(12) United States Patent
`Kato et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,016,137 B2
`Mar. 21, 2006
`
`US007016137B2
`
`TAPE DRIVE APPARATUS, RECORDING
`AND/OR REPRODUCING METHOD, AND
`RECORDING MEDIUM
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,624,961 B1 *
`2004/0165314 A1 *
`2004/0194151 A1 *
`
`9/2003 Takayama ................ .. 360/723
`8/2004 Fujiwara et al. ..
`360/133
`9/2004 Earhart ..................... .. 725/135
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`JP
`
`09-237474
`
`9/ 1996
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—AndreW L. SnieZek
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Rader, Fishman & Grauer
`PPLC; Ronald P. Kananen
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A tape cassette of this invention is equipped With a memory
`capable of accommodating management information. The
`memory retains an MIC logical format type designating a
`format state, either formatted or unformatted, of the mag
`netic tape. A check is made on the consistency betWeen the
`format state designated by the MIC logical format type and
`the format state estimated by reading data from the magnetic
`tape. If an inconsistency is detected, that is interpreted to
`mean that the tape cassette has been tampered With, and read
`and Write operations on the cassette are controlled accord
`ingly. This enhances security against fraudulent uses of a
`tape drive system loaded With the tape cassette.
`
`5 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`(*)
`
`(21)
`(22)
`(65)
`
`Inventors: Tatsuya Kato, KanagaWa (JP); Masaki
`Yoshida, Tokyo (JP); Katsumi Ikeda,
`KanagaWa (JP); Yoshihisa Takayama,
`KanagaWa (JP)
`
`Assignee: Sony Corporation, (JP)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 234 days.
`
`Appl. No.: 10/748,155
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 31, 2003
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2005/0018342 A1
`
`Jan. 27, 2005
`
`(30)
`Jan.
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`7, 2003
`
`(JP)
`
`......................... .. P2003-001006
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`(58)
`
`Int. C].
`(2006.01)
`6118 19/02
`(2006.01)
`G11B 23/02
`US. Cl. ....................................... .. 360/69; 360/132
`Field of Classi?cation Search ................... .. None
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`I S CASSETTE
`
`LOG DATA FROM TAPE
`HAVE STRUCTURE CONFORMING
`T0 STIPULATED
`
`8109
`
`CHECK
`REPRODUCED SIGNAL
`
`S110
`IS REPRODUGED
`SIGNAL ABSENT?
`
`REFERENCE MIC
`Logical Format Type
`
`REFERENCE MIG
`Logical Format Type
`
`REFERENCE MIC
`Logical Format Type
`
`PERFORM sEOuENcE
`PROOEss
`CORRESPONDING T0
`
`ILLEGITIMATE CARTRIDGE
`
`PERFORM sEOuENcE
`PROcEss
`
`CORRESPONDING T0 BLANK TAPE
`
`PERFORM SEQUENCE
`PROCESS
`
`CORRESPONDING T0
`
`LOG DATA FROM TAPE
`HAVE STRUCTURE CONFDRMING
`TO STIPULATED
`
`CHECK
`REPRODUCED SIGNAL
`ST 1 8
`IS REPRODUCED
`SIGNAL ABSENT?
`
`Y
`
`PERFORM SEQUENCE
`PROcEss
`
`CORRESPONDING T0 FORMAT TYPE
`
`FUJIFILM, Exh. 1001, p. 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21, 2006
`
`Sheet 1 0f 15
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`US 7,016,137 B2
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`FUJIFILM, Exh. 1001, p. 2
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 21, 2006
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`Sheet 2 0f 15
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`US 7,016,137 B2
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21, 2006
`
`Sheet 3 0f 15
`
`US 7,016,137 B2
`
`FIG.3A
`
`2A
`
`W5
`
`N4
`REMOTE
`25 MEMORY CHIP
`
`FIG.3B
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`NM
`
`,L1o4
`CONTACT
`2B TYPE MEMORY
`
`FUJIFILM, Exh. 1001, p. 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21, 2006
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`Sheet 4 0f 15
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`US 7,016,137 B2
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`FUJIFILM, Exh. 1001, p. 5
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21, 2006
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`Sheet 5 0f 15
`
`US 7,016,137 B2
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`EEP ROM 3 4d
`
`
`
`42a POWER CIRCUIT
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`FIG.5
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`éa- CONTROLLER €—>
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`40
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`4b
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`FUJIFILM, Exh. 1001, p. 6
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 21, 2006
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`Sheet 6 6f 15
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`US 7,016,137 B2
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`585331
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`FUJIFILM, Exh. 1001, p. 7
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`

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`Bdar.21,2006
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`US 7,016,137 B2
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`

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`Bdar.21,2006
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`Sheets 0f15
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`US 7,016,137 B2
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21, 2006
`
`Sheet 9 0f 15
`
`US 7,016,137 B2
`
`F I G . 9
`
`(96bytes)
`MANUFACTURE PART
`(64bytes)
`SIGNATURE
`(32bytes)
`CARTRIDGE SERIAL NUMBER
`CARTRIDGE SERIAL NUMBER CRC(16bytes)
`‘SCRATCH PAD MEMORY
`(16bytes)
`M|C HEADER MECHANISM ERROR LOG
`(16byteS)
`(Fm-3)
`MECHANISM COUNTER
`(16bytes)
`LAST 11 DRIVE LIST
`(48bytes)
`DRIVE INITIALIZE PART
`(16bytes)
`vOI_UME INFORMATION
`(112bytes)
`ACCUMULATIVE SYSTEM I_OG
`(64bytes)
`VOLUME TAG
`(528bytes)
`
`v
`
`A
`
`PARTITION INFORMATION CELL #0
`
`i§§§*"_fi§§':i?§}§§i§@iQIEEEQIC:I:
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`SUPER-HIGH SPEED SEARCH MAP CELL
`
`FUJIFILM, Exh. 1001, p. 10
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21, 2006
`
`Sheet 10 0f 15
`
`US 7,016,137 B2
`
`FIG.1O
`
`A
`
`lbyte
`manufacture part checksum
`lbyte
`mic type
`4bytes
`mic manufacture date
`8bytes
`mic manufacture l ine name
`8bytes
`mic manufacture plant name
`8bytes
`mic manufacturer name
`8bytes
`mic name
`4bytes
`cassette manufactured date
`cassette manufacturer I ine name 8bytes
`cassette manufacturer plant name 8bytes
`Manufacture cassette manufacturer name
`8bytes
`Part
`cassette name
`8bytes
`
`8bytes
`oem customer name
`physical tape characteristic ID 2bytes
`maximum clock frequency
`2bytes
`block size
`lbyte
`mic capacity
`lbyte
`write protect top address
`2bytes
`write protect count
`2bytes
`reserved
`lbyte
`application lD
`lbyte
`offset
`2bytes
`
`FUJIFILM, Exh. 1001, p. 11
`
`

`

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`
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`FUJIFILM, Exh. 1001, p. 12
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21, 2006
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`Sheet 12 0f 15
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`US 7,016,137 B2
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`FUJIFILM, Exh. 1001, p. 13
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`Bdar.21,2006
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`FUJIFILM, Exh. 1001, p. 14
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 21, 2006
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`Sheet 14 0f 15
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`US 7,016,137 B2
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`FUJIFILM, Exh. 1001, p. 15
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`

`

`Patent
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`Mar. 21, 2006
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`FUJIFILM, Exh. 1001, p. 16
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`

`

`US 7,016,137 B2
`
`1
`TAPE DRIVE APPARATUS, RECORDING
`AND/OR REPRODUCING METHOD, AND
`RECORDING MEDIUM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a recording medium in the
`form of a tape cassette containing a magnetic tape, a tape
`drive apparatus capable of recording and/or reproducing
`information to and/or from the tape cassette, and a recording
`and/or reproducing method for use With the tape drive
`apparatus.
`Tape streamer drives are a Well-knoWn drive apparatus for
`recording and reproducing digital data to and from a mag
`netic tape serving as a recording medium held in a tape
`cassette. Depending on the tape length of the tape cassette
`they use, some tape streamer drives can record large quan
`tities of data amounting to tens to hundreds of gigabytes.
`Their mass storage capability alloWs the tape streamer drives
`to be utiliZed extensively in diverse applications including
`the backup of data recorded illustratively on hard discs in the
`computer body and the storage of picture data and other
`massive data.
`In a data storage system made up of such a tape streamer
`drive and a tape cassette containing a magnetic tape, man
`agement information or the like is needed for the drive to
`manage appropriately its recording and/or reproduction of
`data to and/or from the magnetic tape. The management
`information includes information about diverse locations on
`the magnetic tape as Well as a use history of the tape.
`A management information area is located at the begin
`ning of the magnetic tape or at the beginning of each of the
`partitions formed along the tape. Before Writing or repro
`ducing data to or from the magnetic tape, the tape streamer
`drive gains access to the management information area to
`read necessary management information therefrom. Based
`on the management information thus retrieved, the tape
`streamer drive performs various processes alloWing subse
`quent recording or reproducing operations to proceed appro
`priately.
`At the end of the data recording or reproduction of data,
`the tape streamer drive again accesses the management
`information area to update the relevant information therein
`in a manner re?ecting any changes resulting from the
`preceding recording or reproducing operation. The updates
`are carried out to prepare for the neXt recording or repro
`ducing operation. Thereafter, the tape cassette is unloaded
`and ejected from the tape streamer drive.
`Where recording and/or reproduction is performed on the
`basis of such management information, the tape streamer
`drive is required tWice to access the management informa
`tion area at the beginning of the magnetic tape or of one of
`its partitions, ?rst, before the operation is started, and later,
`When the operation has ended, so that the relevant data
`should be Written to and read from the area each time. In
`other Words, the tape cassette cannot be loaded or unloaded
`halfWay through the recording or reproducing operation
`along the magnetic tape.
`Upon access to the management information area, the
`tape streamer drive is required physically to feed the mag
`netic tape. That means it takes some time to access the
`beginning of the magnetic tape or of one of its partitions. In
`particular, if the recording or reproducing operation on the
`magnetic tape ends at a considerable physical distance from
`the management information area, it takes a correspondingly
`long time to feed the tape before the target area can be
`reached.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`2
`As described, data storage systems that utiliZe tape cas
`settes as their recording media require a relatively long
`access time before a single Write or read operation is
`completed, i.e., from the time the magnetic tape Was loaded
`until it is unloaded. It is obviously preferable to minimiZe
`the time required for such a series of access-related opera
`tions.
`For that purpose, techniques have been proposed Whereby
`a nonvolatile memory is installed Within a tape cassette
`enclosure so that the memory may accommodate manage
`ment information (refer illustratively to Japanese Patent
`Laid-open No. Hei 9-237474). The tape streamer drive for
`use With such a memory-equipped tape cassette incorporates
`an interface for Writing and reading management informa
`tion to and from the nonvolatile memory, i.e., information
`about the recording and reproduction of data to and from the
`magnetic tape.
`The above arrangement eliminates the need illustratively
`to reWind the magnetic tape at the time of loading or
`unloading the cassette. That is, the tape cassette may be
`loaded or unloaded halfWay through the ongoing operation
`along the tape.
`As described, the nonvolatile memory is attached to the
`tape cassette to shorten access time and gain other bene?ts.
`As long as the tape cassette is normally used, the content of
`data placed in the nonvolatile memory is generally kept
`consistent With the initial purpose of the tape cassette and
`With its past history of Write and read operations made
`thereto and therefrom.
`Typically, the above-described nonvolatile memory for
`the tape cassette is secured mechanically inside the cassette
`enclosure. That means it is impossible to exclude the pos
`sibility that the initially installed nonvolatile memory might
`be removed from Within the enclosure and replaced by an
`illicit nonvolatile memory.
`Described beloW is a concrete eXample of hoW the tape
`cassette can be tampered With. In addition to the normal-type
`tape cassette for normal data storage, there have been
`developed and marketed tape cassettes intended for special
`uses. A tape cassette for one of such special uses is illus
`tratively designed to have a magnetic tape to Which data can
`be recorded only once. Once recorded on the tape, the data
`can only be read and cannot be overWritten. This tape
`cassette feature is called WORM (Write Once Read Many).
`The WORM feature is also provided to disc type recording
`media such as CD-Rs and DVD-Rs.
`On a WORM tape cassette, data can only be read from the
`data-recorded areas and no data can be Written thereto.
`History information about the read and other operations on
`the tape cannot be updated in a manner causing any man
`agement information area associated With the recorded areas
`to re?ect the past changes. Such history information can
`only be Written to the nonvolatile memory in the tape
`cassette. Therefore, the management information that needs
`to be consistent With the WORM tape cassette is alWays
`stored into its nonvolatile memory. Where the WORM tape
`cassette is subject to the recording and/or reproduction of
`data, it is mandatory to use the management information
`held in the nonvolatile memory of the cassette and not any
`management information recorded on the magnetic tape.
`Suppose noW that a malicious user has illicitly replaced
`the original nonvolatile memory of the WORM tape cassette
`and that the memory does not contain any information
`designating the WORM feature but information designating
`only a normal type tape cassette. In that case, the tape
`cassette originally designed to provide the WORM feature
`Will be recogniZed as a normal type tape cassette if the
`
`FUJIFILM, Exh. 1001, p. 17
`
`

`

`US 7,016,137 B2
`
`3
`designating information in the nonvolatile memory is refer
`enced as the basis for the recognition. This Will enable
`attempts to Write data even to the recorded areas on the tape.
`That is, data can be falsi?ed or otherWise corrupted on the
`tape in the cartridge.
`Illustratively, WORM tape cassettes are actually utiliZed
`most often for the recording of important data that call for
`secure measures to maintain their high storage value, given
`the premise that recorded data can only be read and neither
`overWritten nor erased. Hence high levels of security are
`demanded by and offered to the data accommodated by the
`WORM tape cassette, so that the data Will not be destroyed
`or falsi?ed on the magnetic tape inside.
`The fraudulent case above involving the WORM tape
`cassette is but one example of tape cassette tampering.
`Regardless of their intended purposes, nonvolatile memory
`equipped tape cassettes could have their data destroyed or
`corrupted on the magnetic tape if their memories Were
`illicitly replaced.
`In actually marketing nonvolatile memory-equipped tape
`cassettes, tape cassette vendors are required to provide a
`scheme for preventing cases of tampering such as illegal
`replacement of the nonvolatile-memory.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`25
`
`4
`ignating an unformatted state When the magnetic tape has
`yet to be formatted, and the format state designation infor
`mation further designating a formatted state once the mag
`netic tape is formatted, and controlling a Write and/or a read
`operation on the recording medium based at least on spe
`ci?cs of the acquired format state designation information
`and on a result of a read operation on the magnetic tape
`performed in the recording and/or reproducing step.
`According to a further aspect of the invention, there is
`provided a recording medium furnished as a tape cassette in
`a cartridge for housing a magnetic tape to and/or from Which
`to Write and/or read information and a memory for holding
`management information for managing Write and/or read
`operations to and/or from the magnetic tape. The memory
`accommodates format state designation information desig
`nating an unformatted state When the magnetic tape has yet
`to be formatted. The format state designation information
`further designates a formatted state once the magnetic tape
`is formatted.
`The above-described apparatus and method of the inven
`tion are used in combination With the inventive recording
`medium that is a tape cassette housing a magnetic tape and
`equipped With a memory Which holds management infor
`mation for managing the Writing and reading of information
`to and from the magnetic tape.
`The memory retains as a piece of management informa
`tion the format state designation information designating an
`unformatted state When the magnetic tape has yet to be
`formatted and a formatted state once the magnetic tape is
`formatted. Write and read operations to and from the loaded
`tape cassette are controlled by referring to the format state
`designation information read from the memory and in ref
`erence to a result of a read operation performed on the
`magnetic tape.
`When references are made to the format state designation
`information from the memory as Well as to the result of the
`read operation on the magnetic tape, that is equivalent to
`verifying Whether there is a match betWeen the magnetic
`tape format state designated by the format state designation
`information on the one hand, and the actual format state
`detected from the magnetic tape on the other hand. In case
`of a mismatch, it is possible to surmise that the tape cassette
`has been tampered With.
`
`35
`
`40
`
`In solving the foregoing and other problems of the related
`art and according to one aspect of the invention, there is
`provided a tape drive apparatus including a tape-oriented
`recording and/or reproducing element for recording and/or
`reproducing information to and/or from a magnetic tape
`housed in a tape cassette furnished as a recording medium,
`the tape cassette being loaded in the apparatus, a memory
`accessing element for accessing a memory Which is incor
`porated in the tape cassette furnished as the recording
`medium and Which holds management information for Write
`and/or read operations to and/or from the magnetic tape, the
`memory accessing element Writing and/or reading informa
`tion to and/or from the memory folloWing the accessing, an
`information acquiring element for acquiring format state
`designation information from the memory by causing the
`memory accessing element to access the memory for infor
`mation retrieval, the format state designation information
`designating an unformatted state When the magnetic tape has
`yet to be formatted, and the format state designation infor
`mation further designating a formatted state once the mag
`netic tape is formatted, and an operation controlling element
`Which, based at least on speci?cs of the acquired format state
`designation information and on a result of a read operation
`on the magnetic tape by the tape-oriented recording and/or
`reproducing element, controls a Write and/or a read opera
`tion on the recording medium.
`According to another aspect of the invention, there is
`provided a recording and/or reproducing method for use
`With a tape drive apparatus. The method including the steps
`of recording and/or reproducing information to and/or from
`a magnetic tape housed in a tape cassette furnished as a
`recording medium, the tape cassette being loaded in the
`apparatus, accessing a memory Which is incorporated in the
`tape cassette furnished as the recording medium and Which
`holds management information for Write and/or read opera
`tions to and/or from the magnetic tape, the memory access
`ing step Writing and/or reading information to and/or from
`the memory folloWing the accessing, acquiring format state
`designation information from the memory by causing the
`memory accessing step to access the memory for informa
`tion retrieval, the format state designation information des
`
`45
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Further objects and advantages of this invention Will
`become apparent upon a reading of the folloWing description
`and appended draWings in Which:
`FIG. 1 is block diagram of a tape streamer drive embody
`ing this invention;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a remote memory interface
`included in the inventive tape streamer drive;
`FIGS. 3A and 3B are explanatory vieWs outlining an
`internal structure of a tape cassette embodying the invention;
`FIG. 4 is a perspective vieW of the inventive tape cassette;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a remote memory chip
`included in the inventive tape cassette;
`FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D are explanatory vieWs shoWing
`a structure of data recorded on a magnetic tape;
`FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are schematic vieWs depicting a
`data structure of a single track;
`FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are explanatory vieWs illustrating
`an area structure on a magnetic tape;
`FIG. 9 is an explanatory vieW indicating a MIC data
`structure according to the invention;
`
`55
`
`65
`
`FUJIFILM, Exh. 1001, p. 18
`
`

`

`US 7,016,137 B2
`
`5
`FIG. 10 is an explanatory vieW presenting a manufacture
`part of the MIC data structure according to the invention;
`FIG. 11 is an explanatory vieW describing a drive initial
`iZe part of the MIC data structure according to the invention;
`FIG. 12 is an explanatory vieW listing de?nitions of an
`MIC logical format type according to the invention;
`FIG. 13 is an explanatory vieW shoWing a typical system
`log according to the invention;
`FIG. 14 is an explanatory vieW shoWing another typical
`system log according to the invention; and
`FIG. 15 is a ?oWchart of steps constituting an illegitimate
`cartridge handling process embodying the invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`Preferred embodiments of this invention Will noW be
`described With reference to the accompanying draWings.
`This applicant proposed in the past a number of inventions
`regarding a nonvolatile, memory-equipped tape cassette and
`a tape drive apparatus (tape streamer drive) capable of
`recording and reproducing digital data to and from the
`memory-equipped tape cassette. This invention submitted
`by the same applicant applies to improvements of the
`memory-equipped tape cassette and tape streamer drive. The
`nonvolatile memory attached to the tape cassette according
`to the invention may be called an MIC (memory in cassette).
`The description beloW Will be made under the folloWing
`headings:
`1. Structure of the tape cassette;
`. Structure of the remote memory chip;
`. Structure of the tape streamer drive;
`. Magnetic tape format;
`. MIC data structure;
`. Data structure of system logs on the magnetic tape; and
`. Fraud preventing measures;
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`. Structure of the Tape Cassette
`The tape cassette for use With the tape streamer drive of
`this invention is described beloW With reference to FIGS.
`3A, 3B and 4. FIG. 3A conceptually depicts an internal
`structure of a tape cassette equipped With a remote memory
`chip. Inside the tape cassette 1 are reels 2A and 2B, as
`illustrated, and a magnetic tape 3 With a tape Width of 8 mm
`is Wound around the reels.
`45
`The tape cassette 1 contains the remote memory chip 4
`incorporating a nonvolatile memory and its control circuits.
`The remote memory chip 4 is furnished With an antenna 5
`that alloWs the chip 4 to communicate data Wirelessly With
`a remote memory interface 30 of the tape streamer drive, to
`be discussed later.
`The remote memory chip 4 accommodates diverse items
`of information about each tape cassette, i.e., manufacture
`information, serial number information, tape thickness, tape
`length, tape material, history of past uses of recorded data in
`each of the partitions formed along the tape, and user
`information. These items of information Will be described
`later in more detail. In this speci?cation, the diverse kinds of
`information held in the remote memory chip 4 are collec
`tively called “management information” because they are
`used primarily in managing the Writing and reading of data
`to and from the magnetic tape 3.
`As outlined above, the nonvolatile memory housed in the
`tape cassette enclosure stores management information, and
`the tape streamer drive for use With the tape cassette has the
`interface for Writing and reading relevant management infor
`mation to and from the nonvolatile memory in connection
`
`55
`
`65
`
`6
`With Write and read operations of data to and from the
`magnetic tape. This setup permits ef?cient data recording
`and reproduction to and from the magnetic tape 3.
`Illustratively, the magnetic tape does not need to be
`reWound to the tape top upon loading or unloading of the
`tape cassette. That is, the tape cassette can be loaded or
`unloaded halfWay through the ongoing operation. Data may
`be edited by updating the management information in the
`nonvolatile memory as needed. Furthermore, it is easy to
`form a large number of partitions along the tape and manage
`them appropriately.
`If the tape cassette is designed for some special use, the
`internal nonvolatile memory inside is arranged to accom
`modate, as part of management information, use type infor
`mation representative of the speci?c use. This arrangement
`eliminates the need illustratively to form identi?cation holes
`on the tape cassette enclosure for use identi?cation pur
`poses. SiZe constraints of the tape cassette enclosure put a
`physical limit on the number of identi?cation holes that may
`be formed on the enclosure. On the side of the tape streamer
`drive, it is not feasible to include a mechanical detection
`facility for detecting each and every identi?cation hole that
`could be formed; the holes for identifying numerous uses
`cannot be dealt With physically. By contrast, a large number
`of tape cassette uses can be recogniZed if the management
`information in the nonvolatile memory is arranged to
`include relevant information representing the use types in
`effect, as mentioned above.
`FIG. 3B shoWs a tape cassette 1 incorporating a contact
`type memory 104 (nonvolatile memory). In this setup, a
`module of the contact type memory 104 has ?ve terminals
`105A, 105B, 105C, 105D and 105E serving as a power
`supply terminal, a data input terminal, a clock input termi
`nal, a grounding terminal, and a reserved terminal, respec
`tively. The contact type memory 104 stores the same man
`agement information as the remote memory chip 4 described
`above.
`In this speci?cation, the nonvolatile memory housed in
`the tape cassette is called the MIC, as mentioned above.
`According to the invention, as can be understood from the
`above description, there exist tWo kinds of MIC: a remote
`memory chip 4; and a contact type memory 104. In the
`description that folloWs, the remote memory chip 4 and the
`contact type memory 104 are collectively called the MIC if
`there is no speci?c need to distinguish the tWo.
`FIG. 4 depicts an external vieW of the tape cassette 1
`shoWn in FIG. 3A or 3B. The enclosure as a Whole is made
`up of an upper case 6a, a loWer case 6b, and a guard panel
`8. The structure is basically the same as that of a tape
`cassette for use by the ordinary 8-mm VTR.
`In proximity to a label face 9 on one side of the tape
`cassette 1 is a terminal block 106. This is a block that
`accommodates electrodes of the tape cassette incorporating
`the contact type memory 104 shoWn in FIG. 3B. Speci?
`cally, the block has terminal pins 106A, 106B, 106C, 106D,
`and 106E connected respectively to the terminals 105A,
`105B, 105C, 105D, and 105E of the memory indicated in
`FIG. 3B. That is, the tape cassette 1 having the contact type
`memory 104 exchanges data signals With the tape streamer
`drive through the terminal pins 106A, 106B, 106C, 106D,
`and 106E in physical contact With their counterparts of the
`drive.
`Obviously, no terminal pins are needed for the tape
`cassette having the noncontact remote memory chip 4, as
`shoWn in FIG. 3A. Still, the tape cassette has a dummy
`terminal block 106 to maintain outside shape integrity that
`ensures compatibility With the tape streamer drive.
`
`FUJIFILM, Exh. 1001, p. 19
`
`

`

`US 7,016,137 B2
`
`7
`Although not shown, a label-like noncontact remote
`memory chip has been known as part of the related art. The
`label incorporating a remote memory chip may be attached
`to a suitable location on the enclosure of the tape cassette 1.
`When the tape cassette 1 is loaded into the tape streamer
`drive 10, the remote memory chip pasted on the cassette can
`communicate With a memory communication block of the
`drive 10.
`
`10
`
`2. Structure of the Remote Memory Chip
`FIG. 5 shoWs an internal structure of the remote memory
`chip 4. Illustratively, the remote memory chip 4 as a semi
`conductor IC includes a poWer circuit 4a, a RF processor 4b,
`a controller 4c, and an EEPROM 4d, as shoWn in FIG. 5. The
`remote memory chip 4 is mounted illustratively on a printed
`circuit board secured inside the tape cassette 1. Acopper foil
`portion of the printed circuit board constitutes the antenna 5.
`The remote memory chip 4 is poWered from the outside
`in noncontact fashion. Communication With the tape
`streamer drive 10, to be described later, utiliZes a carrier of,
`say, 13 MHZ. When radio Waves from the tape streamer
`drive 10 are received by the antenna 5, the poWer circuit 4a
`converts the 13-MHZ carrier into direct currents. The DC
`poWer thus generated is supplied to the RF processor 4b,
`controller 4c, and EEPROM 4d as their operating poWer.
`The RF processor 4b demodulates incoming (received)
`information and modulates outgoing information. The con
`troller 4c decodes signals received from the RF processor 4b
`and controls execution of processes re?ecting the decoded
`information (commands), such as Write and read operations
`to and from the EEPROM 4d.
`That is, the remote memory chip 4 is sWitched on upon
`receipt of radio Waves from the tape streamer drive 10 or
`from a library device 50. The controller 4c eXecutes the
`processes designated by commands superposed on the car
`rier, thereby managing data in the EEPROM 4a' which is a
`nonvolatile memory.
`
`25
`
`35
`
`3. Structure of the Tape Streamer Drive
`Described beloW With reference to FIG. 1 is a typical
`structure of the tape streamer drive 10 compatible With the
`tape cassette 1 equipped With the remote memory chip 4
`shoWn in FIG. 3A. The tape streamer drive 10 operates on
`the helical scan principle in recording and reproducing data
`to and from the magnetic tape 3 in the tape cassette 1.
`As shoWn in FIG. 1, a rotary drum 11 illustratively has
`tWo Write heads 12A and 12B and three read heads 13A, 13B
`and 13C. The Write heads 12A and 12B are structured so that
`tWo gaps With different aZimuth angles are located in close
`proximity to each other. The read heads 13A, 13B and 13C
`are disposed to have their oWn aZimuth angles.
`The rotary drum 11 is rotated by a drum motor 14A. The
`magnetic tape 3 draWn out of the tape cassette 1 is Wound
`around the rotary drum 11, fed by a capstan motor 14B and
`pinch rollers, not shoWn. As mentioned above, the magnetic
`tape 3 is Wound around the reels 2A and 2B, Which are
`rotated by reel motors 14C and 14D in