Method, system, and computer program product for thermally assisted recording systems

1. A method, comprising:

using a heating device, inducing localized heating on a magnetic medium during a recording operation;

detecting at least one of a temperature in a vicinity of the heating device and a current of the heating device;

performing an action if a function of the at least one of the temperature and the current is outside an acceptable operation zone, wherein performing the action includes reducing the current of the heating device;

using the heating device at the reduced current, inducing localized heating on a magnetic medium during a recording operation for writing data to the magnetic medium;

attempting to read the data from the magnetic medium; and

if the data is successfully read from the magnetic medium, performing further recording operations at the reduced current.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the heating device is a laser.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the temperature is detected using a thermocouple in a housing encasing the magnetic medium.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the temperature is detected using a sensor for reading data from the magnetic medium.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the function includes a product of the temperature and the current.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein performing the action includes outputting an alert.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein performing the action includes disabling the heating device.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the heating device is re-enabled upon the function of the temperature and the current returning to within the acceptable operation zone.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein if the data is not successfully read from the magnetic medium, performing a further action.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 , wherein performing the further action includes at least one of outputting an alert, further reducing the current of the heating device, and disabling the heating device.

11. A method, comprising:

using a heating device, inducing localized heating on a magnetic medium during a recording operation;

detecting a temperature in a vicinity of the heating device;

detecting a current of the heating device; and

performing an action if a function of at least one of the temperature and the current is outside an acceptable operation zone, wherein performing the action includes reducing the current of the heating device;

using the heating device at the reduced current, inducing localized heating on a magnetic medium during a recording operation for writing data to the magnetic medium;

attempting to read the data from the magnetic medium;

if the data is successfully read from the magnetic medium, performing further recording operations at the reduced current; and

if the data is not successfully read from the magnetic medium, performing a further action.

12. A method, comprising:

selecting an initial current of a heating device for inducing localized heating on a magnetic medium during recording operations;

initiating the heating device;

performing recording operations;

monitoring a temperature in a vicinity of the heating device during the recording operations;

if a function of the temperature and the current is outside an acceptable operation zone, changing an operating parameter such that the function of the temperature and the current is in the acceptable operation zone wherein changing the operation parameter includes reducing the current of the heating device;

using the heating device at the reduced current, inducing localized heating on a magnetic medium during a recording operation for writing data to the magnetic medium;

again monitoring the temperature in the vicinity of the heating device;

attempting to read the data from the magnetic medium; and

if the data is successfully read from the magnetic medium, performing further recording operations at the reduced current.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 , further comprising:

if the data is not successfully read from the magnetic medium, performing a further action.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the further action includes outputting an alert.

15. A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein changing the operation parameter includes reducing a current of a heater, the heater being for selectively inducing thermal protrusion.

16. A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the heating device is a laser.

17. A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein the function includes a product of the temperature and the current.

18. A method, comprising:

monitoring a temperature in a vicinity of a heating device for inducing localized heating on a magnetic medium during recording operations;

detecting a current of the heating device; and

performing an action if a function of at least one of the temperature and the current moves outside an acceptable operation zone, wherein performing the action includes outputting an alert.

19. A method as recited in claim 18 , wherein performing the action further includes:

using the heating device at the reduced current, inducing localized heating on a magnetic medium during a recording operation for writing data to the magnetic medium;

again monitoring the temperature in the vicinity of the heating device;

attempting to read the data from the magnetic medium;

if the data is successfully read from the magnetic medium, performing further recording operations at the reduced current.

20. A method as recited in claim 18 , wherein performing the action further includes at least temporarily disabling the heating device.

21. A method as recited in claim 18 , wherein performing the action further includes minimizing use of the heating device.

22. A system comprising:

a magnetic medium; and

a head for reading and writing to the magnetic medium,

wherein at least one of the magnetic medium and a secondary memory has computer code stored thereon, which when executed, causes the drive to perform the following operations:

induce localized heating on a magnetic medium during a recording operation using a heating device;

detect at least one of a temperature in a vicinity of the heating device; detect and a current of the heating device;

reducing the current of the heating device if a function of the at least one of the temperature and the current is outside an acceptable operation zone;

using the heating device at the reduced current, inducing localized heating on a magnetic medium during a recording operation for writing data to the magnetic medium;

attempting to read the data from the magnetic medium; and

if the data is successfully read from the magnetic medium, performing further recording operations at the reduced current.

23. A system as recited in claim 22 , wherein if the data is not successfully read from the magnetic medium, performing a further action.

24. A system as recited in claim 22 , wherein the temperature is detected using a thermocouple in a housing encasing the magnetic medium.

25. A system as recited in claim 22 , wherein the temperature is detected using a sensor for reading data from the magnetic medium.