Apparatus and method for writing and reading data to and from tape medium

An apparatus for writing data designated by an upper-level apparatus to a tape medium, comprising:

• a first obtaining unit for obtaining the data designated by the upper-level apparatus;
• a second obtaining unit for obtaining identification information used by the upper-level apparatus to identify the data obtained by the first obtaining unit;
• and
• a writing unit for writing the data obtained by the first obtaining unit to the tape medium at a first frequency, and writing the identification information obtained by the second obtaining unit to the tape medium at a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency,
• wherein the second frequency is approximately the same as that of a servo pattern which is recorded in advance to the tape medium, and which indicates a longitudinal position.

An apparatus for reading data designated by an upper-level apparatus from a tape medium, comprising:

• a reading unit for reading each piece of identification information as first identification information from the tape medium to which each piece of data is recorded at a first frequency, and to which each piece of the identification information, used by the upper-level apparatus to identify each piece of the data, is recorded at a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency;
• an obtaining unit for obtaining, as second identification information, identification information of specific data designated by the upper-level apparatus;
• and
• a determination unit for determining whether or not to read the specific data from the tape medium in accordance with the first identification information read by the reading unit and the second identification information obtained by the obtaining unit.

A method for writing data designated by an upper-level apparatus to a tape medium, the method comprising:

• obtaining the data designated by the upper-level apparatus;
• obtaining identification information used by the upper-level apparatus to identify the data;
• and
• writing the data to the tape medium at a first frequency in a user data region of the tape medium that is laterally displaced from a longitudinal servo pattern region of the tape medium, and writing the identification information to the tape medium at a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency.

A tape medium for recording information, comprising:

• a first region on which data is recorded at a first frequency;
• a second region on which identification information, used by an apparatus for processing the data to identify the data, is recorded at a second frequency that is lower than the first frequency;
• and
• a third region on which servo information is recorded.