Abstract: According to one embodiment, a memory controller according to the embodiments includes an encoder that sequentially calculates parity based on data; a parity buffer that stores completed parity and intermediate parity based on data less than a predetermined size; a write processing unit that writes data and completed parity on a non-volatile memory; a decoder; and a controller that performs a decoding process based on the data read from the non-volatile memory and the intermediate parity in the parity buffer, when receiving a read request to inputted data in a stage in which the a number of inputted data to the encoder is less than the predetermined size.

Abstract: To provide enhanced operation of data storage devices and systems, various systems, apparatuses, methods, and software are provided herein. In a first example, a data storage device is provided that includes storage media comprising a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) storage region. The data storage device also includes a storage control system configured to receive write operations and responsively store write data in a first storage region prior to transferring into the SMR storage region. The storage control system is configured to determine a reporting pace for transferring the write operations from the first storage region into the SMR storage region, the reporting pace establishing a target performance that is tempered from storage of the write data into the first storage region. The storage control system is configured to report completion of the write operations over a host interface at the reporting pace.

Abstract: A magnetic recording hard disk drive (HDD) includes, in addition to conventional servo sectors with position error signal (PES) blocks, data position error signal (DPES) blocks that are written into the data sectors when data is written in the data sectors of the data tracks. During readback the PES blocks from the servo sectors are decoded into PES values to allow the head to follow the servo track, while the DPES blocks are decoded to obtain DPES values that are used in the servo control loop to modify the head position so the head follows the center of the data track. In a shingled magnetic recording HDD, wherein the write head is at least two shingled data tracks wide, a DPES block is written in two radially adjacent data tracks when data is written into the data sectors of the shingled data tracks.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a streaming media application. Media blocks of a media stream may be buffered at a quality level determined by an amount of available bandwidth. When excess bandwidth is made available, a higher quality replacement for a buffered media block may be obtained concurrent to streaming the media blocks. The replacement media block then replaces the lower quality media block in the buffer such that the higher quality replacement media block is rendered.

Abstract: A data processing system includes a data input configured to receive input blocks of data, a memory configured to store the input blocks of data, a data processor configured to process the input blocks of data and to yield corresponding processed output blocks of data and a scheduler configured to cause the data processor to output the output blocks of data after a processing criterion has been met in the data processor. The memory is configured to retain the input blocks of data for reprocessing after the corresponding processed output blocks of data have been output from the data processor. The scheduler includes a control input configured to receive reprocessing requests for the retained input blocks of data. The scheduler is configured to initiate a reprocessing operation in the data processor for the retained blocks of data when the reprocessing requests are received on the control input.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for performing rewrite operations on recording bands of a data storage medium. In some embodiments, a storage device may receive a write request to be recorded to a band including a plurality of contiguous data storage areas (e.g. tracks) spanning from a first storage area to a last storage area. The device may determine a target area of the band to which to record the data, and perform a partial rewrite operation on less than all data storage areas of the band when the target area is not within a threshold number of data storage areas from the first storage area. In some embodiments, the rewrite operation may include reading data recorded in a first arrangement from the target band, modifying the data, and recording the modified data to the band in a second arrangement including a physical recording order different than the first arrangement.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes logic configured to cause data, organized into a plurality of logical arrays including rows and columns of symbols, to be written to a first write section of a magnetic medium as a plurality of CWI-4 sets, each row of the logical arrays including four interleaved headerized C1? codewords (a headerized CWI-4), where each CWI-4 set includes M concurrently written rows of a logical array having M corresponding first headers, and cause some of the data to be written to a rewrite section of the magnetic medium as one or more rewritten CWI-4 sets, where a length of at least one rewritten row is greater than at least one of: a length of another rewritten row in the same rewritten CWI-4 set, and a length of at least one row in a CWI-4 set stored to the first write section of the magnetic medium.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a data storage system may be provided. The data storage system may include a storage. The storage may include a first portion and a second portion. The data storage system may further include a determination circuit configured to determine whether to write data to the first portion or to the second portion. The data storage system may also include a control circuit configured to control writing the data to the first portion in a log structured manner.

Abstract: Provided is a memory system including a semiconductor memory device including a buffer memory block suitable for storing page data, and including a main memory block, and a controller suitable for generating a combination seed by performing a logical operation on a randomizing seed, a derandomizing seed, and error information, and for providing the generated combination seed to the semiconductor memory device.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive including a disk including a plurality of track groups each including a first write track and a second write track partially overlapping the first write track, and a processor configured to count a write count corresponding to write processing of adjacent track groups for each of the plurality of track groups, and calculate an estimated time at which the write count reaches a particular value and, if a track group in which the estimated time is approximate is detected, read data of the approximate track group, and execute rewrite processing of writing the data to the track group in which the estimated time is approximate, at a time earlier than the estimated time.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to systems and methods of On the Fly Formatting. Various parameters that influence aerial density of hard disc regions can be changed on the fly based on storage capacity and reliability needs. Further adjustments can be made to the formatting of the region to fine tune achievable storage capacity and reliability values. In some cases, the formatting can include error correction code strength, gap widths between user data sectors and servo data sectors, other characteristics or parameters, or any combinations thereof.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a storage unit and a processor. The storage unit is configured to store diagnosis information regarding storage apparatuses to be diagnosed. The processor is configured to receive a write request from an information processing apparatus. The write request requests to write first data into a first logical area corresponding to a first physical area of a first storage apparatus. The processor is configured to determine, on basis of the diagnosis information, whether the first storage apparatus is one of the storage apparatuses to be diagnosed. The processor is configured to cause, when it is determined that the first storage apparatus is one of the storage apparatuses to be diagnosed, the first storage apparatus to execute a write-and-verify process including: writing the first data into the first physical area, and confirming whether the first data is normally read from the first physical area.

Abstract: A tape head includes a set of one or more segments, wherein each segment of the set is individually movable with respect to a frame; each segment of the set comprising at least one of a write element configured to write data to a tape and a read element configured to read data from the tape; and each segment of the set comprising a further read element having a width transverse to a motion direction of the tape being at least a width of the write element of the segment or, in the event that no write element is comprised in the segment, of a write element of a different segment.

Abstract: UEs are adapted to facilitate reconstruction of a segment of corrupted bits. According to one example, a UE can receive a control channel transmission such as a HS-SCCH transmission. The control channel transmission may include a plurality of information bits and a plurality of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits. The UE may further determine that a contiguous segment of the received information bits is corrupt. The UE may accordingly utilize the uncorrupted information bits and CRC bits to reconstruct the corrupt information bits. In some instances, the UE may utilize the uncorrupted bits to reconstruct the corrupt information bits using a new generator polynomial. In other instances, the UE may utilize the uncorrupted bits to reconstruct the corrupt information bits using the original generator polynomial.

Abstract: Mapping out restricted areas on at least one disk of a data storage device. The at least one disk includes overlapping tracks with a plurality of sectors for storing data. A first addressing is provided for the plurality of sectors on the at least one disk. Defective sectors of the plurality of sectors are detected and mapped out from the first addressing. A restricted area is calculated including sectors of the plurality of sectors and the restricted area is mapped out from a second addressing.

Abstract: Devices including at least one storage disc having a recording surface segmented into a plurality of radial zones, each radial zone having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, each of the plurality of zones having a plurality of concentric tracks; and a track density ramp ratio assigned to each of the plurality of zones, where the track density ramp ratio describes an increase in the track density from the inner diameter of the zone to the outer diameter of the zone.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention implements some or all major servo subfunctions for a storage device in integrated servo fields comprising sequences of encoded bits having selected mathematical properties. The integrated servo field is composed of a number of encoded sequences, which are members of a selected sequence set that is constrained to preferably provide some or all of the following functions: the Servo Track Mark (STM), the Position Error Signal (PES) and positional information such as the track-ID. The integrated servo fields can provide a Position Error Signal (PES) in relation to the center of a data track through the amplitude of the signal read for adjacent sequences. The servo system detects the sequences in the signal from the read head using a set of digital filters for the set of encoded sequences.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk apparatus includes an RW channel with an internal memory for processing data to be read/written from/to a magnetic disk, a transfer controller for controlling data transfer between a host apparatus and the RW channel, and a processor for controlling the RW channel and transfer controller. The processor reads, from the magnetic disk, predetermined area data including to-be-rewritten data, subjects the read predetermined area data to error correction processing in the RW channel, and stores resultant data in the internal memory. The processor rewrites, with rewrite data from the host apparatus, the to-be-rewritten data of the predetermined area data stored in the internal memory to update the predetermined area data, adds an error correction code to the updated data in the RW channel module, and writes resultant data to the magnetic disk.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for dynamic band boundaries in data storage devices, particularly devices employing shingled magnetic recording. Band boundaries may be modified to include spare sectors from guard areas between bands to achieve field defect-slipping. Band boundaries can also be shifted to migrate spare sectors from one guard area to another in order to dynamically distribute spare sectors. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a data storage medium and a controller. The data storage medium may have a first and second sequence of circumferentially adjacent data sectors, and a first guard area disposed between the first and second sequence such that no sector of the first sequence is directly adjacent to a sector of the second sequence. The controller may be configured to restructure the first sequence to include a sector from the first guard area to produce a shifted first sequence.

Abstract: A two-dimensional magnetic recording (TDMR) disk drive has a disk with servo tracks with a track pitch that varies across the radius of the disk. The servo track pitch (STP) is related to the cross-track spacing (CTS) of the multiple read sensors in the TDMR head structure. The CTS is given by the equation: CTS=(CTO)cos ?+(ATO)sin ?, where ? is the skew angle, and CTO is the cross-track spacing and ATO the along-the-track spacing of the read sensors at zero skew angle. The optimal variable STP profile results in track misregistration reduction because it allows each read sensor to read a different servo half-track and thus noise sources not correlated to noise sources read by the other read sensors. The servo tracks may be arranged into a plurality of annular bands, with the STP in each band being fixed and different from the STP in the other bands.

Abstract: An encryption system can include a first port and a second port. A format translator can be coupled to the first port and the second port to translate a first header format of data received from the first port to a second header format of the second port. The format translator can translate the second header format of data received from the second port to the first header format. An encryptor can receive the data and encrypts the data received from the first port and decrypts the data received from the second port.

Abstract: A servo system for writing servo information on a recording medium of a hard disk drive and for determining head position based on the servo information with a tracking accuracy, the servo system including a first magnetic head and a servo writer. The servo writer is configured to write the servo information on the recording medium by forming, using the first magnetic head, a first servo pattern comprising a servo burst pattern on a segment of a first track of a first layer of the recording medium; and by forming a second servo pattern comprising addressing information on a segment of a second track of a second layer of the recording medium. The second track is arranged half a width of the first track from the first track to increase the tracking accuracy of the servo system.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a tape cartridge, the tape cartridge comprising: a housing; a magnetic recording tape in the housing; and a non-tape nonvolatile memory coupled to the housing, the nonvolatile memory being for storing therein an index comprising file system information for a plurality of files stored on the magnetic recording tape. A method for storing data on a tape cartridge according to one embodiment includes writing a plurality of files to a magnetic recording tape of a tape cartridge; and writing an index to a non-tape nonvolatile memory of the tape cartridge, the index including information about locations of data of the plurality of files on the magnetic recording tape.

Abstract: In one embodiment, there are provided: a substrate; a data area disposed on the substrate and having a plurality of first magnetic dots arrayed in lines in mutually different first, second, and third directions; and a boundary magnetic part having a plurality of first magnetic portions arrayed in a line in the third direction and each having a length longer than that of the first magnetic dot in the third direction, and a second magnetic dot disposed between the first magnetic portions and disposed on extensions in the first and second directions of the first magnetic dots, and disposed along with the data area on the substrate.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes receiving a tape cartridge at an apparatus having a plurality of modules configured to at least read data stored on a magnetic recording tape of the tape cartridge, each of the modules having an array of readers. One module is configured to read data on a magnetic recording tape which none of the other modules can read. The method further includes determining at least one of a format of the magnetic recording tape and a format of the tape cartridge, and activating at least one of the modules to read data stored on the magnetic recording tape in response to determining the at least one of the format of the magnetic recording tape and a format of the tape cartridge.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting cached volumes at storage gateways are disclosed. A storage gateway appliance is configured to cache at least a portion of a storage object of a remote storage service at local storage devices. In response to a client's write request, directed to at least a portion of a data chunk of the storage object, the appliance stores a data modification indicated in the write request at a storage device, and asynchronously uploads the modification to the storage service. In response to a client's read request, directed to a different portion of the data chunk, the appliance downloads the requested data from the storage service to the storage device, and provides the requested data to the client.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for integrating data and header protection includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to receive a data array organized in rows and columns, each row of the data array comprising two or more interleaved C1 codewords (CWI), and modify one or more rows of the data array to include a header and error correction code (ECC) parity to form one or more modified rows, wherein each modified row includes two or more interleaved codewords, at least one codeword being a C1? codeword which includes ECC parity, wherein each header comprises a CWI Designation (CWID) which indicates a location of the CWI within the data array, and wherein none of the CWIDs are split across multiple C1? codewords in a single modified row. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are presented in additional embodiments.

Abstract: Protection of a computer system (104) against attacks using malformed files is applied to an application (106) configured to process files of a predefined Headerless format indicated by a Characteristic pattern of bytes. An incoming file's Characteristic pattern is checked by comparing its leading bytes with Characteristic patterns. If its leading bytes have such a pattern, the file (100) is subjected to a full content check; the file is discarded (100) if it lacks such a pattern or has contents considered damaging. A file is checked regarding suitability for further processing by comparing its leading bytes with the Characteristic pattern of the predefined Headerless format. A full content check of the file may also be carried out. The application (106) is permitted to process files having the Characteristic pattern of the predefined Headerless format and appropriate file contents. The method can deal with ZIP files (b) etc.

Abstract: The risk of inadvertent introduction of software bugs to a large number of users during a software update is minimized by controlling updates using a uniform mechanism of sending updates to seed users. A value-generating module generates a value for a computer, the value falling within a population range of values. A sampling range-generating module generates a sampling range of values as a proper subset of the population range, the probability of the random value falling within the sampling range being predetermined. An eligibility determination module determines whether the computer is eligible to receive a software update, the computer being determined eligible when the random value for the computer falls within the sampling range, and an update module provides the software update to the computer based on the eligibility determination. In some embodiments, a problem review module determines whether the update has caused a problem for computers receiving the update.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a contents data recording apparatus includes a storage module and a data delete module. The storage module stores encoded first-system and second-system contents data. The data delete module deletes either the first-system contents data or second-system contents data from the storage module based on a predetermined condition after the first-system and second-system contents data has been stored in the storage module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing address map information are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a processor configured to store address map changes to a first data storage medium, save the address map changes to a nonvolatile data storage medium when an abnormal power state is detected, and when the power state is no longer abnormal retrieve the last saved address map information and address map changes and update the address map information using the address map changes. The apparatus may be configured to retrieve the instructions for the processor operation over a network connection.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with data storage using atomic films, such as graphene, boron nitride, or silicene. A platter assembly may include at least one platter that has one or more substantially planar surfaces. One or more layers of a monolayer atomic film, such as graphene, may be positioned on a planar surface. Data may be stored on the atomic film using one or more vacancies, dopants, defects, and/or functionalized groups (presence or lack thereof) to represent one of a plurality of states in a multi-state data representation model, such as a binary, a ternary, or another base N data storage model. A read module may detect the vacancies, dopants, and/or functionalized groups (or a topographical feature resulting therefrom) to read the data stored on the atomic film.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a hard disk drive includes a detecting circuit configured to detect abnormality of a supply voltage. The hard disk drive also includes a refresh controller configured to, when the abnormality of the supply voltage is detected during a data refresh process in sector units to a magnetic disk, finish the data refresh process to a sector after writing of data to a data area is finished, the data area to which the writing is performed when the abnormality of the supply voltage is detected, without stepping over a servo area.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of tracks defined by servo sectors forming a plurality of full wedges and a plurality of mini wedges. The wedge ID field of a servo sector forming one of the full wedges is offset from a beginning of a sync mark by a first offset, and the wedge ID field of a servo sector forming one of the mini wedges is offset from the beginning of the sync mark by a second offset equal to the first offset. A first servo sector is read from the disk to generate a read signal, the read signal is demodulated to detect the wedge ID of the first servo sector, and the detected wedge ID is evaluated to determine whether the first servo sector forms one of the mini wedges.

Abstract: An enhanced mechanism for providing data protection for variable length records utilizes high performance block storage metadata. In an embodiment, an emulated record that emulates a variable length record, such as a Count-Key-Data (CKD) record or an Extended-Count-Key-Data (ECKD) record, is generated by a Host Bus Adapter (HBA) of a mainframe system. The emulated record comprises a sequence of extended fixed-length blocks, each of which includes a data block and a footer. A confluence of the footers defines a high performance block storage metadata unit associated with the emulated record and includes a checksum that covers all data blocks and all footers of the entire emulated record. In one embodiment, the checksum is checked during transit of the emulated record between a HBA and a storage subsystem (e.g.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide a data storage device. The data storage device includes a recording medium having a dedicated servo layer for providing servo information. The dedicated servo layer may include a plurality of servo patterns, wherein each servo pattern includes a preamble providing information for synchronization of at least one of a read and a write operation of the data storage device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for recording density variation of data tracks. In some embodiments, an apparatus may comprise a circuit configured to record data to a first track of a data zone at a first recording density, and record data to a second track of the data zone at second recording density different from the first recording density. Recording density may be measured as a bits per inch (BPI) value for a data track. Different recording densities may be applied based on a width of the target track. In some embodiments, such as for shingled magnetic recording (SMR), data may be recorded to partially overlapped tracks at a first density, and to non-overlapped tracks at a second density.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method of writing servo information to a recording medium may be provided. The method include forming a first servo pattern (including a servo burst pattern) on a segment of a first track of a first layer of the recording medium, the first track having a track width. The method may further include forming a second servo pattern (including addressing information) on a segment of a second track of a second layer of the recording medium. The second track is arranged from the first track by half the track width.

Abstract: Data is recorded such that the positions of data will be aligned in a traveling direction and a width direction of the storage medium. The medium travels in the traveling direction from a first to a second position as a certain wrap of a group of plural files in a first physical range between the first and the second positions. A head shifts from the certain wrap to another wrap in the width direction of the medium. The medium travels in the traveling direction from a third to a fourth position as the other wrap of a group of plural files in a second physical range between the third and the fourth positions. The plural files in groups on the certain wrap and the other wrap may be written in reverse order to each other after being once stored in a buffer.

Abstract: Data is recorded such that the positions of data will be aligned in a traveling direction and a width direction of the storage medium. The medium travels in the traveling direction from a first to a second position as a certain wrap of a group of plural files in a first physical range between the first and the second positions. A head shifts from the certain wrap to another wrap in the width direction of the medium. The medium travels in the traveling direction from a third to a fourth position as the other wrap of a group of plural files in a second physical range between the third and the fourth positions. The plural files in groups on the certain wrap and the other wrap may be written in reverse order to each other after being once stored in a buffer.

Abstract: A data storage system and associated method of use may generally be directed to a memory cache that stores a plurality of pending read and write requests. A processor can be configured to prioritize the read requests in the memory cache in response to a sensed acoustic or mechanical vibration in a data storage medium.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a plurality of disk surfaces, and a head actuated over each disk surface. For each disk surface, a quality metric is measured at a plurality of discrete areal densities including a first areal density comprising a first radial density and a first linear density, and a second areal density comprising a second radial density different from the first radial density and a second linear density different from the first linear density. Based on a target capacity, an areal density is selected for each disk surface such that the combined areal densities satisfies the target capacity and such that the quality metrics across the disk surfaces are substantially equal and substantially maximized.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and firmware for operating data storage devices and storage processors are provided herein. In one example, a data storage device is provided. The data storage device includes magnetic storage media configured to store data, read heads configured to read data from the magnetic storage media at associated areal densities, and a storage processor. The storage processor is configured to monitor read error rates of the read heads during operation of the data storage device to identify a degraded one of the read heads, and process at least the read error rates and an areal density of the degraded one of the read heads to modify the areal density of at least the degraded one of the read heads.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes loading a tape cartridge into at least one tape drive installed in an automated tape library, where a tape of the tape cartridge has at least two partitions; writing plurality of data blocks on a first of the partitions; and writing an index on a second of the partitions, wherein the index includes information about at least one of files and the blocks on the first partition.

Abstract: A stamper of an embodiment includes: a base portion having a main surface; and a plurality of guides arranged on the main surface in mutually different first and second directions and serving as references of arrangement of a plurality of self-assembled dots. A distance between the guides in a third direction is within a range of an integer m1 ±0.05 times of a pitch of the plural self-assembled dots. The third direction corresponds to a third vector obtained by combining a first vector corresponding to the arrangement of the guides in the first direction and a second vector corresponding to the arrangement of the guides in the second direction. A distance between the plural guides in the first direction falls out of a range of an integer m2 ±0.15 times of the pitch of the plural self-assembled dots.

Abstract: A system including a tape library and a tape drive. The tape library identifies which tapes in the tape library include one or more migrated tapes. The tape drive provides access to each migrated tape of the one or more migrated tapes by an original application.

Abstract: Embodiments of servo systems for disk drives are described that include servo identifiers (SIDs) that can be used in mini-mode with a shortened servo gate window that skips over the initial fields in the SID. The SID embodiments include a Servo Address Mark (SAM), Track-ID (TID), P and Q PES bursts, and one or more Integrated Servo sequences that provide a Servo Track Mark (STM) that is detectable in mini-mode. The Integrated Servo sequences can also provide additional PES information, as well as, sector identification information. In one embodiment the servo pattern includes only one IS sequence (which is aligned with the P-Burst) and the Q-Burst is made longer than the P-Burst. The additional number of cycles (bits) in the Q-Burst increases the equivalent number of bits in the PES to compensate for the lack of the second IS sequence.

Abstract: Approaches for adjusting the recording density of a recording medium in a circumferential direction are disclosed. A hard-disk drive includes one or more electronic components configured to divide a track, of a plurality of concentric tracks on a magnetic-recording disk, into a plurality of portions, and write data to each of the plurality of portions at a recording density that is independent of the recording density used for any of the other portions. Data may be written to a first portion of a track at a different frequency than to a second portion of the same track. The frequency at which data is written may be adjusted for different portions of the same track to allow the frequency to be reduced at certain portions shown to have relatively higher soft error rate while increasing the frequency for other portions to achieve a desired average error rate for the track.

Abstract: A method for operating a tape storage system includes simultaneously receiving readback signals from a set of data readers reading from data tracks of a set of adjacent data tracks extending along a longitudinal extension of a tape storage medium. Each data track has a width and each data reader has a width that exceeds the width of a data track. In the readback signal, of one of the data readers of the set a simultaneous presence of two defined waveforms is detected stemming from two different servo patterns arranged in servo sections of adjacent data tracks of the set. At least one of lateral position, velocity, gain and timing information is derived from a measure of the energy of the two defined waveforms detected in the readback signal of the data reader and applying this information in the operation of the tape storage system.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for determining storage device speed based on a ratio of data compression. A bandwidth (B) is identified between a storage device accessing storage medium and a host application requesting access to data on the storage medium. A host side transfer rate is identified, where the host side transfer rate (HSTR) is a rate of data transfer between the host application and the storage device. For each data set in a set of data sets of a record, a ratio of data compression (R) is identified for the data set; a compression considered host side transfer rate (CCHSTR) is determined; and the storage device speed is set to the compression considered host side transfer rate (CCHSTR) for transmitting the data set to the host application.