Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for the intelligent scheduling of garbage collection operations on a solid state memory. In certain embodiments, a method may comprise initiating a garbage collection process for a solid state memory (SSM) having a multiple die architecture, determining an order of die access for the garbage collection process based on an activity table indicating a use of one or more die in the multiple die architecture, and performing the garbage collection process based on the determined order of die access. Garbage collection reads may be directed to idle die to avoid conflicts with die busy performing other operations, thereby improving system performance.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing data in a hybrid data storage device. The device has a first non-volatile memory (NVM) of solid state memory cells arranged into a first set of garbage collection units (GCUs), and a second NVM as a rotatable data recording medium arranged into a second set of GCUs each comprising a plurality of shingled magnetic recording tracks. A control circuit combines a first group of logical block units (LBUs) stored in the first set of GCUs with a second group of LBUs stored in the second set of GCUs to form a combined group of LBUs arranged in sequential order by logical address. The control circuit streams the combined group of LBUs to a zone of shingled magnetic recording tracks in a selected one of the second set of GCUs. A combined media translation map identifies physical addresses in both the first and second NVMs.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing data in a hybrid data storage device. The device has a first non-volatile memory (NVM) of solid state memory cells arranged into a first set of garbage collection units (GCUs), and a second NVM as a rotatable data recording medium arranged into a second set of GCUs each comprising a plurality of shingled magnetic recording tracks. A control circuit combines a first group of logical block units (LBUs) stored in the first set of GCUs with a second group of LBUs stored in the second set of GCUs to form a combined group of LBUs arranged in sequential order by logical address. The control circuit streams the combined group of LBUs to a zone of shingled magnetic recording tracks in a selected one of the second set of GCUs. A combined media translation map identifies physical addresses in both the first and second NVMs.

Abstract: In a ultra high density, multiple-disk drive, track switches within a cylinder of tracks as well as track switches to tracks on other cylinders both require a movement of the head stack actuator. Track switching latency in such a disk drive is reduced by overlapping pre-movement portions of the track switching process with the data transfer operation of the currently active recording head. In addition, post-movement portions of the track switching process are overlapped with the movement of the heads so that the next selected read/write head may begin a data transfer operation immediately upon arrival at the next track. Further, the pre-movement and post-movement portions of the track-switch process may be overlapped with low displacement movement of the read/write heads relative to the currently active track or the next track.

Abstract: A disk drive and method which efficiently stores zone parameter sets for a plurality of disk surfaces. The disk drive includes a disk control system and a plurality of disk surfaces. Each disk surface has an associated transducer head in communication with the disk control system for reading and writing data to the disk surface. Each disk surface is subdivided into a plurality of zones. Control parameters sets for each zone of a disk surface are stored in table. The disk drive further comprises a first disk surface and a second disk surface. A first zone parameter table is provided for the first disk surface. The first zone parameter table comprising a zone control parameter set for each zone of the first disk surface. A second zone parameter table is provided. The second zone parameter table includes a number of zone control parameter sets, wherein the zone control parameter sets and the second zone parameter table are not included in the first zone parameter table.

Abstract: A method of mapping sequential logical data blocks to multiple disk surfaces. Data blocks are written to a predetermined number of adjacent tracks on each surface before performing a head switch to write data on another surface. The predetermined number of tracks are written on each surface in turn before performing a seek and head switch to continue writing on another predetermined number of tracks on each surface. After each head switch to continue writing from the radial position reached when writing the previous group of tracks, the direction of track incrementing or decrementing reverses so that the actuator moves back and forth in a "serpentine" manner.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive with a caching system includes an intelligent interface to communicate with a host, a magnetic disk and a cache memory to buffer data transferred to and from the host. The caching system maximizes drive performance based on past access history. The caching system alters execution of commands by coalescing commands or executing internal commands in parallel. The caching system anticipates data requests by using a prefetch to store data that may be requested. The caching system divides the cache memory into segments to store multiple streams of data. The number of segments may be continuously adapted according to the types of access to maximize performance by maintaining a segment for each sequential stream of data. The caching system uses a dynamic priority list to determine segments to maintain and discard. Each segment is monitored to determine access types such as sequential, random, and repeating.