Multi-Block Data Storage Using Data Compression

A method comprising:

• accessing a plurality of concentric tracks using a moveable data read/write transducer, the concentric tracks arranged as shingled magnetic recording (SMR) tracks in a selected band on a rotatable data recording medium;
• storing received input data in a cache memory;
• responsive to receipt of the input write data, transferring a multi-block data set from the selected band to the cache memory;
• using the received input data to update the transferred multi-block data set in the cache memory;
• compressing the updated transferred multi-block data set to generate a compressed data set;
• and
• writing the compressed data set to the selected band, a portion of the compressed data set generated during movement of the data read/write transducer to the selected band and prior to the writing of the compressed data set thereto.

A data storage device comprising:

• a rotatable data recording medium having shingled magnetic recording (SMR) tracks arranged into concentric bands accessible using a moveable data read/write transducer;
• a cache memory adapted to temporarily store data during transfer operations with the data recording medium;
• and
• a controller configured to, responsive to receipt of input write data, transfer a selected multi-block data set from a selected band to the cache memory, use the received input write data to update the transferred multi-block data set, compress the updated retrieved multi-block data set to generate a compressed data set, and write the compressed data set to the selected band on the data recording surface, a portion of the compressed data generated during movement of the data read/write transducer to the selected band.