global device block map having at least one global device block element for each said region, each said global device block element identifying bounds of said data recorded in said region in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• recording a first level construct comprising at least one format identifier having a pointer indicating location and size of said second level construct, said location and size in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• and
• wherein said device block headers, said region identifications, said global device block maps, and said format identifiers, all are separate from said data.

A data storage file system for providing a mapping structure for storing data of any of various formats on a random access medium, said medium having a plurality of equal sized logical sectors as a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered, comprising:

• a data storage recording system coupleable to said random access medium for writing and reading information on said random access medium, said data storage recording system:
• recording a third level construct comprising a plurality of regions, each said region for writing and reading data in one of said various formats, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said one format of said data and related to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• recording a second level construct comprising a global device block map having at least one global device block element for each said region, each said global device block element identifying bounds of said data recorded in said region in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors, and additionally identifying at least one set of said regions by a partition identifier, and identifying each said region of said set by a region sequence number;
• and
• recording a first level construct comprising at least one format identifier having a pointer indicating location and size of said second level construct, said location and size in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors.

A data storage file system for providing a structure for storing data of a linear sequential format on a random access medium, said medium having a plurality of equal sized logical sectors as a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered, comprising:

• a data storage recording system coupleable to said random access medium for writing and reading information on said random access medium, said data storage recording system:
• organizing data of said linear sequential format in a stream of sequential device blocks of variable lengths for writing and reading, each said device block organized in a stream of device packets;
• recording a construct comprising at least one region for writing and reading data in said linear sequential format, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said device blocks and to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• and
• providing each said device block with a device block header with a plurality of backwards references, each referencing a separate previous device block in said stream, one of said references to an immediately adjacent said previous device block, at least one of said references to a closely adjacent said previous device block, and at least one of said references to a distant said previous device block, and, placing in each said device block header, a device packet header element for each of said device packets of said device block.

A data storage file system for providing a structure for storing data of a linear sequential format on a random access medium, said medium having a plurality of equal sized logical sectors as a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered, comprising:

• a data storage recording system coupleable to said random access medium for writing and reading information on said random access medium, said data storage recording system:
• organizing data of said linear sequential format in a stream of sequential device blocks of variable lengths for writing and reading, each said device block organized in a stream of device packets;
• recording a third level construct comprising at least one region for writing and reading data in said linear sequential format, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said device blocks and to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• providing each said device block with a device block header with a plurality of backwards references, each referencing a separate previous device block in said stream, one of said references to an immediately adjacent said previous device block, at least one of said references to a closely adjacent said previous device block, and at least one of said references to a distant said previous device block, and placing in each said device block header, a device packet header element for each of said device packets of said device block;
• recording a second level construct comprising a global device block map having at least one global device block element for each said region, each said global device block element identifying bounds of said data recorded in said region in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• recording a first level construct comprising at least one format identifier having a pointer indicating location and size of said second level construct, said location and size in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• and
• wherein said device block headers, said region identifications, said global device block maps, and said format identifiers, all are separate from said data.

A removable random access medium for storing data of any of various formats, comprising:

• a plurality of equal sized logical sectors, said logical sectors comprising a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered;
• a third level construct comprising a plurality of regions, each said region for writing and reading data in one of said various formats, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said one format of said data, and related to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• a second level construct comprising a global device block map having at least one global device block element for each said region, each said global device block element identifying bounds of said data recorded in said region in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors, and additionally identifying at least one set of said regions by a partition identifier, and identifying each said region of said set by a region sequence number;
• and
• a first level construct comprising at least one format identifier having a pointer indicating location and size of said second level construct, said location and size in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors.

A random access medium for storing data of a linear sequential format, comprising:

• a plurality of equal sized logical sectors, said logical sectors comprising a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered;
• a format for said data of said linear sequential format comprising a stream of sequential device blocks of variable lengths for writing and reading, each said device block organized in a stream of device packets;
• a construct comprising at least one region for writing and reading data in said linear sequential format, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said device blocks and to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• and
• each said device block having a device block header with a plurality of backwards references, each referencing a separate previous device block in said stream, one of said references to an immediately adjacent said previous device block, at least one of said references to a closely adjacent said previous device block, and at least one of said references to a distant said previous device block, and, each said device block having a device packet header element for each of said device packets of said device block.

A random access medium for storing data of a linear sequential format, comprising:

• a plurality of equal sized logical sectors, said logical sectors comprising a smallest single writeable/readable unit, said logical sectors sequentially numbered;
• a format for said data of said linear sequential format comprising a stream of sequential device blocks of variable lengths for writing and reading, each said device block organized in a stream of device packets;
• a third level construct comprising at least one region for writing and reading data in said linear sequential format, each said region having an identification of said region in terms related to said device blocks and to said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• each said device block having a device block header with a plurality of backwards references, each referencing a separate previous device block in said stream, one of said references to an immediately adjacent said previous device block, at least one of said references to a closely adjacent said previous device block, and at least one of said references to a distant said previous device block, and, each said device block having a device packet header element for each of said device packets of said device block;
• a second level construct comprising a global device block map having at least one global device block element for each said region, each said global device block element identifying bounds of said data recorded in said region in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• a first level construct comprising at least one format identifier having a pointer indicating location and size of said second level construct, said location and size in terms of said sequentially numbered logical sectors;
• and
• wherein said device block headers, said region identifications, said global device block maps, and said format identifiers, all are separate from said data.