Patent ID: 6934109

Claim:
A method to monitor the relative position of a magnetic tape disposed in a tape drive, wherein said tape drive comprises a first tape reel motor and a second tape reel motor, comprising the steps of: providing a magnetic tape disposed on a first tape reel, said magnetic tape comprising a first end, a second end; releaseably attaching said first tape reel to said first tape reel motor; providing a second tape reel; attaching said second tape reel to said second tape reel motor; operating said first tape reel motor and said second tape reel motor to transfer said tape from said first tape reel onto said second tape reel; maintaining a running second reel rotation count; maintaining a running first reel rotation count; calculating a running difference count comprising the difference between said running second reel rotation count and said running first reel rotation count; setting a running second reel rotation threshold; setting a difference count threshold; operative if said running second reel rotation count is greater than said second reel rotation count threshold, determining if said running difference count is less than said difference count threshold; operative if said running second reel rotation count is greater than said second reel rotation count threshold, and if said running difference count is less than said difference count threshold, discontinuing operation of said first tape reel motor and said second tape reel motor.