Abstract: A data storage device includes at least one data storage medium. The data storage device also includes a workload rating associated with data access operations carried out on the at least one data storage medium. The data storage device further includes a controller configured to enable performance of the data access operations, and change a rate of consumption of the workload rating by internal device management operations carried out in the data storage device in response to a change in a workload consumed by host commands serviced by the data storage device.

Abstract: A data storage device includes at least one data storage medium. The data storage device also includes a workload rating associated with data access operations carried out on the at least one data storage medium. The data storage device further includes a controller configured to enable performance of the data access operations, and change a rate of consumption of the workload rating by internal device management operations carried out in the data storage device in response to a change in a workload consumed by host commands serviced by the data storage device.

Abstract: An alternate reality, such as virtual reality or augmented reality, environment can experience optimized performance with a data system arranged with an interaction device connected to a virtual reality assembly. Base content and user content can respectively be downloaded and stored to a local data storage of the virtual reality assembly. The content may be utilized to proactively generate comprehensive content that consists of merged aspects of the base content and the user content. The comprehensive content can then be executed to create an immersive digital reality conveyed to a user via the interaction device.

Abstract: A method for identifying a drive malfunction source includes receiving as input multiple drive event records each recorded by a different one of multiple storage drives in a mass storage system. Among other data, each one of the drive event records including internal tasks performed by the associated storage drive and communications transmitted between an external host and a controller of the associated storage drive. The method may further include comparing the drive event records using a processor to identify at least one discrepancy in recorded drive events indicative of the drive malfunction source.

Abstract: A background operation is internally triggered by firmware of a disk drive. During a training phase defined by a first time period, access latency of host commands is monitored during rotational position sorting command selection. During a sorting phase after the training phase, a sorting threshold is defined based on the access latencies measured during the training phase. The background command is selected for execution in the sorting phase if the seek and rotational latency is less than the sorting threshold.

Abstract: A background operation is internally triggered by firmware of a disk drive. During a training phase defined by a. first time period, access latency of host commands is monitored during rotational position sorting command selection. During a sorting phase after the training phase, a sorting threshold is defined based on the access latencies measured during the training phase. The background command is selected for execution in the sorting phase if the seek and rotational latency is less than the sorting threshold.

Abstract: A data storage device that includes data storage media, with at least one of the data storage media having a plurality of embedded firmware modules. The data storage media include a non-volatile memory having different usage modes, with each different usage mode being associated with a different status of the data storage device, and each of the different usage modes having different space allocation configurations for data generated by the plurality of embedded firmware modules. A controller communicatively coupled to the non-volatile memory. The controller determines a change in the status of the data storage device and, in response to the change in the status of the data storage device, dynamically alters the usage mode of the non-volatile memory from a first one of the usage modes to a second one of the usage modes.

Abstract: A method for identifying a drive malfunction source includes receiving as input multiple drive event records each recorded by a different one of multiple storage drives in a mass storage system. Among other data, each one of the drive event records including internal tasks performed by the associated storage drive and communications transmitted between an external host and a controller of the associated storage drive. The method may further include comparing the drive event records using a processor to identify at least one discrepancy in recorded drive events indicative of the drive malfunction source.

Abstract: A method for identifying a drive malfunction source includes receiving as input multiple drive event records each recorded by a different one of multiple storage drives in a mass storage system. Among other data, each one of the drive event records including internal tasks performed by the associated storage drive and communications transmitted between an external host and a controller of the associated storage drive. The method may further include comparing the drive event records using a processor to identify at least one discrepancy in recorded drive events indicative of the drive malfunction source.

Abstract: A data storage device that includes data storage media, with at least one of the data storage media having a plurality of embedded firmware modules. The data storage media include a non-volatile memory having different usage modes, with each different usage mode being associated with a different status of the data storage device, and each of the different usage modes having different space allocation configurations for data generated by the plurality of embedded firmware modules. A controller communicatively coupled to the non-volatile memory. The controller determines a change in the status of the data storage device and, in response to the change in the status of the data storage device, dynamically alters the usage mode of the non-volatile memory from a first one of the usage modes to a second one of the usage modes.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide an apparatus that is operable with a storage system. The storage system includes a controller operable to assign a pointer to a first track of a magnetic disk when data is written to the first track. The pointer points to the end of the data in the first track. The controller is also operable to detect a successive write to an earlier written portion of the first track, to update a location of the pointer based on the successive write to the earlier written portion of the first track, to increment a write count of the first track based on the successive write to the earlier written portion of the first track, and to rewrite a track adjacent to the first track when the write count breaches a threshold number.

Abstract: A method for identifying a drive malfunction source includes receiving as input multiple drive event records each recorded by a different one of multiple storage drives in a mass storage system. Among other data, each one of the drive event records including internal tasks performed by the associated storage drive and communications transmitted between an external host and a controller of the associated storage drive. The method may further include comparing the drive event records using a processor to identify at least one discrepancy in recorded drive events indicative of the drive malfunction source.

Abstract: Systems and methods for redundant write transfer detection are described. In one embodiment, the systems and methods may include identifying a starting logical block address (LBA) associated with a request to write a first data set to the storage device, storing the first data set on a storage medium of the storage device, storing the identified starting LBA of the first data set in a memory associated with the storage device, identifying a starting LBA associated with a request to write a second data set to the storage device, comparing the starting LBA of the second data set to the starting LBA of the first data set stored in the memory, and upon identifying a match between the starting LBA of the second data set and the starting LBA of the first data set, suspending the request to write the second data set to the storage device.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide an apparatus that is operable with a disk drive. The apparatus includes a memory device operable to store a plurality of bit sets. Each bit set identifies a track and a sector of the disk drive and a number of times that the track of the disk drive has been written. A controller of the disk drive is operable to increment the number when the track is written. Each bit set comprises a number of bits that is established according to track location of the disk drive.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to perform early termination error recovery at a data storage device. A data storage device may be configured to perform error recovery operations in response to encountering an error while executing a host command, and terminate the error recovery operations prior to completion based on an error recovery time limit. Based on early termination of the error recovery operations, the storage device can add a storage location corresponding to the error to a scan list of storage locations on which to perform additional error recovery operations. In some embodiments, the host may set the error recovery time limit.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide an apparatus that is operable with a disk drive. The apparatus includes a memory device operable to store a plurality of bit sets. Each bit set identifies a track and a sector of the disk drive and a number of times that the track of the disk drive has been written. A controller of the disk drive is operable to increment the number when the track is written. Each bit set comprises a number of bits that is established according to track location of the disk drive.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing a data storage device during extended idle conditions of the data storage device in which host access commands are not being received or serviced. In some embodiments, upon detection of an idle condition, a control circuit identifies a selected data transducer of the data storage device and a corresponding initial radial position of the data transducer with respect to an associated rotatable data recording surface. The control circuit performs a serpentine seek operation during the idle condition to gradually advance the selected data transducer in a selected radial direction across the data recording surface beginning at the initial radial position and ending at a final radial position. The serpentine seek operation prevents the transducer from being maintained in a stationary position during the idle condition, reducing the likelihood of damage through thermal asperity contact events, lubrication disturb, wear, etc.

Abstract: A storage device includes a controller configured to adjusts direct offline scan (DOS) parameters for a scan of a storage region based on a workload affecting the storage region to mitigate data loss due to adjacent track interference (ATI) while also mitigating performance delays due to DOS execution. In one implementation, a type of workload occurring in a region is determined by assessing a distribution of write track counter values corresponding to data tracks in the region.

Abstract: Systems and methods for redundant write transfer detection are described. In one embodiment, the systems and methods may include identifying a starting logical block address (LBA) associated with a request to write a first data set to the storage device, storing the first data set on a storage medium of the storage device, storing the identified starting LBA of the first data set in a memory associated with the storage device, identifying a starting LBA associated with a request to write a second data set to the storage device, comparing the starting LBA of the second data set to the starting LBA of the first data set stored in the memory, and upon identifying a match between the starting LBA of the second data set and the starting LBA of the first data set, suspending the request to write the second data set to the storage device.

Abstract: An adaptive guard band for a ramp load/unload device is disclosed to provide extended data storage. In illustrated embodiments, an adaptive guard band algorithm is configured to format one or more discs or media having a lower capacity device with the adaptive guard band and extended data zone utilizing capacity measurements. The algorithm formats the media to provide a track zero at a first cylinder if the capacity is at or above the threshold capacity and a second cylinder if the capacity is below the threshold capacity to provide the extended data storage zone. A size or width of the extended data zone is variable to provide additional capacity to meet the threshold capacity.