Bit Patterned Media Storage Architecture with Dynamic EBM and SMR Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-density bit patterned media storage faces challenges due to low bit aspect ratios, which complicate head design and lead to data loss in adjacent tracks, and shingled magnetic recording (SMR) adds complexity and delays to the recording process.
Innovation Solution
A storage architecture for bit patterned media that dynamically allocates between erase band mode (EBM) and shingled mode (SM) to optimize performance, allowing for reallocation and reconfiguration of data tracks based on available space, converting between EBM and SM modes to enhance storage efficiency and reduce performance losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If shingled magnetic recording (SMR) is used to solve the BAR mismatch problem, then data storage density is improved, but recording process complexity and delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The disk storage space is segmented into multiple pages, each capable of being independently configured as EBM or SMR. This segmentation allows the system to apply different recording methods to different regions based on workload requirements, thereby achieving high storage density while managing complexity through localized application of SMR only where necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between EBM and SMR modes based on real-time storage conditions and workload characteristics. Pages can be reconfigured from EBM to SMR or vice versa, allowing the system to adapt to changing requirements and minimize recording delays by using the simpler EBM mode when conditions permit.
2Device complexity
If erase band mode (EBM) is used to simplify recording, then recording process complexity is reduced, but data storage density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges EBM and SMR approaches within the same storage architecture, allowing both modes to coexist on different pages. This combination enables the system to leverage the simplicity of EBM for certain regions while utilizing the higher density of SMR for other regions, achieving an overall optimization that balances complexity and storage capacity.
3Productivity
If pages are dynamically reconfigured between EBM and SMR modes, then storage efficiency is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors storage conditions, including available space, write patterns, and performance metrics, to determine optimal mode configuration for each page. This feedback mechanism enables automated, intelligent decision-making that balances storage efficiency with control complexity by using simple threshold-based rules and heuristics rather than complex optimization algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
Storage architecture for bit patterned media uses both erase band and shingled magnetic recording. A hard disk drive may comprise a disk having bit patterned media with a plurality of data tracks arrayed in architecture pages having at least one of erase band mode (EBM), shingled mode (SM) and unallocated space. An actuator has a head for writing data to the data tracks of the bit patterned media. A control system monitors, reallocates and reconfigures the architecture pages from EBM, SM or unallocated space to a different one of EBM, SM or unallocated space to enhance performance of the hard disk drive.