Storage Technology Corporation

Ralph Leon Butts

Charles Allen Milligan

Michael Lawrence Leonhardt

John C Owens

William C Dodt

Brian P Egan

Jerry L Donze

Donald R Schenck

The tape drive control unit administers both computer data and video data that is stored on the same type of data storage media. This is accomplished by determining, when a magnetic tape is mounted in the tape drive, the format that is used to store the data on the magnetic tape media. In the case of video data, the data is directly written on to the magnetic tape media, while for computer data, a header is interposed between a leader portion of the magnetic tape on the 3480-type magnetic tape cartridge and the remainder of the magnetic tape contained therein.

Method and apparatus for automatically activating a one of video data channel and a computer data channel in a tape drive in response to detection of the nature of the data recorded on a magnetic tape loaded in the tape drive

Data storage elements that present uniform external dimensions but contain media of varying types and characteristics provide variable data storage and/or recording characteristics. To differentiate between the various media that can be used within the common form factor, each data storage element is equipped with a leader block, the tape threading slot of which is uniquely dimensioned to correspond to the media contained within the data storage element.

Differentiation of media types via leader block characteristics

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Johnstown, CO, United States of America

Ralph Leon Butts