Travis D Fox

US Patent:

6732292, May 4, 2004

Filed:

Mar 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/090876

Inventors:

Mark D. Hertz - Oklahoma City OK
Philip E. Cloud - Edmond OK
Travis D. Fox - Edmond OK
Edwin S. Olds - Norman OK

Assignee:

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

International Classification:

G06F 1120

US Classification:

714 8, 369 5317, 360 7705, 711112

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for transferring data between a host device and a data storage device having a first memory space and a second memory space. The host issues access commands to store and retrieve data. The device stores write data associated with write commands in the first memory space pending transfer to the second memory space. An interface circuit evaluates relative proximity of first and second sets of LBAs associated with pending first and second write commands, and forms an adaptive bi-directional write skip mask when the sets of LBAs fit within a predetermined mask interval. The mask is preferably slidably adjustable to encompass both sets of LBAs and is preferably expandable to accommodate additional sets of LBAs. The data within the mask are treated as a combined write command and are thereafter written in an order corresponding to an order in which the data appear in the mask.

US Patent:

6785072, Aug 31, 2004

Filed:

Mar 30, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/539263

Inventors:

Raymond L. Willis - Edmond OK
Travis D. Fox - Norman OK

Assignee:

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

International Classification:

G11B 2736

US Classification:

360 31, 360 55

Abstract:

A disc drive includes a base and a disc rotatably attached to the base. The disc drive also includes an actuator assembly rotatably attached to the base and a device for moving the actuator assembly. The actuator assembly includes an arm carrying a transducer head in a transducing relationship with respect to the disc. The disc drive further includes a servo circuitry and a controller for controlling movement of the actuator assembly during a track follow and a track seek. Piezoelectric transducers are attached to the actuator assembly for non-intrusive measurement of stiction and friction forces developed between the transducer head and the disc during a disc drive spin-up.

US Patent:

6789163, Sep 7, 2004

Filed:

Dec 21, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/029459

Inventors:

Travis D. Fox - Edmond OK
Edwin Scott Olds - Norman OK

Assignee:

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

International Classification:

F06F 1320

US Classification:

711112

Abstract:

Apparatus and method for transferring data between a disc drive data storage device and a host device. Access commands are provided by the host device to the data storage device to read and write data. Write caching is employed so that the write data are temporarily stored in a buffer. A phase time (access time) is determined for each pending access command, and the access commands are executed in relation to the identified phase times. However, when the total amount of accumulated write data in the buffer exceeds a first threshold, a thread of write commands having an intermediary phase time less than a selected duration is selected and written in lieu of other pending access commands. When the total amount of accumulated write data exceeds a second threshold, as many write commands are serviced as possible during a preselected purge time.

US Patent:

6934802, Aug 23, 2005

Filed:

Jan 15, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/345476

Inventors:

Stephen R. Cornaby - Yukon OK, US
Travis D. Fox - Edmond OK, US
Edwin S. Olds - Edmond OK, US

Assignee:

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

International Classification:

G06F012/08

US Classification:

711113, 711137

Abstract:

A data storage device with a cache memory in communication with a control processor programmed with a routine to effect data throughput with a host device. The data storage device includes a head-disc assembly responsive to the control processor retrieving a host data along with a speculative data in a form of a read data. The control processor adjusting a range for acquisition of the speculative data based on data stored in cache memory fragments of the cache memory. The cache memory storing the read data in an unused cache memory fragment, while the control processor updates a history queue and a band count table based on the acquired read data and releases an oldest cache memory fragment with a lowest count value in the band count table from the cache memory in response to a need for cache memory space.

US Patent:

7310707, Dec 18, 2007

Filed:

May 15, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/439266

Inventors:

Edwin S. Olds - Oklahoma OK, US
Travis D. Fox - Edmond OK, US
Mark A Thiessen - Mustang OK, US

Assignee:

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

International Classification:

G06F 12/12

US Classification:

711133, 711113, 710 56

Abstract:

A method for determining an aging period for retaining a write-back data in a cache memory prior to writing the write-back data to a storage media is determined through use of a write-back aging routine. The aging period is based on a proportional utilization level of the cache memory by the write-back data, the higher the memory utilization level, the shorter the period for aging the write-back data. The aging period takes a form of an aging threshold, which differs depending on the memory utilization level, i. e. , the amount of cache memory utilized by the write-back data. The method includes, identifying the memory utilization level, selecting the data aging threshold based on the memory utilization level; and writing the data from the cache memory to the storage media when an age of the data in the memory exceeds the selected data aging threshold.

US Patent:

7346740, Mar 18, 2008

Filed:

Jun 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/602254

Inventors:

Travis D. Fox - Edmond OK, US
Edwin S. Olds - Edmond OK, US
Mark A. Gaertner - Vadnais Heights MN, US
Abbas Ali - Prior Lake MN, US

Assignee:

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

International Classification:

G06F 13/00

US Classification:

711137, 711113, 711112, 711158, 369 3001, 369 3023

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for transferring speculative data in lieu of requested data in a data transfer operation. First data are transferred in response to an execution of a first pending command. Speculative data are transferred instead of second data associated with a second pending command during a next available latency period for the second data, preferably when the speculative data are adjudged as having a utility greater than a utility of the second data. The first and second commands are preferably received in a queue and a command execution algorithm identifies the second command as a next best command to be executed after execution of the first command. The above steps are preferably carried out by a controller of a data storage device.

US Patent:

7464218, Dec 9, 2008

Filed:

Aug 31, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/930474

Inventors:

Mark A. Thiessen - Mustang OK, US
Edwin S. Olds - Fort Collins CO, US
Travis D. Fox - Edmond OK, US

Assignee:

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

International Classification:

G06F 13/14

US Classification:

711112

Abstract:

A method for improving throughput performance of a data storage device by executing an execution critical write-back data priority routine programmed into a controller of the data storage device. The method includes, determining a write-back data aging threshold limit; identifying and executing a pending command; recognizing write-back data exceeding the aging threshold limit as an ending position aged data execution command; determining a read/write head following an execution of a pending command; determining a latency portion of the aged data execution command based on the determined head position; ascertaining a total execution time for each of a plurality of commands based on the determined head position; selecting from the plurality of commands an additional command executable within the determined latency portion; and executing both the additional command and the aged data execution command following execution of the pending command, when the total execution time of the aged data execution command is unaffected.

US Patent:

RE44128, Apr 2, 2013

Filed:

Dec 18, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/642157

Inventors:

Edwin S. Olds - Fort Collins CO, US
Travis D. Fox - Harrah OK, US
Mark A. Thiessen - Mustang OK, US

Assignee:

Seagate Technology LLC - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

G06F 13/00

US Classification:

711139, 711159, 710 57

Abstract:

A method for determining an aging period for retaining a write-back data in a cache memory prior to writing the write-back data to a storage media is determined through use of a write-back aging routine. The aging period is based on a proportional utilization level of the cache memory by the write-back data, the higher the memory utilization level, the shorter the period for aging the write-back data. The aging period takes a form of an aging threshold, which differs depending on the memory utilization level, i. e. , the amount of cache memory utilized by the write-back data. The method includes, identifying the memory utilization level, selecting the data aging threshold based on the memory utilization level; and writing the data from the cache memory to the storage media when an age of the data in the memory exceeds the selected data aging threshold.