ActiveUS12640165B2Multilayered discsErasing methodShingled magnetic recordingMagnetic tape
Write commands in a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) drive are efficiently executed when a write command and associated write data are received by an SMR HDD from a host while the target SMR band for storing the write data is undergoing a refresh operation. In response to the write command, the HDD suspends the refresh operation, stores the write data in nonvolatile memory, and informs the host that the write command has been completed. After the write data are stored in nonvolatile memory, the HDD resumes the refresh operation, and the remaining unrefreshed data in the target SMR band are refreshed by being rewritten to the spare SMR band. The nonvolatile memory can include the spare SMR band in some instances, the target SMR band in some instances, and in both the spare SMR band and the target SMR band in some instances.