Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – General recording or reproducing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-09
2001-09-25
Hudspeth, David (Department: 2651)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
General recording or reproducing
C360S072100, C360S072200, C360S132000, C360S027000, C242S345000, C352S123000, C352S129000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295178
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cassette housing a tape-like recording medium and being attached, in use, to a recording and reproducing apparatus such as video cassette recording (VCR) and a streamer, and an apparatus and a method of recording and reproducing data to and from a tape-like recording medium housed in a cassette.
A well known format of data recorded on a tape-like recording medium, for example, a magnetic tape is such that a plurality of programs such as movies are arranged in series on the tape-like recording medium in its longitudinal direction when the programs are recorded in series on a time axis.
This data format requires forward/backward winding to find a head portion of any program with a result that a quick access to any program is impossible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A purpose of the present invention is to provide a compact cassette that houses tape-like recording media for quick access.
Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a recording and reproducing apparatus using the cassette.
Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method of reproducing, with quick access, data recorded on the tape-like recording media housed in the cassette.
The present invention provides cassette comprising: a first and a second reel; at least a first guide pole (first tape guide) provided between the first and second reels; a first tape-like recording medium wound around the first and second reels via the first guide pole; a third and a fourth reel; at least a second guide pole (second tape guide) provided between the third and fourth reels; and a second tape-like recording medium wound around the third and fourth reels via the second guide pole.
Further, the present invention provides a recording and reproducing apparatus comprising at least one recording and reproducing mechanism used for recording and reproducing data on and from a first and a second tape-like recording medium contained in a cassette having a first and a second reel, at least a first guide pole provided between the first and second reels, a third and a fourth reel and at least a second guide pole provided between the third and fourth reels, the first tape-like recording medium being wound around the first and second reels via the first guide pole, the second tape-like recording medium being wound around the third and fourth reels via the second guide pole.
Further, the present invention provides an apparatus for reproducing data from a first and a second tape-like recording medium, comprising: a reproducer to reproduce one of head fields of a plurality of main data, each head field being recorded after a sub discriminating data on the second tape-like recording medium; and a controller to search one of main discriminating data identical to the sub discriminating data, each main discriminating data being recorded in front of the main data on the first tape-like recording medium, the first and second recording media being contained in a cassette such that the second tape-like recording medium is shorter in length than the first tape-like recording medium, and to switch reproduction of the reproducer from the second tape-like recording medium to the first tape-like recording medium when the reproduction of the head field is complete, thus controlling the reproducer to reproduce main data that follows the searched main discrimination data.
Further, the present invention provides an apparatus for reproducing data from a first and a second tape-like recording medium, comprising: a reproducer to reproduce one of head fields of a plurality of main data, the head fields being recorded on the second tape-like recording medium, the first and second tape-like recording media being contained in a cassette such that the second tape-like recording medium is shorter in length than the first tape-like recording medium; and a controller to search a first end portion identical to a second end portion of the head field which is being reproduced, while the second and portion is being reproduced, the first and portion being recorded at a head of each of the main data recorded on the first tape-like recording medium, and to switch reproduction of the reproducer from the second tape-like recording medium to the first tape-like recording medium when the reproduction of the second end portion is complete, thus controlling the reproducer to reproduce main data that follows the searched first end portion.
Further, the present invention provides a method of reproducing data from a first and a second tape-like recording medium, comprising the steps of: reproducing one of head fields of a plurality of main data, each head field being recorded after a sub discriminating data on the second tape-like recording medium; search one of main discriminating data identical to the sub discriminating data, each main discriminating data being recorded in front of the main data on the first tape-like recording medium the first and second recording media being contained in a cassette such that the second tape-like recording medium is shorter in length than the first tape-like recording medium; switching reproduction from the second tape-like recording medium to the first tape-like recording medium when the reproduction of the head field is complete; and reproducing main data that follows the searched main discrimination data.
Further, the present invention provides a method of reproducing data from a first and a second tape-like recording medium, comprising the steps of: reproducing one of head fields of a plurality of main data, the head fields being recorded on the second tape-like recording medium, the first and second tape-like recording medium, contained in a cassette such that the second tape-like recording medium is shorter in length than the first tape-like recording medium; searching a first end portion identical to a second end portion of the head field which is being reproduced, while the second end portion is being reproduced, the first end portion being recorded at a head of each of the main data recorded on the first tape-like recording medium; switching reproduction from the second tape-like recording medium to the first tape-like recording medium when the reproduction of the second and portion is complete; and reproducing main data that follows the searched first end portion.
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Anderson Kill & Olick P.C.
Davidson Dan I.
Hudspeth David
Victor Company of Japan Ltd.
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