Description
A. This is the generic class for processes of andapparatus for the storage or retrieval of arbitrarily variable information (asdefined in the glossary below) which is retained in a storagemedium by variation of a physical characteristic thereof.The information is stored or retrieved by causing or sensing a variationof a physical characteristic of the storage medium by a transducer havingrelative motion along a continuous path.
(1)Note. The record carrier must have continuous physicalextent over the path of movement and be able to store a time-varying informationsignal. Static or discrete systems are classified elsewhere (seeReferences to Other Classes, below).
(2)Note. The characteristic variation is one whichmust be retrievable by a transducer. Such variation producingonly a directly perceptible indication (e.g., agraph), is classified elsewhere (seeReferences to Other Classes, below).
B. This class includes processes and apparatus forthe copying or editing of a storage medium within the above definitionlimited to such copying or editing including a step of storage orretrieval by relative motion.
C. This class includes the record carrier, perse, having particular information storage structure.