Plasmon Lms, Inc.

David A Bolt

Brian Worby

A method is provided that minimizes the seek time necessary for relocating bad sectors found during data processing. During standard data processing in the prime disk area, identified bad sectors are saved in memory until after all of the data processing has been completed. The bad sectors are then relocated from memory in a batch process, thereby requiring only a single seek command to the defect management area. This procedure reduces the time penalty in the number of relocations to a near constant time and avoids a linear time penalty.

Relocation batch processing for disk drives

Automated address mapping is achieved by a system and methodology which automatically reacts to changes in the disk configuration. Prior to utilizing the disk, disk configuration information is provided by the user resulting in a stored configuration table. This configuration table is then used to compute an address translation structure which can be later used to perform actual address mapping operations. Utilizing this address translation structure, in combination with appropriate formulas, address mapping from a logical block address, provided by the host computer, to a surface-track-sector address (STSA) is easily accomplished. By having the actual address translations dependent upon the configuration table, the system and method automatically reacts to changes in the disk configuration.

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Colorado Springs, CO, United States of America

David A Bolt