Automatic track description generator
View Patent ↗A method includes generating a track description in real-time describing at least a portion of a track of a storage medium. An apparatus includes a dynamic track description generator configured to dynamically generate a track description describing a data wedge of a track on a storage medium, wherein the track description is generated at a time prior to synchronization with the data wedge.
1. A method, comprising generating a track description in real-time describing at least a portion of a track of a storage medium, wherein the storage medium is logically segmented into a plurality of data wedges and the track description comprises a physical block displacement (PBD), a last sector fragment index (LSFI), and a last sector fragment length (LSFL).
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein dynamically generating the track description comprises determining the track description for a data wedge prior to synchronization of that data wedge.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the tracks are substantially circular.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the PBD indicates a sector displacement from a starting location of a track, the LSFI indicates which sector fragment is the last sector fragment in a data wedge, and LSFL indicates the number of symbols in the last sector fragment in the data wedge.
5. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising processing data at a sector indicated by the PBD if the sector indicated by the PBD corresponds to a desired sector.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein dynamically generating the track description comprises:
determining a sector count indicating a number of completed sectors in a first data wedge;
determining a remainder of a sector fragment in the first data wedge;
determining a contributing fragment size indicating a length of a partial sector fragment in the first data wedge that contributes to a sector fragment in a subsequent data wedge;
setting a last sector fragment index (LSFI) equal to the sector count if the contributing fragment size is nonzero; and
setting the LSFI equal to sector count minus one if the contributing fragment size is zero.
7. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising maintaining a running count of completed sectors around the track.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using the track-description to determine if a given sector is the last sector fragment in a data wedge.
9. Apparatus, comprising a dynamic track description generator configured to dynamically generate a track description describing a data wedge of a track on a storage medium, wherein the track description is generated at a time prior to synchronization with the data wedge, wherein the storage medium is logically segmented into a plurality of data wedges and the track description comprises a physical block displacement (PBD), a last sector fragment index (LSFI), and a last sector fragment length (LSFL).
10. Apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the tracks are substantially circular.
11. Apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the PBD indicates a sector displacement from a starting location of a track, the LSFI indicates which sector fragment is the last sector fragment in a data wedge, and LSFL indicates the number of symbols in the last sector fragment in the data wedge.
12. Apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a processor that processes data at a sector indicated by the PBD if the sector indicated by the PBD corresponds to a desired sector.
13. Apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the dynamic track description generator determines the track description for a data wedge prior to synchronization of that data wedge.
14. Apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising
media counting hardware that determines a sector count indicating a number of completed sectors in a first data wedge;
determines a remainder of a sector fragment in the first data wedge;
determines a contributing fragment size indicating a length of a partial sector fragment in the first data wedge that contributes to a sector fragment in a subsequent data wedge;
sets a last sector fragment index (LSFI) equal to the sector count if the contributing fragment size is nonzero; and
sets the LSFI equal to sector count minus one if the contributing fragment size is zero.
15. Apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a counter maintaining a running count of completed sectors around the track.
16. System, comprising:
a storage medium;
a dynamic track description generator configured to dynamically generate a track description describing a data wedge of a track on the storage medium, wherein the track description is generated at a time prior to synchronization with the data wedge, and
media counting hardware configured to:
determine a sector count indicating a number of completed sectors in a first data edge;
determine a remainder of a sector fragment in the first data wedge;
determine a contributing fragment size indicating a length of a partial sector fragment in the first data wedge that contributes to a sector fragment in a subsequent data wedge;
set a last sector fragment index (LSFI) equal to the sector count if the contributing fragment size is nonzero; and
set the LSFI equal to sector count minus one if the contributing fragment size is zero.