Seagate Technology Incorporated

Chew Boon Toh

Yong Peng Chng

Aik Chuan Lim

Patrick Tai Heng Wong

Wing Hung Chan

Steven Tian Chye Cheok

Chwee Fern Ee

A method of storing values that involves splitting each value into a n-bit value and an overflow value, and storing, in a main table, the n-bit values in order of increasing magnitude of the values. For each overflow value, the position of the smallest n-bit value is stored in an overflow table. To retrieve a value, the position of the corresponding n-bit value is compared to the positions stored in the overflow value to determine the overflow value of the n-bit value. The actual value is then obtained from the n-bit value and its overflow value.

Method of overflow-based defect management representation

A disc drive typically contains at least one disc which is divided into sectors. The method of eliminating reassignments involves copying data stored at one sector (referred to as a moving sector) to another sector (referred to as a moving spare), and assigning the logical address associated with the moving sector to the moving spare. The elimination process is repeated until the reassignments are eliminated. Verification of the data copied is conducted to ensure data integrity. Furthermore, the elimination process is preferably executed only when the disc drive is in an idle mode. Records are kept and updated as the process is carried out so that the process can be continued even if interrupted.

Method to eliminate reassignments

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Singapore, Singapore

Chew Boon Toh