A reading method for reading contents information with a laser from an optical disc including a plurality of recording layers includes positioning a focus position of the laser at a first recording layer and reading a first part of the contents information recorded in the first recording layer. If a first link information recorded in the first recording layer is detected, judging whether a first condition is fulfilled or not. If the first condition is fulfilled, positioning the focus position of the laser at a second recording layer and reading a first link destination information recorded in the second recording layer. If the first condition is not fulfilled, reading a second part of the contents information recorded in the first recording layer.

A recording surface of a magnetic disk is divided into first and second zones. A first head of a first actuator arm assembly reads from and/or writes to the first zone exclusively. A second head of a second actuator arm assembly reads from and/or writes to the second zone exclusively. The first and second head are capable of simultaneously reading from and writing to the recording surface.

The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus and an information processing method that enable easy reproduction of audio data of a predetermined kind, of audio data of a plurality of kinds. A file generation device generates an audio file in which audio streams of a plurality of groups is divided into tracks for each one or more of the groups and arranged, and information related to the plurality of groups is arranged. The present disclosure can be applied to an information processing system configured from the file generation device that generates a file, a web server that records the file generated by the file generation device, and a moving image reproduction terminal that reproduces the file, for example.

Technologies are provided for partially updating shingled magnetic recording (SMR) zones in SMR storage devices. An SMR storage device can receive and process a command to update a write pointer for an SMR zone to point to an arbitrary write position within the SMR zone. A partial SMR zone update command can be received and processed to modify part of the data stored in the SMR zone. A write position within the SMR zone where data to be modified is stored can be identified. Data stored in the SMR zone following the identified write position can be read to a temporary location and modified. A write pointer for the SMR zone can be updated to point to the identified write position. The modified data can then be written to the SMR zone, starting at the write position identified by the write pointer, or to another SMR zone of the storage device.

A drive-implemented method according to one embodiment includes determining that unthreading of a tape is to be performed, and in response to the determination that the unthreading of the tape is to be performed, determining whether to write an index on the tape prior to unthreading the tape. In response to a determination to write the index on the tape, the index is written on the tape prior to unthreading the tape. The tape is then unthreaded.

To realize efficient access in case of restoring read failure data by RMW at time of data rewriting, a recording apparatus includes a write/read unit capable of performing data writing in a second data unit, in which a plurality of first data units of a predetermined amount of data are consecutive, and data reading in the first data unit with respect to a recording medium and a control unit. In response to a rewrite instruction of data, the control unit instructs the write/read unit to generate write data in the second data unit using update data relevant to the rewrite instruction and recorded data read out from the recording medium and to write the write data at a non-recording address on the recording medium, and generates or updates replacement information for associating address at which the write data is written, as a replacement destination, with address of a replacement source.

To realize efficient access in case of restoring read failure data by RMW at time of data rewriting, a recording apparatus includes a write/read unit capable of performing data writing in a second data unit, in which a plurality of first data units of a predetermined amount of data are consecutive, and data reading in the first data unit with respect to a recording medium and a control unit. In response to a rewrite instruction of data, the control unit instructs the write/read unit to generate write data in the second data unit using update data relevant to the rewrite instruction and recorded data read out from the recording medium and to write the write data at a non-recording address on the recording medium, and generates or updates replacement information for associating address at which the write data is written, as a replacement destination, with address of a replacement source.

The disclosed technology provides a system and method that improves command completion time in a shingled magnetic recording device system. In one implementation, the system and method include receiving a write command to write data to a first track in a band in a recording medium, seeking to a first track, reducing an on-cylinder limit (OCLIM) from a default OCLIM to a reduced OCLIM by a predetermined amount on the first track, performing write operations on the first track with the reduced OCLIM, and determining if a transfer of data to the first track band in the write operations has been substantially completed. Upon determining that a transfer of data to the first track in the write operations has been substantially completed, the OCLIM is restored from a reduced OCLIM to a default OCLIM and write operations are performed on tracks adjacent to the first track.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes an array of equally-spaced 2N+1 transducers, and at least two servo readers positioned external to an outermost transducer of the array and on a same side thereof. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes an array of 2N+1 transducers on a pitch. At least one of the transducers within the array is configured as a servo reader. An apparatus according to yet another embodiment includes an array of 2N+1 transducers, and a controller directly electrically coupled to each of the transducers. The controller is configured to use transducers on only one side of a centerline of the array in one mode of operation.

Various embodiments for audibly mapping computing components in a computer storage system, by a processor device, are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises creating a detectible audible pattern using an actuator arm and head assembly of a hard disk drive operating in the computer storage system for physically mapping the hard disk drive to a logical location within the computer storage system.