Command aging method for data storage devices

A data storage device, comprising:

• a controller for queuing one or more commands for the data storage device, and for selecting a next command from the queued commands based on a combination of an expected access time (EAT) and an incentive term, wherein the incentive term provides for selection of older ones of the queued commands that have larger EATs, instead of younger ones of the queued commands that have smaller EATs.

An article of manufacture embodying logic for aging queued commands in a data storage device, comprising:

• (a) queuing one or mote commands for the data storage device;
• and
• (b) selecting a next command from the queued commands based on a combination of an expected access time (EAT) and an incentive term, wherein the incentive term provides for selection of older ones of the queued commands that have larger EATs, instead of younger ones of the queued commands that have smaller EATs.

24 The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the combination of the expected access time and the incentive term comprises subtracting the incentive term from the expected access time.

A method for aging queued commands in a device, comprising:

• (a) queuing one or more commands for the device;
• and
• (b) selecting a next command from the queued commands based on a combination of an expected access time (EAT) and an incentive term, wherein the incentive term provides for selection of older ones of the queued commands that have larger EATs, instead of younger ones of the queued commands that have smaller EATs.