Reuse of partially expired physical tape volume
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorJoel Kenneth Lyman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Reuse of partially expired physical tape volumes reuse is attained in a longitudinal tape data storage drive, wherein data is stored as a sequence of serpentine wraps, a wrap comprising a first linear path traced on a longitudinal tape; and another linear path, laterally spaced from the first linear path, traced on the longitudinal tape; the linear paths extending from one end of the longitudinal tape to the opposite end and arranged in opposite directions. One embodiment of a method comprises identifying expired portions of stored data on the longitudinal tape; determining whether data of a complete linear path of the longitudinal tape has been expired; and allowing reuse of any determined complete linear path for storage of data.
Claims21
In a longitudinal tape data storage drive, wherein data is stored as a sequence of serpentine wraps, a wrap comprising a first linear path traced on a longitudinal tape;
- and another linear path, laterally spaced from said first linear path, traced on said longitudinal tape;
- said linear paths extending from one end of said longitudinal tape to the opposite end and arranged in opposite directions;
- a method comprising:
- identifying expired portions of stored data on said longitudinal tape;
- determining whether data of a complete linear path of said longitudinal tape has been expired;
- and
- allowing reuse of any said determined complete linear path for storage of data.
A data storage control configured for a longitudinal tape data storage drive, said longitudinal tape data storage drive configured for storing data on longitudinal tape as a sequence of serpentine wraps, a wrap comprising a first linear path traced on a longitudinal tape;
- and another linear path, laterally spaced from said first linear path, traced on said longitudinal tape;
- said linear paths extending from one end of said longitudinal tape to the opposite end and arranged in opposite directions;
- comprising:
- at least one processor configured to cause said longitudinal tape data storage drive to perform operations;
- and
- at least one memory coupled to said at least one processor, wherein said at least one memory comprises program instructions executable by said at least one processor to configure said at least one processor to:
- identify expired portions of stored data on said longitudinal tape;
- determine whether data of a complete linear path of said longitudinal tape has been expired;
- and
- allow reuse of any said determined complete linear path for storage of data.
A longitudinal tape data storage drive, comprising:
- a read/write system configured to record and read data on a longitudinal tape data storage medium;
- a drive configured to move said longitudinal tape data storage medium in the longitudinal direction with respect to said head;
- a servo system configured to position a head laterally with respect to said longitudinal tape;
- and
- a storage control configured for operating said longitudinal tape data storage drive to:
- store data on longitudinal tape as a sequence of serpentine wraps, a wrap comprising a first linear path traced on a longitudinal tape;
- and another linear path, laterally spaced from said first linear path, traced on said longitudinal tape;
- said linear paths extending from one end of said longitudinal tape to the opposite end and arranged in opposite directions;
- identify expired portions of stored data on said longitudinal tape;
- determine whether data of a complete linear path of said longitudinal tape has been expired;
- and
- allow reuse of any said determined complete linear path for storage of data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.