Abstract: A controller manages a plurality of block groups each including one or more blocks among a plurality of blocks provided in a non-volatile memory. The controller assigns one of the plurality of block groups to each of plurality of zones. The controller writes write data which is to be written to a first zone to a shared write buffer and writes write data which is to be written to a second zone to the shared write buffer. When a total size of the write data in the first zone stored in the shared write buffer reaches a capacity of the first zone, the controller copies the write data in the first zone stored in the shared write buffer to the first block group assigned to the first zone.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method, device and product for managing scrubbing operations in a storage system. In the method for managing scrubbing operations in a storage system, regarding a plurality of extents included in the storage system, respective usage states of the plurality of extents are obtained. A group of target extents in which a failure will occur are detected from the plurality of extents based on the respective usage states of the plurality of extents. A scrubbing interval of the scrubbing operations to be performed on the storage system is adjusted according to the detected group of target extents. A scrubbing operation is performed on at least one part of the plurality of extents in the storage system according to the adjusted scrubbing interval, so as to identify a failed extent.

Abstract: A detection modeling system performs a distribution analysis to alert to model degradation. The detection modeling system may have a distribution analysis module configured to perform an alerting process in conjunction with a processing device. The distribution analysis module may receive a risk tolerance rating for alerting to degradation of an analytical model, and determine a threshold value for a model metric based on the risk tolerance rating. The model metric may be a measure of a parameter associated with the analytical model. The distribution analysis module may also monitor the analytical model for degradation using the threshold value for the model metric and model metric values and alert to model degradation of the analytical model based on the monitoring of the analytical model.

Abstract: A controller includes a power management unit suitable for providing and monitoring an operational voltage; a counter suitable for measuring a Low Voltage Detection (LVD) time, in which the operational voltage stays within an LVD range; a processor suitable for controlling a memory device to store write data with the LVD time corresponding to the write data stored into the memory device; and an LVD controller suitable for determining, during a recovery operation after occurrence of an LVD fail, a reason for a system fail as the LVD fail based on the LVD times and suitable for performing a debugging operation on a target data, which has the LVD time longer than a predetermined threshold time.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and systems are described herein for a thermal distribution manager to allocate multiple data portions of a data object to be written into a plurality of memory devices, as well as to restore the data object. The thermal distribution manager also reads some of the allocated multiple data portions from the respective memory devices. The allocation may include division of the data object and is based at least in part on respective temperatures of the memory devices prior to a write time and the reading and restoration is based at least in part on respective temperatures of the memory devices prior to a read time. The thermal distribution manager may allocate the multiple data portions according to a frequency of access of a first data portion relative to a frequency of access of a second data portion. Additional embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A method begins with a computing device of a distributed storage network (DSN) being designated to process a write request from a Decentralized, or Distributed, Agreement Protocol (DAP) and continues with the computing device retrieving a current policy for the storage units (SUs) associated with the write request, where the current policy specifies the current connectivity for the SUs. The method continues by using the current policy to configure a data structure to process the write request, where the data structure is based on scaling triggers and a load balancing scheme. The method continues with the data structure incorporating a primary queue and scaling the addition of secondary queues based on the scaling triggers and/or the load balancing scheme.

Abstract: Techniques for managing restriping of data across drives of a data storage system in a mapped-RAID environment. In response to addition of a drive to existing drives of the data storage system, all drive extents of the data storage system are mapped out in an effort to consume as much free space as possible across the drives. Having mapped out the drive extents, how many free extents remain on each drive is determined. If a quantity of free extents on a drive exceeds a predetermined threshold number, then that drive is logically marked as requiring restriping. Restriping of data is then performed for all logically marked drives. Once the restriping of the data is completed, a determination is made as to whether any further restriping of data across the drives of the data storage system is required, taking into account a relative wear and/or utilization of the respective physical drives.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a multi-cell battery, and individual evaluation of the battery cells. Each cell is individually removed or disconnected from the battery. An adjustable cell charger and an adjustable cell load are mapped to the disconnected cell. As the charger charges the cell, an associated sensor validates acceptance of the charge. As the cell load discharges the cell, the sensor measures discharge characteristics. Operating efficiency of the selected cell is evaluated based on the measured charge acceptance and discharge characteristics.

Abstract: A data processing device includes a memory, an arithmetic circuit that accesses the memory by outputting an access control signal CTRL that controls access to the memory, a first data storage unit that stores first data used when a self-diagnosis is performed, a read-modify-write circuit that generates second data by replacing a part of the first data stored in the first data storage unit with modify data outputted from the arithmetic circuit, and a determination unit that diagnoses a failure of the read-modify-write circuit by comparing the second data with an expected value.

Abstract: Techniques for disk scrubbing are described herein. According to one embodiment, for each of the sectors of a storage disk, a read operation is issued to a sector of a first storage disk of a storage system. In response to an error returned from the read operation, it is determined whether the sector is a live sector, first data is generated as random data if the sector is not a live sector, and the first data is written to the sector to trigger a remap process that remaps a logical block address associated with the sector to another physical block address. The remap process increments the reallocated sector count. It is determined whether the first storage disk is vulnerable based on a number of reallocated sectors resulted from the first storage disk based on the remap process, which is performed by internal logic of the first storage disk.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery management device 1 and the like that maintains each secondary battery (SB) 2 in an appropriate state. The battery management device 1 calculates a degradation state of no smaller than the three SB 2 to be managed separately, selects, as the new power source, one of the SB 2 that have not been selected as a power source among a plurality of the SB 2 as management objects based on the degradation state, selects one of the plurality of the SB 2 that have been selected as the power source based on the degradation state and removing it from the power source, changes a combination of a plurality of the secondary batteries as the power source based on the degradation state, and activates the SB 2 disconnected from the power source by discharging and charging the SB 2.

Abstract: A detecting circuit for a number of hard disk drives (HDDs) includes a backplane, a control circuit, a converting circuit, and an integrated baseboard management controller (IBMC) chip. The backplane is connected to the HDDs and outputs state signals of the HDDs corresponding to operation information of the HDDs to the control circuit. The control circuit outputs parallel signals corresponding to the state signals to the converting circuit. The converting circuit converts the parallel signals into serial signals and outputs the serial signals to the IBMC chip. Operation information of the HDDs is obtained through the IBMC chip remotely.

Abstract: A system, according to one embodiment, includes a tape drive configured to detect a telescoping condition of a magnetic recording tape and output an error alert when the telescoping condition is detected. Furthermore, a method, according to another embodiment, includes detecting a telescoping condition of a magnetic recording tape in use in a tape drive, and outputting an error alert when the telescoping condition is detected.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus of the present invention includes an HDD status monitoring part 11 that monitors the use environment or use status of a hard disk drive; an HDD status recording part 13 that records the history of the use environment or use status monitored in the HDD status monitoring part 11; a comparing/determining part 14 that compares the history recorded in the HDD status recording part 13 with a predetermined condition; a display part 15 that can output a comparison result in the comparing/determining part 14; and a control part 12 that controls the display part 15 to output the comparison result based on the comparison result in the comparing/determining part 14. When the history satisfies the predetermined condition, the control part 12 controls the display part 15 to output the comparison result.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method includes determining whether a primary velocity is valid and/or in a steady state; averaging a velocity error over a predetermined time period upon determining the primary velocity is valid and/or in a steady state; and calculating a new friction value based on the averaged velocity error.

Abstract: A system for peer-to-peer vibration mitigation in a distributing computing system includes a secondary communication interface over which chassis management electronics (e.g., a chassis-level controller) and/or system storage nodes may initiate communications to in order to affect system changes that may decrease vibration-related performance degradation in the system.

Abstract: A method of detecting a contact between a transducing head and a storage medium is provided. The method applies an input signal, having a select power level and known frequency, to an actuator for actuating the head. An output signal is obtained in response to the input signal. At least one signal component is extracted from the output signal at the same or a harmonic of the same known frequency as the input signal applied to the actuator. Whether the at least one extracted signal component indicates a contact between the head and the medium is determined. The power level of the applied wave pattern is increased incrementally until the extracted signal component indicates a contact between the head and the storage medium.

Abstract: A system for peer-to-peer vibration mitigation in a distributing computing system includes a secondary communication interface over which chassis management electronics (e.g., a chassis-level controller) and/or system storage nodes may initiate communications to in order to affect system changes that may decrease vibration-related performance degradation in the system.

Abstract: A periodic rotational vibration check for storage devices to compensate for varying loads is disclosed. A variable representing rotational vibration status is maintained in a rotational vibration log. The variable is processed to determine whether a storage device exhibits a rotational vibration issue. Workload analysis is performed to identify a change to the workloads run on physically separate hardware to resolve the rotational vibration issue and thus eliminate the need for more expensive hardware.

Abstract: Example embodiments disclose a drive system including a machine including a plurality of phases and configured to generate power based on a plurality of phase currents, each respectively associated with the plurality of phases and a direct current (DC) bus, operatively connected to the machine. The DC bus includes a high-side line, a low-side line, and an inverter including a plurality of switching systems, operatively connected between the high-side line and the low-side line, the plurality of switching systems, each configured to output a respective one of the plurality of phase currents. The drive system also includes a controller, operatively connected to the DC bus and the machine, the controller configured to determine if a failure exists in the drive system based on the plurality of phase currents and a DC bus voltage, the DC bus voltage being a voltage across the high-side line and the low-side line.

Abstract: An ejecting module is used in a server and includes a connector, a holder, a hard disk drive, a detecting circuit, a current output circuit, a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet. The hard disk drive is received in the holder. The detecting circuit detects whether the hard disk drive is electronically connected to the connector to output a control signal. The current output circuit receives the control signal and outputs a current. The first electromagnet is adjacent to the connector, and the second electromagnet faces the first electromagnet, the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet being electronically connected to the current output circuit. The current magnetizes the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet, a repulsion force is produced between the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet for moving the second electromagnet from the first electromagnet to be spaced from each other.

Abstract: An implementation of a circuit disclose herein comprises a vibration sensor circuit that generates a sensor signal from a disturbance signal, a lattice filter circuit that decorrelates the sensor signal to generate orthogonal backward prediction errors, and a multiple regression filter that estimates a disturbance correction signal using the orthogonal backward prediction errors.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and analyzing operation of a tape infrastructure. The system includes a plurality of real and virtual tape libraries each including a plurality of tape drives and tape media. The system includes a server linked to the tape library. On the server, a storage tape analytics application is provided that functions to extract raw data sets from the tape library corresponding to operations of the tape library. The data pertains to use of the drives and media during data storage operations and data about the activities of the real or virtual tape libraries. The analytics application stores the extracted data sets in an analytics database. The analytics application provides a user interface for viewing data in the analytics database, e.g., a GUI operable by monitoring personnel to view and interact with the gathered and processed tape operations monitoring data to provide historical and user-driven analysis of data for an entire data center.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems comprise identifying failing media and/or drives for a media library. Error data can be collected from media libraries. For each tape exhibiting an error rate of interest, a determination can be made whether the tape would still have been of interest had it not been loaded in certain drives. This information can be analyzed to identify failing drives or tapes.

Abstract: A data processing device includes a memory, an arithmetic circuit that accesses the memory by outputting an access control signal CTRL that controls access to the memory, a first data storage unit that stores first data used when a self-diagnosis is performed, a read-modify-write circuit that generates second data by replacing a part of the first data stored in the first data storage unit with modify data outputted from the arithmetic circuit, and a determination unit that diagnoses a failure of the read-modify-write circuit by comparing the second data with an expected value.

Abstract: A disk drive configured to enable media defect margining during disk testing may comprise a disk comprising a plurality of tracks; a head actuated over the disk; and a processor operable to test media of the disk drive to detect a media defect; estimate a depth of the detected media defect; determine a margining amount based on at least the estimated depth of the detected media defect, and apply the determined margining amount to the detected media defect.

Abstract: A memory system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a disk recording medium, a non-volatile memory, a temperature measurement module that measures a temperature of the vicinity of the non-volatile memory, a threshold temperature memory module that holds a threshold temperature. The memory system according to the embodiment further includes a controller that writes data in the non-volatile memory if the temperature measured by the temperature measurement module is higher than the threshold temperature upon receiving an instruction to write the data from a host.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a disk array device, a failure path specifying method and a program thereof capable of specifying a physical interconnection path where failures occurred.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery management device 1 and the like that maintains each secondary battery (SB) 2 in an appropriate state. The battery management device 1 calculates a degradation state of no smaller than the three SB 2 to be managed separately, selects, as the new power source, one of the SB 2 that have not been selected as a power source among a plurality of the SB 2 as management objects based on the degradation state, selects one of the plurality of the SB 2 that have been selected as the power source based on the degradation state and removing it from the power source, changes a combination of a plurality of the secondary batteries as the power source based on the degradation state, and activates the SB 2 disconnected from the power source by discharging and charging the SB 2.

Abstract: An ejecting module is used in a server and includes a connector, a holder, a hard disk drive, a detecting circuit, a current output circuit, a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet. The hard disk drive is received in the holder. The detecting circuit detects whether the hard disk drive is electronically connected to the connector to output a control signal. The current output circuit receives the control signal and outputs a current. The first electromagnet is adjacent to the connector, and the second electromagnet faces the first electromagnet, the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet being electronically connected to the current output circuit. The current magnetizes the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet, a repulsion force is produced between the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet for moving the second electromagnet from the first electromagnet to be spaced from each other.

Abstract: An exemplary data storage device cage includes a main body and an electrical connector positioned on the main body. The main body includes a rectangular flat plate and two side plates respectively extending upward from opposite edges of the flat plate. The flat plate has at least a pair of tabs opposite to each other. The at least two tabs are respectively contiguous with but offset inward from the two side plates and positioned to cooperatively hold a data storage device therebetween. The electrical connector is positioned between the two side plates for electrically connecting the data storage device to an external device.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for a organizing a robotic storage system. The robotic storage system includes a plurality of storage locations of varying priority and varying distance to a data read/write device. The robot storage system further includes a plurality of portable data storage elements each having at least three fields, a load field, a read/write field and a user determined field. A temporary storage location within the robotic storage system for each data storage element is determined at least in part by evaluating the data storage element's load field, read/write field and user determined fields to determine a heat value and correlating the heat value to the storage locations. An associated method of use is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical disc drive and computer. The optical disc drive comprises: a tray for laying a disc therein; a drive means connected to the tray; and a control circuit for connecting the drive means and a power supply of a computer connected to the optical disc drive, wherein the drive means establishes an electrical connection with the power supply via the control circuit. The control circuit comprises: a determination unit for determining whether a optical disc drive power-off condition is valid and acquiring a determination result; and a power supply control unit for transmitting a power-off instruction to a computer host when the determination result indicates that the optical disc drive power-off condition is valid. The power-off instruction is configured for instructing the computer to control the power supply to stop supplying power to the control circuit and the drive means.

Abstract: A writing-system comprises a first and a second writing-device, and is connected to an information-processor-apparatus that obtains unwritten-data from the first and the second writing-devices when a notification is received, the notification indicating that the unwritten-data is generated while writing data on a recording-medium used by either of the writing-devices, wherein the first writing-device comprises a first writing-unit, when the unwritten-data is generated while writing data on a recording-medium, transmits to the information-processor-apparatus, dummy information for inhibiting the unwritten-data to be obtained by the information-processor-apparatus, and writes the unwritten-data to a memory-unit, the recording-medium and the memory-unit are included in a cartridge accommodated in the first writing-device, and the second writing-device comprises a second writing-unit that writes, on the recording-medium, the unwritten-data stored in the memory-unit when the cartridge is moved from the first writi

Abstract: A media player may occasionally be unable to play or continue to play a particular item of media. When that occurs, the media player outputs an error indication that is related to the type of media that the problem media item is representative of. For example, if the problem item is a movie, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of broken movie film. If the problem media item is music, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of a broken compact disc (“CD”). Thus whatever the type of media that is not playing, the media player outputs an error indication that is appropriate for that type of media. The error indications output by the player are therefore context-based or media-appropriate.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to selectively protecting a portion of a track including a plurality of data sectors. The data sectors include a plurality of user sectors and one or more parity sectors. Protected bits are designated in each of the of data sectors. The protected bits are selected to have matching bit indices across the data sectors resulting in a parallel alignment of the protected bits across the user and parity sectors. One or more selections of protected bits of the user sectors are encoded across matching bit indices to generate data values in the corresponding protected bits of the parity sectors. At least one portion of at least one failed sector is recoverable by decoding at least one selection of the protected bits when a sector error occurs at a protected bit.

Abstract: Described are techniques for identifying a data storage volume exhibiting a performance problem. First information indicating a sorted ordering of a plurality of maximum response times is displayed for a plurality of data storage volume. A first of the plurality of data storage volumes having a largest one of the plurality of maximum response times is selected. In response to such selecting, additional information is displayed in the user interface about the first data storage volume. The additional information includes at least one workload or performance characteristic of the first data storage volume.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for controlling a data storage device. The integrated circuit includes: a drive module configured to control operation of the data storage device, wherein the data storage device is of a particular quality; and an audio monitoring module in communication with the drive module, wherein the audio monitoring module is configured to analyze an audio signal generated by the data storage device while the drive module is controlling the operation of the data storage device. The particular quality of the data storage device is determinable based on the analysis of the audio signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical disc drive and computer. The optical disc drive comprises: a tray for laying a disc therein; a drive means connected to the tray; and a control circuit for connecting the drive means and a power supply of a computer connected to the optical disc drive, wherein the drive means establishes an electrical connection with the power supply via the control circuit. The control circuit comprises: a determination unit for determining whether a optical disc drive power-off condition is valid and acquiring a determination result; and a power supply control unit for transmitting a power-off instruction to a computer host when the determination result indicates that the optical disc drive power-off condition is valid. The power-off instruction is configured for instructing the computer to control the power supply to stop supplying power to the control circuit and the drive means.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an information recording apparatus, such as a digital camera, arranged to record information on a detachably mountable storage medium, such as for example to record video data on the storage medium. In one version of the apparatus, when a connection of an AC adapter is cancelled, the storage medium is detected by a storage medium detection unit, and in a case where the storage medium is not mounted to the mounting unit, a warning is issued, for example in an audio output unit or a display unit. Accordingly, the user can find out that the storage medium is not mounted before the digital camera has been brought outside for use. Thus, it may be possible to prevent a failure in which the user first realizes that they forgot to mount the storage medium only when they are already away from home.

Abstract: Detecting a defect on a storage device is disclosed. Detecting includes receiving a signal read from a storage device, sampling the signal to obtain a set of signal samples, wherein the sampling starts at an arbitrary time, computing a defect value for a defect type using the set of signal samples, comparing the defect value with a threshold associated with the defect type, determining whether there is a defect of the defect type based at least in part on the comparison, and in the event that a defect is detected, outputting an indication associated with the defect.

Abstract: There is a need to provide correction of a temperature characteristic of an optical pickup of an optical disk recording/reproducing apparatus, in which items of the optical pickup including spherical aberration may be improved in temperature characteristic. To achieve the need, an optical disk drive is characterized by correcting a spherical aberration correction element when variation of a signal from the control circuit to the driver and/or a tracking or focusing error signal supplied to the controller has a value equal to or more than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method for detecting a typical defect area on a disc track includes the following steps. Firstly, a source signal is provided. Then, first and second signals are generated according to the source signal. The first and second signals are held at the peak level of the source signal and respectively decreased at first and second drop rates. Then, first and second threshold values are subtracted from the first and second signals to generate first and second slice signals, respectively. Afterwards, the source signal is compared with either the first slice signal or the second slice signal. When the first slice signal is larger than the source signal, a typical defect signal is changed from a first level to a second level. Whereas, the typical defect signal is changed from the second level to the first level when the second slice signal is smaller than the source signal.

Abstract: A media player may occasionally be unable to play or continue to play a particular item of media. When that occurs, the media player outputs an error indication that is related to the type of media that the problem media item is representative of. For example, if the problem item is a movie, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of broken movie film. If the problem media item is music, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of a broken compact disc (“CD”). Thus whatever the type of media that is not playing, the media player outputs an error indication that is appropriate for that type of media. The error indications output by the player are therefore context-based or media-appropriate.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus is disclosed that includes a spindle motor unit including a spindle on which a flexible recording disk is placed, a stabilizer plate disposed so as to face the recording disk, a torque detection unit configured to detect a drive torque applied to the spindle motor unit, an adjustment unit configured to adjust a gap between the recording disk and the stabilizer plate, and a determination unit configured to determine an optimal gap to be set to the gap based on the drive torque detected by the torque detection unit, in which the adjustment unit sets the optimum gap determined by the determination unit to the gap.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for sending a data request from a host bus adapter logic processor to a hard disk drive, setting a standard time out period for receiving a reply from the hard disk drive, sensing vibration in the hard disk drive, sending a vibration alert signal from the hard disk drive to the host bus adapter logic processor in response to the sensed vibration exceeding a predetermined amount of vibration, and, in response to receiving the vibration alert signal from the hard disk drive, the host bus adapter logic processor establishing an extended time out period for receiving the reply. The rotational vibration sensor used by the hard disk drive for repositioning the read/write head may also be used to sense the vibration and form the basis for the vibration alert signal, such as a vibration error code. By extending the time out period during high vibration events, the hard disk drive can ride out the event without being tagged as having failed.

Abstract: A method for detecting a typical defect area on a disc track includes the following steps. Firstly, a source signal is provided. Then, first and second signals are generated according to the source signal. The first and second signals are held at the peak level of the source signal and respectively decreased at first and second drop rates. Then, first and second threshold values are subtracted from the first and second signals to generate first and second slice signals, respectively. Afterwards, the source signal is compared with either the first slice signal or the second slice signal. When the first slice signal is larger than the source signal, a typical defect signal is changed from a first level to a second level. Whereas, the typical defect signal is changed from the second level to the first level when the second slice signal is smaller than the source signal.

Abstract: The application discloses a data storage device including one or more data storage media adapted to store data. The data storage device is connected to and powered by a power source of the host system. In the event of a loss of power from the host system, an auxiliary power source is used to power components of the data storage device. For example, an illustrative auxiliary power source uses back electromotive force EMF from a spindle motor of the data storage device. As disclosed, the device includes test circuitry to test a capacity of the auxiliary power source to store data in the event of the loss of power from the host system.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processor includes an optical disc drive, an acquiring module, a storage module, and a determination module. The acquiring module acquires identification information that uniquely identifies an optical disc loaded in the optical disc drive based on information read from the optical disc. The storage module obtains information related to failure analysis of the optical disc contained in state information indicating reading state or writing state upon reading from or writing to the optical disc, and stores the information related to failure analysis in association with the identification information. The determination module calculates values each indicating a level of failure of the optical disc based on pieces of information related to failure analysis of the optical disc stored until just recently in association with the identification information and, when the values satisfy a predetermined condition, determines that there is a risk of failure in the optical disc.

Abstract: An optical defect detection method for patterned media includes: irradiating a laser beam onto a patterned medium and obtaining reflected light by reflection very close to a sample; outputting the reflected light as an analog electrical signal from an optical receiver; converting the analog signal to a digital signal; obtaining a surface profile in a track direction by sampling the analog signal; obtaining a servo area profile by setting a slice for detecting servo area; calculating an average value in a track width direction based on plural servo area profiles; generating a master servo area profile based on the average value; obtaining a difference between the master servo area profile and the specific servo area profile; and detecting the presence of a defect including surface roughness, process fluctuation, and adhesion of foreign matters, from a differential waveform.