Adaptive data recovery method and apparatus

• US 6,038,679 A
• Filed: 11/30/1994
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hanson, Bradley Ellsworth
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DIEU MINH T
• Application Number:
  US08/346,689
• Time in Patent Office: 1,931 Days
• Field of Search: 395/575, 395/182.03, 395/182.04, 395/182.13, 395/182.14, 371/41, 714/5, 714/6, 714/15, 714/16, 714/774
• US Class Current: 714/5.1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/18 Error detection or correction; Testing , e.g. of drop-outs

Abstract

A data storage system is adapted for performing a plurality of data recovery procedures and data recovery routines. A selection switch is provided for manually selecting the plurality of data recovery procedures and routines preferably stored in, and performed by, a controller disposed in the data storage system. Alternatively, a host computer system, coupled to the data storage system, preferably produces a selection code instructing the data storage system to perform selected data recovery procedures and routines. Automatic execution of selected data recovery procedures and routines is facilitated by a controller in the data storage system which determines the type of data stored on the data disk, and executes selected data recovery procedures and routines upon detection of a read error in accordance with the determined type of the affected data.

Claims

1. A method of recovering data from a data storage device having a data storage disk for storing data, a transducer for transferring data to and from the disk, and a controller for coordinating the transfer of data to and from the disk, the disk including data, and the method of recovering data comprising the steps of:

providing the data storage device adapted for performing a plurality of data recovery procedures and comprising a selection switch coupled to the controller;

selecting a data recovery procedure from one of the plurality of data recovery procedures, the data recovery procedure being associated with a type of data further including the step of selecting a setting from a plurality of selection switch settings associated with the selected data recovery procedure;

detecting a read error in the data residing on the disk; and

performing the selected data recovery procedure to correct the detected read error.

2. A method of recovering data from a data storage device having a data storage disk for storing data, a transducer for transferring data to and from the disk, and a controller for coordinating the transfer of data to and from the disk, the disk including data, and the method of recovering data comprising the steps of:

providing the data storage device adapted for performing a plurality of data recovery routines where the data storage device comprises a selection switch coupled to the controller;

selecting at least one data recovery routine from the plurality of data recovery routines, the at least one data recovery routine being associated with a type of data further including the step of selecting a setting from a plurality of selection switch settings associated with the selected data recovery routine;

detecting a read error in the data base residing on the disk; and

performing the selected at least one data recovery routine to correct the detected read error.