Abstract:
A data storage device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the data storage device has a maximum storage capacity and is initially limited to providing access to a limited amount of data storage capacity that is less than the maximum data storage capacity. The size of the limited amount of data storage capacity is variable based on an indication of how much of a collection of advertising material has been viewed. In one embodiment, a host system manages a transfer of all or a portion of the collection of advertising material to a storage location on the data storage device. In one embodiment, the same host system manages adjustments to the size of the limited amount of data storage capacity based on how much of the collection of advertising materials has been consumed.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    It goes without saying that a typical purchaser of computer-implemented data storage equipment will search for and purchase equipment that meets their current needs in terms of storage capacity. In fact, most purchasers will be forward thinking and choose equipment that exceeds their current storage capacity needs. Under the circumstances, the purchase price will typically include compensation for capacity that is not currently needed. 
         [0002]    In this market environment, a vendor of computer equipment might choose to offer data storage equipment in accordance with a capacity on demand (COD) scheme. For example, a potential purchaser of data storage equipment may be given the option of obtaining significantly more storage capacity than currently needed. In accordance with the COD scheme, at least a portion of the extra capacity remains unavailable (e.g., hidden from the user or otherwise locked out) until the purchaser desires access to it. When needed, some or all of the extra capacity can be paid for and then activated so as to enable access and use for storage (or activated and then paid for, etc.). An example of why a vendor might be motivated to provide computer resources on a COD basis is that the vendor hopes that, when additional capacity is needed, the customer will not explore other equipment purchase options but will instead take advantage of the already provided extra capacity. This is but one example of a market incentive. 
         [0003]    Options for compensating a vendor for a capacity extension in a COD scheme can be straightforward or more creative. It may be as simple as payment for activation. However, in an example of a more creative alternative, a customer might be given an option to purchase extended capacity on a  30 -day trial basis after which the extended capacity is turned off. In one aspect of the present invention, compensation plans might not be limited to direct financial compensation from the customer to the COD vendor. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Embodiments of a data storage device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the data storage device has a maximum storage capacity and is initially limited to providing access to a limited amount of data storage capacity that is less than the maximum data storage capacity. The size of the limited amount of data storage capacity is variable based on an indication of how much of a collection of advertising material has been viewed. In one embodiment, a host system manages a transfer of all or a portion of the collection of advertising material to a storage location on the data storage device. In one embodiment, the same host system manages adjustments to the size of the limited amount of data storage capacity based on how much of the collection of advertising materials has been consumed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic block diagram of a capacity on demand storage scheme. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic block diagram of a capacity on demand storage scheme. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a block flow diagram demonstrating a process for managing a data storage device. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a block schematic diagram of a network-implementation of a capacity on demand scheme based on advertisement consumption. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a simplified exploded view of a data storage device. 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a generalized functional block diagram of the device of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a simplified block diagram of a solid state data storage device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic block diagram of a capacity on demand (COD) storage scheme  100  involving direct financial compensation. In this case, a consumer  102  has purchased a data storage device  104  (or purchased a computing device that contains a data storage device, etc.). Device  104  is marketed and/or manufactured by a vendor  106 . Assumedly, device  104  has a larger storage capacity than consumer  102  needs and/or wants. However, only a limited portion of the total storage capacity is initially made available to consumer  102 . Assumedly, the limited portion is in line with the consumer&#39;s initial data storage needs and/or wants, and the price that consumer  102  paid for purchase of the device (or for purchase of the computing device, etc.) was based on that limited portion of the total storage capacity. 
         [0013]    Accordingly, device  104  includes an extra storage capacity that is initially not made available to consumer  102 . However, when needed, some or all of the extra capacity can be paid for and activated so as to enable access and use for storage (or activated and then paid for, etc.). As is indicated by arrow  108 , consumer  102  provides vendor  106  (or the vendor&#39;s agent, related entity, business partner, etc.) with financial compensation in exchange for, as is indicated by arrow  110 , information that enables access to some or all of the initially unavailable storage capacity. 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a simplified schematic block diagram of a capacity on demand (COD) storage scheme  200  involving compensation through the consumption of advertisement material. Included in the scheme is a data storage device  204  marketed and/or manufactured by a vendor. Device  204  includes at least three different “areas” where data can be store. A first area  222  is open and made accessible for data storage. A second area  224  is locked or otherwise made unavailable for data storage (e.g., hidden data sectors, etc.). A third area  226  is reserved for the storage of data in the nature of advertisement material. The consumer that owns and/or operates device  204  is initially limited to accessing only available area  222 . It is again assumed (though it isn&#39;t necessarily true) that the price paid for the purchase of device  204  was based that limited portion of the total storage capacity. 
         [0015]    Data storage space in unavailable area  224  (and, in theory, space in reserved area  226 ) can be reallocated to available space area  222  thereby increasing the total data storage capacity that is made available to the consumer and/or a user of device  204 . A host component  230  is provided to manage this process of increasing the size of area  222 . In one embodiment, as is indicated by dotted line  234 , host component  230  is implemented as a software module that operates from the same computing device (e.g., the same personal computer, the same cell phone, the same laptop computer, etc.) to which data storage device  204  is connected so as to enable data storage and retrieval operations. In another embodiment, as is loosely identified by dotted circle  232 , host component  230  is a software module that operates from a network-implemented computing device (e.g., a server) that is separate from, but in remote communication with, the computing device to which data storage device  204  is connected. Thus, without departing from the scope of the present invention, host component  230  can be configured to locally or remotely issue and execute commands so as to affect the configuration of data storage device  204 . 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, component  230  is configured to extend available space (i.e., by re-allocating some or all of spaces  224  and  226 ) based at least in part data confirming that advertising material has been consumed (e.g., viewed, listened to, etc.). Thus, extra storage capacity is “earned” by consuming advertising material. It should be noted that various schemes can be utilized to “unlock” the extra storage capacity (e.g., unlock all or portions of space  222  and/or  226 ). For example, in one embodiment, host component  230  is configured to monitor advertisement consumption and automatically issue space allocation commands when certain predetermined consumption benchmarks are reached. Optionally, component  230  can be configured to facilitate an automatic notification (e.g., an email) to notify a user when additional storage capacity has been earned. In one embodiment, a user is provided with a password or some other code that is input into a computing device and provided to host component  230  so as to demonstrate proper authorization to trigger arrangement for an extension of access. Or, in one embodiment, data for demonstrating proper authorization is remotely transmitted. The precise means for accomplishing activation is not critical to the present invention. All means for accomplishing should be considered within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, some or all of the advertisements consumed by the consumer in order to “earn” an extended storage capacity are advertisements that promote products and/or services sponsored by the data storage device vendor. However, in another embodiment, the advertisements promote products and/or services of the vendor&#39;s partners, related entities, etc. One can imagine a scenario wherein a “third party” advertiser (e.g., an advertiser generally unaffiliated in a business sense with the vendor) pays financial compensation to the vendor in exchange for consumption of advertising material. These amounts paid by third party advertisers can be utilized to partially or completely offset payments that would otherwise be paid by the end consumer of the storage device product. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, the advertising material (e.g., HTML/images/video, etc.) that is consumed in order to “earn” extended storage capacity is stored in the reserved space area  226  of storage device  204  (e.g., contained on hidden sectors of a disc drive). In one embodiment, host component  230  facilitates a downloading (e.g., a streaming) of some or all of the advertisement content from the Internet (e.g., from a pre-configured server that operates as an ad content source). In another embodiment, some or all of the advertisement content is pre-installed before the storage device reaches the end consumer. For example, the device vendor or a related original equipment manufacturer can format the media with pre-canned advertisements. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3 , in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, is a block flow diagram illustrating a process for configuring a data storage device. In accordance with block  302 , a data storage device is configured to only expose access to a limited portion (e.g., half) of its available storage space. Thus, in theory, the purchasing consumer may be charged for only a corresponding portion of the potentially available storage space. In accordance with block  304 , advertising material is, in block  306 , installed before the purchaser received the device (e.g., installed by the device manufacturer) and/or, in block  308 , after the purchaser received the device (e.g., downloaded from a dedicated content store). In accordance with block  310 , as more of the advertisement material is consumed, more storage capacity is made available. In accordance with block  314 , in one embodiment, at any time, the advertisement system can be selectively disabled (e.g., a user chooses to disable the presentation of advertisement material). In accordance with block  316 , at this point, additional storage space is not made available. In accordance with block  312 , in one embodiment, the some or all of the additional storage space can be purchased on a financial basis, a transaction that, in one embodiment, is facilitated by host component  230 . In one embodiment, once all storage has been “earned” through advertisement consumption and/or financial purchases, the displaying of advertisements halted. 
         [0020]    As was alluded to in the description of  FIG. 2 , data storage device  204  and host component  230  can be implemented on the same computing device such that the described storage capacity on demand scheme based on advertisement consumption can be facilitated without any assistance from a system component implemented on the Internet or some other network (assuming device  204  is pre-configured with ad material in area  226 , then there may be no need to download advertisement updates). Accordingly, in one embodiment, the scheme is operational even if there is no connection to the Internet or any other network. The solution is operation “out of the box,” so to speak. 
         [0021]    Alternatively, as was also alluded to in the context of  FIG. 2 , some or all of the system components can be remotely implemented. To emphasize that point, an example will now be given. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the following example is but one of many different ways to distribute components of the system across a network. It will also be appreciated that, without departing from the scope of the present invention, components and functions of the scheme can be moved to either side of the network. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a block schematic diagram of one example network implementation of a capacity on demand scheme based on advertisement consumption. The example configuration is identified in the figure as system  400 . System  400  is similar to scheme  200  in that it also includes data storage device  204  and host component  230 . For illustratively purposes only, device  204  is shown in the context of a consumer  402  and component  230  is shown in the context of a storage device vendor  406 . These associations are not mandatory and are intended only to demonstrate a scenario in which, in the end, the consumer has ultimate control of device  204  and the vendor is has ultimate control of host component  230 . 
         [0023]    Communication between device  204  and host component  230  is conducted across a network  440 . Component  230  and device  204  are illustratively implemented in, on or in association with any computing device such as, but not limited to, a hand-held device, a server, a router, a network PC, or a peer device. Network  440  can be any network such as, but not limited to, the Internet, a cellular phone network, any local area network (LAN), any wide area network, or any combination thereof. Communication between device  204  and component  230  can be wireless, wired, or a combination of wired and wireless communication. 
         [0024]    As is indicated by arrow  450 , component  230  remotely transfers ads to device  204 . These ads are illustratively stored in reserved space  236 . As is indicated by arrow  452 , information related to the consumption of the ad material in space  236  is remotely communicated to host component  230 . As is indicated by arrow  454 , based on the consumption feedback, host component  230  provides information to enable an expansion of available space  232  (e.g., reallocation of space from space  234  and/or  236  to space  232 ). In this manner, consumer  402  “earns” additional available space by consuming advertising material. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4  shows an optional third party advertiser  460  that provides compensation (e.g., financial compensation) to vendor  406  for the presentation of ad material to consumer  402  and other consumers. In this manner, advertiser  460  illustratively is able to subsidize the price that consumer  402  pays for data storage device  204  (or for a computing device that contains device  204 , etc.). For example, vendor  406  illustratively receives all or part of the purchase compensation for device  204  from third party advertiser  460 . 
         [0026]    Again,  FIG. 4  is but one example of a distributed implementation. It is certain within the scope of the present invention to implement any function remotely and/or locally. 
         [0027]    Up to this point, embodiments of the present invention have been generally described in the context of “a data storage device.” Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this could mean any of a variety of different data storage devices. In one embodiment, the device is a hard disc drive that reads from or writes to non-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media. In one embodiment, the device is a magnetic disc drive that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disc. In one embodiment, the device is an optical disc drive that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile optical disc such as a CD ROM or other optical media. Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be implemented as “the data storage device” include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile discs, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  shows an exploded view of one example of a device that can be implemented in the described schemes and systems as the “data storage device.” In particular,  FIG. 5  shows a data storage device  500 . The device  500  is illustratively characterized as a hard disc drive of the type used to store and retrieve digital data in a computer system or network, consumer device, etc. 
         [0029]    The device  500  includes a rigid, environmentally controlled housing  502  formed from a base deck  504  and a top cover  506 . A spindle motor  108  is mounted within the housing  502  to rotate a number of data storage media  510  at a relatively high speed. 
         [0030]    Data are arranged on the media  510  in concentric tracks that are accessed by a corresponding array of data transducing heads  512 . The heads  512  (transducers) are supported by an actuator  514  and moved across the media surfaces by application of current to a voice coil motor, VCM  516 . A flex circuit assembly  518  facilitates communication between the actuator  514  and control circuitry on an externally mounted printed circuit board, PCB  520 . 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the control circuitry preferably includes an interface circuit  524  that communicates with a host device using a suitable interface protocol. A top level processor  526  provides top level control for the device  500  and is preferably characterized as a programmable, general purpose processor with suitable programming to direct the operation of the device  500 . 
         [0032]    A read/write channel  528  operates in conjunction with a preamplifier/driver circuit (preamp)  530  to write data to and to recover data from the discs  508 . The preamp  530  is preferably mounted to the actuator  514  as shown in  FIG. 5 . A servo circuit  532  provides closed loop positional control for the heads  512 . 
         [0033]    However, it is to be emphasized that the “data storage device” described in the embodiments of schemes and systems of the present invention need not be a disc drive per se.  FIG. 7  is a schematic block diagram of an alternate device, namely, a solid state data storage device  700 . In contrast with data storage device  500  (of  FIG. 5 ), which employs data storage media that rotate, device  700  has few or no moving parts. As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , device  700  includes multiple groups of one or more flash memory chips (such as  702  and  704 ), with each group including a separate flash memory controller  706 ,  708 . In  FIG. 7 , the flash memory is collectively denoted by reference numeral  705 . Storage device  700  also includes a device controller  710  that communicates with individual flash memory controllers (such as  706  and  708 ). Device controller  710  receives read/write requests via interface  712  and satisfies the requests with the help of the flash memory controllers (such as  706  and  708 ) and buffer memory  714 . 
         [0034]    Devices  700  and  100  are but two of many examples of “data storage devices” that are within the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are certainly other alternatives within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0035]    It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. In addition, although the embodiments described herein are directed to hard disc drive particle diverters, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the teachings of the disclosure can be applied to other types of data storage systems, without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.