Dynamic control of magnetic tape drive

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth such as particular architectures, interfaces, techniques, etc.
in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention.
However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details.
In other instances, detailed descriptions of well known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.
The present invention concerns both a Multi Purpose Digital Recorder (MPDR) and method for operating the same, as well as a specific media format.
FIG.
1 shows a cartridge 30 wherein MPDR media, specifically magnetic tape 32, extends from supply reel 34 to take-up reel 36.
Tape 32 is transported in cartridge 30 by cartridge belt 37, which extends around capstan puck 38.
In the illustrated embodiment, tape 32 has a buried servo signal TS prerecorded thereon, as subsequently explained.
While some aspects of the present invention require the buried servo or track sense (TS) signal, other aspects of the invention do not and should be understood not to be so limited.
By virtue of its multipurpose format, tape 32 is utilizable by a plurality of types of devices.
For example, FIG.
1 shows cartridge 30 with tape 32 therein being selectively loadable into an audio/visual (A/V) type device 44; a random access type device 46; and a sequential access type device 48.
Bidirectional arrows 54, 56 and 58 indicate that devices 46 and 48, respectively, can read information from and record information on tape 32.
A/V device 44 does not record on multipurpose media, but can record on single purpose tape (e.
g.
, a VCR recording on tape).
As explained subsequently, the information recorded on tape 32 by devices 46 and 48 can be either audio/visual (A/D) data or non-A/V data.
As further shown in FIG