Apparatus for recording and reproducing identification words on a

Abstract

In a helical-scan tape recorder, a digital signal having a series of M identification words of N bits each is generated. One of the N-bit words is a discrimination word identifying a particular combination of the other N-bit words. The M words are organized into J groups of I words each (where J.times.I=M) and recorded with an information signal at spaced intervals within each of a series of sectors defined along each track of a recording tape so that the word groups are interleaved with the information signal and each of the recorded sub-blocks can be traced substantially simultaneously by a transducer head during a search mode. At least one of the word groups includes data bits identifying distinct, but mutually closely related items of information and discrimination bits which identify the data bits. During search mode, distribution bits can be detected with the data bits of the same word group to allow the closely related items of information to be displayed.