Patent ID: 8867160

Claim:
A method using a processor device for reducing total seek time for determining an access sequence of a plurality of data groups stored on a tape medium, the method, using the processor device, comprising: selecting, using the processor device, a first data group in the access sequence based on which data group in the plurality of data groups has a beginning closest in distance to a current position of the tape medium, wherein: those of the plurality of data groups that are located in specified regions of the tape medium, that are viewed from a length direction, are separated from those of the plurality of data groups that are located in alternative specified regions of the tape medium, that are viewed from the length direction, and the distance from the current position of the tape medium is set to be a logical distance value, determined by a calculation function, that is substituted for an actual physical distance value for those of the plurality of data groups that are located in the specified regions different from those of the plurality of data groups that are located in the alternative specified regions; selecting, using the processor device, a second data group in the access sequence based on which remaining data group in the plurality of data groups has a beginning closest to an end of the first data group in the access sequence; and multiplying, for determining the logical distance value, a coefficient based on a physical positioning of each of the plurality of data groups in the tape medium and a percentage of those of the plurality of data groups that have already been selected as the first data group and the second data group.