Patent ID: 8615689

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, each said encoded LPOS word including 26 information bits and 6 parity bits, 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 wherein: 1) the coded LPOS words are positioned sequentially in a servo band and without a servo band number and are read sequentially, or 2) the coded LPOS words are positioned in separate servo bands, with servo band number and read simultaneously; and single erroneous bit errors present in the LPOS words are detectable and correctable.