Life/wear monitoring for magnetic tape

Abstract

Apparatus (,) for transducing information relative to a recording media includes a transport system which transports the media (T) whereby predefined locations on the media, known as media wear milestones (MS,. . . MSn), make a pass proximate a transducing element (,). A media wear monitoring system (,) determines when a pass occurs with respect to each of the predetermined media wear milestones on the media, and in accordance with the determination provides an indication of media wear. The transport system includes a media takeup reel (,), the angular position of which is utilized by the media wear monitoring system to locate the media wear milestones. The media wear monitoring system includes a media wear log (,) stored in a memory (,). The media wear log includes an indication of a number of passes which has occurred with respect to each of the media wear milestones. Upon loading of the media into the apparatus the media wear monitoring system reads an initial version of the media wear log from the media into the memory. During transport of the media, the media wear monitoring system detects reaching of the media wear milestones and updates the media wear log by incrementing the indication of the number of passes for the reached media wear milestones. Upon unloading of the media from the apparatus, the media wear monitoring system writes an updated media wear log on the media, e.g., to a physical beginning of the media.