Patent ID: 7487288

Claim:
A method for obtaining information from a data storage device, comprising: writing data, said data comprising a unique sequence of records that is a single specific pattern, which pattern has a low probability of existing for normal data written to a logical volume, to at least one logical volume on said data storage device using standard write commands; rewinding or demounting said at least one logical volume; after rewinding or demounting said at least one logical volume, locating or mounting said at least one logical volume; after said locating or mounting said at least one logical volume, accessing said at least one logical volume and analyzing said data written to said at least one logical volume to detect said single specific pattern of said unique sequence of records apart from normal data written to a logical volume, wherein said analyzing is performed by said data storage device; in response to said data storage device detecting said unique sequence of records on said at least one logical volume, writing data storage device specific information on said at least one logical volume, wherein said writing data storage device information on at least one logical volume comprises replacing said data comprising said unique sequence of records; and placing said at least one logical volume in a state such that said replacing data storage device information can be read.