INCITS/ISO/IEC 15521 : 1998

1 Scope
2 Conformance
   2.1 Magnetic tape cartridge
   2.2 Generating drive
   2.3 Receiving drive
3 Normative References
4 Definitions
   4.1 Absolute Frame Number (AFN)
   4.2 a.c. erase
   4.3 Access Point
   4.4 algorithm
   4.5 Area ID
   4.6 Average Signal Amplitude
   4.7 azimuth
   4.8 back surface
   4.9 byte
   4.10 cartridge
   4.11 Channel bit
   4.12 Codeword
   4.13 Data Format ID
   4.14 Early Warning Point (EWP)
   4.15 End of Data (EOD)
   4.16 Entity
   4.17 Error Correcting Code (ECC)
   4.18 flux transition position
   4.19 flux transition spacing
   4.20 Fragment
   4.21 Frame
   4.22 Housekeeping Frame
   4.23 Logical Beginning of Tape (LBOT)
   4.24 magnetic tape
   4.25 Master Standard Amplitude Calibration Tape
   4.26 Master Standard Reference Tape
   4.27 Optimum Recording Field
   4.28 Partition Boundary
   4.29 Physical Beginning of Tape (PBOT)
   4.30 Physical End of Tape (PEOT)
   4.31 physical recording density
   4.32 pre-recording condition
   4.33 processing
   4.34 processed data
   4.35 Processed Record
   4.36 Processed Record Sequence
   4.37 record
   4.38 Reference Recording Field
   4.39 reprocessing
   4.40 Secondary Standard Amplitude Calibration Tape
   4.41 Secondary Standard Reference Tape
   4.42 Separator Mark
   4.43 Standard Reference Amplitude
   4.44 Tape Reference Edge
   4.45 Test Recording Current
   4.46 track
   4.47 unprocessed data
   4.48 Unprocessed Record
   4.49 Virtual End of Tape (VEOT)
5 Conventions and Notations
6 Acronyms
7 Environment and safety
   7.1 Testing environment
   7.2 Operating environment
   7.3 Storage environment
   7.4 Transportation
   7.5 Safety
   7.6 Flammability
8 Dimensional and mechanical characteristics of the case
   8.1 General
   8.2 Overall dimensions
   8.3 Loading grip
   8.4 Holding areas
   8.5 Notches of the lid
   8.6 Lid dimensions
   8.7 Optical detection of the beginning and end of tape
   8.8 Bottom side
   8.9 Hubs
   8.10 Attachment of leader and trailer tapes
   8.11 Interface between the hubs and the drive spindles
   8.12 Opening of the lid
   8.13 Release of the hub locking mechanism
   8.14 Label areas
   8.15 Requirement for autoloaders
9 Mechanical, physical and dimensional characteristics of
   the tape
   9.1 Materials
   9.2 Tape length
   9.3 Tape width
   9.4 Discontinuities
   9.5 Tape thickness
   9.6 Longitudinal curvature
   9.7 Cupping
   9.8 Coating adhesion
   9.9 Layer-to-layer adhesion
   9.10 Tensile strength
   9.11 Residual elongation
   9.12 Flexural rigidity
   9.13 Electrical resistance of coated surfaces
   9.14 Light transmittance of the tape
   9.15 Media Recognition System (MRS)
10 Magnetic recording characteristics
   10.1 Optimum Recording Field
   10.2 Signal Amplitude
   10.3 Resolution
   10.4 Overwrite
   10.5 Ease of erasure
   10.6 Tape quality
   10.7 Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) characteristic
11 Format
   11.1 General
   11.2 Basic Groups
   11.3 Sub-Groups
   11.4 Sub code Information
   11.5 Sub code location
12 Method of recording
   12.1 Physical recording density
   12.2 Long-term average bit cell length
   12.3 Short-term average bit cell length
   12.4 Rate of change
   12.5 Bit shift
   12.6 Read signal amplitude
   12.7 Maximum recorded levels
13 Track geometry
   13.1 Track configuration
   13.2 Average track pitch
   13.3 Variations of the track pitch
   13.4 Track width
   13.5 Track angle
   13.6 Track edge linearity
   13.7 Track length
   13.8 Ideal tape centreline
   13.9 Azimuth angles
14 Recorded patterns
   14.1 Recorded Main Data Fragment
   14.2 Preamble Zone, Margin Zones
15 Format of a track
   15.1 Format of a track
   15.2 Positioning accuracy
   15.3 Tracking scheme
16 Layout of a Single Data Space tape
   16.1 Device Area
   16.2 Reference Area
   16.3 Position Tolerance Band No. 1
   16.4 System Area
   16.5 Data Area
   16.6 EOD Area
   16.7 Post-EOD Area
   16.8 Early Warning Point - (EWP)
   16.9 Initialization
17 Layout of a partitioned tape
   17.1 Overall magnetic tape layout
   17.2 Area ID
   17.3 System Area Pack Items No. 3 and No. 4
   17.4 Empty partitions
   17.5 Initialization of partitioned tapes
18 Housekeeping Frames
   18.1 Amble Frames
   18.2 System Log Frames
   18.3 Tape Management Frames
Annexes
A - Measurement of the light transmittance of the prisms
B - Measurement of light transmittance of tape and leaders
C - Measurement of Signal-to-Noise Ratio
D - Method for determining the nominal and the maximum
    allowable recorded levels
E - Representation of 8-bit bytes by 10-bit patterns
F - Measurement of bit shift
G - Measurement of track edge linearity
H - Recognition Holes
J - Means to open the lid
K - Recommendations for transportation
L - Read-After-Write
M - Example of the content of a Basic Group No. 0

Describes the physical and magnetic characteristics of a 3, 81 mm wide magnetic tape cartridge to enable physical interchangeability of such cartridges between drives.