Media Sector Realignment After Missed Sync Mark Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data recovery methods face challenges when the sync mark is missed, leading to complications in aligning individual codewords, resulting in significant area and processing penalties, and in some cases, making data recovery impossible.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system with a first and second sync mark detector circuit, an anchor point identification circuit, and a retry controller circuit, which applies robust sync mark detection algorithms to re-align the media sector and recover user data, even when the initial sync mark is missed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sync mark detection is used, then data processing is simple, but data recovery becomes impossible when sync mark is missed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by identifying anchor points within codewords before data recovery operations. These anchor points are pre-identified reference positions that enable subsequent alignment operations without requiring perfect sync mark detection, thus improving reliability while managing complexity through advance preparation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces anchor points as intermediary reference elements between the sync mark detection system and the data recovery process. These anchor points serve as mediators that allow alignment and recovery operations to proceed even when traditional sync mark detection fails, bridging the gap between detection limitations and recovery requirements
2Measurement precision
If individual codeword alignment is performed for averaging, then data recovery accuracy improves, but area and processing penalties increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the media sector into identifiable codeword units with specific anchor points within each codeword. This segmentation allows the system to work with discrete, manageable units rather than requiring complex alignment of entire data streams, reducing processing overhead while maintaining recovery accuracy through structured organization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service alignment by embedding anchor points within codewords that automatically provide reference information for alignment operations. The codewords themselves contain the necessary reference data (anchor points) that enable their own alignment and averaging operations without requiring extensive external processing or complex control mechanisms
3Productivity
If sync mark detection fails, then data processing continues, but alignment becomes complicated and recovery is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of anchor points within codewords before processing operations. This preliminary action ensures that reference points are already established and available, allowing data processing to continue without interruption even when sync mark detection fails, while keeping alignment operations straightforward through pre-established references
Solution Approach 2:
Anchor points serve as intermediary reference elements that decouple the data processing continuity from sync mark detection success. These intermediaries allow the processing pipeline to continue operating using anchor point-based alignment rather than sync mark-based alignment, maintaining productivity while simplifying the alignment operation through reliable reference points
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a first sync mark detector circuit operable to apply a first sync mark detection algorithm to search a received media sector and overhead for a second sync mark after a failure to identify a first sync mark. A second sync mark detector circuit operable to apply a second sync mark detection algorithm to search the received media sector and overhead for the second sync mark. An anchor point identification circuit identifies an anchor point in the received media sector. A retry controller circuit causes a re-read of the received media sector and overhead when the first sync mark detector circuit fails to identify the first sync mark, and aligns the received media sector to yield an aligned media sector. A data processing circuit recovers an original user data set from the aligned media sector.