Patent ID: 7793167

Claim:
A method for detecting dropped write events in a data storage system, comprising: receiving first data from a host; writing data, including the first data and at least a first checksum associated with the first data, to a storage device in a full stride write; classifying a state of the first data as being in a first “new data, unconfirmed” state; periodically checking the state of written data no more frequently than at a predetermined interval to determine whether a dropped write event has occurred by: setting a timer to the predetermined interval; starting the timer; upon the expiration of the predetermined interval, checking one stride of the written data; resetting the timer to the predetermined interval; and repeating the starting, checking and resetting steps; changing the state of the first data from the first state to a second “single dropped write confirmed” state if a dropped write event is detected during a periodic check; and changing the state of the first data from the first state to a third “confirmed good” state if no dropped write event is detected during the periodic check.