Method and apparatus for detecting abnormal operation of moving storage apparatus
First Claim
1. A method for detecting abnormal operation in a magnetic disk storage system comprising the steps of:
- reading data from a predetermined area of each track on a disk that is normally not rewritten during operation of the system to obtain a readback signal;
comparing the amplitude of the readback signal read from one track with the amplitude of the readback signal a read from a plurality of other tracks for each of said tracks on the disk; and
setting an alarm condition when the comparison indicates a variation which exceeds a predetermined level whereby some corrective action can be taken in response to said alarm condition prior to an actual failure condition in said magnetic disk storage system.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting abnormal operation in a magnetic disk file which comprises reading data for each head and each track to obtain a readback signal. The readback signal is read from a predetermined area of each track on a disk that is not normally rewritten during normal operation of the system. The amplitude of the signal read from one track is compared with the amplitude of the signals read from other tracks, and an alarm condition when the comparison indicates a variation which exceeds a predetermined level. Corrective action can be taken in response to the alarm condition prior to an actual failure condition in the magnetic disk file.
32 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for detecting abnormal operation in a magnetic disk storage system comprising the steps of:
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reading data from a predetermined area of each track on a disk that is normally not rewritten during operation of the system to obtain a readback signal; comparing the amplitude of the readback signal read from one track with the amplitude of the readback signal a read from a plurality of other tracks for each of said tracks on the disk; and setting an alarm condition when the comparison indicates a variation which exceeds a predetermined level whereby some corrective action can be taken in response to said alarm condition prior to an actual failure condition in said magnetic disk storage system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for detecting abnormal operation in a magnetic disk storage system comprising the steps of:
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reading data from a predetermined area of each track on a disk that is normally not rewritten during operation of the system to obtain a readback signal; storing the amplitude of said readback signal for a selected number of the tracks in said system; processing said amplitude of said readback signals to obtain smoothed data; comparing the amplitudes of the readback signal from one track with the smoothed data from a plurality of selected tracks; and setting an alarm condition when the comparison indicates a variation which exceeds a predetermined level whereby some corrective action can be taken in response to said alarm condition prior to an actual failure condition in said magnetic disk storage system. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method for detecting abnormal operation in a magnetic disk storage system comprising the steps of:
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reading data from a predetermined area of each track on a disk that is normally not rewritten during operation of the system to obtain a readback signal; storing the amplitude of said readback signal for a selected plurality of the tracks in said system; processing said amplitude of said readback signals to obtain processed amplitudes; processing said amplitudes and said processed amplitudes to obtain a summary value; and
;setting an alarm condition when said summary value exceeds a predetermined level whereby some corrective action can be taken in response to said alarm condition prior to an actual failure condition in said magnetic disk storage system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification