Distributed media cache
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- defining a first set of two or more adjacent tracks and a second set of two or more adjacent tracks on a surface of a disk as media cache zones, the first and second sets located at radial locations between a middle diameter and an outer diameter of the disk that are tolerant to a high level of write activity and that minimize wear of the media cache zones due to one or more of head-to-disk contact and thermal degradation, the first and second sets being separated by user data zones;
allocating the media cache zones as a plurality of distributed media caches arranged in a predetermined order within the media cache zones;
for each of a plurality of caching events;
writing cache data to a selected one or more of the distributed media caches; and
in response to the cache data being, written to the selected media cache for a predetermined time period, selecting a next of the distributed media caches in the predetermined order for the next caching event if the selected caches are not a last in the predetermined order, otherwise selecting a first media cache in the predetermined order if the selected distributed media cache is the last of the predetermined order.
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Abstract
Zones of a magnetic recording medium are allocated as a respective plurality of distributed media caches arranged in in a predetermined order. For each of a plurality of caching events, cache data is written to one or more of the distributed media caches. A next of the media caches in the predetermined order is selected for the next caching event if the selected caches are not a last in the predetermined order. Otherwise a first media cache is selected in the predetermined order.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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defining a first set of two or more adjacent tracks and a second set of two or more adjacent tracks on a surface of a disk as media cache zones, the first and second sets located at radial locations between a middle diameter and an outer diameter of the disk that are tolerant to a high level of write activity and that minimize wear of the media cache zones due to one or more of head-to-disk contact and thermal degradation, the first and second sets being separated by user data zones; allocating the media cache zones as a plurality of distributed media caches arranged in a predetermined order within the media cache zones; for each of a plurality of caching events; writing cache data to a selected one or more of the distributed media caches; and in response to the cache data being, written to the selected media cache for a predetermined time period, selecting a next of the distributed media caches in the predetermined order for the next caching event if the selected caches are not a last in the predetermined order, otherwise selecting a first media cache in the predetermined order if the selected distributed media cache is the last of the predetermined order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus comprising:
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interface circuitry coupled to a read/write head configured to access a surface of a disk, a first set of two or more adjacent tracks and a second set of two or more adjacent tracks on the surface of the disk being defined as media cache zones, the first and second sets located at radial locations between a middle diameter and an outer diameter of the disk that are tolerant to a high level of write activity and that minimize wear of the media cache zones due to one or more of head-to-disk contact and thermal degradation, the first and second sets being separated by user data zones, the media cache zones being allocated as a plurality of distributed media caches arranged in a predetermined order within the media cache zones; a controller coupled to the interface circuitry and configured to perform for each of a plurality of caching events; writing cache data to a selected one or more of the distributed media caches; and in response to the cache data being written to the selected media cache for a predetermined time period, selecting a next of the distributed media caches in the predetermined order for the next caching event if the selected caches are not a last in the predetermined order, otherwise selecting a first media cache in the predetermined order if the selected distributed media cache is the last of the predetermined order. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method comprising:
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defining a first set of two or more adjacent tracks and a second set of two or more adjacent tracks on a surface of a disk as media cache zones, the first and second sets located between a middle diameter and an outer diameter of the disk and being separated by user data zones; allocating the media cache zones as a plurality of distributed media caches arranged in a predetermined order within the media cache zones, a capacity of the media cache zones being overprovisioned to prevent undue wear in the media cache zones, wherein the overprovisioned capacity comprises one of; guard bands between the media cache zones and adjacent data regions; and a low linear bit density for the media cache zones; and for each of a plurality of caching events; writing cache data to a selected one or more of the distributed media caches; and in response to the cache data being written to the selected media cache for a predetermined time period, selecting a next of the distributed media caches in the predetermined order for the next caching event if the selected caches are not a last in the predetermined order, otherwise selecting a first media cache in the predetermined order if the selected distributed media cache is the last of the predetermined order. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification