Data storage device compensating for head/tape wear
AssigneeWestern Digital Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJames N. Malina, Mark L. Watson, William B. Boyle, David W. Chew
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Abstract
A data storage device is disclosed comprising at least one head configured to access a magnetic tape. A plurality of access commands are stored in a command queue, and a wear value is generated for each access command in the command queue, wherein the wear value represents a level of wear on the head or magnetic tape associated with executing the access command. An execution order for the access commands is generated based on the wear values, and at least one of the access commands is executed based on the execution order.
Claims26
A data storage device configured to access a magnetic tape, the data storage device comprising:
- at least one head configured to access the magnetic tape;
- and
- control circuitry configured to:
- store a plurality of access commands in a command queue;
- generate a wear value for each access command in the command queue, wherein the wear value represents a level of wear on the head or magnetic tape associated with executing the access command;
- generate an execution order for the access commands based on the wear values;
- and
- execute at least one of the access commands based on the execution order.
A data storage device configured to access a magnetic tape, the data storage device comprising:
- at least one head configured to access the magnetic tape;
- and
- control circuitry configured to:
- maintain an accumulated wear measurement for each of a plurality of segments of the magnetic tape;
- and
- seek the head laterally over the magnetic tape based on the accumulated wear measurements.
A data storage device configured to access a magnetic tape, the data storage device comprising:
- at least one head configured to access the magnetic tape;
- and
- a means for generating a wear value for each of a plurality of access command in a command queue, wherein the wear value represents a level of wear on the magnetic tape associated with executing the access command;
- and
- a means for executing the access commands based on an execution order determined based on the wear values.
A data storage device configured to access a magnetic tape, the data storage device comprising:
- at least one head configured to access the magnetic tape;
- and
- control circuitry configured to:
- define at least one longitudinal reserved band on the magnetic tape, wherein data is not recorded in the longitudinal reserved band;
- receive an access command to access a longitudinal data band on the magnetic tape;
- and
- scan the head along the longitudinal reserved band and then scan the head along the longitudinal data band in order to execute the access command.
A data storage device configured to access a magnetic tape, the data storage device comprising:
- at least one head configured to access the magnetic tape;
- and
- control circuitry configured to:
- define at least one lateral reserved band on the magnetic tape, wherein data is not recorded in the lateral reserved band;
- receive an access command to access a longitudinal data band on the magnetic tape;
- and
- seek the head along the lateral reserved band and then scan the head along the longitudinal data band in order to execute the access command.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.