A servo pattern is described that facilitates high resolution and wide
dynamic range to accurately pinpoint servo track centerlines on a
magnetic tape. The servo pattern provides both absolute positioning
information over an entire servo band and absolute positioning
information relative to the centerline of each servo track included in
the servo band. Therefore, the servo pattern includes implicit servo
track identification in a single servo band, eliminating the need for
conventional track identification marks. In other words, the servo
pattern, itself, can distinguish one servo track from another servo track
in the single servo band as well as provide highly accurate positioning
information relative to each of the servo track centerlines.