JP2619131B2 - Tape initialization method - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital audio tape recorder using a magnetic tape as a recording medium.
(Hereinafter abbreviated as DAT).

2. Description of the Related Art DAT has a very high recording density, a low unit cost per bit, and a large recording capacity. Therefore, DAT is widely used as a backup data recorder for a disk device for a computer.

In the DAT, a writing magnetic head having a function of recording an information signal on a magnetic tape is provided on an outer peripheral surface of a rotating drum which is rotationally driven in sliding contact with a magnetic tape as a recording medium, and information recorded on the magnetic tape. A reading magnetic head having a function of reading a signal is provided, and the magnetic head scans the track of the magnetic tape by running the magnetic tape and rotating the rotating drum, thereby recording and recording information signals on the magnetic tape. It is configured to read information signals from a magnetic tape.

In particular, when the DAT is used as a backup data recorder for a computer, it is necessary to record data on a magnetic tape with high accuracy.

Therefore, in this case, the magnetic tape is recorded with an error correction code multiplexed on the virtual information signal,
Further, a control signal for accurately recording and reproducing the information signal is also recorded. However, the above-described DAT is a sequential access type recording / reproducing apparatus for reading out target recording data in accordance with the order recorded on the magnetic tape. Therefore, when compared with a hard disk, there is a disadvantage that a long time is required for a random write operation of accessing an arbitrary recording area and recording data therein, and an operation of searching for an arbitrary recording area.

Therefore, when a DAT is used as a backup data recorder for a computer, a format process of dividing a recording area of one magnetic tape into a plurality of recording areas is conventionally performed as a tape initialization process before performing a recording operation. Had been

That is, in the formatting process, the entire area of the magnetic tape is divided into a plurality of scheduled recording areas, and an area designation section in which information indicating the position of the scheduled recording area is written for each head of each scheduled recording area is set. Conventionally, in this process, the running speed of the magnetic tape is set to the speed at the time of a normal recording operation. Then, information indicating the position of the subsequent scheduled recording area is recorded in the area designation section, and dummy data that has substantially no meaning is recorded in the scheduled recording area.

However, in the above-described conventional tape initialization method, for example, when using a 120-minute tape, that is, a magnetic tape that requires 120 minutes for recording / reproduction, it takes nearly 120 minutes for the tape initialization. There is a problem that time is required and processing efficiency is poor.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tape initialization method that can significantly reduce processing time.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a recording / reproducing apparatus which records data on a magnetic tape, and reproduces and outputs recorded data on a magnetic tape, by using a recording / reproducing apparatus which records a plurality of areas on a magnetic tape before recording. In the tape initialization method of dividing into scheduled areas and setting an area specifying section in which information indicating the position of the scheduled recording area is written for each head of each scheduled recording area, when the area specifying section is set, When the tape feed speed is lower than the fast-forward speed, and is a constant speed higher than the normal recording speed, and when setting a scheduled recording area from the area designated section to the next area designated section, the tape feed rate is A tape initialization method characterized in that a constant speed is lower than a fast-forward speed and higher than a speed at the time of setting the area designation section, and a recording operation is not performed during this time.

According to the present invention, since the setting of the area designation section and the setting of the recording scheduled area are performed at a tape feed speed higher than the normal recording speed, the time required for the tape initialization processing is greatly reduced. Become.

Further, since the setting of the recording scheduled area is performed at a tape feed speed lower than the fast-forward speed, there is no problem in accurately searching the position of the next area designated section.

Further, since the setting of the area designation section is performed at a tape feed speed lower than that in the case of the above-described recording area setting, there is no problem in writing information indicating the position of the recording area corresponding to the area specification section. Not be.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a DAT1 which is a recording / reproducing apparatus in which a tape initialization method of the present invention is performed.

DAT1 is connected to the host computer 11, for example,
Information signals are transmitted and received to and from the host computer 11.

The host computer 11 is connected to the interface 2 built in the DAT1. This interface 2
Is a control circuit 3 for overall management and control of the operation of the DAT 1; an error correction code and control data are added to an information signal to form a recording signal; It is connected to a signal processing circuit 4 for performing correction so that data can be transmitted and received between them. The control circuit 3 is realized by a microcomputer or the like.

The capstan driving circuit 5 is a circuit for driving the capstan 6, and the magnetic tape 7 is driven by the capstan 6. The capstan drive circuit 5 is connected to the control circuit 3, and a command to switch the traveling direction and traveling speed of the magnetic tape 7 is output from the control circuit 3.

The signal processing circuit 4 is connected to a recording signal amplifier 8 for amplifying a recording signal output from the circuit. The recording signal amplifier 8 has a recording signal (not shown) for recording a recording signal on the magnetic tape 7. A magnetic head is connected. This magnetic head is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum 10 so as to be a rotating head. This rotating drum 10
A reading magnetic head (not shown) for reading a recording signal from the magnetic tape 7 is separately provided on the outer peripheral surface of the magnetic tape 7.

A reproduction signal amplifier 9 for amplifying a read recording signal is connected to the above-described read magnetic head. Further, the reproduction signal amplifier 9 is connected to the signal processing circuit 4, and the reproduction signal from the reproduction signal amplifier 9 is
Given to.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a format set on the magnetic tape 7 in the tape initialization operation by the DAT1.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the tape initialization operation.

Next, a basic operation by the DAT1 will be described by dividing a recording operation into a reproducing operation.

Recording Operation When data is transferred from the host computer 11 to the interface 2 of the DAT 1 for each information unit using the data amount of two tracks as an information unit, the data is further transferred from the interface 2 to the signal processing circuit 4.

In the signal processing circuit 4, a signal processing is performed by adding an error correction code, a control signal, and the like to the input data to form a recording signal. The recording signal is amplified by the recording signal amplifier 8.

The amplified recording signal is applied to a write magnetic head on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum 10 in synchronization with the rotation cycle of the rotating drum 10, and the recording signal is recorded on the magnetic tape 7.

Reproduction operation The recording signal recorded on the magnetic tape 7 is transmitted to the rotating drum 10
The data is read by the reading magnetic head on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum 10 in synchronization with the rotation period of the rotating drum 10.

The read recording signal is amplified by a reproduction signal amplifier 9 as a reproduction signal, and further supplied to the signal processing circuit 4.

The signal processing circuit 4 performs decoding of the input reproduction signal and error correction processing based on an error correction code included in the reproduction signal.

The reproduction signal processed by the signal processing circuit 4 is sent to the interface 2, and further transferred from the interface 2 to the host computer 11.

Next, the tape initialization operation by the DAT1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

In step n1, when a tape initialization command is given from the host computer 11 to the control circuit 3 via the interface 2, the control circuit 3 records the magnetic tape 7 to the capstan drive circuit 5 in the next step n2. A command is issued to cause the magnetic tape 7 to run at twice the tape speed as in the case of the operation, whereby the running of the magnetic tape 7 is started at the head position A at twice the tape speed at the time of recording. At about the same time, in step n3, the operation of recording information indicating the position of the first recording scheduled area N1 of the entire area of the magnetic tape 7 is started. This recording operation is performed in the same manner as the normal recording operation, except that the tape speed is slightly higher than during the normal recording. However, the position information is provided from the control circuit 3 to the signal processing circuit 4.

After a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of the process in step n3, that is, after a certain period of time has elapsed that is sufficient to record the position information, the process proceeds to step n4, where the tape speed is 10 times that in normal recording. Switch to speed. However, this speed is lower than the tape speed during normal fast-forwarding. At about the same time, in step n5, the control circuit 3 starts searching for the end position of the scheduled recording area N1.

Assuming that the position on the magnetic tape 7 at which the tape speed has been switched to 10 times is B, the section A to B shown in FIG. 2 is the area designation section S1 in which the position information of the first scheduled recording area N1 is recorded. .

The tape speed twice as fast as that in normal recording is sufficient to record the position information, and the recording does not become inaccurate.

No recording operation is performed in the terminal position search operation in step n5. The search for the end position is performed by measuring the elapse of a specified time from the point in time when the tape speed is switched to 10 times speed. As described above, since only the timing operation is performed, there is no problem even if the tape speed is set to 10 times the normal recording speed as described above.

When the end position of the scheduled recording area N1 is searched in step n5, preparation for setting the second scheduled recording area N2 is performed in step n6, and the magnetic tape 7 has not reached the end in step n7. It is checked whether the magnetic tape 7 has reached the end, and the process returns to step n2 to set the second recording scheduled area N2 and the area designation section S2 in which the position information is recorded in the same manner.

Assuming that the starting point of the area designation section S2 at the head of the second scheduled recording area N2 is C, the first scheduled recording area is a section A to C in FIG. 2, and the corresponding area designation section is A
~ B.

When the entire area of the magnetic tape 7 is divided into a plurality of recording-scheduled areas N1 to Nn in this way, the end is determined in step n7, and the process proceeds to step n8 to complete the tape initialization processing.

In this way, the tape initialization process is performed at a speed higher than the tape speed during normal recording.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the tape initialization method of the present invention,
When setting the area designation section, the tape feed speed is set to a constant speed lower than the fast-forward speed and higher than the normal recording speed, and a recording scheduled area from the area designation section to the next area designation section is set. Sometimes, the tape feed speed is slower than the fast feed speed and is a constant speed higher than the speed at the time of setting the designated area. During this time, the recording operation is not performed, so the tape feed speed is higher than the normal recording speed. The setting of the area designation section and the setting of the recording scheduled area are performed, and the time required for the tape initialization processing is greatly reduced without any trouble in searching for the position of the next area designation section and writing the position information of the recording scheduled area. Can be shortened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a DAT in which a tape initialization method according to an embodiment of the present invention is performed, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the tape initialization operation. 1 ... DAT, 2 ... Interface, 3 ... Control circuit,
4 ... Signal processing circuit, 5 ... Capstan drive circuit, 6
...... Capstan, 7 ... Magnetic tape, 8 ... Recording signal amplifier, 9 ... Reproduction signal amplifier, 10 ... Rotating drum

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A recording / reproducing apparatus which records data on a magnetic tape and reproduces and outputs recorded data on the magnetic tape, divides an entire area of the magnetic tape before recording into a plurality of recording scheduled areas, And a tape initializing method for setting an area designation section in which information indicating the position of the scheduled recording area is written for each head of each scheduled recording area. Slower than the speed, and a constant speed faster than the normal recording speed, when setting the recording scheduled area from the area designated section to the next area designated section, the tape feed speed, slower than the fast-forward speed, And a constant speed higher than the speed at the time of setting the area designation section, and during this time, the recording operation is not performed.