International Business Machines Corporation

Jonathan M Kiser

Robert Beverley Basham

Ara Sarkis Patapoutian

A tape drive subsystem discloses that variable length symbols can be used to reliably identify data stored on the tape. Machine controlling procedures are disclosed to encode and decode data for the reliable sensing of the serial number of a media, especially tape cartridges, having different track densities. The subsystem detects the serial number of the media and corrects, or at least detects, error patterns. A variable length symbol code is encoded in a plurality of groups with each group having a 'one' being represented as an erase gap ERG signal covering a first two units of a group, and a 'zero' is represented as one unit of an ERG signal, both followed by four units of an Inter Block Gap IBG signal.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Jonathan M Kiser