# US 2016/0105715 A1 · Set-top disk health diagnostics > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0105715 A1 - Document ID: US20160105715A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/881,344 - Filed: 2015-10-13 - Published: 2016-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-13 - Assignees: ARRIS Enterprises LLC - Applicants: ARRIS Enterprises, Inc. - Inventors: Krishna Prasad Panje; Yequing Wang; David Harold Grant; Archan Kooli; Virendra Singh; Lakshmi Arunkumar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160105715A1 ## CPC - H04N 21/4425: Monitoring of client processing errors or hardware failure - H04N 17/004: {for digital television systems} - H04N 21/4424: {Monitoring of the internal components or processes of the client device, e.g. CPU or memory load, processing speed, timer, counter or percentage of the hard disk space used (error monitoring in general G06F11/30; arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations in broadcast systems H04H60/32; diagnosis, testing or measuring for television receivers H04N17/04)} - H04N 21/4882: {for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders (arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895)} - H04N 1/00002: {Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for (error detection, error correction or monitoring in digital computers or digital computer components G06F11/00)} - H04N 5/76: Television signal recording - H04N 17/04: for receivers - H04N 17/045: {Self-contained testing apparatus} - H04N 17/06: for recorders - H04N 21/25808: {Management of client data (terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to monitor for and alert the occurrence of pre-failure indicators at a set-top box (STB) disk. Results of self-monitoring tests, short tests, and maximum/minimum performance tests may be used to identify the potential for a STB disk failure. Moreover, critical error events at the STB may be logged, and the health of the STB disk may be determined based on the logged critical error events. Test results and critical error event logs may be used to predict an impending failure of a STB disk, and a notification may be output to a user or technician indicating the potential need to replace the STB or STB disk. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: determining a number of simulation operations to perform on a set-top box disk, wherein the number of simulation operations is based on one or more capabilities of the set-top box disk; determining a bitrate at which to perform each of the simulation operations, wherein the bitrate at which to perform each of the simulation operations is based on one or more capabilities of the set-top box disk; performing the simulation operations on the set-top box disk at the determined bitrate; monitoring one or more components of a set-top box associated with the set-top box disk for critical errors; and if one or more critical errors are observed at the set-top box while the simulation operations are being performed on the set-top box disk, outputting a notification indicating the need for replacement of the set-top box disk. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the number of simulation operations performed on the set-top box disk is based on the number of read operations and write operations for which the set-top box disk is configured to simultaneously perform. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a maximum number of simultaneous read operations and write operations that are performed on the set-top box disk over a certain period of time; and wherein the number of simulation operations performed on the set-top box disk is based on the determined maximum number of simultaneous read operations and write operations performed on the set-top box disk over the certain period of time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining an average number of simultaneous read operations and write operations that are performed on the set-top box disk over a certain period of time; and wherein the number of simulation operations performed on the set-top box disk is based on the determined average number of simultaneous read operations and write operations performed on the set-top box disk over the certain period of time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the bitrate at which each respective simulation operation is performed on the set-top box disk is based on an average bitrate associated with read or write operations. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the simulation operations are performed at a significant distribution of points throughout the set-top box disk. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the simulation operations are performed on the set-top box disk using non-data-destructive testing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the notification comprises a log of the identified critical errors, and wherein the notification is output from the set-top box to a remote server. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein one or more observed critical errors comprise buffer interruptions. ### Claim 10 An apparatus comprising: a module configured to: determine a number of simulation operations to perform on a disk, wherein the number of simulation operations is based on read and write capabilities of the disk; determine a bitrate at which to perform each of the simulation operations; perform the simulation operations on the disk at the determined bitrate; and monitor the disk for critical errors; and an interface configured to be used to output a notification indicating the need for replacement of the disk if one or more critical errors are observed while the simulation operations are being performed on the disk. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the number of simulation operations performed on the disk is based on the number of read operations and write operations for which the disk is configured to simultaneously perform. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the module is further configured to: determine a maximum number of simultaneous read operations and write operations that are performed on the disk over a certain period of time; and wherein the number of simulation operations performed on the disk is based on the determined maximum number of simultaneous read operations and write operations performed on the disk over the certain period of time. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the module is further configured to: determine an average number of simultaneous read operations and write operations that are performed on the disk over a certain period of time; and wherein the number of simulation operations performed on the disk is based on the determined average number of simultaneous read operations and write operations performed on the disk over the certain period of time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the simulation operations are performed at a significant distribution of points throughout the disk. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the notification comprises a log of the identified critical errors, and wherein the notification is output to a remote server. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the simulation operations are performed on the disk using non-data-destructive testing. ### Claim 17 A method comprising: running one or more self-monitoring tests on a set-top box disk; logging the occurrence of critical disk errors at the set-top box disk; running one or more use-case specific tests on the set-top box disk, wherein the one or more use-case specific tests are based on a use of the set-top box; and based on the results of the self-monitoring tests, the occurrence of critical disk errors, and the results of the one or more use-case specific tests, outputting a notification indicating the need for replacement of the set-top box disk. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: monitoring throughput at the set-top box disk for a first predetermined period; determining an average throughput for the first predetermined period; monitoring throughput at the set-top box disk for a second predetermined period; determining an average throughput for the second predetermined period; and if the average throughput for the second predetermined period is less than the average throughput for the first predetermined period by a predetermined threshold, outputting a notification identifying the set-top box disk as a disk that is trending toward a failure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the average throughput for the first predetermined period and the average throughput for the second predetermined period comprises the average maximum throughput observed during each respective period. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the first predetermined period and the second predetermined period are of equivalent durations.