Apparatus and method for monitoring data storage device for usage and warranty
First Claim
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1. A data storage apparatus comprising:
- a nonvolatile storage; and
a data storage controller configured to store a log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage,wherein the log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage is not resettable and includes a usage parameter, andwherein storing of the log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage is designed such that the storing cannot be disabled, wherein the data storage apparatus is a disk drive, andwherein the data storage controller is configured to check a value of the usage parameter of the data storage apparatus before shutting down of the data storage apparatus and after subsequent starting up of the data storage apparatus to verify if the data storage apparatus has been used with a different system during a period of shut down between the shutting down and the subsequent starting up of the data storage apparatus,wherein when the value of the usage parameter is different after starting up compared before shutting down, the data storage controller is configured to store information in the log of status parameters identifying the data storage apparatus as having been used with a different system.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a system for monitoring a storage device for usage and warranty. In one embodiment, a data storage apparatus comprises a nonvolatile storage; and a data storage controller configured to store a log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage. The log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage is not resettable. Storing of the log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage cannot be disabled.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A data storage apparatus comprising:
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a nonvolatile storage; and a data storage controller configured to store a log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage, wherein the log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage is not resettable and includes a usage parameter, and wherein storing of the log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage is designed such that the storing cannot be disabled, wherein the data storage apparatus is a disk drive, and wherein the data storage controller is configured to check a value of the usage parameter of the data storage apparatus before shutting down of the data storage apparatus and after subsequent starting up of the data storage apparatus to verify if the data storage apparatus has been used with a different system during a period of shut down between the shutting down and the subsequent starting up of the data storage apparatus, wherein when the value of the usage parameter is different after starting up compared before shutting down, the data storage controller is configured to store information in the log of status parameters identifying the data storage apparatus as having been used with a different system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A data storage apparatus comprising:
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a nonvolatile storage; a data storage controller configured to store a log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage, and a warranty status indicator to indicate whether warranty of the data storage apparatus has been terminated, the warranty status indicator being configured to provide an irreversible indication when the warranty of the data storage apparatus is terminated, wherein the log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage is designed to not be resettable, and wherein storing of the log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage is designed such that the storing cannot be disabled, wherein the data storage apparatus is a disk drive, wherein the nonvolatile storage comprises an area on a surface of a disk of the disk drive, and wherein the status parameters include a number of access operations and/or a number of disk revolutions of the disk of the disk drive, wherein the status parameters include an encrypted usage parameter which keeps track of a plurality of host systems with which the data storage apparatus is used, wherein all accesses to the data storage device are transmitted through the host system that is currently using the data storage apparatus.
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6. A data storage apparatus comprising:
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a detection module to detect whether warranty of the data storage apparatus has been terminated, wherein information detected by the detection module includes non-operating parameters detected when the data storage apparatus is shut down, and wherein the detection module comprises a nonvolatile storage and a data storage controller configured to store a log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage, wherein the log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage is not resettable, and wherein storing of the log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage cannot be disabled; a warranty status indicator operatively coupled with the detection module to indicate whether the warranty of the data storage apparatus has been terminated, the warranty status indicator being configured to provide an irreversible indication when the warranty of the data storage apparatus is terminated; and a processor configured to initiate a sending of a value of the warranty status indicator to a database of a manufacturer of the data storage apparatus via the Internet. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of validating warranty of a data storage apparatus, the method comprising:
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storing a log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in a nonvolatile storage of the data storage device, the log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage being not resettable and storing of the log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus in the nonvolatile storage configured not to be disabled; checking, with at least one processor of the data storage apparatus, the status parameters in the log against one or more warranty thresholds to determine whether a warranty of the data storage apparatus has been terminated; checking the log of status parameters of the data storage apparatus before shutting down of the data storage apparatus and after subsequent starting up of the data storage apparatus to verify if the data storage apparatus has been used with a different system during a period of shut down between the shutting down and the subsequent starting up of the data storage apparatus; when a warranty threshold is exceeded, turning on a warranty flag stored in the data storage apparatus to indicate the termination of the warranty; and sending, from the data storage apparatus to a database of a manufacturer of the data storage apparatus via the Internet, the warranty flag, wherein the sending is initiated by a processor of the storage apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification