Method and apparatus for data placement of continuous media to utilize

Abstract

An improved method is disclosed for placing continuous media data in a memory storage disk that will increase the disk operating efficiency and increase the number of users in a service round. The memory storage disk contains a plurality of tracks each track having at least one sector and the disk is divided into a plurality of physical zones of different sector/track density, and the method comprising the steps of: (a) dividing the disk into a plurality of logical zones of equal number of tracks, each logical zone being allowed to include tracks of different sector/track density; (b) for each logical zone, setting the tracks contained therein to have the same number of sector/density as the track with the smallest sector/track density; (c) assigning a constant disk access time for each logical zone; and (d) determining a read block size for each logical zone in such a manner that: (i) the read block size decreases from outer logical zones to inner logical zones; (ii) assigning a first portion of the logical zones with read block sizes that are greater than a minimum read block size required for continuous media playing so as to read extra data, which will be stored in a buffer; (iii) assigning a second portion of the logical zones with read block sizes that are smaller than the minimum read block size to thereby cause an inadequacy; and (iv) the block sizes are structured such that the inadequacy from the second portion of logical zones will be compensated by the extra data stored in the buffer, so as to ensure a continuous media play requirement.