Registers – Systems controlled by data bearing records
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-22
2001-11-27
Lee, Michael G. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Systems controlled by data bearing records
C235S449000, C235S493000, C369S053130, C361S061000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321979
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic tape apparatus and a magnetic tape medium which can be read by a computer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The magnetic tape apparatus records or reproduces a data to/from a magnetic tape medium according to a firmware read from a firmware memory. This firmware maybe reversed but in general, the firmware update has been performed by replacement of a ROM of the magnetic tape apparatus.
Moreover, as a method for updating the firmware in more simple way, there has also been method to record a firmware in a magnetic tape medium and this magnetic tape medium is mounted on a magnetic tape apparatus, so that the firmware recorded on the magnetic tape medium is stored in the firmware memory for updating the firmware. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) 5-265739 and Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) 8-76989 disclose a method for further simplified firmware updating. According to the disclosures of these publications, an identifier is recorded in a magnetic tape medium header for indicating that firmware is recorded in a magnetic tape medium header, and the magnetic tape apparatus, upon detection of this identifier, automatically updates the firmware.
However, the recording format of the magnetic tape medium is already specified by the ISO/IEC. When adding a new identifier to the firmware, there should be a discussion how the identifier is to be handled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic tape apparatus and a computer-readable magnetic tape medium capable of introducing firmware identifier enabling automatic firmware updating without modifying the format specified by the ISO/IEC14251 as a ½-inch width and 36-track information magnetic tape cartridge.
Accordingly, the present invention is a magnetic tape apparatus comprising: a tape drive for recording and reproducing data to/from a magnetic tape; a firmware memory containing firmware; and a controller for controlling the tape drive by executing the firmware. The controller causes the magnetic tape apparatus to: read out a VOLID mark from an attribute information recorded between the BOT and a data on the magnetic tape; detect a volume identification name contained in the VOLID mark; decide that the data is firmware if the volume identification name contains a predetermined control code; and if the data is decided to be firmware, to overwrite the firmware recorded on the magnetic tape medium, upon the firmware memory.
According to the present invention, by recording a predetermined code not used normally, for the volume identifier of the VOLID mark, it is indicated that the recorded data is firmware. This code is detected by a magnetic tape apparatus for automatically updating firmware. Thus, it is possible to automatically update firmware without modifying the existing magnetic tape format based on the ISO/IEC 14251 (JIS X 6135). The predetermined code is used as a code other than alphanumeric.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5075805 (1991-12-01), Peddle et al.
patent: 5428755 (1995-06-01), Imai et al.
patent: 5612829 (1997-03-01), Takai et al.
patent: 5914928 (1999-06-01), Takahashi
patent: 5959280 (1999-09-01), Kamatani
patent: 6026468 (2000-02-01), Mase et al.
patent: 5-265739 (1993-10-01), None
patent: 8-76989 (1996-03-01), None
Cyr Daniel St.
Foley & Lardner
Lee Michael G.
NEC Corporation
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