Patent ID: 6097563
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A method for performing head switch operations in a magnetic disk system that includes a magnetic disk device, wherein the magnetic disk device is segmented into a plurality of cylinders that are grouped into an outer zone, a middle zone, and an inner zone, and wherein a head switch is from a current head at a current cylinder to a target head at a target cylinder, the method comprising:(a) determining if the current cylinder is in either the inner zone or the outer zone;(b) if the current cylinder is in either the inner zone or the outer zone in step (a), then determining if the target cylinder is in either the inner zone or the outer zone;(c) if the current cylinder is not in either the inner zone or the outer zone in step (a), then proceeding to step (f);(d) if the target cylinder is in either the inner zone or the outer zone in step (b), then seeking the current head to the middle zone and proceeding to step (f);(e) if the target cylinder is not in either the inner zone or the outer zone in step (b), then seeking the current head to the target cylinder and then proceeding to step (f); and(f) performing the head switch from the current head to the target head.