Patent ID: 8271857

Claim:
A linear tape open (LTO) storage tape comprising odd and even 36-bit longitudinal position (LPOS) words for identifying and correcting erroneous and ambiguous bit errors, said odd and even LPOS words arranged and encoded on the LTO storage tape with tape position information without increasing the 36-bit length of the coded word, said encoded LPOS words comprising: a sync mark field, Sy, comprising a fixed sequence of bits; and six (6) 4-bit (bbbb) symbol fields, L 0 , L 1 , L 2 , L 3 , L 4 and L 5 ; wherein said tape position information encoded into the LPOS words on the LTO storage tape enables efficient decoding of address information by reading two of the coded LPOS words: 1) without servo band number and positioned sequentially in a servo band, or 2) with servo band number and positioned in separate servo bands, simultaneously; and wherein single erroneous bit errors present in the sync mark field Sy, and the six 4-bit symbol fields, L 0 , L 1 , L 2 , L 3 , L 4 , and L 5 , are detectable and correctable, wherein two erroneous bit errors are detectable; and wherein ambiguous bits are determinable.