US5331476A
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US
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Apparatus and method for dynamically performing knowledge-based error recovery
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1993-07-30
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Granted: 1994-07-19
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Expires: 2013-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A tape drive data storage apparatus incorporates an error recovery system that is dynamically controlled to perform knowledge-based error recovery in accordance with a novel error recovery method. As the tape drive apparatus performs read and/or write data transfer operations on a tape medium loaded in the tape drive, an error recovery knowledge base is generated representing a tape map of ECC error correction locations on the tape medium. If error recovery is initiated and it is determined from the tape map that one or more error clustering thresholds have been reached in one or more selected regions of the tape medium, appropriate error recovery action is taken depending on whether a data read or data write operation is underway. If read (or write) data is being processed, the error recovery procedures performed by the error recovery system can be selectively modified in the affected tape medium regions to address the expected cause(s) of the data error. If write data is being processed, the affected tape regions can be demarked so that data is not written thereon during subsequent write operations. In this way, error recovery and data transfer operations can be tailored based on knowledge that localized media defects have been found.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott M. Fry
- 👤 Pamela R. Nylander-Hill
- 👤 Michael M. Lee
- 👤 Sushama M. Paranjape
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:12
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/10; G11B20/18; G11B20/1883; G11B27/00; G11B27/36; G11B20/10527; G11B2020/10537; G11B2020/10592; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
In a tape drive data storage apparatus including a control system for reading and writing host data on a streaming tape medium, an error correction coding (ECC) system for detecting and correcting data transfer errors, and an error recovery system for performing non-ECC correctable error recovery, a method for dynamically performing knowledge-based error recovery comprising the steps of: performing read and/or write data transfer operations on a tape medium loaded in the tape drive; generating during said data transfer operations an error recovery knowledge base representing a tape map of ECC error correction locations on said tape medium; determining from said tape map upon the initiation of an error recovery event whether one or more error clustering thresholds have been reached in one or more selected regions of said tape medium; and if so modifying the error recovery performed by the error recovery system in said selected tape medium regions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a tape drive data storage apparatus including a control system for reading and writing host data on a streaming tape medium, an error correction coding (ECC) system for detecting and correcting data transfer errors, and an error recovery system for performing non-ECC correctable error recovery, a method for dynamically performing knowledge-based error recovery comprising the steps of: performing read and/or write data transfer operations on a tape medium loaded in the tape drive; generating during said data transfer operations an error recovery knowledge base representing a tape map of ECC error correction locations on said tape medium; determining from said tape map upon the initiation of an error recovery event whether one or more error clustering thresholds have been reached in one or more selected regions of said tape medium; and if so modifying the error recovery performed by the error recovery system in said selected tape medium regions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said clustering thresholds include a vertical clustering threshold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said clustering thresholds include a horizontal clustering threshold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said clustering thresholds include a cyclical defect threshold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said cyclical defect threshold represents one or more ECC error correction locations occurring at selected distances from each other along said tape medium corresponding to the diameter of a hub around which said tape medium is wound.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said data transfer operations are performed concurrently on multiple tracks of said tape medium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said tape map defines a hierarchy of tape tachometer regions, tape wraps, tape wrap halfs and tape tracks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said clustering thresholds include a vertical clustering threshold representing said ECC error correction locations occurring in a selected number of said tape tracks persistently in one or more of said tape tachometer regions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said vertical clustering threshold represents said ECC error correction locations occurring in a selected number of said tape tracks in at least one bit less than a selected plural number of said tape tachometer regions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said clustering thresholds include a horizontal clustering threshold representing said ECC error locations occurring in at least one of said tape tracks in a selected number of said tape tachometer regions.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
114 words
A system for dynamically performing knowledge-based error recovery in a tape drive data storage device having one or more read/write heads, comprising: means for generating a data structure comprising plural storage array locations corresponding to locations on said tape medium; means for sequentially storing in said data structure storage array locations, a continuous series of values representing error information determined from data transfer operations performed by the tape drive data storage device; means for determining whether an error recovery event has occurred; and means responsive to said error recovery determining means for performing one or more selected error recovery actions upon said values stored in said data structure exceeding one or more threshold values.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
114 words
A system for dynamically performing knowledge-based error recovery in a tape drive data storage device having one or more read/write heads, comprising: means for generating a data structure comprising plural storage array locations corresponding to locations on said tape medium; means for sequentially storing in said data structure storage array locations, a continuous series of values representing error information determined from data transfer operations performed by the tape drive data storage device; means for determining whether an error recovery event has occurred; and means responsive to said error recovery determining means for performing one or more selected error recovery actions upon said values stored in said data structure exceeding one or more threshold values.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said threshold values include a vertical clustering threshold value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said clustering threshold values include a horizontal clustering threshold value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said clustering threshold values include a cyclical defect threshold value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said cyclical defect threshold value represents one or more data transfer errors occurring at selected distances from each other along said tape medium corresponding to the diameter of a hub around which said tape medium is wound.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said data transfer operations are performed concurrently on multiple tracks of said tape medium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said data structure storage array locations correspond to parallel data tracks on said tape medium arranged in a hierarchy of tape tachometer regions, tape wraps and tape wrap halfs.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said threshold values include a vertical clustering threshold value representing data transfer errors occurring in a selected number of said tape tracks persistently in one or more of said tape tachometer regions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said threshold values include a horizontal clustering threshold value representing data transfer errors occurring in one or more of said tape tracks in a selected number of said tape tachometer regions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
269 words
In a tape drive data storage apparatus including a control system for reading and writing host data on a streaming tape medium, an error correction coding (ECC) system for detecting and correcting data transfer errors, and an error recovery system for performing non-ECC correctable error recovery, a method for dynamically performing knowledge-based error recovery comprising the steps of: performing read and/or write data transfer operations on multiple tracks of a tape medium loaded in the tape drive; generating during said data transfer operations an error recovery knowledge base representing a tape map of ECC error correction locations on said tape medium, said tape map defining a hierarchy of tape tachometer regions, tape wraps, tape wrap halfs and tape tracks; determining from said tape map upon initiation of an error recovery event whether one or more error clustering thresholds have been reached in one or more selected regions of the tape; and if so modifying the error recovery performed by the error recovery system in said selected tape regions; said clustering thresholds including a vertical clustering threshold representing said ECC error correction locations occurring in a selected number of said tape tracks in one or more of said tape tachometer regions; said clustering thresholds further including a horizontal clustering threshold representing said ECC error locations occurring in one or more said tape tracks in a selected number of said tape tachometer regions; and said cyclical defect threshold representing one or more ECC error correction locations occurring at selected distances from each other along said tape medium corresponding to the diameter of a hub around which said tape medium is wound.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
269 words
In a tape drive data storage apparatus including a control system for reading and writing host data on a streaming tape medium, an error correction coding (ECC) system for detecting and correcting data transfer errors, and an error recovery system for performing non-ECC correctable error recovery, a method for dynamically performing knowledge-based error recovery comprising the steps of: performing read and/or write data transfer operations on multiple tracks of a tape medium loaded in the tape drive; generating during said data transfer operations an error recovery knowledge base representing a tape map of ECC error correction locations on said tape medium, said tape map defining a hierarchy of tape tachometer regions, tape wraps, tape wrap halfs and tape tracks; determining from said tape map upon initiation of an error recovery event whether one or more error clustering thresholds have been reached in one or more selected regions of the tape; and if so modifying the error recovery performed by the error recovery system in said selected tape regions; said clustering thresholds including a vertical clustering threshold representing said ECC error correction locations occurring in a selected number of said tape tracks in one or more of said tape tachometer regions; said clustering thresholds further including a horizontal clustering threshold representing said ECC error locations occurring in one or more said tape tracks in a selected number of said tape tachometer regions; and said cyclical defect threshold representing one or more ECC error correction locations occurring at selected distances from each other along said tape medium corresponding to the diameter of a hub around which said tape medium is wound.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-07-18 | 1998-01-17 | 1998-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-18 | 2002-01-17 | 2002-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-18 | 2006-01-17 | 2006-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |