Patent ID: 6970311
Filing Date: 2005-11-29
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A recording system for a magnetic tape drive, said magnetic tape drive having a plurality of write heads for writing to magnetic tape while said magnetic tape is moved longitudinally with respect to said plurality of write heads, said recording system comprising: at least one buffer storing data to be written to magnetic tape, said at least one buffer having a plurality of separate data flow outputs; a plurality of recording channels receiving output data flow from said plurality of separate data flow outputs, and for operating separate sets of said plurality of write heads to write data to magnetic tape; and a controller operating said at least one buffer and said plurality of recording channels, said controller: wherein said data stored in said buffer is in the form of data transactions; and wherein said controller additionally responds to an indication that said stored data transactions are to be written to magnetic tape as synchronized data transactions; operating said at least one buffer and one of said recording channels to cause a separate set of said plurality of write heads to write said stored data transactions from said buffer to tracks of magnetic tape in a discontinuous manner, and saving said provided data transactions at said at least one buffer; and, during the same operation, operating said at least one buffer and another of said plurality of recording channels to cause another separate set of said plurality of write heads to rewrite saved said data transactions to other tracks of said magnetic tape in a continuous arrangement.