Abstract: A defect management system for storage devices is disclosed, which may be used in connection with shingled magnetic recording (SMR). Overlapping data tracks, separated by guard regions, are written by a write element whose track width is at least twice as wide as the track width of a read element. Depending on the embodiment, data recovery of a defective track or sector is attained by evaluating the contents of an adjacent track or guard region: if the adjacent track or guard region encompasses equivalent data, due to the width of the write element, this data may be used as a complement or as a substitute for the defective track or sector. This may reduce the risk of data loss. The capacity of a storage device may be increased by balancing out the probability of read errors with the probability that an adjacent track may encompass equivalent data.

Abstract: A method and a device for efficient write operations are disclosed, which may be used in connection with shingled magnetic recording (SMR) in order to reduce write amplification (read-modify-write). The tracks on at least one data carrier surface are grouped into bands, and the address space of logical block addresses is divided into address subsets. Each of these address subsets is permanently assigned to a dedicated selection of tracks derived from all bands. Depending on the embodiment, the dedicated selection of tracks may be chosen in such a way that no write amplification occurs in a first phase and/or that recent data or newly added data can be altered without necessitating read-modify-write.

Abstract: A novel symmetrical band is disclosed, which may be used in connection with shingled magnetic recording (SMR) in order to reduce write amplification (read-modify-write). Depending on the embodiment, overlapping data tracks diverge from, or converge to the center of each symmetrical band. Associated guard regions may be located at the center, or at the band boundaries, and are shared such that the excess width of a write element is caught by the guard regions from both sides. A symmetrical band may reduce the maximum write amplification by more than half. A hard disk controller may maintain the number of taken or empty tracks on both sides of each symmetrical band substantially equal at every fill level.

Abstract: A defect management for storage devices is disclosed, which may be used in connection with shingled magnetic recording (SMR). SMR uses bands, consisting of tracks, separated by guard regions. The replacement of a defective sector may be attained by placing a guard region onto the physical location of the defective sector. Depending on the embodiment, the boundaries of the bands and corresponding guard regions may be shifted. The portion of the disk surface which is necessary for the guard regions may simultaneously function as a spare sector area for defective sectors without additional space requirements. In at least one embodiment, an additional guard region reduces the write amplification, and in other embodiments, guard regions are placed onto tracks with an elevated number of primary defects.

Abstract: A method for gesture-based control of a portable, electronic device (1) with a touchscreen (2). Novel gestures are introduced which are compatible with conventional touchscreen gestures and can be used simultaneously. Contrary to custom, the user holds the finger (101) or any other input object in a steady manner and moves, displaces, or rotates the electronic device (1) below the unmoved finger (101) or input object. In one embodiment, the user moves a smartphone (1) or a smartwatch toward or away from the unmoved finger (101) to establish or terminate contact with the touchscreen (2). In another embodiment, the user drags or rotates the smartphone (1) below the unmoved finger (101). An acceleration sensor and/or a gyroscope are used for capturing the movements of the electronic device (1).

Abstract: A method for voice activation of a software agent from a standby mode. In one embodiment, an audio recording (2) is buffered in an audio buffer (6) and at the same time, the audio recording is input to a secondary voice recognition process (7) which is economical in terms of energy and has an increased false positive rate. When a keyword is recognized, a primary voice recognition process (8) is activated from an inactive state, which converts the audio buffer to text and inputs it to a dialog system (9) which analyzes as to whether there is a relevant question made by the user. If this is the case, the user gets an acoustic reply (3), and if this is not the case, the dialog system and the primary voice recognition process immediately return to the inactive state and transfer the control to the secondary voice recognition process.