# US 8,788,776 B2 · Hard disk control method, hard disk control device and computer

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- Number: US 8,788,776 B2
- Document ID: US8788776B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/508,151
- Filed: 2010-10-29
- Published: 2012-09-06
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2009-11-06
- Assignees: Beijing Lenovo Software Ltd.; Lenovo (Beijing) Limited
- Applicants: Xianqun Yi
- Inventors: Xianqun Yi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788776B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/3268: {Power saving in hard disk drive}
- G06F 1/3221: of disk drive devices
- Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
- Y02D 30/50: in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

A hard disk control method, a hard disk control device and a computer are provided The method includes detecting the current mode in which the system runs; determining the access frequency of the hard disk in the system when detecting the system runs in an idle mode currently; intercepting the hard disk access commands to be sent to the hard disk when the access frequency of the hard disk is lower than a predetermined access frequency threshold to make the hard disk enter into a preset power saving mode, and saving the hard disk access commands into a preset memory.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for controlling a hard disk, comprising the steps of:
detecting a mode in which a system currently is;
when it is detected that the system is currently in an idle mode, determining the access frequency of the hard disk in the system;
when the access frequency of the hard disk is less than a predetermined access frequency threshold, blocking a hard disk access command to be sent to said hard disk, to make the hard disk enter a predetermined power saving mode, and save said hard disk access command into a predetermined memory.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method for controlling a hard disk according to claim 1, wherein, the access frequency of the hard disk in the system is determined by collecting an input/output speed of said hard disk.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method for controlling a hard disk according to claim 1, further comprising, after performing the blocking:
when it is detected that a predetermined trigger event for terminating the blocking occurs, terminating the blocking, and sending the access command already saved in the memory to said hard disk.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method for controlling a hard disk according to claim 3, wherein, said power saving mode is a standby mode.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method for controlling a hard disk according to claim 1, further comprising, after performing the blocking:
when the time length for maintaining the blocking reaches a time length set by a user in advance, making said hard disk enter the predetermined power saving mode; or
sending a command for entering the power saving mode to the hard disk, and notifying said hard disk to enter said predetermined power saving mode.

### Claim 6

An apparatus for controlling a hard disk, comprising:
a mode detecting module, configured to detect a mode in which a system currently is;
an access frequency determining module, configured to when it is detected that the system is currently in an idle mode, determine the access frequency of the hard disk in the system;
a blocking module, configured to when the access frequency of the hard disk is less than a predetermined access frequency threshold, block a hard disk access command to be sent to said hard disk, to make the hard disk enter a predetermined power saving mode, and save said hard disk access command into a predetermined memory.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus for controlling a hard disk according to claim 6, wherein, said access frequency determining module determines the access frequency of the hard disk of the system by collecting an input/output speed of said hard disk.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The apparatus for controlling a hard disk according to claim 6, further comprising:
a blocking terminating module, configured to when it is detected that a trigger event for terminating the blocking occurs, terminate the blocking, and send the access command already saved in the memory to said hard disk.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus for controlling a hard disk according to claim 8, further comprising:
a standby mode entering module, configured to after said blocking, make the hard disk enter a standby mode.

### Claim 10

A computer including a hard disk, further comprising: a hard disk controlling means, wherein, said hard disk controlling means including:
a mode detecting module, configured to detect a mode in which a system currently is;
an access frequency determining module, configured to when it is detected that the system is currently in an idle mode, determine the access frequency of the hard disk in the system;
a blocking module, configured to when the access frequency of the hard disk is less than a predetermined access frequency threshold, block a hard disk access command to be sent to said hard disk, to make the hard disk enter a predetermined power saving mode, and save said hard disk access command into a predetermined memory.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The computer according to claim 10, wherein, said hard disk controlling means further includes:
a blocking terminating module, configured to when it is detected that a trigger event for terminating the blocking occurs, terminate the blocking, and send the access command already saved in the memory to said hard disk.