Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Seagate Technology Incorporated

Hye-jeong Nam

Sang-hoon Lee

Young-Joon Choi

Dong-Hyun Song

Shea-Yun Lee

Dong-Gi Lee

Se-Wook Na

Sung-Pack Hong

In-sik Ryu

Jae-sung Lee

Jae-Hyun Hwang

Jae-hyun Hwang

A cache control method for a hybrid hard disk drive (HDD) comprising a nonvolatile cache (NVC) and a hard disk. When the hybrid HDD is operating in a non-parallel mode of operation, the control method sequentially searches the NVC and then reads the hard disk for requested data, but when the hybrid HDD is operating in a parallel mode of operation, the control method simultaneously searches the NVC and reads hard disk for the data requested.

Cache control method for hybrid HDD, related program, and hybrid disk drive using same

Methods and apparatus for cache flush control and write re-ordering in a data storage system are provided. A cache flush control method includes cache flushing information stored in a cache memory to a first storage apparatus of a plurality of storage apparatuses included in a data storage system when a cache flush condition is generated, and performing a write command in a second storage apparatus of the plurality of storage apparatuses which has a write speed lower than the first storage apparatus according to information stored in the first storage apparatus processed with the cache flush.

Method and apparatus for cache flush control and write re-ordering in a data storage system

A data storing location managing method including generating an access frequency of a storing area accessed in a first storage apparatus according to a command received, copying data stored in the storing area of the first storage apparatus to a storing area of a second storage apparatus when the access frequency of the storing area of the first storage apparatus is greater than a reference value, and replacing location information of the storing area of the first storage apparatus with location information of the storing area of the second storage apparatus.

Data storing location managing method and data storage system

A method of controlling a hybrid HDD to permanently deactivate a non-volatile cache support mode by determining whether a limit in the use of a non-volatile cache is passed, and a recording medium and apparatus suitable for the control method. The control method of a hybrid hard disk drive having a hard disk and a non-volatile cache includes determining whether an erasure number of the non-volatile cache exceeds a usage limit based on the erasure number of the non-volatile cache, and permanently deactivating a non-volatile cache support mode when the erasure number of the non-volatile cache is determined to exceed the usage limit.

Hybrid hard disk drive control method and recording medium and apparatus suitable therefore

A data storage system includes a non-volatile memory, a disc recording medium, a non-volatile memory buffer, operatively disposed between a host interface and the non-volatile memory, which stores a portion of data stored in the non-volatile memory, and a disc buffer, operatively disposed between the host interface and the disc recording medium, which stores a portion of data stored in the disc recording medium. The data storage system may be configured to receive an access address from a host operatively connected to the host interface, and sequentially determine whether the access address exists in one of the non-volatile memory buffer, the non-volatile memory, the disc buffer, and the disc recording medium, in that order.

Data storage system including respective buffers for non-volatile memory and disc recording medium, and data access method thereof

A method of converting a hybrid hard disk drive (HDD) to a normal HDD when a system is powered on depending on whether the total number of defective blocks in a non-volatile cache (NVC) exceeds a predetermined threshold. The method of converting a hard disk drive (HDD) from a hybrid HDD to a normal HDD where the HDD has a normal hard disk and a non-volatile cache includes the steps of determining whether a mode conversion flag is enabled during a power-on period. When the mode conversion flag is enabled, operating the HDD as a normal HDD. When the mode conversion flag is disabled, determining whether an operating mode of the HDD is a normal mode or a hybrid mode. When the operating mode of the HDD is in the normal mode, the HDD operates as a normal HDD. A determination is made when the HDD is in the hybrid mode as to whether the total number of defective blocks in the non-volatile cache is greater than a predetermined threshold. The HDD is operated as a hybrid HDD when the total number of defective blocks is not greater than the threshold. The mode conversion flag is enabled and the HDD is operated as a hybrid HDD when the total number of defective blocks is greater than the threshold.

Method of converting a hybrid hard disk drive to a normal HDD

A hard disk drive (HDD) defect list searching method includes checking whether a target track is on a non-defective track list when a command to access the target track is applied, obtaining defect information from the non-defective track list if the target track is on the non-defective track list, searching for a defect list if the target track is not on the non-defective track list and obtaining defect information, including the number of defects existing between a starting track of a zone where the target track belongs and the target track and the number of defects in the target track, from the defect list, and obtaining defect information on the target track and defect information on tracks ranging from the target track to a next defective track from the defect list and storing the defect information to the target track and the next defective track on the non-defective track list.

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Seongnam-si, South Korea

Hye-jeong Nam