US 2003/0067697 A1 · Anticipating media decay in a disc drive

Abstract

A procedure for estimating bit error rate (BER) for disc media in a disc drive is disclosed. Initially, the BER estimation procedure writes random data to specified tracks on the disc media. The procedure then reads the specified tracks over predefined time intervals to determine a BER for the disc media at the termination of each interval. Using the determined bit error rates, the procedure extrapolates the BER values to generate a decay graph representative of a BER slope over the time period comprising the time intervals. The decay graph is then used to estimate BER for the disc media at a predetermined time, such as the end of the expected life of the disc drive.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A method for estimating bit error rate for disc media in a disc drive at a predetermined time occurring within a predetermined time period divided into a plurality of time intervals, the method comprising:

writing data to the disc media beginning at an initial time interval;
reading the data recorded on the disc media at specified interval points during the predetermined time period;
computing a bit error rate value for the disc media at each specified interval point;
extrapolating the bit error rate values to create a decay graph representative of bit error rate changes for the disc media over the predetermined time period, wherein the decay graph links the predetermined time to an estimated bit error rate for the disc media.

1 more element

A program storage device readable by a computer system tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer system to perform a method for estimating bit error rate for disc media in a disc drive at a predetermined time occurring within a predetermined time period divided into a plurality of time intervals, the method comprising:

writing data to the disc media beginning at an initial time interval;
reading the data recorded on the disc media at specified interval points during the predetermined time period;
computing a bit error rate value for the disc media at each specified interval point;
and
extrapolating the bit error rate values to create a decay graph representative of bit error rate changes for the disc media over the predetermined time period, wherein the decay graph links the predetermined time to an estimated bit error rate for the disc media.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Anticipating media decay in a disc drive

Life of this patent

Anticipating media decay in a disc drive

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30