A standard magnetic tape format for digital image exchange

This proposal describes a simple yet flexible magnetic tape format for exchanging digital image information. Multi-dimensional arrays of raster scan data are stored as sequential files, with descriptive information related to the sefiles stored in an initial directory file. Directory information is stored as ASCII "key value pair" character strings that can be read by people as well as computer programs. Key value pairs are used for directory searches, also to identify and provide supplementary information about the images. Since the directory is relatively self explanatory it is possible in many cases to write a program for reading an AAPM tape without reference to a published standard.