Patent ID: 7903363
Filing Date: 2011-03-08
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A method to write information to a tape storage medium, comprising the steps of: disposing a tape storage medium comprising a nominal storage capacity in a tape drive apparatus comprising a write head and a buffer; moving said tape storage medium in a first direction; writing data from said buffer to said tape storage medium; emptying said buffer while said tape storage medium is moving in said first direction; determining by said tape drive, while said tape storage medium is moving in said first direction, whether to enable a backhitchless write wherein said tape storage medium is not stopped and moved in a second and opposition direction, prior to writing new data to said tape storage medium; wherein said backhitchless write eliminates a time overhead required to stop said tape storage medium and to move said tape storage medium in a reverse direction to reposition said write head, and wherein use of said backhitchless write does not adversely impact said nominal storage capacity; wherein said determining step further comprises the steps of: determining a nominal storage capacity (C) for said tape storage medium; determining a Longitudinal Tape Length (L) for said tape storage medium; determining a Current Wrap Number for said write head; determining a Current Longitudinal Position for said write head; calculating a value for a current position (X) of said write head, wherein calculating a value for an expected capacity on current location (S), wherein determining a current Dataset Number (N); determining a Dataset Size; calculating a value for an actual capacity on current location (R), wherein based upon said expected capacity on current location and based upon said actual capacity on current location, determining whether to enable said backhitchless write.