Patent ID: 7587546

Claim:
An apparatus for controlling a tape drive operable with a tape storage medium, said apparatus comprising: a buffer memory for storing data sets associated with write commands; a data storage unit for obtaining a total number N of data sets stored within said buffer memory; a current position management unit for obtaining a tape length L from a current write position on a tape storage medium to a physical end-of-tape (PEOT) of said tape storage medium; and a LEOT determination unit, coupled to said buffer memory, for determining whether or not there is enough space to write said total number N of data sets plus data sets from one additional write command within said tape length L, wherein said LEOT determination unit issues a logical end-of-tape (LEOT) notification in a determination that there is not enough space to write said total number N of data sets plus data sets from one additional write command within said tape length L.