Shingled Magnetic Recording Data Frame Format Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic disk drives using shingled magnetic recording (SMR) face inefficiencies in data storage and retrieval due to the need for temporary data storage in a cache area, which affects data storage efficiency and format efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The magnetic disk drive modifies the data writing format by attaching a header such as a preamble to each data frame, including multiple blocks, and converts the user-specified sector size to match the data frame length, allowing continuous writing without gaps or overheads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data is written to tracks in SMR using temporary storage in cache area, then data storage efficiency is improved, but format efficiency deteriorates due to sector gaps and overheads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data writing process into two distinct formats: conventional sector-based formatting and continuous data frame formatting. By introducing a new data frame format that eliminates sector gaps and headers, the system can write data continuously across multiple sectors without the overheads of traditional sector boundaries, thereby resolving the contradiction between storage efficiency and format efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of data formatting by transitioning from fixed-sector boundaries with headers to variable-length data frames with continuous encoding. This parameter change eliminates the sector gap and header overhead that cause format inefficiency, while maintaining the ability to store data efficiently through continuous writing
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional sector-based formatting is used, then compatibility with existing systems is maintained, but disk space utilization deteriorates due to sector gaps and headers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal formatting system that can operate in multiple modes: conventional sector-based mode for compatibility with existing systems and applications, and continuous data frame mode for optimized disk space utilization. The system can selectively apply the appropriate format based on the writing requirements, thereby maintaining compatibility while improving space utilization when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a format conversion layer that acts as an intermediary between the host system and the physical disk. This intermediary layer translates conventional sector-based data structures into continuous data frame format for storage, and vice versa for retrieval, thereby maintaining system compatibility while achieving improved disk space utilization
3Reliability
If data frames with headers are written to disk, then data integrity and positioning are improved, but writing speed and throughput deteriorate due to repeated header writing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and pre-positioning data frame boundaries and integrity markers during the data frame construction phase, rather than writing them sequentially during the data writing process. This allows the actual data to be written continuously without repeated interruptions for header and boundary markers, thereby maintaining data integrity while improving writing speed
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive of shingled magnetic recording (SMR), wherein user data is written to a disk with a header such as a preamble attached thereto, for each data frame including a plurality of blocks, which is a data area in a track of the disk to which the user data is written.