JPH08255388A - Device and method for recording and reproducing digital data - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To speed up unloading processing by writing updated information at the time of unloading a recording medium and writing unloading information including information showing the position of head information on the recording medium after header information. CONSTITUTION: A digital data recorder capable of recording a 1st information table and a 2nd information table is provided with the following functional means. A means for making a 3rd information table for updating the contents of the 1st information table, a means for making a 4th information table for making positioning information showing the position of recording the 3rd information table on a tape-like recording medium and a control means for recording the 3rd information table and the 4th information table in prescribed positions in a recording and reproducing area with a recording and reproducing head when the device is instructed on unloading operation and controlling the device to unload the tape-like recording medium after completing this recording.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data recorder applicable to a helical scan type data recorder for recording digital data as oblique tracks on a magnetic tape by a rotary head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A magnetic tape device used as an external storage device such as a computer is known. As one of magnetic tape devices, a helical scan type device is known in which digital data is recorded on a cassette tape by a rotary head. Such a magnetic tape device reads the header information recorded at a predetermined position on the tape after the tape is mounted as a process (referred to as a load process) when writing / reading is started on the tape, Stored in memory. Further, as a process (referred to as an unload process) for ending the read / write, the header information stored in the memory of the apparatus is recorded at a predetermined position on the tape, and the tape is removed.

Conventionally, at the time of unloading, the rewinding process to the tape top has always been necessary in consideration of the tape damage that occurs when the tape is pulled out. In other words, the tape is pulled out at the position of the tape top.

[0004]

As described above, the rewinding process to the tape top requires a long time for the unloading process. Particularly in the case of a tape, since it has a large capacity, it may take a considerable time to rewind from the position where the reading / writing is completed to the tape top.

Also, in the past, DI as header information was used.
The T (Directory Information Table) is located at a fixed position on the tape, and the head must pass through the DIT area in order to update the DIT data each time it is loaded or unloaded, and the DIT area is only damaged significantly. There was a problem.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a data recorder which does not require rewinding processing to the tape top and can speed up unloading processing. Another object of the present invention is to provide a data recorder capable of speeding up load processing.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a data recorder in which, when updating the header information, the position of the header information on the tape is changed and the tape damage of only a specific portion is prevented from becoming large. Especially.

[0008]

According to the present invention, updated header information is written when a recording medium is unloaded, and unload information including information indicating the position of the header information on the recording medium is written after this header information. It is a data recorder that is written.

Further, according to the present invention, when the recording medium is unloaded, the updated header information including the unique values of the tape and the volume is written, and the unique value of the header information and the writing position of the updated header information are stored in the memory. It is a data recorder designed to be registered in the above database.

At the position of the unload information, mount the tape,
It can be removed, and it is not necessary to rewind to the tape top when unloading, and the unloading process can be speeded up. Also, updating the data at the same position during loading and unloading can be prevented, and tape damage can be reduced.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Prior to the description of an embodiment of the present invention, a data recorder to which the present invention can be applied will be described. The data recorder described here records / reproduces digital data on / from a cassette tape with a rotary head. 1 and 2 show the front and back of the exterior of the device, respectively.

As shown, two units stacked one above the other, namely a tape drive controller 1
And the digital information recorder 2 constitute a data recorder. The front panel of the tape drive controller 1 is provided with a button 3 for operating loading / unloading of the cassette tape, and a plurality of light emitting diodes 4 for indicating whether or not the cassette tape is loaded, a power-on state and the like. There is. A cassette tape insertion slot 5 is provided on the front panel of the digital information recorder 2. Further, other operation buttons are also arranged on the portion covered by the openable / closable panel 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of connectors are provided on the back surface of each of the tape drive controller 1 and the digital information recorder 2. The lower tape drive controller 1 includes a data input / output connector 11, a control connector 12, and an RS232.
A C connector 13, two SCSI connectors 14a and 14b, an AC power supply input connector 15, and a DC power supply output connector 16 are provided.

On the other hand, the digital information recorder 2 is provided with a data input / output connector 21, a control connector 22, and an RS232C connector 23. The operating power of the digital information recorder 2 is supplied by connecting a connection cable to the DC power output connector 16 of the tape drive controller 1. The data input / output connectors 11 and 21 are connected by a cable, and the data flow is transmitted and received between the controller 1 and the recorder 2.
The control connectors 12 and 22 are connected by a cable to exchange control signals. further,
The RS232C connectors 13 and 23 are provided for diagnosis.

As shown in FIG. 3, the host computer 2
When connecting 0 and the data recorder, the SCSI connectors 14a and 14b are used. When the host computer 20 gives a read command to the data recorder, for example, the data recorder outputs the data to the host computer 20.

The digital information recorder 2 records / reproduces digital data on / from a cassette tape with a rotary head. FIG. 4 shows an example of the head arrangement of the recorder 2. Drum 2 rotating at a predetermined speed in the direction shown
Four heads Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd for recording and four heads Pa, Pb, Pc and Pd for reproduction are attached to the disk 5, respectively.

The heads Ra and Rb are provided in close proximity to each other, and similarly, the heads Rc and Rd, the heads Pa and Pb, and the heads Pc and Pd are provided in close proximity to each other. Further, the extension direction (called azimuth) of the gap between these two adjacent heads is different. Heads Ra facing each other at 180 ° intervals
And Rc has a first azimuth, similarly 180 °
Heads Rb and Rd facing each other at a distance of 2 have a second azimuth. The heads Pa and Pc have the first azimuth, and the heads Pb and Pd have the second azimuth. The different azimuths are used to prevent crosstalk between adjacent tracks. The two adjacent heads are actually realized as an integrally structured head called a double azimuth head.

A tape (for example, 1/2 inch width) pulled out from the cassette is obliquely wound around the peripheral surface of the drum 25 over an angular range slightly larger than 180 °. The tape is fed at a predetermined speed. Therefore, at the time of recording, in the first half of the period in which the drum 25 makes one rotation, the head Ra
And Rb scan the tape, and in the latter half, the heads Rc and Rd scan the tape. During playback, the head Pa
And Pb scan the tape, then heads Pc and Pd scan the tape.

FIG. 5 shows a track pattern on the tape of the digital information recorder 2. Longitudinal tracks are formed on the upper and lower sides of the tape in the width direction, and helical tracks are formed between them. Upper longitudinal track 2
A control signal is recorded in 6 and a time code is recorded in the lower longitudinal track 27. The time code indicates the longitudinal position of the tape,
For example, SMPTE time code is used. Drum 2
In one rotation of 5, the heads Ra and Rb simultaneously form two helical tracks Ta and Tb, and then the heads Rc and Rd simultaneously form two helical tracks Tc and Td. It should be noted that each helical track is formed by separating the first half portion and the second half portion, and a tracking pilot signal recording area 28 is provided in the middle portion.

The SMPTE time code was developed for a video signal such as a VTR, and its minimum unit is a frame (1/30 second). As will be described later, the data recorder has four tracks Ta to Td shown in FIG.
Is a logical data unit of data (referred to as a track set) that handles recordable data. By the way, in the case where, for example, 16 tracks correspond to one frame of a video signal, a digit (value of 0, 1, 2, or 3) lower than the digit of the frame of the time code is provided,
It is necessary to use a time code (also referred to as an ID) in which a track is a unit (this is referred to as a track set). In the data recorder to which the present invention is applied, the SMPTE time code is used as a time code having 4 tracks as a track set. SMPT
In the case of E time code, since the user data area is prepared, such a correction is possible.

FIG. 6 schematically shows the system configuration of the tape drive controller 1 and the digital information recorder 2. System controller 31 in controller 1
The main features of are: Management of SCSI controller 32 Management of buffer memory 33 File management / table management Data write / read / retry control Digital information recorder 2 control Self-diagnosis

A connection with a host computer is made via the SCSI controller 32. Buffer memory 33
A drive controller 34 is provided between the tape controller and the tape drive controller. The data read from the buffer memory 33 is supplied to the C2 encoder 35 via the drive controller 34. C2 encoder 3
5 to the track interleave circuit 36 and C1
The encoder 37 is connected.

The C2 encoder 35 and the C1 encoder 37 perform error correction coding of product code on the recording data. Further, the track interleave circuit 36 controls distribution of data to tracks when recording data in order to improve the ability to correct errors that occur in the recording / reproducing process.

Further, when recording data on the tape, since the SYNC block divided by the sync signal is used as a unit, the block interleave circuit 36 adds the block sync signal. Further, in the C1 encoder 37, after the C1 parity is generated, data randomization and word interleaving processing in a plurality of SYNC blocks are performed.

The digital data from the C1 encoder 37 is transmitted to the digital information recorder 2. The digital information recorder 2 includes a channel code encoder 38.
The received digital data is encoded to be a signal suitable for recording and reproduction, and the recording data is output to the recording heads Ra to Rd via the RF and amplifier 39. Head Ra
The recording data is recorded on the tape by the characters ~ Rd.
The RF / amplifier 39 lowers the frequency band of the recording signal and facilitates detection of the reproduction signal at the time of reproduction, so that the partial response class 4 (PR (1,0,-
1)) is processed.

The data reproduced from the tape by the reproducing heads Pa to Pd is supplied to the channel code decoder 42 via the RF and amplifier 41. RF, amplifier 41
Includes a reproduction amplifier, an equalizer, a Viterbi decoder, and the like.
The output of the channel code decoder 42 is transmitted to the tape drive controller 1 and input to the C1 decoder 43.

A track deinterleave circuit 44 is connected to the C1 decoder 43, and a C2 decoder 45 is further connected to the deinterleave circuit 44. The C1 decoder 43, the track deinterleave circuit 44, and the C2 decoder 45 respectively include a C1 encoder 37, a track interleave circuit 36, and a C2 encoder.
A process opposite to the process performed by each of the encoders 35 is performed. The reproduction (read) data from the C2 decoder 45 is transferred to the buffer memory 33 via the drive controller 34.
Is supplied to.

The digital information recorder 2 is provided with a system controller 46. Also, a fixed head 47 is provided for the tracks in the longitudinal direction of the tape,
The head 47 is connected to the system controller 46, and the head 47 records / reproduces a control signal and a time code. The system controller 46 is connected to the system controller 31 of the tape drive controller 1 via a bidirectional bus.

A mechanism controller 48 is connected to the system controller 46. The mechanism controller 48 includes a servo circuit and drives a motor 50 via a motor drive circuit 49. The system controller 46 has, for example, two CPUs, communicates with the tape drive controller 1 and records / records time codes.
The system controller 46 controls reproduction, recording / reproduction timing, and the like.

The mechanism controller 48 is, for example, 2
It has CPUs and controls the mechanical system of the digital information recorder 2. More specifically, the mechanism controller 48 controls header / tape system rotation control, tape speed control, tracking control, cassette tape loading / unloading control, and tape tension control. The motor 50 represents a plurality of motors such as a drum motor, a capstan motor, a reel motor, a cassette mounting motor, and a loading motor by one motor.

Further, DC to which the DC voltage from the power supply unit 51 of the tape drive controller 1 is input
A -DC conversion circuit 52 is provided. Although not shown in the figure, the digital information recorder 2 includes a position sensor such as a tape end detection sensor and a time code generator /
A reading circuit and the like are provided.

Next, the format for recording digital data will be described. First, the layout of the entire tape (for example, the tape in one cassette) is shown in FIG. The entire tape is called a physical volume. A LBOT (Logical Beginning of Tape) is a recordable area between a physical tape beginning PBOT (Physical Beginning of Tape) and an end PEOT (Physical End of Tape) to which a leader tape is connected. And LEOT (Logical End of Tape). this is,
This is because the tape is easily damaged at the beginning and end of the tape and the error rate is high. As an example, the invalid area between PBOT and LBOT is defined as 7.7 ± 0.5 m, and the invalid area between PEOT and LEOT is 1
It is defined as greater than 0 m.

A plurality of logical volumes (each logical volume is referred to as a partition) are arranged in one physical volume. In order to manage one or more logical volumes, VSIT (Volume Set Inform) is added at the beginning of the recording area.
ation Table) is recorded. VSIT has the number of volumes recorded on the tape and position information of each logical volume on the tape. The location information is the DIT (Directory Infoma) of each of up to 1024 logical volumes.
The start (start) physical ID and the final (end) physical ID of the option table.

The position of the beginning of VSIT is the position of 0-ID. ID (Identification) is an address corresponding to a position on the tape that is assigned to each set of four tracks. From the VSIT area to the DIT area of the last volume, the ID is added monotonically. One VSIT
Is 1-ID. There are two types of IDs in the data recorder of the present invention: physical ID and logical ID. The physical ID is position information indicating the absolute position of the track set on the tape, and the time code recorded in the tape longitudinal direction corresponds to this. The logical ID is position information indicating the relative position of the track set on the tape, and this logical ID is recorded at a predetermined position in the track set. V
The head position 0-ID of the SIT is zero for both the physical ID and the logical ID.

A logical volume is a DIT (Directory Inf
ormation table), UIT (User Information Table) and user data area. The DIT has information for managing files in the logical volume. The length of one DIT is 40-ID. UIT is optional. UIT is user-specific information for managing files.

In FIG. 7, the hatched area is a run-up area. The data track is servo-locked by the run-up area. The area with dots is a position margin band. This position margin band prevents erasing valid data when VSIT and DIT are updated.

VSIT is repeatedly recorded 10 times as shown in FIG. 8A in order to improve the reliability of data. Therefore, the VSIT area is 10 track sets (= 10-ID). 90 after the VSIT area
A retry area larger than the track set is secured.

The DIT is repeatedly recorded 7 times as shown in FIG. 8B in order to improve the reliability of the data. The DIT is composed of 6 tables as shown in FIG. 8C. The six tables are
T (Volume Information Table), BST (Bad Spot Tabl)
e), LIDT (Logical ID Table), FIT (File Inform
application table), UT (Update Table), UIT (User Info)
rmation Table). VIT, BST, LIDT, U
T has a length of 1-ID and FIT has a length of 20-ID. The remaining 16-ID area is reserved.

Each table of DIT will be described. V
The IT ID address is the top physical ID of the volume written in VSIT, and its logical ID is VSI.
It is equal to the head physical ID of the volume written in T.
VIT is the volume label, the starting physical ID of the first data block in the physical volume, and the last physical ID thereof.
Including volume information such as. The contents of VIT are shown in FIG.

The ID address of BST is the physical I of VIT.
D + 1 and its logical ID is VIT logical ID + 1
Is. The BST has position information of data that is logically invalid. Logically invalid data means that data having the same track set ID will be written later.
Data that should be treated as invalid. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the shadow area A is logically invalid data. The write retry operation and the write operation associated with it cause logically invalid data. If an error occurs during writing, write retry is automatically performed and the error location is output. This is the BST
Be registered with. Then, during the read operation, the invalid area is designated by the BST. Logically invalid data is
Also called a bad spot. Maximum of 145 for BST
It manages the start and end physical IDs of up to 92 bad spots.

The ID address of the LIDT is the physical ID of the VIT + 2, and its logical ID is the logical ID of the VIT +
It is 2. LIDT is a data table for fast block space and locate operations.
That is, the logical ID of each pointer of the first to 296th pointers, its physical ID, file number, I
The first block number in the D data block management table is included in the LIDT. The contents of the LIDT are shown in FIG.

The ID address of the FIT is the physical I of the VIT.
D + 3, and its logical ID is VIT logical ID + 3
Is. The FIT is composed of a plurality of pairs with two types of data corresponding to the tape mark as a pair. The tape mark is a file delimiter code (separation code). The Nth data pair is N from the beginning of the volume.
Corresponds to the th tape mark. One data of the pair is the physical ID of the Nth tape mark. The other data is the absolute block number of the Nth tape mark. This value is the absolute block number of the last block with the same file number as the tape mark. Since the position of the tape mark can be accurately known from the physical ID and absolute block number of the tape mark, the physical position on the tape can be accessed at high speed by using them. The contents of FIT are shown in FIG.

The UT ID address is the physical ID of the VIT.
It is +39. UT is information indicating whether or not the volume has been updated. Before the update, the word (4 bytes) indicating the update status in the UT is FFFFFFFFh.
(H means hexadecimal), and after updating, this is set to 00000000h.

The UIT is optional and is, for example, a 100-ID area. It is a data table accessible to the user and is reserved for the user header.

In this example, 1-ID is assigned to each track set consisting of four helical tracks. The logical structure of the data block is defined for each track set. FIG. 10 shows a logical track set structure. The first 4 bytes of the logical track set is the format ID, which is FFFF0000h.

The next 136 bytes (34 words) is an area for subcode data. The subcode data consists of management information of the track set in which this subcode data is located. For example, the above-mentioned tables (VSIT, VI
T, BST, etc.), user data, tape mark, EOD
An identification code such as "is included in the subcode." This allows
What the track set is used for is identified.

Further, the number of bytes obtained by removing the length of the block management table from the next 116884 bytes is the writing range of the user data. If the track set is for writing user data, if the size of the user data does not reach the specified size, dummy data is packed in the remaining area.

A block management table area is provided after the user data. Maximum of 4 block management tables
It has a length of 096 bytes. The last 4 bytes of the track set is the end code of the track set (0F0F0F
0Fh), and the previous 12 bytes are reserved. The block management table manages the data block configuration of user data. The contents of the block management table are shown in FIG. By the way, the format of the track set defined in the user data area is a user data track set for writing user data, a tape mark (TM) track set for indicating a tape mark, and EOD. EOD (End O
f Data) There are four types: track set and dummy track set to indicate that they are dummy data. A subcode and a block management table are defined for each format of these track sets.

The logical format of the above data recorder is shown in FIG. VSIT is recorded for each physical volume such as one tape. A DIT is recorded for each logical volume (partition), and five tables VIT, BST, LIDT, and FI are recorded in the DIT.
T, UT are included, and UIT is optionally included. Further, in the user data area, a user data track set, a tape mark track set, and EOD (E
nd Of Data) 4 types of track set and dummy track set are included.

Now, an outline of the operation of the above data recorder will be described. First, when using the first tape, it is necessary to initialize the tape. In the tape initialization operation, VSIT, DIT, and EOD are written in predetermined positions, and dummy data are written. Further physical ID
(The above-mentioned time code) is written such that it is a monotonically increasing value from LBOT and the start end of VSIT is 0-ID.

When reading / writing the tape,
The tape is loaded. After the tape is inserted, the button 3 is pressed to perform the loading operation. VSIT and D when loading
IT is read. When the reading / writing of the tape is finished, the tape is unloaded by pressing the button 3. VSIT and DIT are rewritten when unloading. The load operation and the unload operation can be performed by a command other than the operation of the button 3.

FIG. 12 shows the tape drive controller 1
The system configuration of is shown in more detail. 61 is the main CP
U, 70 are 2-port RAMs, 80 is a bank memory, and 81 is a sub CPU. The main CPU 61 is a CPU that manages the entire system. A CPU bus 62 is provided in association with the main CPU 61, and each component is coupled to the CPU bus 62. That is, ROM (flash ROM) 63, PIO (parallel I / O) 64, 6
5, control panel 66, LCD 67, timer 6
8, RS232C interface 69, 2-port RA
M70 and RAM71 are combined.

The PIO 65 is connected to the buttons on the front panel. The LCD 67 is a display device that displays the operating status of the drive so that the user can see it. RS2
The 32C interface 69 is connected to the serial terminal. The RAM 71 is a work R used by the firmware.
It has an AM, a program download area, and an area for temporarily storing header information (VSIT / DIT).

Unidirectional control element 7 for CPU bus 62
The IM bus 74 is connected via the terminal 3. This IM bus 7
4, S-RAM 72, bank memory 80, SC
The SI controller 75 is connected. A host computer is connected to the SCSI controller 75 via a bus 76. The S-RAM 72 is a RAM whose power source is backed up by a capacitor. This S-RAM
Reference numeral 72 is a memory for a script (for storing a control program of the SCSI controller), and is also a memory for a logger that records data indicating an actual operating state of the system. Since the power of this memory is backed up by the capacitor, the data can be held for about two days after the power is turned off.

The two-port RAM 70 has two CPUs 6
Five types of packets for communication of information between 1 and 81 are stored. These are: Command transmission packet: a packet used when requesting the CPU 61 to 81 to execute an operation. End status reception packet: a packet used for notifying the end status when the CPU 81 executes a command requested by the CPU 61 and the operation ends. Command status; a flag for indicating the progress of the command. Drive management status table; drive status is C
This is a table for notifying the PU 61. This table is rewritten by the CPU 81 at regular intervals. Data transmission / reception packet; a buffer used when the firmware on the drive (recorder) side is downloaded via the SCSI bus, or when self-diagnosis on the drive side is started using the serial port of the CPU 61. The bank memory 80 is a buffer memory for data.

The sub CPU 81 is a CPU for controlling the drive. CPU bus 8 associated with sub CPU 81
2 is provided, and a ROM (flash RO
M) 83, RAM (work RAM) 84, timer 8
5, RS232C interface 86, RS422 interface 87, PIO (parallel I / O) 88,
The DMA controller 89 is connected, and the 2-port RAM 70 and the bank memory 80 are further connected.

The bank memory 80 is a bank memory for storing data to be written on the tape or data read from the tape. For example, the bank memory 80 has eight memory banks, and write data or read data is stored here. A DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller 89 is a controller for storing the data written in the drive in the bank memory 80. The RS232C interface 86 is for self-diagnosis. The RS422 interface 87 is a communication means with the drive.

The present invention relates to a loading process and an unloading process when loading or unloading a tape in a data recorder. Prior to the description of the present invention, these processes performed by the previously proposed data recorder will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.

FIG. 13 shows the loading process (that is, the process of reading VSIT and DIT from the tape and storing them in the memory RAM 71). The SCSI controller 75 receives a load request from the host computer, or the main CPU 61 recognizes that the user has pressed a button via the PIO 65. Thereby, the main CP
U61 determines that there is a load request. Then CP
U61 requests the CPU 81 to rewind the tape. When the tape rewinding operation is performed, the position of the head is the tape top as shown in FIG. 13A.

Next, the virgin tape is checked. This is the tape, 5600-ID from the tape top
Move at high speed for a minute (equivalent to about 10 meters) and VSIT
When aligning the start end (0-ID) of the head with the position of the head, it is detected whether or not the physical ID is recorded,
When it is detected that the physical ID is not recorded, it is determined that the tape is a virgin tape. After the virgin check, the head position is VSI as shown in FIG. 13B.
It is the beginning of T.

Then, VSIT is read from 0-ID, whereby the start position / end position for the first volume is acquired. FIG. 13C shows the head position when reading VSIT.

Next, the DIT reading process is performed. That is, as shown in FIG. 13D, 1720-ID to 40
-Read DIT for each ID (length of one DIT). The read data is stored in the memory RAM 71. The data in each table of the DIT stored in the memory RAM 71 is stored in the main C according to the operation of the data recorder.
It is constantly updated under the control of the PU 61.

Then, from 1720 to 19991-ID, D
Rewrite IT. This is a process of setting a flag indicating the update status of the UT. Figure 13E shows this DI
This is the head position when T is rewritten. Finally, FIG.
As shown in F, preroll to the beginning of the user data area. This completes the loading process.

Next, the previously proposed unloading process of the data recorder (the process of returning the data on the memory (RAM 71) to the tape) will be described with reference to FIG. First, the SCSI controller 75 receives an unload request from the host computer, or the fact that the user has pressed a button is transmitted via the PIO 65 to the main CP.
U61 recognizes it. Thereby, the main CPU 61 determines that there is an unload request. Then, CPU6
1 requests the CPU 81 to preroll from the current position to the beginning of the DIT. In the pre-rolled state, the head position is set to DI as shown in FIG. 14A.
It is the start position of T.

Next, 1720-ID to 19991-ID
The updated DI stored in the memory RAM 71.
Rewrite T This is necessary to keep the UT's flags updated. FIG. 14B shows the position of the head in this case.

Then, the rewinding operation is performed, and the position of the head is set to the tape top, as shown in FIG. 14C. In this way, the eject operation is performed with the head position being the tape top. This completes the unload process. Although the ejecting operation may damage the tape, the effect of this damage can be reduced because the tape is ejected at the position of the tape top.

As can be seen from the above description, in the tape unloading process, since the tape is rewound to the tape top, there is a problem that the unloading process takes time.
Further, in the next loading process, it takes time to move from the tape top to the target DIT. In addition, the DIT area, which is the same location on the tape, is always rewritten each time it is loaded / unloaded.
There was a problem that tape damage in the area was likely to occur.

The present invention solves the above problems. First, the load processing in the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In step S1 of FIG. 15, insert the tape,
The SCSI controller 75 receives a load request from the host computer, or the main CPU 61 recognizes that the user has pressed a button via the PIO 65. As a result, the main CPU 61 determines that the load request is issued from the outside, and the load starts. In this case, as shown in FIG. 16A, the head position is the initial position of the unloaded tape described later in this embodiment.

The main CPU 61 requests the CPU 81 via the 2-port RAM 70 to read the current ID value from the tape. Upon receiving this request, the CPU 81 acquires the read current ID value IDR from the drive via the RS422 (87). Further, this value is notified to the CPU 61 via the 2-port RAM 70.
Specifically, as shown in step S2 of FIG. 15 and FIG. 16B, a process of rewinding a small amount (for example, 20-ID) is performed.

Then, the CPU 61 determines whether the read current position is the tape top (step S).
3). If it is the tape top, the existing loading process is performed (step S4). Here, the existing process means the above-described process performed in the previously proposed data recorder. If it is not the tape top, the process proceeds to step S5 and the process according to the present invention is performed.

The CPU 61 uses the 2-port RAM 70 to
It issues a data read request to the CPU 81. Thereby, as shown in step S5 and FIG. 16C,
It is fast forwarded by a small amount (about 20-ID). Thereby, the value IDR of the current ID read from the tape is obtained (step S6). Next, step S7 and FIG. 16D.
As shown in FIG.
The head is moved to the place where −ID (for example, 100-ID) is subtracted. Then, as shown in step S8 and FIG. 16E, 1-ID data is read from the moved position. The read data is transferred to the DMA controller 89
Are stored in the bank memory 80.

The CPU 61 analyzes the data stored in the bank memory 80. By this analysis, as shown in step S9, it is judged whether or not the unload information is written. If the unload information is not written, the process proceeds to step S4 (existing load process). If the unload information is written, the position of DIT is acquired from the acquired unload information (step S
10). The unload information is tape format information, as will be described later.

Next, the CPU 61 requests the CPU 81 to read the data so as to read the data from the position acquired in step S10. As shown in step S11 and FIG. 16F, DIT is read,
The DIT data is stored in the bank memory 80 by the DMA controller 89. The CPU 61 transfers this data in the bank memory 80 to the RAM 71. Then, in step 12, the CPU 61 causes the RAM 71 to
Of the data transferred to, the final physical ID of the data block included in VIT (this is the ID equal to the EOD position) is read, and the CPU 81 is instructed to move the tape to this final physical ID. . As a result, the head is pre-rolled to the EOD position and the loading process is completed. FIG. 16G shows the head position when the loading process is completed. The data of each table of DIT in the memory RAM 71 is constantly updated according to the operation of the data recorder.

As can be seen by comparing FIGS. 13 and 16, when the tape subjected to the unloading process according to the present invention is loaded, the moving distance of the head can be reduced. This makes it possible to speed up the loading process.

Next, the unload process of one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18. When there is an unload request from the host computer, SC
The main CPU 61 recognizes via the SI controller 75 that there is an unload request from the outside. Alternatively, when the user presses the unload button, the main CPU 61 recognizes via the PIO 65 that there is an internal unload request. This starts the unloading process (step S21).

In the next step S22, it is judged whether or not the mode is an unload according to the mode of the present invention. This judgment is made in advance in the communication protocol so that the unload request from the host computer specifies either one of the unload according to the mode of the present invention and the conventional unload, so the SCSI controller 75
This can be achieved by the main CPU 61 analyzing the data content of the unload request received via. The main CPU 61 determines that the unload request by the unload button is the unload request by the mode of the present invention. If it is not the unloading in the mode of the present invention, the process proceeds to step S23, and the unloading is performed by the existing process. That is, DI from the current position
Pre-rolling (rewinding) is performed at the beginning of T. In the case of the unload process according to the present invention, the process is step S2.
Go to 4.

In step S24, the main CPU 61 determines which of the two positions shown in FIG. 18A the current head position is closer to, based on the comparison of the respective physical IDs. One of these positions is BOP (Begnning o
f Partition: The head of the logical volume, more specifically, the DIT area), and the other is immediately after the EOD. At the time of unloading after the write sequence, the position of the head is immediately after EOD. Also, during the read sequence, it may be near the beginning of the logical volume.

If it is determined in step S24 that the value is close to BOP, the process proceeds to step S25, where DI
Write the updated DIT in the T area. This writing is performed by repeating the same DIT seven times as described above. FIG. 18B shows a state in which DIT is written. On the other hand, E
If it is determined in step S24 that it is close to OD, the updated DIT is written immediately after EOD in step S26. This writing also applies to the DI at the beginning of the logical volume.
Similar to T, the same DIT is written 7 times repeatedly.
FIG. 18C shows a state in which DIT is written in step S26.

Then, in step S25 or S26, the unload information is written immediately after the written DIT (step S27). FIG. 18D shows a state in which the unload information is written immediately after the DIT written in step S25 (FIG. 18B), and FIG.
8C) shows a state in which unload information is written immediately after the DIT written. When the writing of the unload information is completed, the tape is ejected in step S28. That is, in one embodiment of the present invention, the eject operation is performed in the state where the head is located in the recording area of the unload information. This completes the unload process.

FIG. 19 shows an example of the unload information. The unload information is the same data as VSIT with a word with * added. Unload information is VS
The physical ID of the valid DIT (DIT recorded on the tape at the time of unloading) of each volume is unloaded, as indicated by word 66, word 70, ... Written in the information. Further, FIG. 19 shows 1-ID data, which is repeatedly recorded, that is, multiplex-recorded on the tape in a large number of several hundreds. This is to cope with the fact that the tape is damaged by being ejected at the position of the unload information and the unload information becomes an error. In addition, the length of the tape to be multi-recorded, in order to effectively avoid the concentration of damage and errors,
The length is about 1.5 times the effective length of the tape transport. The unload information is stored in the memory RAM 71.
A dedicated area is provided inside the physical disk, and when the data recorder is instructed to unload, the physical I of the valid DIT
D is written.

Not limited to the multiplex recording, a unique error correction code may be encoded for the unload information. FIG. 20A shows a layout of an existing logical volume. On the other hand, a high correction area is provided as shown in FIG. 20B. The high correction area is a user data area having a high correction ability by applying a strong area correction code, and the low correction area has a lower correction ability than the high correction area. This is the area that was set up. The unload information described above is included in the high correction area. Then, as shown in FIG. 20C, with the head positioned in the high correction area,
By performing the eject, the unload information can be protected.

In the above-described embodiment, it is not necessary to rewind to the tape top in the unloading process, whereby the unloading process can be speeded up. In particular, in the case of a large capacity medium such as a magnetic tape device, this improvement effect is great. Further, since the unloading is performed at the position corresponding to the position of the head when the unloading is started, the unloading process can be made faster.

Next, similar to the above-described embodiment, another embodiment of the present invention in which it is not necessary to rewind to the tape top during the unloading process will be described. In another embodiment, the tape information written in the DIT track set of the DIT is used as the unload information. In the above-described embodiment, the unload information is recorded on the tape, but in another embodiment, it is stored in the memory (S-RAM 72) instead of on the tape.

FIG. 21 shows the contents of the VIT subcode area of the DIT. As the word 14 of this sub-code area, an initial tape number (a tape-specific value given when the tape is initialized) is written.

As shown in FIG. 23, in the word 255 of VIT, an initial number of a volume (a tape-specific value given when the volume is initialized) is written. In another embodiment, the tape information of these DITs, that is, the initial tape number and the initial volume number are used.

A load process of another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 26 and 27. First, after the tape is inserted, a load request from the host computer is sent via the SCSI controller 75 to the main CPU.
When 61 is received, loading is started. When the user presses the load button separately, the main C
The PU 61 recognizes that the load button has been pressed. As a result, the main CPU 61 determines that there is a load request, and the load starts.

Subsequently, the main CPU 61 determines the 2-port RA
The CPU 81 is requested via M70 to read the current ID value from the tape. Upon receiving this request, the CPU 81 acquires the current ID value IDR from the drive via the RS422 (87).
In addition, this value is transferred to the CPU 61 via the 2-port RAM 70.
Let us know.

From the data thus obtained, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the current position is the tape top (step S31). If it is the tape top, the existing load processing is performed (step S32). Here, the existing process means the above-described process performed in the previously proposed data recorder. If it is not the tape top, the process proceeds to step S33, and the process according to the present invention is performed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 27A, the head position is the initial position of an unloaded tape which will be described later in another embodiment.

The CPU 61 uses the 2-port RAM 70 to
It issues a data read request to the CPU 81. As a result, in step S33, several 10 to 100-
The ID is rewound. FIG. 27B shows the position of the head after rewinding. Then, as shown in step S34,
Data of 1-ID of VIT in DIT is read. FIG. 27C shows the position of the head at this time. DI
VIT of T includes the data as described above. Therefore, the initial number of the tape and the initial number of the volume (random number at the time of initialization) are acquired by the process of step S34. DMA this read data
It is stored in the bank memory 80 by the controller 89.

The CPU 61 obtains the tape initial number and the volume initial number from the data stored in the bank memory 80, and checks whether the database in the S-RAM 72 has the data (step S35, FIG. 27D)). In the S-RAM 72, the initial number of the tape,
The initial number of the volume and the physical ID of DIT are written. As described above, the S-RAM 72 is a non-volatile memory that holds the stored contents even after the power is turned off. If the result of determination in step S35 is that the acquired initial number is not in the database, existing processing is performed.

If it is determined in step S35 that the acquired initial number exists in the database, step S35.
In 36, information on the DIT position (physical ID) is acquired based on the acquired initial number. And the main CP
U61 commands the CPU 82 to read the DIT with the position information of the DIT acquired as shown in step S37 and FIG. 27E as the start point, and as a result, the DIT is read. The DIT is the DMA controller 8
9 to store in the bank memory 80. CPU 61
Moves this data in the bank memory 80 to the RAM 71. Then, in step 38, the CPU 61 causes the RA
Of the data transferred to M71, the final physical ID (ID equal to the EOD position) of the data block included in the VLT is read, and the CPU 81 is instructed to move the tape to this final physical ID. As a result, the head is prerolled to the EOD position, and the loading process is completed. FIG. 27F shows the head position when the loading process is completed.

Next, the unloading process of another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 28, 29 and 30. When the main CPU 61 receives an unload request from the host computer via the SCSI controller 75, unloading is started. When the user presses the unload button separately, the main CPU 61 recognizes via the PIO 65 that the unload button has been pressed. As a result, the CPU 61 determines that there is an unload request, and the unload process starts accordingly.

In the first step S41 (flowchart of FIG. 28), it is checked whether the database in the S-RAM 72 has overflowed. If it is an overflow, a new database cannot be created. Therefore, at the time of load processing, high-speed load processing using this database cannot be performed, so the processing moves to step S42.
Unloading is done by existing processing. If it is not an overflow, the process proceeds to step S43.

In step S43, it is determined whether the current head position is closer to the tape top (BOT) or EOD. If it is determined in step S43 that the position is close to the tape top, the process proceeds to step S42,
The existing unload process is performed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S43 that the position is close to the EOD, the preroll is performed from the current position to the position next to the EOD. In FIG. 29A, I is the head position after prerolling.

Next, the CPU 61 requests the sub CPU 81 to write the DIT via the 2-port RAM 70, and in step S44, the DIT starts immediately after EOD.
Write in. This writing is D at the beginning of the logical volume.
Similar to IT, it is repeated seven times. Figure 2
9B shows a state in which DIT is written in step S44.

Then, as shown in step S45 and FIG. 29C, the physical ID (indicating the position of DIT) of the DIT written in step 44, the tape initial number and the volume initial number are registered in the database in the S-RAM 72. To do. When the button is pressed or unloading is performed by a predetermined command, the CPU 61 issues an eject request,
The eject operation is performed, and the unload process ends.

FIG. 30 shows an example of the database. Tape initial number and volume initial number and written D
A correspondence table with IT positions (physical IDs) is constructed as a database. This database is stored in the S-RAM 72 which is a non-volatile memory. In other examples,
As described above, the rewinding process to the tape top is not required at the time of unloading, and the speeding up of the loading process and the unloading process can be achieved as in the first embodiment of the present invention described above.

The present invention can be applied not only to a rotary head type data recorder but also to a data recorder for sequential access.

Further, the data format for giving the attribute of the tape mark is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various formats are possible.

[0100]

According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve a high speed unloading process without the need for rewinding to the tape top at the time of unloading. However, in the next loading process, the target DIT position can be moved in a short time, and the loading process can be speeded up.

Further, according to the present invention, the position of the DIT accessed at the time of loading / unloading is not always the same position, so that the tape damage can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a data recorder to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic rear view of a data recorder to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a usage example of a data recorder to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a head arrangement of a data recorder to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a track pattern of a data recorder to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a data recorder to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a tape format of a data recorder to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 8 is a VSI of a data recorder to which the present invention can be applied.
It is an approximate line figure showing the format of T and DIT.

FIG. 9 is a BST of a data recorder to which the present invention can be applied.
It is a schematic diagram for explaining.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a logical format of a data recorder to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining the format structure of a data recorder to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 12 is a more detailed block diagram of a system configuration of a data recorder to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining load processing of a data recorder to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining unloading processing of a data recorder to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining a loading process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram for explaining load processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart for explaining the unload process of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram for explaining unloading processing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of unload information in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram for explaining one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of a DIT subcode area.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of a DIT block management table.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of VIT in DIT.

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of a LIDT in a DIT.

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing the contents of FIT in DIT.

FIG. 26 is a flow chart for explaining load processing of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram for explaining load processing of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a flow chart for explaining an unload process of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a schematic diagram for explaining unloading processing according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram for explaining a database of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 tape drive controller 2 digital information recorder 20 host computer 27 track on which time code is recorded 61 main CPU 70 2-port RAM 71 RAM 75 SCSI controller 80 bank memory 81 sub CPU

Claims (31)

[Claims] 1. A digital data recording / reproducing apparatus in which a recording / reproducing head records and / or reproduces digital data in a predetermined recording / reproducing area of a recording / reproducing area of a tape-shaped recording medium. In each recording / reproducing area of the recorded recording / reproducing area, the digital data, end information indicating an end point of the recording of the digital data, and a first information table including management information of the digital data are recorded. further,
The tape-shaped recording medium includes second management information for managing digital data in the plurality of recording / reproducing areas, and position information indicating a position on the tape-shaped recording medium in the first information table. In a digital data recording / reproducing apparatus in which the above information table is recorded, a means for creating a third information table in which the contents of the above first information table are updated, and the above third information table are recorded. Means for creating a fourth information table including position information indicating the position on the tape-shaped recording medium to be recorded, and the recording / reproducing area when the digital data recording / reproducing apparatus is instructed to unload. The third information table and the fourth information table are recorded by the recording / reproducing head at a predetermined position of, and after the recording is completed, the tape recording Recording and reproducing apparatus of the digital data, characterized in that comprising a control means for controlling so as to unload the medium. 2. The digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first information table is recorded in the frontmost part of the recording / reproducing area, and the digital data is recorded at a position subsequent to the first information table. Is recorded, and the end information is recorded following the position where the recording of the digital data ends, and when the unload operation is instructed, the end information is recorded in the recording / reproducing area. The recording / reproducing head is the first
Of the recording position of the information table or the recording position of the end information, and the control means has the third position on the side of the position determined to be close.
And the fourth information table are controlled so as to be recorded. 3. The digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means determines that the first information table is close to the recording / reproducing head when the unloading operation is instructed. In this case, the first information table is rewritten to the third information table, and the fourth information table is controlled to be recorded at a position subsequent to the rewritten third information table. And the device. 4. The digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means, when instructed to perform the unloading operation, determines that the end information is close to the recording / reproducing head. , In the position following the end information above the third
Device for controlling the recording of the fourth information table at a position subsequent to the third information table. 5. The digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position information indicating the position on the tape-shaped recording medium in which the third information table is to be recorded is the head of the third information table. A device characterized by being information indicating a position. 6. The digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the means for creating the fourth information table has the same contents as the second information table, and further the start position of the third information table. Which has a configuration in which information indicating
An apparatus for creating an information table of. 7. The digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls so as to continuously record a plurality of the fourth information tables in the recording / reproducing area. apparatus. 8. The digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control means has the fourth information table in the recording / reproducing area longer than a tape path length of the digital data recording / reproducing apparatus. An apparatus characterized by controlling so as to continuously record a plurality of distances. 9. A digital data recording / reproducing apparatus in which a recording / reproducing head records and / or reproduces digital data in a predetermined recording / reproducing area of a plurality of recording / reproducing areas of a tape-shaped recording medium. In each recording / reproducing area of the recording / reproducing area, the contents of the first information table including the digital data, end information indicating an end point of recording of the digital data, and management information of the digital data are updated. Three
Information table and a fourth information table including at least position information indicating the position on the tape-shaped recording medium on which the third information table is recorded, and the tape-shaped recording medium further includes the above-mentioned information table. Tape-shaped recording in which a second information table including management information for managing digital data in a plurality of recording / reproducing areas and position information indicating the position of the first information table on the tape-shaped recording medium is recorded. When the loading operation is instructed by the medium, the transporting means for transporting the tape recording medium in response to a control signal, and the digital data recording / reproducing apparatus, and the tape recording is performed, the tape recording is performed. Reading the above fourth information table on the medium,
The position information of the third information table is detected from the read fourth information table, the transfer means is controlled based on the detected position information to transfer the tape-shaped recording medium, and the transfer is completed. The third information table is read from the tape-shaped recording medium, position information indicating the position on the tape-shaped recording medium where the end information is recorded is detected from the read third information table, and the detected position information is detected. Recording means for controlling the transfer means to transfer the tape-shaped recording medium on the basis of the control means so as to position the recording / reproducing head immediately after the end information. Playback device. 10. The digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control means further determines whether or not the tape-shaped recording medium is at the head position when a load operation is instructed. The recording / reproducing apparatus for digital data according to claim 1, wherein the control means executes the operation of claim 1 only when it is determined that the position is not the head position. 11. The digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control means further records the fourth information table on the tape-shaped recording medium when a load operation is instructed. Recording of digital data, characterized in that it has means for judging whether or not it is present, and the control means executes the operation of claim 1 only when it is judged that the fourth information table is recorded. Playback device. 12. A recording / reproducing method of digital data, wherein a recording / reproducing head records and / or reproduces digital data in a predetermined recording / reproducing area of a recording / reproducing area of a tape-shaped recording medium. In each recording / reproducing area of the recorded recording / reproducing area, the digital data, end information indicating an end point of recording of the digital data, and a first information table including management information of the digital data are recorded. further,
The tape-shaped recording medium includes a second management information for managing the digital data of the plurality of recording / reproducing areas and a second position information indicating the position of the first information table on the tape-shaped recording medium. In a digital data recording / reproducing method in which an information table is recorded, a first step of updating the contents of the first information table to create a third information table, and the third information table A second step of creating a fourth information table containing position information indicating the position on the tape recording medium to be recorded, and when the digital data recording / reproducing method is instructed to perform an unload operation, A third step of recording the third information table and the fourth information table at a predetermined position in the recording / reproducing area by the recording / reproducing head; 4. The method for recording / reproducing digital data, which comprises a fourth step of unloading the tape-shaped recording medium after the recording of the information table 4 is completed. 13. The digital data recording / reproducing method according to claim 12, wherein the first information table is recorded in a front part of the recording / reproducing area, and the digital data is recorded at a position subsequent to the first information table. Is recorded, and the end information is recorded following the position where the recording of the digital data is completed. The third step further comprises recording / reproducing when the unload operation is instructed. Within the area, a step of determining which of the recording position of the first information table and the recording position of the end information the recording / reproducing head is closer to, and the third position on the side of the position determined to be closer. And the step of recording the fourth information table. 14. The recording / reproducing method for digital data according to claim 13, wherein in the third step, the first information table is close to the recording / reproducing head when the unloading operation is instructed. If it is determined, the method further comprises the step of rewriting the first information table to the third information table and recording the fourth information table at a position subsequent to the rewritten third information table. How to characterize. 15. The method for recording / reproducing digital data according to claim 14, wherein in the third step, when it is determined that the end information is close to the recording / reproducing head, the third step is performed after the end information. The above third information table is recorded, and this third information table is recorded.
Recording the fourth information table at a position subsequent to the information table of FIG. 16. The method for recording and reproducing digital data according to claim 12, further comprising a step of determining whether the unload mode is the first mode or the second mode, If it is determined, the third step is executed, and if it is determined that the mode is the second mode, the first information table is rewritten to the third information table, and then the tape-shaped recording medium is rewritten. A method characterized by executing the step of rewinding to the beginning position. 17. The method of recording and reproducing digital data according to claim 12, wherein the third step further includes a step of continuously recording a plurality of the fourth information tables in the recording and reproducing area. How to characterize. 18. The digital data recording / reproducing method according to claim 17, wherein in the step of recording a plurality of the fourth information tables continuously in the recording / reproducing area, the fourth information table is a tape path. A method characterized by being recorded over a distance longer than the length. 19. A digital data recording / reproducing method of recording and / or reproducing digital data by a recording / reproducing head in a predetermined recording / reproducing area of a plurality of recording / reproducing areas of a tape-shaped recording medium. In each recording / reproducing area of the recording / reproducing area, the contents of the first information table including the digital data, end information indicating an end point of the recording of the digital data, and management information of the digital data are updated.
Information table and a fourth information table including position information indicating a position on the tape-shaped recording medium on which the third information table is recorded, and the tape-shaped recording medium further includes the plurality of information tables. A tape on which a second information table including management information for managing the digital data of the recording / reproducing area and position information indicating the position on the tape-shaped recording medium of the first information table is recorded. First loading a linear recording medium in response to a load operation instruction
And the second step of reading the fourth information table on the tape-shaped recording medium during the loading operation, and the third information from the fourth information table read in the second step. A third step of detecting position information indicating a position on the tape-shaped recording medium in which the information table is recorded, and a fourth step of transferring the tape-shaped recording medium based on the position information detected in the third step. And the fifth step of reading the third information table from the tape-shaped recording medium that has been transferred in the fourth step.
In the fifth step, the sixth step of detecting the position information indicating the position on the tape-shaped recording medium in which the end information is recorded from the read third information table, and the sixth step. From the seventh step of positioning the recording / reproducing head immediately after the end information by controlling the transfer means on the basis of the position information detected in the step to transfer the tape-shaped recording medium. And a method for recording and reproducing digital data. 20. The digital data recording / reproducing method according to claim 19, further comprising a step of determining whether or not the tape-shaped recording medium is at a head position when a load operation is instructed, A method characterized in that the second and subsequent steps are executed only when it is determined that the position is not the start position. 21. The digital data recording / reproducing method according to claim 19, further comprising determining whether or not the fourth information table is recorded on the tape-shaped recording medium when a load operation is instructed. A method comprising: performing the second step and subsequent steps only when it is determined that the fourth information table is recorded. 22. A digital data recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and / or reproducing digital data by a recording / reproducing head in a predetermined recording / reproducing area of a recording / reproducing area divided into a plurality of parts on a tape-shaped recording medium. In each recording / reproducing area of the recorded recording / reproducing area, the digital data, end information indicating an end point of recording of the digital data, and a first information table including management information of the digital data are recorded. further,
The tape-shaped recording medium includes a second management information for managing the digital data of the plurality of recording / reproducing areas and a second position information indicating the position of the first information table on the tape-shaped recording medium. In a digital data recording / reproducing apparatus in which an information table is recorded, a means for creating a third information table in which the contents of the first information table are updated, and the third information table are recorded. The memory means for storing the position information indicating the position on the tape-shaped recording medium to be recorded, and the third portion at the predetermined position of the recording / reproducing area when the digital data recording / reproducing apparatus is instructed to unload. On the tape-shaped recording medium on which the third information table is to be recorded in the memory means while recording the information table of Storing position information indicating the location, then the recording and reproducing apparatus of the digital data, characterized in that comprising a control means for unloading the tape-shaped recording medium. 23. The digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the first information table is recorded in a front part of the recording / reproducing area, and the digital data is recorded at a position subsequent to the first information table. Is configured to record the end information following the position where the recording of the digital data ends, and when the operation of the unload is instructed, in the recording / reproducing area, The recording / reproducing head has means for determining which is closer to the recording position of the first information table or the recording position of the end information, and the control means has the side closer to the position determined to be closer. To the third above
An apparatus characterized by controlling to record the information table of. 24. The digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control means determines that the first information table is close to the recording / reproducing head when instructed to perform the unloading operation. In this case, the device is characterized in that the first information table is rewritten to the third information table. 25. The digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein when the control unit determines that the end information is close to the recording / reproducing head when the unloading operation is instructed. , In the position following the end information above the third
An apparatus for recording the information table of. 26. The digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the position information indicating the position on the tape-shaped recording medium in which the third information table is to be recorded is the head of the third information table. A device characterized by being information indicating a position. 27. A digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said control means is a position on said tape-shaped recording medium at which said third information table is to be recorded as information to be stored in said memory means. In addition to the position information indicating
2. An apparatus which controls to store a unique value representing the tape-shaped recording medium and a unique value representing the digital data recorded in each recording / reproducing area included in the information table of FIG. 28. A digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said control means is position information indicating a position on said tape-shaped recording medium in which said third information table is to be recorded in said memory means. An overflow of the memory means when storing a unique value representing the tape-shaped recording medium included in the first information table and a unique value representing the digital data recorded in each recording / reproducing area. The presence or absence of the tape-shaped recording medium is detected, and when it is detected that the memory means overflows, the tape-shaped recording medium is controlled so as to be rewound to the head position thereof. 29. A digital data recording / reproducing apparatus for recording and / or reproducing digital data by a recording / reproducing head in a predetermined recording / reproducing area of a plurality of recording / reproducing areas of a tape-shaped recording medium. In each recording / reproducing area of the recording / reproducing area, the contents of the first information table including the digital data, end information indicating an end point of recording of the digital data, and management information of the digital data are updated. Three
Information table is recorded on the tape-shaped recording medium, and management information for managing the digital data of the plurality of recording / reproducing areas and the position of the first information table on the tape-shaped recording medium are recorded on the tape-shaped recording medium. Tape-shaped recording medium in which a second information table including position information indicating the position is recorded, and memory means for storing position information indicating the position on the tape-shaped recording medium in which the third information table is recorded. The transfer means for transferring the tape-shaped recording medium in response to a control signal and the digital data recording / reproducing apparatus are instructed to perform a loading operation, and are stored in the memory means when the loading operation is executed. The position information indicating the position of the third information table being read is read, and the transfer means is controlled based on the read position information to transfer the tape-shaped recording medium. The third information table is read from the tape-shaped recording medium that has been transferred, and position information indicating the position on the tape-shaped recording medium where the end information is recorded is detected from the read third information table. Controlling the transfer means based on the detected position information to transfer the tape-shaped recording medium, and controlling the recording / reproducing head to be positioned immediately after the end information. Recording and reproducing device for digital data. 30. The digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the control means further determines whether or not the tape-shaped recording medium is at the head position when a load operation is instructed. 30. An apparatus having means, wherein the control means executes the operation of claim 29 only when it is determined that the head position is not reached. 31. The digital data recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the memory means, in addition to the position information indicating the position of the third information table, is an unloading operation of the digital data recording / reproducing apparatus. And a unique value stored in the first information table representing the tape-shaped recording medium and a unique value representing the digital data recorded in each recording / reproducing area, Is a unique value representing the tape-shaped recording medium recorded in the third information table of the tape-shaped recording medium when the load operation is instructed, and a unique value representing the recorded digital data. Read the value of
It is determined whether these read values are equal to those stored in the memory means, and only when it is determined that they are equal, the position indicated by the position information of the third information table stored in the memory means is indicated. An apparatus which controls to transfer the tape-shaped recording medium to the device.