Digital device configuration and method

• US 20050195514A1
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elite Gaming Tech LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Benhov GmbH, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Fletcher, Frida E. R., Bruner, Curtis H., Fletcher, John F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,785 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/00 Accessing, addressing or allocating within memory systems or architectures digital input from, or digital output to record carriers, e.g. to disk storage units, G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0625 Power saving in storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0634 by changing the state or mode of one or more devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0653 Monitoring storage devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0659 Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0674 Disk device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0685 Hybrid storage combining heterogeneous device types, e.g. hierarchical storage, hybrid arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/042 due to external shock or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/044 by using a data buffer
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4853 Constructional details of the electrical connection between head and arm
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A digital Storage Element is described. A device is configured including a Storage Element for access by a user responsive to a native control code. A processing arrangement executes a control program for controlling the overall device and executing at least a portion of the native control code as part of the control program for interfacing with the Storage Element. A programming arrangement is provided separate from the device for customizing a read channel within the Storage Element. Command, user interaction and data transfer execution are discussed for mitigation of potential mechanical shock effects. Status indications relating to the Storage Element are provided including head position and mechanical shock. Calibration, test and operational monitoring procedures, for using head position status, are described. Failure configuration monitoring is provided in tracking overall performance and design considerations.

Claims

1. In a device including an electronic memory arrangement having a capacity, said device configured for responding to a plurality of external interactions including user interactions, at least a specific one of which interactions requires a specific data transfer to the electronic memory arrangement such that the specific data transfer is of a size that exceeds said capacity of the electronic memory arrangement, an assembly comprising:

a first arrangement for loading the electronic memory arrangement with an initial portion of the specific data transfer to fill the electronic memory arrangement to said capacity such that the initial portion of data is available for use in a predetermined way;

a second arrangement for monitoring the use, in said predetermined way, of any data stored in the electronic memory arrangement; and

a third arrangement for loading an additional portion of the specific data transfer into the electronic memory arrangement to replace that part of the initial portion of the specific data transfer which has been used in said predetermined way such that an unused part of the initial portion of the specific data transfer and the additional portion of the specific data transfer are concurrently stored in the electronic memory arrangement.

2. The assembly of claim 1 including an electromechanical digital storage arrangement such that the specific data transfer is stored by the electromechanical digital storage arrangement for transfer to said electronic storage arrangement in said first and additional portions.

3. The peripheral control arrangement of claim 2 wherein said first arrangement initiates loading the electronic memory arrangement with said initial portion during the specific interaction.

4. The peripheral control arrangement of claim 3 wherein the specific interaction is a user interaction and wherein the third arrangement is configured for initiating loading of the additional portion of the data transfer during a subsequent user interaction in said plurality of external interactions such that all data transfers using the electromechanical digital storage arrangement are initiated during user interactions.

5. The peripheral control arrangement of claim 4 wherein the subsequent user interaction requires a data access to the electromechanical data storage arrangement and said third arrangement is configured for performing the data access and loading the additional portion of the data transfer during the subsequent user interaction.

6. In a device including an electronic memory arrangement having a capacity, said device configured for responding to a plurality of external interactions including user interactions, at least a specific one of which interactions requires a specific data transfer to the electronic memory arrangement such that the specific data transfer is of a size that exceeds said capacity of the electronic memory arrangement, a method comprising the steps of:

loading the electronic memory arrangement with an initial portion of the specific data transfer to fill the electronic memory arrangement to said capacity such that the initial portion of data is available for use in a predetermined way;

monitoring the use of any data stored in the electronic memory arrangement; and

transferring an additional portion of the specific data transfer into the electronic memory arrangement to replace that part of the initial portion of the specific data transfer which has been used in said predetermined way such that an unused part of the initial portion of the specific data transfer and the additional portion of the specific data transfer are concurrently stored in the electronic memory arrangement.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said device includes an electromechanical digital storage arrangement such that the specific data transfer is stored by the electromechanical digital storage arrangement and said loading step and transferring step move the first and additional portions from the electromechanical storage arrangement to the electronic storage arrangement.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said loading step initiates loading the electronic memory arrangement with said initial portion during the specific user interaction.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said specific interaction is a user interaction and said transferring step includes the step of initiating loading of the additional portion of the data transfer during a subsequent user interaction in said plurality of external interactions such that all data transfers using the electromechanical digital storage arrangement are initiated during user interactions.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the subsequent user interaction requires a data access to the electromechanical data storage arrangement and said method includes the step of performing the data access during the subsequent user interaction.