Patent ID: 8095712

Claim:
A method to read information from an information storage medium using an asynchronous read channel comprising a data cache, comprising the steps of: generating over a time interval an analog waveform comprising said information; providing throughout said time interval said analog waveform to an analog to digital converter disposed in said asynchronous read channel, wherein said analog to digital converter is interconnected with a finite impulse response filter by a first communication link comprising a test port, and wherein said test port is interconnected with said data cache by a second communication link, and wherein said data cache is interconnected by a third communication link with a microprocessor interface comprising a plurality of registers, wherein each of said plurality of registers comprises a different register setting; providing a controller comprising one or more first operating parameters for said read channel; providing said one or more first operating parameters to said read channel; generating a digital signal throughout a first portion of said time interval from said analog waveform using said one or more first operating parameters; setting an error correction rate threshold; error correcting said digital signal during said first portion of said time interval at an actual error correction rate; determining if said actual error correction rate is greater than said error correction rate threshold; operative if said actual error correction rate is not greater than said error correction rate threshold, continuing to generate said digital signal throughout said time interval using said one or more first operating parameters; operative if said actual error correction rate is greater than said error correction rate threshold: capturing said digital signal using said test port and said register settings; storing said digital signal in said data cache during said first portion of said time interval; reading said digital signal from said cache by said controller during said first portion of said time interval; generating by said controller one or more second operating parameters during said first portion of said time interval; providing said one or more second operating parameters to said read channel during said first portion of said time interval; generating said digital signal using said one or more second operating parameters during a second portion of said time interval.