Tactical read error recovery strategy based on dynamic feedback

In a data storage device including a data storage medium, an input/output system for transferring information on the data storage medium, a control system, an error correction coding (ECC) system for detecting and correcting data transfer errors, and an error recovery system for performing non-ECC correctable error recovery, an automated method for performing tactical read error recovery using dynamic feedback, comprising the steps of:

• (a) invoking an error recovery operational mode in said data storage device, said error recovery system performing acquisition error recovery and data error recovery;
• (b) performing error recovery using a selected set of error recovery implementation options;
• (c) scoring the effectiveness of said selected set of error recovery implementation options, said scoring step including calculating a cumulative score corresponding to the effectiveness of performing a sequence of error recovery actions using successive sets of error recovery implementation options, said scoring being based on whether error recovery using a selected implementation option set results in an acquisition error or a data error, acquisition errors being scored negatively and data errors being scored positively;
• (d) evaluating a score determined in said scoring step, said evaluation step including utilizing said cumulative score to identify trends in error recovery implementation options sets that are not likely to prove successful and abandoning one or more of said option sets representing said trends;
• (e) performing error recovery using a next selected set of error recovery implementation options based on said score;
• and
• (f) repeating steps (c)-(e) until successful error recovery is achieved or until available error recovery implementation options are exhausted;
• said error recovery system including a first group of base operating point error recovery implementation option sets and a second group of environmental error recovery implementation options, said first group of base operating point error recovery implementation option sets being used recursively during error recovery for each environmental error recovery implementation option used;
• said environmental error recovery implementation options further including first and second sets of environmental error recovery implementation options, said first set of environmental error recovery options including a servo adjustment option and said second set of environmental error recovery options including a tape tension setting option, said group of base operating point error recovery implementation option sets being used recursively during error recovery for each of said first set of environmental implementation options used, and said first set of environmental implementation options being used recursively during error recovery for each of said second set of environmental implementation options used.

In a data storage device including a data storage medium, a control system and an error recovery system, an automated method for performing tactical read error recovery using dynamic feedback comprising the steps of:

• (a) invoking an error recovery operational mode in said data storage device;
• (b) performing error recovery using a selected set of error recovery implementation options;
• (c) scoring the effectiveness of said selected set of error recovery implementation options;
• (d) evaluating a score determined in said scoring step;
• (e) performing error recovery using a next selected set of error recovery implementation options based on said score;
• and
• (f) repeating steps (c)-(e) until successful error recovery is achieved or until available error recovery implementation options are exhausted.

In a data storage device including a data storage medium, a control system and an error recovery system, an automated system for performing tactical read error recovery using dynamic feedback, comprising:

• error recovery invocation means for invoking an error recovery operational mode in said data storage device;
• error recovery performance means responsive to said error recovery indication means for performing error recovery using a selected set of error recovery implementation options;
• scoring means responsive to said error recovery performance means for scoring the effectiveness of said selected set of error recovery implementation options;
• score evaluation means responsive to said scoring means for evaluating a score determined by said scoring means;
• said error recovery performance means including error recovery selection means for performing error recovery using a next selected set of error recovery implementation options based on said score;
• and
• said error recovery performance means further including error recovery repetition means for repeatedly implementing said error recovery selection means until successful error recovery is achieved or until available error recovery implementation options are exhausted.