Appeal No. 1998-2017
Application No. 08/802,216
BACKGROUND
The disclosed invention is directed to a system and method for selectively routing
data read from a magnetic tape to a computer or to a video subsystem, depending upon
whether the data are of a computer or a video data type. Representative Claim 13 is
reproduced below.
13. A system having a control unit that controllably interconnects a tape drive
with a computer means and a video means;
said tape drive comprising means for reading magnetic tapes each
containing a single one of a plurality of different data types along substantially the
entire length of each said magnetic tape;
each said magnetic tape containing a header when said data type on said
each magnetic tape represents computer data and being devoid of a header when
said data type on each said magnetic tape represents video data;
said control unit comprising:
means responsive to a single reading of a portion of each said magnetic
tape for detecting a presence or an absence of a header on said portion of each
said magnetic tape;
means for selectively routing data read from each said magnetic tape to
said computer means in response to a detection of said presence of a header on
each said magnetic tape; and
means for selectively routing said data read from each said magnetic tape
to said video means in response to a detection of said absence of a header on
each said magnetic tape.
The examiner relies on the following references:
Bar 5,268,802 Dec. 7, 1993
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