Data storage device for fast multiple file write operations

A data storage and retrieval system comprising a data storage device, a data storage medium removeably disposed in said data storage device. and a host computer which provides first information to said data storage device, wherein said data storage device comprises a computer useable medium having computer readable program code disposed therein for recording information on a data storage medium storage medium, the computer readable program code comprising a series of computer readable program steps to effect:

• receiving a first command to record first information on said data storage medium;
• receiving said first information, wherein said first information comprises a first header label group, first data, and a first trailer label group;
• moving said data storage medium in a first direction;
• recording said first information on said moving data storage medium beginning at a first time;
• receiving a first deferred conditional write tape mark command;
• setting a first deferred conditional tape mark indicator at a second time;
• writing said first header label group to said moving data storage medium;
• writing a first tape mark adjacent said first header label group;
• writing said first data adjacent said first tape mark;
• writing a second tape mark adjacent said first data;
• writing said first trailer label group adjacent said second tape mark;
• and
• writing a third tape mark adjacent said first trailer label group;
• specifying a deferred conditional tape mark indicator time interval;
• and
• maintaining said first deferred conditional tape mark indicator during said deferred conditional tape mark indicator time interval.

A computer program product usable with a programmable computer processor having computer readable program code embodied therein for disposing information on a data storage medium using a data storage device comprising a read/write head, comprising:

• computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to receive a first command to record first information on said data storage medium;
• computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to receive said first information, wherein said first information comprises a first header label group, first data, and a first trailer label group;
• computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to move said data storage medium in a first direction;
• computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to record said first information on said moving data storage medium beginning at a first time;
• computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to receive a first deferred conditional write tape mark command;
• computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to set a first deferred conditional tape mark indicator at a second time;
• computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to write said first header label group to said moving data storage medium;
• computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to write a first tape mark adjacent said first header label group;
• computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to write said first data adjacent said first tape mark;
• computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to write a second tape mark adjacent said first data;
• computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to write said first trailer label group adjacent said second tape mark;
• computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to write a third tape mark adjacent said first trailer label group;
• computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to specify a deferred conditional tape mark indicator time interval;
• and
• computer readable program code which causes said programmable computer processor to maintain said first deferred conditional tape mark indicator during said deferred conditional tape mark indicator time interval.

A method to dispose information on a data storage medium using a data storage device, comprising the steps of:

• providing a first command instructing said data storage device to record first information on said data storage medium;
• providing said first information to said data storage device, wherein said first information comprises a first header label group, first data, and a first trailer label group;
• disposing said data storage medium in said data storage device;
• moving said data storage medium in a first direction;
• recording said first information beginning at a first time on said moving data storage medium;
• issuing a first deferred conditional write tape command;
• setting at a second time a first deferred conditional tape mark indicator;
• writing said first header label group to said moving data storage medium;
• writing a first tape mark adjacent said first header label group;
• writing said first data adjacent said first tape mark;
• writing a second tape mark adjacent said first data;
• writing said first trailer label group adjacent said second tape mark;
• writing a third tape mark adjacent said first trailer label group;
• specifying a deferred conditional tape mark indicator time interval;
• maintaining said first deferred conditional tape mark indicator during said deferred conditional tape mark indicator time interval.