Patent ID: 6181498
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A recording and reproducing apparatus operable with a host computer for recording to a tape recording medium and reproducing therefrom data comprising:recording and reproducing means responsive to commands of said host computer for recording data on said tape recording medium and reproducing said data therefrom;invalid area detecting means for detecting an invalid area on said tape recording medium unable to normally record data during recording;bank memory means for storing said data to be recorded;control means for causing said recording and reproducing means to record initial information including a data information table initially on said tape recording medium, and to record end of data information following said data on said tape recording medium, wherein said control means causes an invalid area position of said invalid area detected by said invalid area detecting means to be recorded with said end of data information when said bank memory means is not filled to capacity and said host computer does not issue and more commands to said recording and reproducing means;updating means for updating said data information table to include said invalid area position upon an unloading operation of said tape recording medium; andrecovery means for extracting said invalid area position from said end of data information and updating said data information table after a loading operation of said tape recording medium in the event said updating previously performed during an unloading operation was interrupted.