Drive Status Table for Self-Encrypting Storage Atomicity

The patent applies preliminary action by creating a status table entry before executing multi-step commands. This entry records the command details and initial state, allowing the system to track progress and recover if a drive event occurs. The status table is prepared in advance with all necessary tracking structures, enabling atomicity verification even when commands span multiple steps and may be interrupted by power loss or reset events.

The patent applies copying by creating a status table that copies and tracks command information in persistent storage. Rather than modifying the original command structure or adding complex state machines, the system creates a parallel status representation that mirrors command progress. This copy-based approach provides complete visibility into command status without fundamentally altering the command execution path, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

The patent introduces an intermediary status table that mediates between session-based commands and persistent state requirements. The status table acts as a bridge, storing command information and progress independently of session lifecycle. When drive events occur and sessions are lost, this intermediary structure preserves the necessary state information, allowing the system to recover command context without requiring sessions to be inherently persistent.