Tape Streamer Attribute Indexing for Rapid Data Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tape streamer drives face challenges in quickly accessing desired data on magnetic tapes due to the lack of a file or folder concept, leading to long data positioning times and inefficient data retrieval processes, especially as storage capacity increases.
Innovation Solution
An information-processing apparatus that acquires and records data and attributes separately, using a table format to associate attributes with data, allowing for efficient searching and retrieval of desired data without scanning the entire tape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If data is recorded sequentially on magnetic tape without attribute indexing, then the recording capacity can be maximized, but the data access time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by recording attribute information (file names, record lengths, data positions) in a header record before the actual data recording. This allows the data positioning mechanism to quickly locate desired data without scanning the entire tape sequentially, thus reducing access time while maintaining high recording capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the attribute record containing file names, record lengths, and position information - that mediates between the sequential recording structure and random access requirements. This intermediary layer enables efficient data location without disrupting the sequential recording format, resolving the contradiction between capacity and access speed.
2Reliability
If the entire tape is scanned to locate desired data, then data can be found, but tape damage occurs due to excessive tape movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent records position information and record length in the header attribute record before data recording. During data retrieval, the positioning mechanism uses this pre-recorded information to directly jump to the desired data location, minimizing tape movement and reducing wear and damage while ensuring complete and accurate data retrieval.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical scanning approach (physically moving through the entire tape) with an information-based positioning system that uses recorded attribute data to calculate and jump directly to target positions. This substitution dramatically reduces mechanical tape movement and associated damage while maintaining retrieval reliability.
3Productivity
If attribute information is recorded separately from data, then data search efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the attribute record and data record into a unified recording structure where the attribute record serves as a header to the corresponding data record. This integration allows efficient data search through attribute information while avoiding the complexity of completely separate attribute and data storage systems, as the structure is handled uniformly by the recording apparatus.
Data Source
AI summary
Attributes of data recorded on a magnetic tape are stored in an attribute information table saved in an MIC (Memory in Cassette) of a tape cassette accommodated in a tape streamer drive connected to a host computer. The attributes are recorded for every identifier used for identifying a recording unit of the data. For each identifier, the attributes include the name of a file, a title, a file creation date/time, a file updating date/time, the amount of data contained in the file, the type of the data and a compression rate of the data. The attributes include not only those supplied by the host computer but also attributes generated after a data recording operation as information on the recording location of data. The attributes generated after the data recording operation include a group number and an offset from the beginning of the group identified by the group number. For example, the present invention can be applied to the tape streamer drive.