Disk Storage Apparatus Dynamic Data Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Disk drives face challenges in properly storing data due to variations in outside environments such as vibration, temperature, and atmospheric pressure, which affect the reliability and capacity of storage media like flash memory and shingled write magnetic recording areas.
Innovation Solution
A disk storage apparatus with a detector to monitor environmental variations and a controller that dynamically selects between flash memory and a media cache area as storage destinations based on detected conditions, prioritizing robust storage areas during adverse conditions to ensure data integrity and availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If data is stored in flash memory or SMR area, then storage capacity is increased, but data reliability deteriorates under environmental variations such as vibration and temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the disk storage apparatus into multiple storage areas with different characteristics: a vibration-resistant storage area (flash memory) and a high-capacity storage area (SMR area). Each area has different quality attributes - flash memory provides reliability during vibration, while SMR area provides capacity. The controller selectively uses each area based on environmental conditions, allowing the system to achieve both reliability and capacity by utilizing the appropriate local storage medium for each situation.
2Quantity of substance
If the disk drive uses shingled write recording area with high track density, then storage capacity is improved, but susceptibility to vibration and environmental variations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces flash memory as an intermediary storage layer between the host and the SMR area. When vibration or adverse environmental conditions are detected, the controller redirects data writes to flash memory first, which acts as a protective intermediary that can withstand these conditions. This intermediary approach allows the high-capacity SMR area to remain available for normal operations while protecting against vibration-induced failures through the flash memory buffer.
3Reliability
If the disk drive stores data in multiple storage areas, then data retention reliability is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback-based control mechanism where the controller continuously monitors environmental conditions (vibration, temperature) and adjusts data storage destinations accordingly. The controller receives feedback from environmental sensors and dynamically redirects write operations to appropriate storage areas (flash memory or SMR area) based on real-time conditions. This feedback loop automates the complexity management, allowing the system to handle multiple storage areas intelligently without requiring manual intervention or overly complex control logic.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a disk storage apparatus includes a disk, a detector, and a controller. The disk includes a first recording area for recording with a first track density, and a second recording area for recording with a second track density lower than the first track density. The detector is configured to detect a variation of an outside environment. The controller is configured to select a nonvolatile memory or the second recording area as a storage destination of write data transferred from a host, based on a content of the variation of the outside environment detected by the detector, and a state of capability or incapability of storage of the nonvolatile memory.