Patent ID: 6782444
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A digital data storage system comprising:A. at least one storage device configured to store a series of records, the records being organized in a plurality of tracks, each track being associated with one of a plurality of cylinders; B. a descriptor memory configured to store at least one descriptor associated with said at least one storage device, said at least one descriptor containing selected information relating to the records stored by said at least one storage device, each descriptor including a plurality of cylinder portions each configured to store selected information relating to a respective one of said cylinders in said at least one storage device, each cylinder portion in turn including a plurality of track descriptors each configured to store selected information relating to a respective one of the tracks in the respective cylinder; C. said at least one storage device being further configured to store the at least one descriptor associated therewith, the cylinder portions of said at least one descriptor being augmented with additional information relating to said respective ones of said cylinders, each cylinder being associated with a cylinder identifier, the additional information including the cylinder identifier, the descriptor as stored in said descriptor memory not including said cylinder identifier; and D. a control device configured to use the at least one descriptor in connection with accesses of records in said at least one storage device.