Operating system independent method and system for preserving hard disk drive life span in power managed computers
First Claim
1. A method of executing a utility program for preserving a life span of a hard disk drive operating on a power-managed computer system having a processor, a hard disk drive and a power-managing operating system which deactivates the hard disk drive when the hard disk drive is idle for a designated power-down time interval, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining the operating age of the hard disk drive;
classifying the hard disk drive as a function of the operating age; and
setting the power-down time interval as a function of the classification of the hard disk drive so that a hard disk drive classified as having an older operating age is powered-down less frequently than a hard disk drive classified as having a younger operating age to preserve the life span of the hard disk drive.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system of operating a power-managed computer system monitors the life cycle of a hard disk drive attached to the computer system and extends the life span of the hard disk drive by reducing the rate at which hard disk drive spin-up cycles are initiated when the hard drive reaches a predetermined stage it life cycle. Software routines which activate or spin-up the hard drive are extended in capability to read the hard drive serial number and record the serial number in a non-volatile memory in conjunction with an incrementing counter. The incrementing counter counts the number of times the hard drive has been activated from the time of installation of the hard drive. The count of spin-up occurrences is indicative of the operating age of the disk drive. A plurality of age levels are defined, for example medium, old and ancient levels so that, when the hard drive spin-up count reaches one of the defined levels, the power management system changes the operation of the hard drive power management.
48 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of executing a utility program for preserving a life span of a hard disk drive operating on a power-managed computer system having a processor, a hard disk drive and a power-managing operating system which deactivates the hard disk drive when the hard disk drive is idle for a designated power-down time interval, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining the operating age of the hard disk drive; classifying the hard disk drive as a function of the operating age; and setting the power-down time interval as a function of the classification of the hard disk drive so that a hard disk drive classified as having an older operating age is powered-down less frequently than a hard disk drive classified as having a younger operating age to preserve the life span of the hard disk drive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of executing a utility program for preserving a life span of a hard disk drive comprising the steps of:
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operating a computer system having a processor and a hard disk drive under control of a selected one of a plurality of operating systems operable on the processor; accessing the hard disk drive; setting a power-down timer to a power-down time interval upon accessing of the hard disk; responsive to a time-out of the power-down timer, deactivating and removing power from the hard disk drive; determining the operating age of the hard disk drive; classifying the hard disk drive as a function of the operating age; and setting the power-down time interval as a function of the classification of the hard disk drive so that a hard disk drive classified as having an older operating age is powered-down less frequently than a hard disk drive classified as having a younger operating age to preserve the life span of the hard disk drive; the accessing, power-down timer setting, deactivating and removing, determining, classifying and power-down time interval setting steps being performed independent of the selected operating system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A utility program for preserving a hard disk drive life span operating on a power-managed computer system having a processor, a memory storing the utility program, a hard disk drive, and a power-managing operating system which deactivates the hard disk drive when the hard disk drive is idle for a designated power-down time interval, the utility program comprising:
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a routine which determines the operating age of the hard disk drive; a routine which classifies the hard disk drive as a function of the operating age; and a routine which sets the power-down time interval as a function of the classification of the hard disk drive so that a hard disk drive classified as having an older operating age is powered-down less frequently than a hard disk drive classified as having a younger operating age to preserve the life span of the hard disk drive. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A computer system comprising:
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a power-managed computer system having a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a hard disk drive; a power-managing operating system which deactivates the hard disk drive when the hard disk drive is idle for a designated power-down time interval; and a utility program for executing on the processor and preserving a hard disk drive life span, the utility program including; a routine which determines the operating age of the hard disk drive; a routine which classifies the hard disk drive as a function of the operating age; and a routine which sets the power-down time interval as a function of the classification of the hard disk drive so that a hard disk drive classified as having an older operating age is powered-down less frequently than a hard disk drive classified as having a younger operating age to preserve the life span of the hard disk drive.
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18. A method of providing a computer system comprising the steps of:
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providing a power-managed computer system having a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a hard disk drive; providing a power-managing operating system which deactivates the hard disk drive when the hard disk drive is idle for a designated power-down time interval; and providing a utility program for preserving a hard disk drive life span, the utility program including; a routine which executes on the processor and determines the operating age of the hard disk drive; a routine which executes on the processor and classifies the hard disk drive as a function of the operating age; and a routine which executes on the processor and sets the power-down time interval as a function of the classification of the hard disk drive so that a hard disk drive classified as having an older operating age is powered-down less frequently than a hard disk drive classified as having a younger operating age to preserve the life span of the hard disk drive.
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19. A utility program for preserving a hard disk drive life span operating on a power-managed computer system having a processor, a memory storing the utility program, and a hard disk drive, the utility program comprising:
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a routine which deactivates the hard disk drive when the hard disk drive is idle for a designated power-down time interval; a routine which determines the operating age of the hard disk drive; a routine which classifies the hard disk drive as a function of the operating age; and a routine which sets the power-down time interval as a function of the classification of the hard disk drive so that a hard disk drive classified as having an older operating age is powered-down less frequently than a hard disk drive classified as having a younger operating age to preserve the life span of the hard disk drive.
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20. A computer program product for a computer system having a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a hard disk drive coupled to the processor, the computer system utilizing a power-managing operating system which deactivates the hard disk drive when the hard disk drive is idle for a designated power-down time interval, the computer program product comprising:
a computer usable medium having computable readable code embodied therein including a utility program for executing on the processor and preserving a hard disk drive life span, the utility program including; a routine which determines the operating age of the hard disk drive; a routine which classifies the hard disk drive as a function of the operating age; and a routine which sets the power-down time interval as a function of the classification of the hard disk drive so that a hard disk drive classified as having an older operating age is powered-down less frequently than a hard disk drive classified as having a younger operating age to preserve the life span of the hard disk drive.
Specification