Method for appending data to tape medium, and apparatus employing the same

An information recording apparatus for sequentially recording, to a recording medium, datasets each including data with a correction code added thereto, and for carrying out error correction, by use of the correction code, on the datasets read from the recording medium, the apparatus comprising:

• a writing system for sequentially writing the datasets to the recording medium, so that each of the datasets can be identified from a certain number indicating an order that each of the datasets was written, and from the number of writing operations (WP) carried out for the dataset of the certain number;
• the writing system being configured for appending, by regarding the dataset written to the recording medium as an old dataset, a new dataset onto the old dataset, the new dataset having the same certain number as the old dataset, and for setting a value obtained by incrementing the WP of the old dataset as the WP of the new dataset;
• and
• a writing control system for controlling, in the case where an error occurs at the time of the appending, the appending on the old dataset, in a position shifted forward on the recording medium by a predetermined distance from the position of the old dataset on the recording medium, by setting the value obtained by incrementing the WP of the old dataset as the WP for the new dataset, wherein
• the predetermined distance is a distance with which error correction of the old dataset is avoided by appending the new dataset onto the old dataset so that the new dataset overwrites a part of the old dataset.

A method for controlling writing and reading of datasets, to be applied to an information recording apparatus for sequentially recording, to a recording medium, datasets each including data with a correction code added thereto, and for carrying out error correction, by use of the correction code, on the datasets read from the recording medium, the method comprising:

• sequentially writing the datasets to the recording medium so that each of the datasets can be identified from a certain number indicating an order that the dataset was written, and from the number of writing operations (WP) carried out for the dataset of the certain number to identify a newest dataset among datasets having the same certain number;
• appending, by regarding the dataset written to the recording medium as an old dataset, a new dataset onto the old dataset, the new dataset having the same certain number as the old dataset, and for setting a value obtained by incrementing the WP of the old dataset as the WP of the new dataset;
• and
• controlling execution, in the case where an error occurs at the time of the appending, of the appending step on the old dataset, in a position shifted forward on the recording medium by a predetermined distance from the position of the old dataset on the recording medium, by setting the value obtained by incrementing the WP of the old dataset as the WP for the new dataset, wherein
• the predetermined distance is a distance with which error correction of the old dataset is avoided by appending the new dataset onto the old dataset so that the new dataset overwrites a part of the old dataset.

A computer program product for controlling writing and reading of datasets, to be applied to an information recording apparatus for sequentially recording, to a recording medium, datasets each including data with a correction code added thereto, and for carrying out error correction, by use of the correction code, on the datasets read from the recording medium, the computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer usable medium having computer usable program code embodied therewith, the computer usable program code comprising:
• computer usable program code configured to sequentially write the datasets to the recording medium so that each of the datasets can be identified from a certain number indicating an order that the dataset was written, and from the number of writing operations (WP) carried out for the dataset of the certain number to identify a newest dataset among datasets having the same certain number;
• computer usable program code configured to append, by regarding the dataset written to the recording medium as an old dataset, a new dataset onto the old dataset, the new dataset having the same certain number as the old dataset, and for setting a value obtained by incrementing the WP of the old dataset as the WP of the new dataset;
• and
• computer usable program code configured to control execution, in the case where an error occurs at the time of the appending, of the appending step on the old dataset, in a position shifted forward on the recording medium by a predetermined distance from the position of the old dataset on the recording medium, by setting the value obtained by incrementing the WP of the old dataset as the WP for the new dataset, wherein
• the predetermined distance is a distance with which error correction of the old dataset is avoided by appending the new dataset onto the old dataset so that the new dataset overwrites a part of the old dataset.