Write optimized disk storage device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for storing data comprising:
- a storage medium characterized by column groupings of data storage locations, within any one of the column groupings all locations being accessible in similar amounts of time;
means for assigning a respective label grouping address to identify each of the column groupings;
means, responsive to a request to store a packet of data, for selecting one of the label grouping addressees; and
means for recording the data at a location within a column grouping identified by the selected address.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An indirectly accessed disk storage device comprises a rotating disk memory coupled to an intelligent disk controller. The intelligent disk controller responds to a request to store a packet of data by determining which storage location of the rotating disk memory are available and by selecting from among the available locations a location that can be accessed in a minimum amount of time relative to access time of any other available location. The intelligent disk controller makes its selection dynamically by monitoring the current position of the recording head of the rotating disk memory and by searching a record of available locations to select an optimal location. The intelligent disk controller then stores the packet of data on the rotating disk memory. By optimizing such data write operations, the indirectly accessed disk storage device also effectively optimizes data read operations. The indirectly accessed disk storage device also improves disk performance by reshuffling data stored on the rotating disk memory according to these policies during idle periods.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus for storing data comprising:
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a storage medium characterized by column groupings of data storage locations, within any one of the column groupings all locations being accessible in similar amounts of time; means for assigning a respective label grouping address to identify each of the column groupings; means, responsive to a request to store a packet of data, for selecting one of the label grouping addressees; and means for recording the data at a location within a column grouping identified by the selected address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An apparatus for storing data comprising:
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a storage medium having a plurality of data storage locations; a head adjacent to the storage medium for accessing the locations, the head having a current head position relative to the locations; means for monitoring the current head position; means, responsive to the current head position and to a request to store a packet of data, tier determining which of the locations are nearest to the current head position; means for determining which of the locations that are nearest to the current head position are available for data storage; means for selecting an available location that is nearest to the current head position; and means for recording the data at the selected location. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A method for storing data comprising:
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providing a storage medium having a plurality of data storage locations and further providing a head adjacent to the storage medium for accessing the locations, the head having a current head position relative to the locations; monitoring the current head position; determining which of the locations are nearest to the current head position in response to the current head position and to a request to store a packet of data; selecting one of the locations that are nearest to the current head position; and
recording the data at the selected location. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for storing data comprising
a storage medium characterized by column groupings of data storage locations, within any one of the column groupings the locations being accessible in similar amounts of time; -
means, responsive to a request to store a packet of data, for selecting one of the column groupings; means for determining which of the locations are available for data storage; means for selecting an available location within the selected column grouping; means for recording the data at the selected location within the selected column grouping; and means for providing a reserve of available storage locations within the column groupings. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification