Data storage apparatus and method
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsNigel Ronald Evans, Andrew Malcolm George Clarke, John Mark Mackelden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Data storage apparatus is provided for storing data on a tape in accordance with a format specifying a plurality of logs of tape-usage information and a data area for storing the data. Control means are programmed to update one of the logs for each usage of the tape, the logs being selected in turn for updating.
Claims18
Data storage apparatus for storing data on a tape, the apparatus comprising:
- recording means to load the tape for a data recording session and to unload the tape following the data recording session, the recording means being operable to record the data in accordance with a format specifying a system area of the tape for storing a plurality of logs of tape-usage information, and
- a data area of the tape for storing the said data, and control means programmed to access the data in one of the said logs for use at each loading of the tape and to update one of the said logs at each unloading of the tape, the control means being programmed to select the most recently updated log to be accessed at each loading of the tape and to update the least recently updated log at each unloading.
Digital data storage apparatus for storing data on a tape, the apparatus comprising:
- a tape drive to load the tape for a data recording session and to unload the tape following the data recording session, the tape drive being operable to record the data in accordance with a format specifying a system area of the tape for storing two logs of tape-usage information, and a data area of the tape for storing the said data, and
- a controller programmed to access the data in one of the said logs for use at each loading of the tape and to update one of the said logs at each unloading of the tape, the controller being programmed to identify the most recently updated log to be accessed at each loading of the tape and to update the least recently updated log at each unloading.
A method of storing data on a tape by means of data storage apparatus operable to load the tape for a data recording session and to unload the tape following the data recording session, the method comprising the steps of:
- recording the data in accordance with a format specifying a system area of the tape for storing a plurality of logs of tape-usage information, and a data area of the tape for storing the said data, and
- accessing the data in one of the said logs for use at each loading of the tape and updating one of the said logs at each unloading of the tape, the most recently updated log being accessed for use at each loading of the tape and the least recently updated log being updated at each unloading of the tape.
A computer readable storage medium having a program that, when loaded on a computer control system, is effective to control data storage apparatus to store data on a tape loaded in the data storage apparatus for a data recording session and unloaded following the data recording session, the program being effective to control the data recording in accordance with a format specifying a system area of the tape for storing a plurality of logs of tape-usage information, and a data area of the tape for storing the said data, the program comprising instructions to access the data in one of the said logs for use at each loading of the tape and to update one of the said logs at each unloading of the tape, the most recently updated log being accessed for use at each loading of the tape and the least recently updated log being updated at each unloading of the tape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.