Magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus and method

• Main Authors: HAYASHI, KOUSOU, NISHIDA, SYUZOU
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 03.06.1992
• Subjects: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; INFORMATION STORAGE; INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORDCARRIER AND TRANSDUCER; PHYSICS; PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

A magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus wherein an area consisting of a predetermined number of successive tracks (a) on a magnetic tape (T) constitutes a unit record area, the unit record area being partitioned into at least two divisional record areas each consisting of successive tracks so that plural systems of data are allocated to the divisional record areas for being separately recorded therein for individual systems, wherein together with first identification data (ID1) indicative of the order of track arrangement and second identification data (ID2) for identifying the divisional record area in which the track is included are recorded, as third identification data (ID3), first identification data for a track located at the beginning of the divisional record area in which the track is included. According to the arrangement, the third identification data (= first identification data) indicative of the beginning position of the record area to be searched can be recognized in the course of high speed retrieval operation and, therefore, easy access to the beginning position of the record area to be search can be gained in short time through usual reproducing operation.