BS ISO/IEC 11559:1993

Section 1 - General
1. Scope
2. Conformance
2.1 Magnetic tape cartridge
2.2 Generating system
2.3 Receiving system
3. Normative references
4. Definitions
4.1 algorithm
4.2 Average Signal Amplitude
4.3 back surface
4.4 Beginning of Tape (BOT)
4.5 byte
4.6 cartridge
4.7 Cyclic Redundancy Check Character
4.8 Data Block
4.9 Data Records
4.9.1 Processed Data Record (PDR)
4.9.2 Host Data Record
4.9.3 Logical Data Record (LDR)
4.9.4 User Data Record (UDR)
4.10 Error Correcting Code
4.11 flux transition position
4.12 flux transition spacing
4.13 magnetic tape
4.14 Master Standard Reference Tape
4.15 Packet
4.16 Packet Identifier
4.17 Packet Trailer
4.18 pad byte
4.19 physical recording density
4.20 Postamble
4.21 Preamble
4.22 Processed Data
4.23 processing
4.24 Reference Field
4.25 Secondary Standard Reference Tape
4.26 Standard Reference Amplitude (SRA)
4.27 Standard Reference Current
4.28 Test Recording Current
4.29 track
4.30 Typical Field
4.31 transformation
5. Conventions and notations
5.1 Representation of numbers
5.2 Names
5.3 Acronyms
6. Environment and safety
6.1 Cartridge/Tape testing environment
6.2 Cartridge operating environment
6.3 Cartridge storage environment
6.4 Safety requirements
6.4.1 Safeness
6.4.2 Flammability
6.5 Transportation
Section 2 - Characteristics of the tape
7. Characteristics of the tape
7.1 Materials
7.2 Tape length
7.3 Tape width
7.4 Tape discontinuity
7.5 Total thickness of tape
7.6 Base material thickness
7.7 Longitudinal curvature
7.8 Out-of-plane distortions
7.9 Cupping
7.10 Dynamic frictional characteristics
7.10.1 Frictional drag between the recording surface
        and the tape back surface
7.10.2 Frictional drag between the tape recording
        surface and ferrite after environmental cycling
7.11 Coating adhesion
7.12 Flexural rigidity
7.13 Electrical resistance of coated surfaces
7.14 Tape durability
7.15 Inhibitor tape
7.16 Tape abrasivity
7.17 Pre-recording condition
7.18 Magnetic recording characteristics
7.18.1 Typical Field
7.18.2 Signal amplitude
7.18.3 Resolution
7.18.4 Overwrite
7.18.5 Narrow-band signal-to-noise ratio (NB-SNR)
7.19 Tape quality
7.19.1 Missing pulses
7.19.2 Missing pulse zones
7.19.3 Coincident missing pulse zones
Section 3 - Cartridge
8. Dimensional and mechanical characteristics of
        the cartridge
8.1 Overall dimensions
8.2 Write-inhibit mechanism
8.3 Label area of the rear side
8.4 Label area of the top side
8.5 Case opening
8.6 Locating notches
8.7 Locating areas
8.8 Inside configuration of the case around the case
        opening
8.9 Other external dimensions of the case
8.10 Central window
8.11 Stacking ribs
8.12 Flexibility of the case
8.12.1 Requirements
8.12.2 Procedure
8.13 Tape reel
8.13.1 Locking mechanism
8.13.2 Axis of rotation of the reel
8.13.3 Metallic insert
8.13.4 Toothed rim
8.13.5 Hub of the reel
8.13.6 Relative positions
8.13.7 Characteristics of the toothed rim
8.14 Leader block
8.15 Attachment of the tape to the header block
8.16 Latching mechanism
8.17 Tape wind
8.18 Wind tension
8.19 Circumference of the tape reel
8.20 Moment of inertia
Section 4 - Recording method and formats
9. Method of recording
9.1 Physical recording density
9.2 Bit cell length
9.3 Average bit cell length
9.4 Long-term average bit cell length
9.5 Short-term average bit cell length (STA)
9.6 Rate of change
9.7 Bit shift
9.8 Total character skew
9.9 Read signal amplitude
9.10 Coincident missing pulse zones
10. Track format
10.1 Number of tracks
10.2 Reference edge
10.3 Track positions
10.4 Track width
10.5 Azimuth
11. Packet format
11.1 Packet elements
11.2 Packet ID
11.3 UDR
11.4 Packet Trailer
11.4.1 Packet Trailer when data has been processed
11.4.2 Packet Trailer when data has not been processed
12. Data block format
12.1 Data Part
12.1.1 Packet Bytes
12.1.2 Count Field Bytes
12.1.3 Block-ID Bytes
12.2 Allocation of Data Bytes to frames
12.2.1 Prefix Frames
12.2.2 Data Frames
12.2.3 Residual Frame 1
12.2.4 Residual Frame 2
12.2.5 Suffix Frames
12.3 Error Correcting Code (ECC)
12.3.1 Diagonal Redundancy Check (DRC)
12.3.2 Vertical Redundancy Check (VRC)
12.3.3 ECC Format
12.3.4 Summary of ECC2)
12.4 Recording of 8-bit bytes on the tape
12.5 Recorded Data Block
12.5.1 Preamble
12.5.2 Beginning of Data Mark (BDM)
12.5.3 Resync Control Frame
12.5.4 End of Data Mark (EDM)
12.5.5 Postamble
12.6 Data Density
13. Tape format
13.1 Density Identification Burst
13.2 ID Separator Burst
13.3 Interblock Gaps
13.4 Erase Gaps
13.4.1 Normal Erase Gaps
13.4.2 Elongated Erase Gaps
13.5 Tape Marks
13.6 Relationship between Interblock Gaps, Erase Gaps
        and Tape Marks
13.6.1 Interblock Gap followed by a Tape Mark
13.6.2 Tape Mark followed by an Interblock Gap
13.6.3 Interblock Gap followed by an Erase Gap
13.6.4 Erase Gap followed by an Interblock Gap
13.6.5 Summary of the relationship between Interblock
        Gaps, Erase Gaps and Tape Marks
13.7 First and last recording on the tape
13.8 Summary of the tape format
13.9 Transform Change Records (TCRs)
Annexes
A. Recommendations for transportation
B. Inhibitor tape
C. Tape abrasivity measurement procedure
D. Recommendations on tape durability
E. Pre-recording condition
F. Representation of 8-bit bytes by 9-bit patterns
G. Measurement of bit shift
H. Summary of data flow
J. Implementation of a CRC
K. Calculation of a Physical Position Indicator

Specifies the physical and magnetic characteristics of a 12,7 mm wide, 18-track magnetic tape cartridge, to enable interchangeability of such cartridges. Coverage includes definitions, acronyms, safety requirements, tape length, tape width, tape durability, tape reel, tape wind, track positions, track width, packet elements. data frames and tape marks.

This International Standard specifies the physical and magnetic characteristics of a 12,7 mm wide, 18-track magnetic tape cartridge, to enable interchangeability of such cartridges. It also specifies the quality of the recorded signals, the format and the recording method, thus allowing, together with ISO 1001, full data interchange by means of such magnetic tape cartridges.

The cartridge and recording method are identical with those described in ISO 9661. This International Standard specifies extensions to the transformation of data before it is formatted as in ISO 9661.

These extensions

• specify a method for increasing the utilization of the tape by combining smaller blocks of data into extended blocks;

• specify a method for identifying whether the recorded data has been processed and, if it has been processed, the algorithm used for processing;

• specify a method for including recorded data blocks conforming to this International Standard and recorded data blocks conforming to ISO 9661 on the same tape.

The permissible routes for the flow of data are shown in annex H.