Data recording and/or reproducing apparatus and method

Abstract: A data recording and/or reproducing apparatus records and/or reproduces data and data management information corresponding to the data on helical recording tracks. It can be feasible to detect the use of the helical record tracks in reproducing and immediately access the recorded data, the data record region and the data management region in recording or reproducing.

Description: This invention relates to a data recording and/or reproducing apparatus and method, and more particularly is suitable for applying to a computer external memory and the like, for example. EP-A-0 386 362 discloses a data storage apparatus in which data is stored on a tape medium in at least two different longitudinally-spaced sections (Partitions 1 and 0) with data recordal in each section being effected in accordance with a predetermined format. This format will generally be of the type in which tape-usage information is recorded in a system log located upstream of the main data area. It is also known to record tape usage information relating to each tape section in the system log of that section. The apparatus provides not only for the recording of usage information from which section-specific information can be derived, but also for the recording of aggregated tape usage information. This latter information is stored in the system log of the first tape section (Partition 1) so as to be readily accessible upon tape loading. The partition 1 may be a directory and the partition 0 may include user data. An index of the user data is recorded within groups of frames in the partition 0. The index includes record and file marks which are used to search for data in the partition 0. A magnetic tape recording and reproducing apparatus which has been, proposed hitherto is the so-called ID-1 format data recorder (ANSI x3. 175-1990 19mm Type ID-1 Recorded Instrumentation), wherein recording tracks are formed obliquely in sequence on a magnetic tape, and thus desired data can be recorded and reproduced in high density. That is, as shown in Figure 1, in such data recorder, a magnetic tape 1 is wound on a rotary drum rotating at a predetermined speed, the magnetic tape 1is run at a predetermined speed, thereby forming recording tracks TR (... TR1, TR2, TR3, TR4, TR1,TR2, ...) obliquely in sequence by the magnetic head mounted on the rotary drum, and thus desired data is recorded on the recording track TR. Further in this case, the data recorder forms recording tracks TA, CTL and TC extending longitudinally on both upper and lower ends of the magnetic tape 1, and a track set identification (ID) of the recording tracks TR is recorded on the recording track CTL. Here the track set identification (ID) is the absolute position information beginning from the first of the magnetic tape 1, put between predetermined synchronizing signals, and is recorded at a 4-track period with reference to the recording tracks TR. Further the recording tracks TA and TC are ready for recording user's controlling data and others, thus data recorded in high density on the recording tracks TR can be searched simply by reproducing the recording tracks TA, CTL and TC. Further in the data recorder, when recording data on the recording tracks TR, an error detecting/correcting parity code comprising the so-called product code is applied to record the data concerned, thereby recording and reproducing desired data securely. That is, as shown in Fig. 2, after loading in data DATA in a predetermined unit (= 36,108 [BYTE]), the data recorder divides the data DATA into 306 blocks, and applies Reed-Solomon error detecting/correcting code (comprising C2 code) at each block. Further, after dividing the block into a first field FIELD0 and a second field FIELD1, the data recorder applies Reed-Solomon error detecting/correcting code (comprising C1 code) so as to come orthogonal with the C2 code. Thus in the data recorder, a bit error rate can be enhanced by correcting erroneous reproducing data by means of the C1 and C2 codes in reproducing. Further in the data recorder, when recording the data DATA with the C1 and C2 codes applied thereto in the magnetic tape 1, interleaving is effected at every recording tracks TR, thus where a drop-out or the like arises, the data DATA can be reproduced securely. That is, in the data recorder, with reference to the data DATA inputted in the order indicated by arrows a1, a2, ..., an-1, an, an+1, an+2, ..., ax-1 and ax, the data DATA is recorded by changing the inputting order as indicated by arrows b1, b2, ..., bn-1 and bn, thereby interleaving the data DATA. Further in the data recorder in this case, a synchronizing signal SYNC and sync block data ID are added at every predetermined unit (hereinafter called sync block), and preamble and postamble data are added as a whole to record the data DATA. Thus in reproducing, in the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, the synchronizing signal SYNC, the sync block data ID and the data DATA are reproduced on the basis of track sync data included in the preamble, and subjected to deinterleaving on the basis of the synchronizing signal SYNC and the sync block data ID. Further by interleaving, an error exceeding an error correcting capacity of the C1 and C2 codes is prevented from concentrating into one spot effectively even in case drop-out or the like has arisen. Meanwhile, in the ID-1 format data recorder for reproducing desired data as described above, a bit error rate 10 -10 which is sufficient practically as the data recording and reproducing apparatus intended mainly for measurement is ensured. If the bit error rate can be enhanced to 10 -15 or so, then it is conceivable that important data may be safedeposit from applying to a magnetic tape recorder for computer system working, for example, in banks or the like. Accordingly, a serviceability of this kind of data recorder will be enhanced to expand the applicable field. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of recording data on a recording tape in which method: user data and subcode data is recorded in helical tracks of a user data partition of the tape, data management information is recorded in helical tracks of a management information partition of the tape separate from the user data partition, and absolute position information of the helical tracks is recorded in a longitudinal track of the tape and characterised in that management information including at least absolute position information of at least the helical tracks of the user data is also recorded in the helical tracks of the management information partition. According to an embodiment of the said one aspect the method comprises storing user data to be recorded in a first memory; generating subcode data related to the user data and storing the subcode data in a second memory; recording the user data and subcode data in helical tracks at the absolute addresses in the user data partition; storing the absolute addresses and data identifying the user data in a third memory; and recording the absolute addresses and identifying data in the helical tracks of the management information partition. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of reproducing data recorded on a tape in accordance with said one aspect, the tape having user data and subcode data recorded in helical tracks of a user data partition of the tape, management information including at least absolute position information of at least the helical tracks of the user data recorded in the helical tracks of the management information partition and absolute position information of the helical tracks recorded in a longitudinal control track, the method comprising the steps of: reproducing the management data including absolute position information of the helical user-data tracks recorded in the management information partition, and searching the user data partition in accordance with the data reproduced from the management information partition. According to an embodiment of said another aspect, the method comprises the steps of: a) reproducing from the tape, and storing in a first memory, the management data including the absolute position information from the helical tracks of the management data partition, b) responding to a request to reproduce specified user data by reading from the first memory management data relating to the specified data, c) reproducing from the user data partition the specified data at the absolute addresses read from the first memory and storing the reproduced specified data in a second memory; and d) reading the specified user data from the second memory. According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus arranged to record user data on a recording tape comprising a data recorder having means for recording data in helical scan tracks and means for recording absolute position information of the tracks in a longitudinal control track, first memory means for storing the user data to be recorded, second memory means for storing management data including the absolute position information, and format control means arranged to cause the user data, subcode data and management information to be recorded in accordance with the method of said one aspect o the invention. According to an embodiment of the further aspect, the apparatus comprises a) a data reproducer for reproducing the data from the tape; b) a first memory for storing the management data and absolute position information reproduced from the helical tracks of the management data partition; c) control means responsive to a request to reproduce specified user data by reading from the first memory the management data relating to the specified data, to cause the specified data to be reproduced from the said absolute addresses read from the first memory; and d) a second memory for storing the specified reproduced user data, the control means, in operation, causing the specified user data to be read from the second memory. One embodiment of the invention provides, a data recording and/or reproducing apparatus wherein absolute position information TS of helical record tracks TR are recorded on a longitudinal record track CTL of a magnetic tape 1 and the helical record track TR of said magnetic tape 1 are sequentially assigned to a data management region DITA and a data record region UDA; the record data information and the absolute position information TS regarding to data recorded on said helical record track TR of the data record region DITA; and the data recorded on the helical record track TR of the data management region DITA are searched according to the content of the helical record track TR of the data management region DITA. The record data information and the absolute position information TS regarding to the data DATA recorded on the helical record track TR included in the data record region UDA on the magnetic tape 1 are recorded on the helical record track TR of the data management region DITA. As result this, it can be easy to access the data DATA recorded on the helical record track TR of the data record region UDA corresponding to the content of helical record track TR of the data management region DITA. The head position of the data management region DITA and the head position of the data record region UDA are previously set by using the absolute position information TS so that it can be immediately to access the data management region DITA and the data record region UDA on the magnetic tape 1 in recording or reproducing. A better understanding of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals or characters. In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a diagram serving for illustration of a recording format on the magnetic tape according to ID-1 format; Fig. 2 is a diagram serving for illustration of interleaving of ID-1 format; Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of a computer system to which a magnetic recording method of the present invention is applied; Figs. 4A and 4B are diagrams serving for illustration of a recording area on a magnetic tape; Figs. 5A and 5B are diagrams serving for illustration of a format of a recording track on the magnetic tape; Fig. 6 is a diagram serving for illustration of interleaving among the recording tracks; Fig. 7 is a diagram serving for illustration of a track format on the magnetic tape; Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording format control portion; Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a reproducing format control portion; Fig. 10 is a schematic view for explaining a record area of magnetic tape of one embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 11 is a schematic view for explaining a block management method. Preferred embodiments of this invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings: In Fig. 3 a reference numeral 10 denotes a schematic construction of a computer system to which the present invention is applied, wherein write data WR sent from a host computer 11 along with a write request is supplied to a data recorder 13 of ID-1 format as recording data REC through a data recorder control unit 12, and thus the write data WR is written in a recording track on the magnetic tape 1. Then the magnetic tape 1 of the data recorder 13 is reproduced according to a read request inputted from the host computer 11, and reproducing data PB obtained in result is inputted to the host computer 11 as read data RD through the data recorder control unit 12. The data recorder control unit 12 comprises a host interface control part 14 and a format control part 15, the host interface control part 14 controls a channel interface against the host computer 11, and the format control part 15 formats data transferred to the data recorder 13 by means of a memory 16. Then, control information between the host interface control part 14 and the format control part 15 is transferred by reference to a control table 17. Thus in the computer system 10, the data recorder control unit 12 provided as above is available to using the data recorder 13 as an external memory of the host computer 11 through the interface similar to a conventional magnetic tape recorder on a side of the host computer 11. Here in the computer system 10, as shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, a central portion of the magnetic tape 1 loaded in the data recorder 13 which is comparatively less in damage rate of the tape itself longitudinally is intended for a recording area AREC, thereby enhancing a bit error rate. That is, as shown in Fig. 4A, a position 10 [m] behind, for example, from a physical tip PBOT of the magnetic tape 1 is specified as a logical tip LBOT, a position 15 [m], for example, in front of a physical end PEOT of the magnetic tape 1 is specified as a logical end LEOT, and an area covering the logical tip LBOT to the logical end LEOT is intended for the recording area AREC. In the recording area AREC, as shown in Fig. 4B, an area covering the logical tip LBOT to a position 5 [m] behind, for example, therefrom is intended for a directory information track area DITA. The directory information track area DITA, is followed by a non-recorded area NRA. The user's recorded data area UDA covers the area between the non-recorded area and a near end of tape position NEOT 10 [m], for example, upstream of the LEOT. An area between the NEOT and the logical end LEOT is intended for a volume end information area VEOVA. Here, in the computer system 10, a user data area 36,108 [BYTE] per recording track which is specified by ID-1 format is formatted as shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, and the formatted data is interleaved in 4 tracks, thereby enhancing a bit error rate. That is, in the computer system 10, as shown in Fig. 5A, the write data WR from the host computer 11 is recorded as 32,768 [BYTE] recording data DATA comprising 1 block, for example, per recording track with 4 tracks as one set. In this case, as for the recording data DATA coming less than 32,768 [BYTE] per recording track TR, a first supplementary data PD1 is added to be 32,768 [BYTE] as whole. Then, a subcode data SCD for 320 [BYTE] is prepared for loading additional information of the recording track TR. Moreover, in the data recorder control unit 12, 8 [BYTE] Read-Solomon error detecting/correcting code (hereinafter called C3 code C3 according to the C1 and C2 codes in ID-1 format) is added, as shown in Fig. 5A, by means of a predetermined generator polynomial at every 94 [BYTE] of the subcode data SCD, the recording data DATA or the first supplementary data PD1, an error correction can be carried out more securely thereby, and thus a bit error rate can further be enhanced. Further, as shown in Fig. 6, for the subcode SCD, the recording data DATA, the first supplementary data PD1 and the C3 code C3 thus formatted per recording track, data for four recording tracks TR1, TR2, TR3 and TR4 is interleaved among the tracks according to a predetermined process, thereby enhancing the bit error rate further. Then, a second supplementary data PD2 of 204 [BYTE] is added in the margin region continuously ahead of the data for each recording track interleaved for the four recording tracks TR1, TR2, TR3 and TR4, and thus data content for one recording track TR amounts to 36, 108 [BYTE] specified by ID-1 format. Then, from formatting the second supplementary data PD2 ahead as above, the supplementary data PD2 can be assigned to a magnetic head running-in portion of the recording tracks where the magnetic tape 1 is most likely to be damaged and tracking is not stable, thereby enhancing further the bit error rate for the recording data DATA. Here in the case of computer system 10, additional information loaded in the subcode data SCD comprises track classification information TRID indicating a classification of the corresponding recording track TR, a block number BLNO that the recording track TR belongs, a file number FLNO that the recording track TR belongs, a write retry frequency RTCT with reference to the recording tracks and a byte count BYCT of data included in the recording tracks. Classification information of volume information table VIT, file information table FIT, update information table UIT, dummy data track information DMY or recording end information EOR is recorded in the track classification information TRID. Here, as shown in Fig. 7 practically, volume information table VIT, file information table FIT, update information table UIT or dummy data track information DMY is used as the track classification information TRID of the recording track TR formed in the directory information track area DITA of the magnetic tape 1 first. The directory information table DIT for managing files on the magnetic tape 1 as a whole is recorded in the directory information track area DITA, and the recording track comprising volume information table VIT is recorded first in a set of four tracks continuously to a 1.5 [m] rise area RUA from the logical tip LBOT of the magnetic tape 1. First and final position information of the data block recorded in the user recording track area UDA with the whole magnetic tape 1 as one volume, length information of the file information table FIT and a block number of the data block wherein write retry has been executed in recording are recorded in the recording data DATA of the volume information table VIT. The file information table FIT is recorded in 256 tracks continuing to the volume information table VIT. A first position information and a block length of the file are recorded in the recording data DATA of the file information table FIT in the unit of file recorded in the user recording track area UDA. Further the dummy data track information DMY is recorded in succession to the file information table FIT in a predetermined track number, and the update information table UIT is recorded in the following four recording tracks. Information indicating whether or not updated is recorded in the recording data DATA of the update information table UIT. Further in succession to the update information table UIT, dummy data track information DMY is recorded in the recording track 2.5 [m] from the first of the directory information track area DITA, and the remaining 2.5 [m] directory information track area DITA is secured as a margin area MGA. Next, the user data track information UDT, the tape mark track information TM or the recording end information EOR is used as the track classification information TRID of the recording track TR formed in the user recording track area UDA downstream of the non-recording area NRA after the directory information track area DITA of the magnetic tape 1. The recording track TR of the user data track information UDT for a plurality of blocks constructing one file is recorded among the recording tracks TR of the tape mark track information TM with four tracks as one unit as the recording track TR of the user recording track area UDA, and the recording track TR of the recording end information EOR is recorded in succession to the last of the user data track information UDT. Then, the first supplementary data PD1 of 32,768 [BYTE] is recorded in the recording data DATA of the tape mark track information TM and the recording end information EOR, and data corresponding to the write data WR inputted from the host computer 11 is recorded in the recording data DATA of the recording track TR of the user recording track area UDA. Thus, in the computer system 10, the directory information track area DITA is provided ahead of the magnetic tape 1, and a content of the user recording track area UDA is controlled in files, thus data recorded in the data recorder 13 is accessible like an external recording apparatus viewed from the host computer 11. Here, the format control part 15 of the data recorder control unit 12 in the computer system 10 comprises a recording format portion 20 and a reproducing format portion 40 as shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 along with the memory 16. That is, in the recording format control portion 20, from inputting data at every 32 bits to a memory (comprising first-in-first-out (FIFO)) circuit 21 from the host interface control part 14 as 4-channel 8-bit parallel write data D0, the write data D0 is synchronized with an internal clock CK, which is written in a buffer memory 22 as input data D1 and sent to a CRC error detection circuit 23. Then, in the recording format control portion 20, the write data D0 is processed at every 4 channels, however, data for one channel will be referred to for description of the recording format control portion 20. The CRC error detection circuit 23 carries out an error detection on the input data D1 by means of CRC (cyclic redundancy code), and inputs a detection result CRCK to a system control circuit 24 in a computer configuration including CPU. Then, when detecting an error of the input data D1 according to the detection result CRCK of the CRC error detection circuit 23, the system control circuit 24 sends it back to the host interface control part 14 as an error detection signal ER. As a result, for example, the host interface control part 14 executes resending with reference to the write data D0 in which an error is present. The buffer memory 22 buffers one recording track TR as described with Figs. 5A and 5B with reference to the input data D1, and sends a first buffer data D2 according to the recording data DATA obtained consequently to a first multiplexer 25. In addition to the first buffer data D2, a first supplementary data PD1 for the tape mark track information TM sent from a tape mark generation circuit 26, dummy data for the dummy data track information DMY sent from a dummy data generation circuit 27, and the first supplementary data PD1 to the recording data DATA sent from a supplementary data generation circuit 28 are inputted each to the first multiplexer 25. Thus the first multiplexer 25 generates a second buffer data D3 by adding the first supplementary data PD1 to the recording data DATA of the first buffer data D2 according to a control signal CNT inputted from the system control circuit 24, and sends it to a second multiplexer 29. In addition to the second buffer data D3, the directory information table DIT sent from a directory information table memory 30, and the subcode data SCD generated in a subcode generation circuit 31 according to a content of the directory information table 30 are inputted to the second multiplexer 29. Practically, the directory information table DIT described with Fig. 7 is stored in the directory information table memory 30, and the subcode generation circuit 31 generates first and last position information of the data block, length information of the file information table FIT and a block number of the data block having executed rewrite in recording according to a content of the directory information table DIT. Thus the second multiplexer 29 forms the format described with Figs. 5A and 5B by adding the subcode data SCD to the second buffer data D3 according to the control signal CNT inputted from the system control circuit 24, and then sends it to a C3 code generation circuit 32 as third buffer data D4. As described with Figs. 5A and 5B, the C3 code generation circuit 32 generates the C3 code C3 of 8 [BYTE] to add it to the third buffer data D4, and sends a recording track data D5 obtained consequently to an interleaving circuit 33. The interleaving circuit 33 executes interleaving for the four tracks shown in Fig. 6 by loading a recording track data D5 for the four tracks into an interleave memory in sequence and outputting it in the predetermined order, and then sends second recording track data D6 obtained consequently to a third multiplexer 34. In addition to the second recording track data D6, the second supplementary data PD2 sent from a second supplementary data generation circuit 35, and synchronizing code data sent from a synchronizing code generation circuit 36 are inputted to the third multiplexer 34. Thus the third multiplexer 34 adds the second supplementary data PD2 and the synchronizing code data to the second recording track data D6 according to the control signal CNT inputted from the system control circuit 24, and sends a third recording track data D7 thus obtained to a parallel-serial conversion circuit 37. The parallel-serial conversion circuit 37 converts the 4-channel 8-bit parallel third recording track data D7 into a serial recorder data S0 for 32 bits, which is inputted to the data recorder 13 as recording data REC through an output circuit 38. Thus, the recording format control portion 20 of the format control part 15 executes formatting described with Figs. 5A and 5B to Fig. 7 for the write data D0 inputted from the host interface control part 14, generates the recording data REC accordingly, and then records it in the magnetic tape 1 according to ID-1 format as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Here, in a reproducing format portion 40 shown in Fig. 9, a serial reproducing data PB reproduced by the data recorder 13 is inputted to a serial-parallel conversion circuit 41, converted into a 4-channel 8-bit parallel first reproducing data D10, which is inputted to a deinterleaving circuit 42. The deinterleaving circuit 42 carries out deinterleaving corresponding to interleaving of the interleaving circuit 33 by loading in the first reproducing data D10 in sequence as in the case of the interleaving circuit 33 of the recording format portion 20 and outputting in the predetermined order, and inputs a second reproducing data D11 obtained consequently to a C3 error correction circuit 43. The C3 error correction circuit 43 carries out an error correction for the second reproducing data D11 by means of the C3 code C3 added by the C3 code generation circuit 32 of the recording format portion 20, and sends a third reproducing data D12 thus obtained. Practically, of the third reproducing data D12, that which corresponds to the user recording data track UDT, as shown in Fig. 7, is inputted to a buffer memory 44, and that which corresponds to the directory information table DIT is inputted to a subcode memory 45 and a directory information table memory 46. In the buffer memory 44, the first supplement data PD1 included in the third reproducing data D12 is deleted, inputted to a memory circuit 47 as a fourth reproducing data D13 and synchronized with an external clock, and is then sent to the host interface control part 14 as read data D14 outputted from the reproducing format control portion 40. Then, when the directory information table DIT inputted to the directory information table memory 46 is updated, the system control circuit 24 sends update information UDD of the directory information table DIT to the data recorder 13 together with a data recorder control signal CDIR, and updates a content of the directory information table DIT on the magnetic tape 1. Further the system control circuit 24 sends an answer to the data reproducing request inputted from the host interface control part 14 to the host interface control part 14 as a control signal CHIC together with output data D14. Thus the reproducing format control portion 40 of the format control part 15 subjects the reproducing data PB reproduced by the data recorder 13 to formatting counter to the formatting described with Figs. 5A and 5B to Fig. 7, generates the read data D14 and sends it to the host interface control part 14. Fig.10 denotes a record region on the magnetic tape 1 of the embodiment. The directory information table region DITA described above in Fig. 4B is predetermined to begin from an absolute position represented by a track set identification value TS, for example "1,000", which is recorded on the control track CTL of the magnetic tape 1, and similarly the user record track region UDA is predetermined to begin from an absolute position of the value TS "10,000". In this construction, the control signals sent from the host computer 11 as an instruction are inputted via the host interface control part into the control table 17 and are interpreted by the CPU of the system control circuit 24 of the format control part 15. When the instruction, for example, for recording the write data WR of predetermined blocks is inputted from the host computer 11, the system control circuit 24 makes ready to take the data into the memory 16, and then takes the write data WR from the host computer 11 into the memory 16 on being ready. Further when the instruction for terminating the transmission of the write data WR is inputted from the host computer 11, the system control circuit 24 calculates the data quantity taken into the memory 16, produces the subcode data included the data quantity and the addition information of the block to be recorded and writes the subcode data into the memory of the subcode generation circuit 31. If the memory 16 may overflow as the result of repeating these processes, the system control circuit 24 instructs to the data recorder 13 a command to begin recording from the predetermined track set identification (here the value TS is "10,000"), and executes the process of recording data. Simultaneously to record processing the data, the system control circuit 24 writes the contents of the data recorded and the value TS of the track set identification recorded into the memory of the directory information table 30. When also the command writing a tape mark from the host computer in addition to the data is inputted, the system control circuit 24 writes the tape mark information into the memory of the directory information table 30, and controls the record format control part 20 to record the tape mark track information on the magnetic tape 1 of the data recorder 13. Subsequently when a tape unload instruction is inputted from the host computer 11, the system control circuit 24 controls data recorder 13 to rewind the magnetic tape 1 by predetermined track set identification (here the value TS is 1,000), transfers the contents of the directory information to the memory 16 for data, record similarly in data recording, and thus the directory information table region DITA of a magnetic tape is formed. In reproducing the data recorded thus on the magnetic tape 1, the system control circuit 24 reproduces first the directory information table region DITA included in the predetermined track set identification (here the value TS is 1,000), and then takes it in the directory information table memory 46. As the result of this the system control circuit 24 can manage that any kind of data is recorded on the magnetic tape 1. In this state, when there is inputted a read request for a specified block from the host computer 11, the system control circuit 24 reads out the value of the track set identification of the specified block referring to the directory information table memory 46, and controls the data recorder 13 to reproduce the data from the track set read out to the track set corresponding to the predetermined data quantity. When as result of this there are accumulated the data in the memory 16 by taking the reproduced data PB from data recorder 13 in the memory for data, the data are transferred to the host computer 11 as the data read out. On the case where there are the tape mark track information TM on the record end information EOR as the subcode data SCD of the reproduction data PB obtained from the data recorder 13, these information may be reported to the host computer 11. With construction described above, in regard to the data recorded on the record track included the user record track region UDA of the magnetic tape 1, the addition information and the track set identification being the absolute position information of the record track TR are recorded on the record track TR of the directory information table region DITA, thereby it is realized the data recorder 13 in which it is feasible to access the data recorded on the record track TR of the user record track region UDA according to the content of the record track TR of the directory information table region DITA. Further with construction described above, the front position of the directory information table region DITA and the user record track region UDR is previously set by using the track set identification, thereby it is realized the data recorder 13 in which it is feasible immediately to access the directory information table region DITA and the user record track region UDA of the magnetic tape 1 in recording and reproducing. Further the subcode data SCD corresponding to the file management information is recorded on the record tracks TR of the magnetic tape 1, thereby the data recorder 13 can be realized in which the use of the record track is detected corresponding to the content of the subcode data SCD to execute file management. In the embodiment described above, there are provided the directory information table region DITA and the user record track region UDA on the magnetic tape the absolute positions of which are represented by the track set identification, however, the present invention is in addition to this, and an absolute address means a physical recording track and a corresponding block may be defined on the magnetic tape and recorded on the directory information table in the magnetic data DITA. As shown in Fig.11, for example, if one record track is assigned one block, the absolute address ABN may be represented by the value TS (= N) of the track set identification and the block number BN (= 1, 2, 3, 4) of the track set identification. In such a case, a region for recording the absolute address ABN, a file size and addition information may be made sure of on the directory information table region DITA in the format control part 15, addition information assigned from the host computer 11 may be respectively recorded to these region and the information of these region may be transferred according to a request from the host computer. Thus, in a side of the host computer 11, the data can be managed with a file image by using the magnetic tape, and it can be more easy of use. In the embodiment described above, data of every 4 tracks are interleave-processed, however the present invention is not limited thereto, for example, data of every 8 tracks may be interleave-processed. In the embodiment described above, the present invention is applied to a external storage device of a computer, however, the present invention may be widely applied to various magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatuses. In the above-described embodiment, while a frequency of the write retry process that the write retry circuit carries out is not particularly limited, however, a limit of, for example, ten times or so will be provided instead, and in case the write retry frequency in the subcode data exceeds the limit, a message such as "unable to record" or the like may be applied to the recording data and so transmitted to the host computer. Further in the above-described embodiment, a description has referred to the case where the present invention is applied to an external memory of the computer, however, the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto, and thus is applicable extensively to various magnetic recording and reproducing apparatuses. Further the subcode data SCD corresponding to the file management information is recorded on the record tracks TR of the magnetic tape 1, thereby the data recorder 13 can be realized in which the use of the record track is detected corresponding to the content of the subcode data SCD to execute file management. As described above, according to the present invention, record data information and absolute position information regarding to data recorded on helical record tracks included in a data record region of a magnetic tape are recorded on helical record tracks of a data management region, thereby it can be easily realized a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which it is feasible to access the data recorded on the helical record tracks of the data record region according to contents of the helical record tracks of the data management region. A front position of the data management region and a front position of the data record region are previously set by using an absolute position information, thereby it is realized a magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which it may be immediately accessed the data management region and the data record region on the magnetic tape in recording and reproducing. Therefor, the data management region and the data record region on the magnetic tape may be accurately accessed, thereby a bit error rate is enhanced remarkably as a whole, it may be realized the magnetic recording and/or reproducing apparatus being optimal applied to an external storage record device of host computer system. While there has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is aimed, therefore, to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims: A method of recording data on a recording tape in which method: user data and subcode data is recorded in helical tracks (TR) of a user data partition (UDA) of the tape, data management information is recorded in helical tracks (TR) of a management information partition (DITA) of the tape separate from the user data partition (UDA), and absolute position information of the helical tracks (TR) is recorded in a longitudinal track (CTL) of the tape and characterised in that management information including at least absolute position information of at least the helical tracks of the user data is also recorded in the helical tracks of the management information partition. A method according to claim 1, in which the beginnings (LBOT) of each of the said partitions (DITA, UDA) are denoted by absolute position information (TS) recorded in the longitudinal track (CTL). A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the said absolute position information is composed of a track set identification and a block number. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the management information partition is adjacent the beginning of the tape. A method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the management data includes data identifying the user data. A method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 comprising: storing user data to be recorded in a first memory (16); generating (24) subcode data related to the user data and storing the subcode data in a second memory (31); recording the user data and subcode data in helical tracks at the absolute addresses in the user data partition (UDA); storing the absolute addresses and data identifying the user data in a third memory (30); and recording the absolute addresses and identifying data in the helical tracks of the management information partition (DITA). A method according to claim 6, wherein the subcode data includes data representing the quantity of user data. A method of reproducing data recorded on a tape in accordance with the method of any preceding claim, the tape having user data and subcode data recorded in helical tracks of a user data partition (UDA) of the tape, management information including at least absolute position information of at least the helical tracks of the user data recorded in the helical tracks of the management information partition (DITA) and absolute position information of the helical tracks recorded in a longitudinal control track (CTL), the method comprising the steps of: reproducing the management data including absolute position information of the helical user-data tracks recorded in the management information partition, (DITA), and searching the user data partition (UDA) in accordance with the data reproduced from the management information partition (DITA). A method according to claim 8 when dependent on claim 5, comprising the steps of: a) reproducing from the tape, and storing in a first memory (46), the management data including the absolute position information from the helical tracks of the management data partition (DITA), b) responding to a request to reproduce specified user data by reading from the first memory (46) management data relating to the specified data, c) reproducing from the user data partition the specified data at the absolute addresses read from the first memory (46) and storing the reproduced specified data in a second memory (16); and d) reading the specified user data from the second memory (16). Apparatus arranged to record user data on a recording tape comprising a data recorder (13) having means for recording data in helical scan tracks (TR) and means for recording absolute position information of the tracks in a longitudinal control track (CTL), first memory means (16) for storing the user data to be recorded, second memory means (30, 31) for storing management data including the absolute position information, and format control means (15, 24) arranged to cause the user data, subcode data and management information to be recorded in accordance with the method of any one of claims 1 to 7. Apparatus for reproducing data recorded on a tape by the apparatus of claim 10, comprising a) a data reproducer for reproducing the data from the tape; b) a first memory (46) for storing the management data and absolute position information reproduced from the helical tracks of the management data partition (DITA); c) control means (24) responsive to a request to reproduce specified user data by reading from the first memory (46) the management data relating to the specified data, to cause the specified data to be reproduced from the said absolute addresses read from the first memory (46); and d) a second memory (16) for storing the specified reproduced user data, the control means, in operation, causing the specified user data to be read from the second memory (16). Apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, where the user data is read from and/or written to a computer.

Inventors: NAKAMURA YOSHIKAZU, SUZUKI HIDETO, TANIYAMA YUKIO, NAKAMURA, YOSHIKAZU, SUZUKI, HIDETO, TANIYAMA, YUKIO, Nakamura, Yoshikazu, c/o Patents Div., Sony Corp., Suzuki, Hideto, c/o Patents Div., Sony Corp., Taniyama, Yukio, c/o Patents Div., Sony Corp.
Applicants: FUJITSU LTD, SONY CORP, FUJITSU LIMITED, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G11B20
IPC codes: G11B20, G11B27