Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2011-0039715, filed on Apr. 27, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for accessing a storage medium and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for managing address map information. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A disk drive, one of storage devices, writes data to a storage medium or reads data from the storage medium according to a command issued from a host device, to thus contribute to a computer system operation. In order to enhance a record density of a disk drive, various write methods have been studied. Also, a novel method for managing address map information with respect to a storage medium appropriate for a new write method for enhancing a record density is required. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    An aspect of the present invention provides an address map information management method for restoring address map information when abnormal power off occurs in a storage device. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the present invention provides an access method in a disk drive for restoring address map information when abnormal power off occurs. 
         [0008]    Another aspect of the present invention provides a method for managing address map information through a network capable of performing a method for managing address map information in a storage device through a network. 
         [0009]    Another aspect of the present invention provides a storage device for restoring address map information when power off occurs abnormally. 
         [0010]    Another aspect of the present invention provides a computer system for restoring address map information when power off occurs abnormally. 
         [0011]    Another aspect of the present invention provides a storage medium storing a program code for performing a method for restoring address map information when power off occurs abnormally. 
         [0012]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, there is provided a method for managing address map information, including: when abnormal power off occurs in a storage device, storing address map change information generated in the storage device in a nonvolatile memory device; and when power is applied to the storage device, updating address map information with respect to the storage device based on the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device. 
         [0013]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map information may include information for converting a logical block address received from a host device into a physical address of a storage medium. 
         [0014]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map information may include information for converting a logical block address received from a host device into a physical address of a storage medium by using a virtual address. 
         [0015]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map information may include information for converting a logical block address received from a host device into a physical address of a storage medium such that it is sequentially written in one direction in a virtual band corresponding to a physical area of the storage medium. 
         [0016]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map information may include mapping information between a logical band classified as an aggregate of logical block addresses and a virtual band corresponding to a physical area of a storage medium and mapping information between a logical block address in a virtual band allocated to a logical band and a virtual address. 
         [0017]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map change information may include information regarding a position of written data, without being reflected on the address map information. 
         [0018]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map change information may include a logical band number, a virtual band number, and a finally accessed virtual address. 
         [0019]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map change information may include a logical band number with respect to written data without being reflected on the address map information, a virtual band number allocated to the logical band, and a virtual address finally accessed in the virtual band allocated to the logical band. 
         [0020]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, when a power source voltage is dropped to below a threshold voltage in a state in which power off control signal is not generated in the storage device, it may be determined that abnormal power off has occurred. 
         [0021]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the nonvolatile memory device may include a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device. 
         [0022]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device may include a NAND flash memory device or a NOR flash memory device. 
         [0023]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map change information generated in the storage device may be stored in a volatile memory device while power is being normally supplied. 
         [0024]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, in the updating of the address map information, the address map information may be reconfigured based on a logical block address read from an area in which data and a corresponding logical block address are written without being reflected on the address map information by using the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device. 
         [0025]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the updating of the address map information may include: reading the address map information and the address map change information when power is applied to the storage device; reconfiguring the address map information based on the address map change information; and storing the reconfigured address map information in the storage device. 
         [0026]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map information may be read from the nonvolatile memory device or the storage medium constituting the storage device, and the address map change information may be read from the nonvolatile memory device. 
         [0027]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the reconfiguring of the address map information may include: newly allocating a virtual band number not present in the address map information among virtual band numbers included in the address map change information to the address map information; reading a logical block address from an area of the storage medium corresponding to a difference between a virtual address finally accessed in the virtual band included in the address map change information and a virtual address finally accessed in a virtual band included in the address map information corresponding thereto; and adding mapping information of the virtual address corresponding to the read logical block address to the address map information. 
         [0028]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, in the reading of the logical block address, the logical block address may be read from an area of the storage medium corresponding to a section starting from a start virtual address with respect to the virtual band of the newly allocated virtual band number to a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band number included in the address map change information. 
         [0029]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, in the reading of the logical block address, regarding a virtual band included in the address map change information to which the virtual band number is not newly allocated, the logical block address may be read from an area of the storage medium corresponding to a section starting from an immediately next virtual address of the finally accessed virtual address read from the address map information to the finally accessed virtual address read from the address map change information. 
         [0030]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the logical block address may be read from a logical block address storage area allocated to the storage medium. 
         [0031]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the logical block address storage area may be allocated in units of areas designated by a physical address. 
         [0032]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the physical address may be allocated in units of sectors. 
         [0033]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, a logical block address corresponding to data written in a sector area while a write operation is being performed may be written in the logical block address storage area. 
         [0034]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map information may be stored in the nonvolatile memory device or the storage medium of the storage device. 
         [0035]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the storage device may include a disk drive, and the address map information may be stored in a disk of the disk drive. 
         [0036]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the method may further include: deleting the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device after the address map information is updated. 
         [0037]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, when abnormal power off occurs in the storage device, the address map change information stored in the volatile memory device may be read by using reserved power and stored in the nonvolatile memory device. 
         [0038]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the reserved power may include power supplied by a voltage charged by a charging element. 
         [0039]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the method may further include: when the address map change information is stored in a full state in an initially set address map change information list, reading the address map information stored in the volatile memory device and storing the read address map information in the nonvolatile memory device of the storage medium of the storage device; and deleting the address map change information stored in the volatile memory device after the address map information is stored in the nonvolatile memory device of the storage medium of the storage device, wherein the address map information regarding the storage device is stored in the volatile memory device when the storage device is initialized, and the address map information stored in the volatile memory device is updated whenever the address map change information is generated. 
         [0040]    According to an embodiment of another aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, there is provided an access method in a disk drive including: converting a logical block address designated in a command into a physical address of a disk based on address map information; accessing the converted physical address position of the disk and executing a data write operation; generating address map change information based on the data write operation; and when abnormal power off occurs in a disk drive, storing the generated address map change information in a nonvolatile memory device, wherein when power is applied to the disk drive, a process of updating the address map information is executed based on the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device. 
         [0041]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, when the disk drive is initialized, the address map information may be read from the disk and stored in a volatile memory device, and the logical block address designated in the command may be converted into a physical address of the disk based on the address map information stored in the volatile memory device. 
         [0042]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map information may be stored in the disk or the nonvolatile memory device. 
         [0043]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map information may include information for converting a logical block address received from a host device into a physical address of the disk by using a virtual address. 
         [0044]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map information may include information for converting a logical block address received from the host device into a physical address of the disk such that it is sequentially written in any one direction of an inner circumferential direction and an outer circumferential direction in a track included in a virtual band corresponding to a physical area of the disk. 
         [0045]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map information may include mapping information between a logical band classified as an aggregate of logical block addresses and a virtual band corresponding to a physical area of the disk and mapping information between a logical block address in a virtual band allocated to a logical band and a virtual address corresponding to a sector. 
         [0046]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, data and a logical block address corresponding thereto may be written to the disk when the data write operation is executed. 
         [0047]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the logical block address may be written by data sector of the disk. 
         [0048]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, when a voltage of a power source applied from the disk drive is dropped to below a threshold voltage in a state in which power off control signal is not generated in the disk drive, it may be determined that abnormal power off has occurred. 
         [0049]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map change information may include information regarding a position of data written in the disk without being reflected on the address map information stored in the disk or the nonvolatile memory device. 
         [0050]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map change information may include a logical band number with respect to data written in the disk without being reflected on the address map information stored in the disk or the nonvolatile memory device, a virtual band number allocated to the logical band, and a virtual address finally accessed in the virtual band allocated to the logical band. 
         [0051]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, a process of updating the address map information may include: reading the address map information and the address map change information when power is applied to the disk drive; reconfiguring the address map information based on the address map change information; and storing the reconfigured address map information in the disk drive. 
         [0052]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, in the reconfiguring of the address map information, a virtual band number not present in the address map information among virtual band numbers included in the address map change information may be newly allocated to the address map information based on the address map change information. 
         [0053]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the reconfiguring of the address map information may include: moving a magnetic head to a first area of the disk in which data and a logical block address corresponding thereto are written without being reflected on the address map information by using the address map change information; reading the logical block address from the first area; and adding virtual address mapping information corresponding to the logical block address read from the first area to the address map information. 
         [0054]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the first area of the disk may be determined based on a difference between a finally access virtual address in a virtual band included in the address map change information and a finally accessed virtual address in a virtual band included in the address map information corresponding thereto. 
         [0055]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the first area may include an area of the disk corresponding to a section starting from a start virtual address with respect to the virtual band of the newly allocated virtual band number based on the address map change information to a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band number included in the address map change information. 
         [0056]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, regarding a virtual band included in the address map change information to which the virtual band number is not newly allocated, the first area may include an area of the disk corresponding to a section starting from an immediately next virtual address of the finally accessed virtual address read from the address map information to the finally accessed virtual address read from the address map change information. 
         [0057]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the process of updating the address map information may further include: deleting the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device after the step of executing the reconfigured address map information in the disk drive is executed. 
         [0058]    According to an embodiment of another aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, there is provided a storage device including a storage medium, a storage media interface accessing the storage medium to write data or read data, a volatile memory device, a nonvolatile memory device, and a processor controlling the storage medium interface to write data to the storage medium or read data from the storage medium, wherein the processor stores address map change information generated based on a data writing operation in the volatile memory device, reads the address map change information from the volatile memory device and stores the read address map change information in the nonvolatile memory device by using reserved power in case in which abnormal power off occurs, and performs an operation of updating address map information based on the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device. 
         [0059]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, when a voltage of a power source applied to the storage device is dropped to below a threshold voltage in a state in which power off control signal is not generated, the processor may determine that abnormal power off has occurred. 
         [0060]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the storage device may further include: a power supply device supplying reserved power to the storage device when abnormal power off occurs. 
         [0061]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the power supply device may include: a reserved power charging unit charging supplied power to a charging element; and a power distribution unit supplying power charged in the reserved power charging unit to the storage device when abnormal power off occurs. 
         [0062]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, when abnormal power off occurs, the power distribution unit may supply power charged in the reserved power charging unit to the processor, the volatile memory device, and the nonvolatile memory device constituting the storage device. 
         [0063]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the reserved power charging unit may further include: a circuit for charging a counter electromotive force generated from a motor rotating by inertia in a state in which abnormal power off occurs to the charging element. 
         [0064]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, when the storage device is initialized, the processor may store address map information stored in the storage medium to the volatile memory device, and update the address map information stored in the volatile memory device based on a write operation. 
         [0065]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, when the address map change information is stored in a full state in an initially set address map change information list, the processor may read the address map information stored in the volatile memory device and write the read address map information to the storage medium. 
         [0066]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the address map information may be written to the storage medium. 
         [0067]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the processor may read the address map information stored in the volatile memory device, write the read address map information to the storage medium, and then, delete the address map change information stored in the volatile memory device. 
         [0068]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the processor may control the storage medium interface to write data and a logical block address corresponding thereto to the storage medium when a write operation is executed. 
         [0069]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, a data storage area and a logical block address storage area may be allocated to the storage medium, respectively. 
         [0070]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the processor may perform an address map information updating process of accessing a first area of the storage medium written without being reflected on the address map information by using the address map change information read from the nonvolatile memory device when power is applied to the storage device, and adding virtual address mapping information corresponding to a logical block address read from the first area to the address map information. 
         [0071]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the processor may determine the first area based on a difference between a finally accessed virtual address in a virtual band included in the address map change information and a finally accessed virtual address in a virtual band included in the address map information. 
         [0072]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the processor may include an area of the storage medium corresponding to a section starting from a start virtual address with respect to a virtual band of a newly allocated virtual band number based on the address map change information to a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band number included in the address map change information, in the first area. 
         [0073]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, regarding a virtual band included in the address map change information to which the virtual band number is not newly allocated, the processor may include an area of the storage medium corresponding to a section starting from an immediately next virtual address of the finally accessed virtual address read from the address map information to the finally accessed virtual address read from the address map change information, in the first area. 
         [0074]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the processor may execute an address map information updating process of newly allocating a virtual band number not present in the address map information among virtual band numbers included in the address map change information to the address map information based on the address map change information. 
         [0075]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the processor may perform processing of deleting the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory after performing the operation of updating the address map information. 
         [0076]    According to an embodiment of an aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, the storage device may include a disk drive. 
         [0077]    According to an embodiment of another aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, there is provided a computer system including a host device issuing a command for operating a connected storage device; and a storage device for writing data transmitted from the host device in a storage medium or reading data from the storage medium and transmitting the data to the host device based on the command issued from the host device, wherein when supplied power is abnormally cut off, the storage device stores generated address map change information based on a data write operation in a nonvolatile memory device by using reserved power, and updates address map information with respect to the storage device based on the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device. 
         [0078]    According to an embodiment of another aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, there is provided a method for managing address map information through a network, including: downloading a program for managing address map information with respect to a storage device from a terminal connected to the network; and executing the downloaded program for managing address map information with respect to the storage device, wherein the program for managing address map information with respect to the storage device includes a program code for performing a process of storing address map change information generated in the storage device to a nonvolatile memory device when power is abnormally cut off, and a process of updating address map information with respect to the storage device based on the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device when power is applied to the storage device. 
         [0079]    According to an embodiment of another aspect of a technical concept of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing program codes for executing the method for managing address map information, the access method in a disk drive, or the method for managing address map information through a network as mentioned above in a computer. 
         [0080]    According to embodiments of the present invention, even when abnormal power off occurs in a storage device, address map information with respect written data without being stored in the storage device is stored, whereby data written in a storage medium before the abnormal power off occurs can be read without an error. 
         [0081]    Also, according to embodiments of the present invention, address map information is not stored in a storage medium whenever a write command is carried out, and a write command is carried out by an initially determined number or address map information is stored in a storage medium in a normal power off operation, thereby enhancing access performance of the storage medium. 
         [0082]    When the method for managing address map information according to embodiments of the present invention is applied to a shingled write type disk drive, a record density can be increased and access performance can be enhanced. Of course, even when abnormal power off occurs in the shingled write type disk drive, address map information can be restored without an error. 
         [0083]    The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0084]      FIG. 1  is a view showing a computer system according to an embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention. 
           [0085]      FIG. 2  is a view showing a software operating system of a storage device illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0086]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of a head disk assembly according to an embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention. 
           [0087]      FIG. 4  is a view showing an electrical configuration of a disk drive according to an embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention. 
           [0088]      FIG. 5  is a view showing a sector structure of one track of a disk as a storage medium applied to the present invention. 
           [0089]      FIG. 6  is a view showing a structure of a servo information area illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0090]      FIG. 7  is a view conceptually showing a shape of a track according to a generation of flux in a shingled write scheme according to an embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention. 
           [0091]      FIG. 8  is a view conceptually showing a shape of a track according to an adjacent track interference phenomenon in the shingled write scheme according to an embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention. 
           [0092]      FIG. 9  is a view schematically showing a configuration of a physical zone and a virtual band with respect to a storage medium according to an embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention. 
           [0093]      FIG. 10  is a view schematically showing a structure of a virtual band allocated to a logical band by physical zone of the storage medium according to an embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention. 
           [0094]      FIG. 11  is a block diagram of a power supply device illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . 
           [0095]      FIG. 12  is a detailed circuit configuration according to an embodiment of a reserved power charging unit illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
           [0096]      FIG. 13  a detailed circuit configuration according to another embodiment of a reserved power charging unit illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
           [0097]      FIG. 14  is a view showing a detailed configuration of a processor and a RAM of a storage device according to an embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention. 
           [0098]      FIG. 15  is a view showing a detailed configuration of an address conversion processor illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
           [0099]      FIG. 16  is a view showing a detailed configuration of a second processor illustrated in  FIG. 15 . 
           [0100]      FIG. 17  is a flow chart illustrating a method for managing address map information according to an embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention. 
           [0101]      FIG. 18  is a detailed flow chart illustrating a process of determining a generation of abnormal power off illustrated in  FIG. 17 . 
           [0102]      FIG. 19  is a detailed flow chart of a process of updating address map information illustrated in  FIG. 17 . 
           [0103]      FIG. 20  is a detailed flow chart of a process of reconfiguring address map information illustrated in  FIG. 19 . 
           [0104]      FIG. 21  is a detailed flow chart of a process of reconfiguring VAs mapping information corresponding to LBAs illustrated in  FIG. 20 . 
           [0105]      FIG. 22  is a flow chart of an access method in a disk drive according to an embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention. 
           [0106]      FIG. 23  is a detailed flow chart of a write process illustrated in  FIG. 22 . 
           [0107]      FIG. 24  is a flow chart illustrating a method for managing address map information according to another embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention. 
           [0108]      FIG. 25  is a view showing an example of address map information indicating an allocation state of a virtual band with respect to a logical band illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0109]      FIG. 26  is a conceptual view showing a mapping structure of a virtual address (VA) with respect to an LBA in a virtual band number  0 . 
           [0110]      FIG. 27A  is a view showing an example of address map information with respect to the virtual band number  0  illustrated in  FIG. 26 . 
           [0111]      FIG. 27B  is a view showing another example of address map information with respect to the virtual band number  0  illustrated in  FIG. 26 . 
           [0112]      FIG. 28A  is a conceptual view showing an allocation state of a virtual band with respect to a logical band before address map information is updated according to an embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention. 
           [0113]      FIG. 28B  is a conceptual view showing an allocation state of a virtual band with respect to a logical band according to a data write process after address map information is stored according to an embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention. 
           [0114]      FIG. 29  is a view showing address map information with respect to a configuration of a logical band and a virtual band illustrated in  FIG. 28A . 
           [0115]      FIG. 30  is a view showing an example of address map change information generated in case of changing to an allocation state of a virtual band with respect to the logical band as shown in  FIG. 28B  in  FIG. 28   a  according to performing a write command. 
           [0116]      FIG. 31  is a view showing address map information with respect to a configuration of the logical band and the virtual band illustrated in  FIG. 28B . 
           [0117]      FIG. 32  is a view showing an LBA read from virtual addresses  0  to  13  of a virtual band number  5  to update address map information based on the address map change information illustrated in  FIG. 30 . 
           [0118]      FIG. 33  is a view showing address map information with respect to the virtual band number  5  illustrated in  FIG. 32 . 
           [0119]      FIG. 34  is a view showing an LBA read from virtual addresses  0  to  9  of a virtual band number  6  to update address map information based on the address map change information illustrated in  FIG. 30 . 
           [0120]      FIG. 35  is a view showing address map information with respect to virtual band number  6  illustrated in  FIG. 34 . 
           [0121]      FIG. 36  is a view showing a mapping relationship of VAs with respect to LBAs in virtual band number  3  illustrated in  FIG. 28A . 
           [0122]      FIG. 37  is a view showing address map information with respect to virtual band number  3  illustrated in  FIG. 36 . 
           [0123]      FIG. 38  is a view showing a mapping relationship of VAs with respect to LBAs including LBAs read from virtual addresses  102  to  106  of virtual band number  3  to update address map information based on the address map change information illustrated in  FIG. 30 . 
           [0124]      FIG. 39  is a view showing address map information with respect to virtual band number  3  illustrated in  FIG. 38 . 
           [0125]      FIG. 40  is a view showing a network configuration for explaining a method for managing address map information through a network according to an embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention. 
           [0126]      FIG. 41  is a view showing a network configuration for explaining a method for managing address map information through a network according to an embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0127]    Embodiments of the inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The inventive concept, however, may be embodied in various different forms, and should not be construed as being limited only to the illustrated embodiments. Rather, these embodiments are provided as examples so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the inventive concept to those skilled in the art. Throughout the attached drawings, like reference numerals denote like elements. 
         [0128]    Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0129]    As shown in  FIG. 1   a , a computer system according to an embodiment of the inventive concept includes a storage device  1000 , a host device  2000 , and a connector  3000 . 
         [0130]    In detail, the storage device  1000  includes a processor  110 , a ROM  120 , a RAM  130 , a storage medium interface (storage medium I/F)  140 , a storage medium  150 , a host interface (host I/F)  160 , a nonvolatile memory device  170 , a power supply device  180 , and a bus  190 . 
         [0131]    The host device  2000  performs a process of issuing a command for operating the storage device  1000 , transmitting the issued command to the storage device  1000  connected via the connector  3000 , and transmitting or receiving data to or from the storage device  1000  according to the issued command. 
         [0132]    The connector  3000  is a means for electrically connecting an interface port of the host device  2000  and an interface port of the storage device  1000 , and includes a data connector and a power connector. For example, when a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) I/F is used, the connector  3000  may include a 7-pin SATA data connector and a 15-pin SATA power connector. 
         [0133]    First of all, the components of the storage device  1000  will be described. 
         [0134]    The power supply device  180  is a device for supplying a power source voltage required for the storage device  1000 , and serves to supply reserved power to the storage device  1000  when power is abnormally cut off. In  FIG. 1 , a power line is indicated by the dotted line. The operation of the power supply device  180  will be described with reference to  FIG. 11 . 
         [0135]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , the power supply device  180  includes a power supply unit  310 , a reserved power charging unit  320 , and a power distribution unit  330 . 
         [0136]    The power supply unit  310  is a means for supplying power required for the storage device  1000  in a normal power on state. The reserved power charging unit  320  is a means for supplying reserved power required for performing an operation of storing address map change information required for recovering address map information in the nonvolatile memory device  170  in the storage device  100  when power supplied from the power supply unit  310  is abnormally turned off. 
         [0137]    A detailed operation of the reserved power charging unit  320  will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
         [0138]    The power distribution unit  330  serves to select power generated from the power supply unit  310  or the reserved power charging unit  310  and distribute the selected power to a required circuit in the storage device  100  under the control of the processor  110 . 
         [0139]    In particular, in case of abnormal power off, the power distribution unit  330  supplies power charged in the reserved power charging unit  320  to the storage device  100  according to a second control signal CTL 2  applied from the processor  110 . 
         [0140]    For reference, when the storage device  1000  is initialized, the processor  110  generates a first control signal CTL 1  having a logical value for connecting a first input terminal IN 1  and an output terminal OUT of the power distribution unit  330 . And, while power is being normally supplied, the processor  110  generates the first control signal CTL 1  having a logical value for connecting a first input terminal IN 1  and an output terminal OUT of the power distribution unit  330 . 
         [0141]    When power supply is abnormally turned off, the processor  110  generates a first control signal CTIL having a logical value for connecting a second input terminal IN 2  and the output terminal OUT of the power distribution unit  330 . 
         [0142]    When a voltage of power applied to the storage device is dropped to below a threshold voltage in a state in which a power off control signal is not generated, the processor  110  determines that abnormal power off has occurred. Namely, when the voltage of power output from the power supply device  180  is dropped to below the threshold voltage in a power on mode, the processor  110  determines that abnormal power off has occurred. 
         [0143]    In this manner, while power is normally supplied according to the first control signal CTL 1  generated by the processor  110 , power generated from the power supply unit  310  is supplied to the storage device  1000 , and when power supply is abnormally turned off, power generated by the reserved power charging unit  320  is supplied to the storage device  1000 . 
         [0144]    First, an operation of a reserved power charging unit  320 ′ according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 12 . 
         [0145]    As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the reserved power charging unit  320 ′ according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first switching unit SW 1  and a capacitor C 1 . 
         [0146]    A power source voltage Vd generated by the power supply unit  310  is applied to a first terminal T 1  of the first switching unit SW 1 , a first terminal of the capacitor C 1  is connected to a second terminal T 2  of the first switching unit SW 1 , and a second terminal of the capacitor C 1  is connected to a ground. A second control signal CTL 2  for controlling the switching operation of the first switching unit SW 1  is applied to a control terminal T 3  of the first switching unit SW 1 . The second control signal CTL 2  is generated by the processor  110  as follows. 
         [0147]    The processor  110  generates the second control signal CTL 2  having a logical value for connecting the first terminal T 1  and the second terminal T 2  of the first switching unit SW 1  in a power on state. When abnormal power off occurs, the processor  110  generates a second control signal CTL 2  having a logical value for cutting off the first terminal T 1  and the second terminal T 2  of the first switching unit SW 1 . 
         [0148]    In this manner, according to the generated second control signal CTL 2 , in a power on state, the power source voltage Vd is charged to the capacitor C 1 , and in a state in which supplied power is abnormally cut off, the voltage charged in the capacitor C 1  is applied to the second input terminal IN 2  of the power distribution unit  330 . Namely, when the supplied power is abnormally cut off, the voltage charged in the capacitor C 1  is supplied as reserved power to the storage device. 
         [0149]    With reference back to  FIG. 1 , the processor  110  interprets commands and controls the components of the data storage device according to the interpretation results. The processor generates various control signals required for controlling the power supply device  180 . Also, the processor  110  may include a code object management unit, and may load a code object stored in the storage medium  150  to the RAM  130  by using the code object management unit. The processor  110  loads code objects to the RAM  130  for executing the method for managing address map information and the access method in a disk drive according to the flow charts of  FIGS. 17 to 24 , and the method for managing address map information through a network according to the flow chart of  FIG. 41 . 
         [0150]    Then, the processor  110  may execute tasks with respect to the method for managing address map information and the access method in a disk drive according to the flow charts of  FIGS. 17 to 24 , and the method for managing address map information through a network according to the flow chart of  FIG. 41  by using the code objects loaded to the RAM  130 . The method for managing address map information, the access method in a disk drive, and the method for managing address map information through a network executed by the processor  110  will be handled in detail in a description of  FIGS. 17 to 24  and  FIG. 41 . 
         [0151]    The ROM  120  stores program codes and data required for operating the data storage device. 
         [0152]    The program codes and data stored in the ROM  120  or the storage medium  150  are loaded to the RAM  130  under the control of the processor  110 . In an embodiment of the present invention, when the storage device is initialized, the processor  110  loads address mp information stored in the storage medium  150  to the RAM  130 . If it is designed to store address map information in the nonvolatile memory device  170 , when the storage device is initialized, the processor  110  loads the address map information stored in the nonvolatile memory device  170  to the RAM  130 . Address map change information generated whenever data is written is stored in the RAM  130 . 
         [0153]    The address map change information may include information regarding a position of data written without being reflected in address map information stored in the storage medium  150  or the nonvolatile memory device  170 . The address map change information may include a logical band number, a virtual band number, and a finally accessed virtual address. The address map change information may include a logical band number with respect to data written without being reflected in address map information stored in the storage medium  150  or the nonvolatile memory device  170 , a virtual band number allocated to the logical band, and a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band allocated to the logical band. 
         [0154]    The RAM, as a volatile memory device, may be implemented as a DRAM or an SRAM. Also, the RAM  130  may be designed to be driven according to an SDR (Single Data Rate) method or a DDR (Double Data Rate) method. 
         [0155]    The storage medium  150  is a main storage medium of the storage device, and may include a disk or a non-volatile semiconductor memory device. For example, the storage device may include a disk drive and a detailed configuration of a head disk assembly  100 , including a disk and a head in the disk drive, is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0156]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the head disk assembly  100  includes at least one disk  12  rotated by a spindle motor  14 . The disk drive may also include a head  16  positioned adjacent to a surface of the disk  12 . 
         [0157]    The head  16  senses and magnetizes a magnetic field of each disk  12 , thereby reading information from or writing information to the rotating disk  12 . Typically, the head  16  is coupled to a surface of each disk  12 . Although a single head  16  is illustrated, the head  16  needs to be regarded as including a write head for magnetizing the disk  12  and a separate read head for sensing the magnetic field of the disk  12 . The read head may include a magneto-resistive (MR) element. The head  16  may be referred to as a magnetic head or a head. 
         [0158]    The head  16  may be incorporated into a slider  20 . The slider  20  is configured to generate an air bearing between the head  16  and the surface of the disk  12 . The slider  20  is coupled to a head gimbal assembly  22  that is attached to an actuator arm  24  having a voice coil  26 . The voice coil  26  is positioned adjacent to a magnetic assembly  28  so as to define a Voice Coil Motor (VCM)  30 . A current provided to the voice coil  26  generates a torque which rotates the actuator arm  24  with respect to a bearing assembly  32 . The rotation of the actuator arm  24  moves the head  16  across the surface of the disk  12 . 
         [0159]    Information is usually stored in ring-shaped tracks  34  of the disk  12 . Each track  34  generally includes multiple sectors. A sector structure of a track is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0160]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , one servo sector T includes a servo information field S and a data field. The data field may include a plurality of data sectors D. Of course, one servo sector may include a single data sector D. The data sector is also called a sector. The data sector D may include an area for storing data and a spare area. 
         [0161]    In an embodiment of the present invention, a logical block address (LBA) corresponding to data written to the data sector D is written in the spare area of the corresponding data sector D. 
         [0162]    Also, signals as illustrated in  FIG. 6  are recorded to the servo information field S. 
         [0163]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , a preamble  601 , a servo synchronization indication signal  602 , a gray code  603 , and a burst signal  604  are written to the servo information field S. 
         [0164]    The preamble  601  provides clock synchronization when reading servo information, and provides a predetermined timing margin by setting a gap before the servo sector. Also, the preamble  601  is used to determine a gain (not shown) of an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit. 
         [0165]    The servo synchronization indication signal  602  consists of a servo address mark (SAM) and a servo index mark (SIM). The servo address mark is a signal that indicates a start of a sector, and the servo index mark is a signal that indicates a start of a first servo sector in a track. 
         [0166]    The gray code  603  provides track information, and the burst signal  604  is used to control the head  16  to follow the center of the track  34 . For example, the burst signal may include four patterns A, B, C, and D, and four burst patterns are combined to generate a position error signal used to control track following. 
         [0167]    The disk  12  is divided into a maintenance cylinder area, which is inaccessible to a user, and a user data area, which is accessible to the user. The maintenance cylinder area may be referred to as a system area. Various information required to control the disk drive is stored in the maintenance cylinder area, as well as information required to perform the storage medium access method, data writing method, and storage device parameter adjustment method according to the present invention. Particularly, the maintenance cylinder area stores a mapping table for converting a logical block address LBA into a virtual address VA based on a virtual zone or virtual band. 
         [0168]    Here, the address map information may include information for converting a logical block address received from the host device into a physical address of the storage medium based on a virtual band corresponding to the physical area of the storage medium including a disk. 
         [0169]    In detail, the address map information may include mapping information between a logical band classified as an aggregate of logical block addresses and a virtual band corresponding to a physical area of the storage medium and mapping information between a logical block address in a virtual band allocated to a logical band and a virtual address. 
         [0170]    Also, the address map information may include mapping table information indicating a correspondence relationship of a physical address of the storage medium to a logical block address. Also, the address map information may include mapping table information indicating an allocation relationship between the logical band classified as an aggregate of logical block addresses and a virtual band corresponding to a physical area of the storage medium and an allocation relationship between the logical block address in the logical band and the virtual address. 
         [0171]    The head  16  moves across the surfaces of the disk  12  in order to read or write information in different tracks. A plurality of code objects used to realize various functions of the disk drive may be stored in the disk  12 . For example, a code object for executing an MP3 player function, a code object for executing a navigation function, a code object for executing various video games, and the like, may be stored in the disk  12 . 
         [0172]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the storage medium interface  140  is an element that enables the processor  110  to access the storage medium  150  in order to write and read information. In detail, the storage medium interface  140  in the storage device that is implemented as a disk drive includes a servo circuit controlling the head disk assembly  100  and a read/write channel circuit performing signal processing for data reading/writing. 
         [0173]    The host interface  160  performs data transmission/reception to/from the host device  2000  such as a personal computer, a mobile device, etc., and may be an interface having various sizes, such as a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) interface, a parallel advanced technology attachment (PATA) interface, or a universal serial bus (USB) interface. 
         [0174]    The nonvolatile memory device  170  may be implemented as a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device. For example, the nonvolatile memory device  170  may be implemented as a flash memory, a PRAM (Phase change RAM), an FRAM (Ferroelectric RAM), a MRAM (Magnetic RAM), or the like. 
         [0175]    Address map change information is stored in the nonvolatile memory device  170 . In detail, when supplied power is abnormally cut off, the address map change information stored in the RAM  130  is read and stored to the nonvolatile memory device  170  under the control of the processor  110 . 
         [0176]    The bus  170  transfers information between the elements of the storage device. 
         [0177]    Next, a software operation system of a hard disk drive, which is an example of the storage device, will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0178]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , a plurality of code objects  1  through N are stored in a disk  150 A, which is a storage medium of the hard disk drive (HDD). 
         [0179]    The ROM  120  stores a boot image and a packed real time operating system (RTOS) image. 
         [0180]    The plurality of code objects  1  through N are stored in the disk  150 A. The code objects stored in the disk may include not only code objects required for operating the disk drive but also code objects related to various functions that may be extended to the disk drive. In particular, code objects for executing the method for managing address map information and the access method in a disk drive according to the flow charts of  FIGS. 17 to 24 , and the method for managing address map information through a network according to the flow chart of  FIG. 41  are stored in the disk  150 A. Obviously, the code objects for executing the methods according to the flowcharts of  FIGS. 17 to 24  and  FIG. 41  may also be stored in the ROM  120  instead of the disk  150 A. Also, code objects performing various functions such as a MP3 player function, a navigation function, a video game function, or the like may also be stored in the disk  150 A. 
         [0181]    The RAM  130  reads the boot image from the ROM  120  while booting the disk drive, and an unpacked RTOS image is loaded to the RAM  130 . Also, code objects required to operate a host interface stored in the disk  150 A are loaded to the RAM  130 . In particular, the address map information is loaded to the RAM  130 . Also, the address map change information generated whenever a data write operation is performed is stored in the RAM  130 . 
         [0182]    Circuits that are required to perform signal processing for data reading/writing are included in a channel circuit  200 , and circuits required for controlling the head disk assembly  100  for performing data reading/writing operations are included in a servo circuit  210 . 
         [0183]    An RTOS  110 A is a real time operating system program and is a multi-program operating system using a disk. In the RTOS  110 A, real time multi-processing is performed as a foreground process having high priority, and batch processing is performed as a background process having low priority according to a task. Also, the RTOS  110 A loads code objects from the disk and unloads code objects onto the disk. 
         [0184]    The RTOS  110 A manages a code object management unit (COMU)  110 - 1 , a code object loader (COL)  110 - 2 , a memory handler (MH)  110 - 3 , a channel control module (CCM)  110 - 4 , and a servo control module (SCM)  110 - 5  to perform tasks according to requested commands. The RTOS  110 A also manages application programs  220 . 
         [0185]    In detail, the RTOS  110 A loads code objects required for controlling the disk drive to the RAM  130  when booting the disk drive. Accordingly, after the booting is executed, the disk drive may be operated by using code objects loaded to the RAM  130 . 
         [0186]    The COMU  110 - 1  stores location information regarding locations to which code objects are written, and arbitrates a bus. Also, the COMU  110 - 1  stores information regarding priorities of performed tasks. In addition, the COMU  110 - 1  manages task control block (TCB) information required to execute tasks for code objects, and stack information. 
         [0187]    The COL  110 - 2  loads the code objects stored in the disk  150 A to the RAM  130  using the COMU  110 - 1  and unloads the code objects stored in the RAM  130  to the disk  150 A. Accordingly, the COL  110 - 2  may load the code objects stored in the disk  150 A used to execute the methods according to the flowcharts of  FIGS. 17 to 24  and  FIG. 41  to the RAM  130 . 
         [0188]    The RTOS  110 A may execute the methods according to the flowcharts of  FIGS. 17 TO 24  and  FIG. 41 , which will be described below, by using the code objects loaded to the RAM  130 . 
         [0189]    The MH  110 - 3  performs writing or reading data to/from the ROM  120  and the RAM  130 . 
         [0190]    The CCM  110 - 4  performs channel controlling required for performing signal processing for data reading/writing, and the SCM  110 - 5  performs servo controlling including the head disk assembly for performing data reading/writing. 
         [0191]    Next, an electrical circuit configuration of the disk drive  1000  as an example of a storage device according to an embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0192]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the disk drive  1000  according to an embodiment of a technical concept of the present invention includes a pre-amplifier  410 , a Read/Write (R/W) channel  420 , a processor  430 , a Voice Coil Motor (VCM) driver  440 , a Spindle Motor (SPM) driver  450 , an ROM  460 , a RAM  470 , a host interface  480 , a nonvolatile memory device  490 , and a power supply device  500 . 
         [0193]    The processor  430  may be a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a microprocessor, a microcontroller, or the like. The processor  430  controls the R/W channel  420  to read information from the disk  12  or write information to the disk  12  according to a command received from the host device  2000  through the host interface  480 . 
         [0194]    The processor  430  is coupled to the VCM driver  440  which provides a driving current for driving the VCM  30 . The processor  430  provides a control signal to the VCM driver  440  to control motion of the head  16 . 
         [0195]    The processor  430  is coupled to the SPM driver  450 , which provides a driving current for driving a spindle motor (SPM)  14 . The processor  430 , upon being supplied with power, provides a control signal to the SPM driver  450  to rotate the SPM  14  at a target speed. 
         [0196]    The processor  430  is coupled to the power supply device  500  and generates control signals for controlling the power supply device  500 . 
         [0197]    The processor  430  is also coupled to the ROM  460  and the RAM  470 . The ROM  460  stores firmware and control data for controlling the disk drive. The ROM  460  also stores program codes and information for executing the methods according to the flowcharts of  FIGS. 17 to 24  and  FIG. 41 . Obviously, the program codes and information for executing the methods according to the flowcharts of  FIGS. 17 to 24  and  FIG. 41  may be stored in the maintenance cylinder area of the disk  12 , instead of the ROM  460 . 
         [0198]    The RAM  470  loads the program codes stored in the ROM  460  or the disk  12  in an initialization mode under the control of the processor  430 , and temporarily stores data received through the host interface  480  or data read from the disk  12 . In particular, address map information is loaded to the RAM  470  in an initialization mode. Namely, address map information is stored in the RAM  470  in an initialization mode. Also, address map change information generated whenever a data write operation is executed is stored in the RAM  470 . 
         [0199]    The RAM  470  may be implemented by a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) or a Synchronous Random Access Memory (SRAM). The RAM  570  may be designed to operate in a Single Data Rate (SDR) or Double Data Rate (DDR) scheme. 
         [0200]    The processor  430  may control the disk drive so as to execute the methods according to the flowcharts of  FIGS. 17 to 24  and  FIG. 41  using program codes and information stored in the ROM  460  or the maintenance cylinder area of the disk  12 . 
         [0201]    The RAM  490  may be implemented as a flash memory, a PRAM (Phase change RAM), an FRAM (Ferroelectric RAM), a MRAM (Magnetic RAM), or the like. 
         [0202]    Address map change information is stored in the nonvolatile memory device  490 . In detail, when supplied power is abnormally cut off, the address map change information stored in the RAM  470  is read and stored to the nonvolatile memory device  490  under the control of the processor  430 . 
         [0203]    The power supply device  500  is a device for supplying a power source voltage required for the disk drive, and when power is abnormally cut off, the power supply device  500  supplies reserved power to the disk drive. In  FIG. 4 , a power source line is indicated by the dotted line. A detailed configuration example of the power supply device  500  is illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0204]      FIG. 11  has been already described above, so repetitive descriptions will be omitted. 
         [0205]    The reserved power charging unit  320  illustrated in  FIG. 11  may be designed as shown in  FIG. 12  or may also be designed as shown in  FIG. 13 . A detailed configuration of the reserved power charging unit illustrated in  FIG. 12  has been already described above, so repetitive descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
         [0206]    Another embodiment of the reserved power charging unit illustrated in  FIG. 13  will be described. 
         [0207]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , a reserved power charging unit  320 ″ according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a first switching unit SW 1 , a second switching unit SW 2 , and a capacitor C 1 . 
         [0208]    A power source voltage Vd generated by the power supply unit  310  is applied to a first terminal T 1  of the first switching unit SW 1 , a first terminal of the capacitor C 1  is connected to a second terminal T 2  of the first switching unit SW 1 , and a second terminal of the capacitor C 1  is connected to a ground. A second control signal CTL 2  for controlling the switching operation of the first switching unit SW 1  is applied to a control terminal T 3  of the first switching unit SW 1 . A terminal of a spindle motor SPM generating counter electromotive force is connected to a first terminal T 4  of the second switching unit SW 2 , a first terminal of the capacitor C 1  is connected to a second terminal T 5  of the second switching unit SW 2 , and a third control signal CTL 3  for controlling a switching operation of the second switching unit SW 2  is applied to a control terminal T 6  of the second switching unit SW 2 . The second control signal CTL 2  and the third control signal CTL 3  are generated by the processor  430  as follows. 
         [0209]    The processor  430  generates the second control signal CTL 2  having a logical value for connecting the first terminal T 1  and the second terminal T 2  of the first switching unit SW 1  in a power on state. In a state in which supplied power is abnormally cut off, the processor  430  generates a second control signal CTL 2  having a logical value for cutting off the first terminal T 1  and the second terminal T 2  of the first switching unit SW 1 . 
         [0210]    In this manner, according to the generated second control signal CTL 2 , in a power on state, the power source voltage Vd is charged to the capacitor C 1 , and in a state in which supplied power is abnormally cut off, the voltage charged in the capacitor C 1  is applied to the second input terminal IN 2  of the power distribution unit  330 . Namely, when the supplied power is abnormally cut off, the voltage charged in the capacitor C 1  is supplied as reserved power to the storage device. 
         [0211]    In the state in which supplied power is abnormally cut off, the processor  430  generates a third control signal CTL 3  having a logical value for connecting the first terminal T 4  and the second terminal T 5  of the second switching unit SW 2 , and applies the generated third control signal CTL 3  to the control terminal T 6  of the second switching unit SW 2 . Accordingly, the capacitor C 1  is charged by counter electromotive force (BEM F) generated from the spindle motor  14  rotated by inertia after supplied power is cut off. 
         [0212]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , a data read operation and a data write operation executed after a physical address of a disk corresponding to a logical block address designated by a read command or a write command will be described. 
         [0213]    In a data read mode, the disk drive amplifies an electrical signal sensed by the head  16  from the disk  12  in a pre-amplifier  410 . And then, a signal output from the pre-amplifier  410  by an automatic gain control circuit (not shown) which automatically varies a gain according to the amplitude of a signal in the read/write channel  420 , converted into a digital signal, and then, decoded to detect data. For example, the detected data is subjected to error correction processing using a Reed-Solomon code as an error correction code, converted into stream data, and then, transmitted to the host device  2000  through the host interface  480 . 
         [0214]    In a data write mode, the disk drive receives data and LBAs from the host device through the host interface  480 , adds an error correction symbol by the Reed-Solomon code to the data by the processor  430 , encoded to fit a record channel by the read/write channel  420 , and then, recorded in the disk  12  through the head  16  by a record current amplified by the pre-amplifier  410 . In an embodiment of the present invention, corresponding LBAs are written to data stored in a sector of a spare area allocated to each sector in a data write mode. 
         [0215]    An operation for executing the method according to the flow chart of  FIGS. 17 to 24  and  FIG. 41  by the processor  430  by using the program codes and information loaded to the RAM  470  will be described. 
         [0216]    First, a shingled write method, a novel write method proposed to enhance a record density in a disk drive as one of storage devices according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
         [0217]    The shingle write method is a writing method in which data is written only in one direction as tracks on a disk are overwritten as if shingles are stacked. That is, as shown in  FIG. 7 , in the shingle write method, assuming that data is written only in the arrow direction, an (N−1)th track is partially overwritten when an Nth track adjacent to the (N−1)th track is written, and the Nth track is partially overwritten when the (N+1)th track adjacent to the Nth track is written, thereby increasing the TPI (Track Per Inch) characteristic, which is the radial recording density of a storage medium. 
         [0218]    The shingle write method has to satisfy the restriction that the (N−1)th track cannot be written after writing the Nth track because a flux is always generated only in one direction. As shown in  FIG. 8 , if the (N−1)th track in the direction opposite to the shingle write direction is written after writing the Nth track, the Nth track is erased due to an adjacent track interference (ATI) effect. 
         [0219]    Accordingly, to solve this problem, there is a need for a technique of dynamically allocating a new disk address for a logical block address (LBA) provided from a host so as to always perform writing only in either one of the inner and outer circumferential directions of the disk. 
         [0220]    The present invention provides a disk accessing method, which uses an existing LBAs as it is by using a virtual address in the process of converting the existing LBAs into a cylinder head sector (CHS), i.e., a physical address of a disk drive, and satisfies the condition that the shingle write direction in the disk drive is limited to only one direction. 
         [0221]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , the configurations of a zone and virtual bands for realizing the accessing method suggested in the present invention will be described. 
         [0222]    A storage area of the disk  12  is divided into a plurality of physical zones. The TPI (tracks per inch), i.e., recording density, and BPI (bits per inch) for each physical zone may be differently set. Each physical zone includes a plurality of virtual bands, and each virtual band is defined as a set of consecutive M tracks to be overwritten. Also, a guard track is arranged between the virtual bands to avoid overwriting between the virtual bands. Referring to  FIG. 9 , (K+1) number of virtual bands VB_ 0  to VB_K are arranged in physical zone  1 . That is, a virtual band is defined as a segment of a unit size of a physical storage space of a storage medium. In the track included in the virtual bands, address map information is generated such that data is sequentially written in any one of an inner circumferential direction or outer circumferential direction of the disk. 
         [0223]    Next, the structure of allocating logical bands and virtual bands for each zone will be described with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
         [0224]      FIG. 10  is a view schematically showing the structure of allocating virtual bands VB to logical bands LB for each physical zone of a storage medium according to an embodiment of the inventive concept. 
         [0225]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , virtual bands are allocated to logical bands in order to perform an actual writing operation in a physical zone of a storage medium. Physical zone  1  of the storage medium may consist of (K+1) number of logical bands. A logical band is defined as a set of consecutive logical block addresses in units of a first size. That is, a logical band refers to a set of consecutive writable logical block addresses. 
         [0226]    For example, assuming that the range of logical block addresses of physical zone  1  consists of 10,000 LBAs of 0 through 999, and each of the logical bands belonging to physical zone  1  is defined as a set of 1,000 LBAs, the number of logical bands included in physical zone  1  is 10. 
         [0227]    The number of virtual bands is set to Q (Q&gt;K), which is more than the number of logical bands. The virtual bands are defined as the segments of the physical storage device of the storage in units of a second size. That is, if the storage medium is a disk, a virtual band is defined as a set of M tracks to be overwritten. 
         [0228]    Virtual bands not allocated to logical bands may be referred to as reserved virtual bands. In other words, storage areas corresponding to the virtual bands not allocated to the logical bands may be referred to as reserved areas. Reserved virtual band information is stored in a free queue to be explained in  FIG. 16  below. 
         [0229]    An operation of managing address map information in a storage device including a storage device for accessing by using a virtual band will be described. 
         [0230]      FIG. 14  is a view showing a detailed configuration of the processor  110  and the RAM  130  of the storage device illustrated in  FIG. 1  and the processor  430  and the RAM  470  of the disk drive illustrated in  FIG. 4  according to an embodiment of the present invention. For the sake of explanation,  FIG. 11  will be described with reference to the disk drive of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0231]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , the processor  430  includes a power control processor  430 - 1 , an address map information management processor  430 - 2 , and an address conversion processor  430 - 3 . 
         [0232]    Address map information  470 - 1  is loaded to the RAM  470  under the control of an address map information management processor  430 - 2 . Here, the address map information may include information for converting a logical block address into a physical address of a storage medium by using a virtual address. The address map information may be, for example, mapping table information showing an allocation relationship between a logical band and a virtual band, and an allocation relationship between a logical block address and a virtual address in a virtual band allocated to a logical band. Also, the address map information may be included in meta information. 
         [0233]    The address map information  470 - 1  may be read from the nonvolatile memory device  490  or the disk  12  and stored to the RAM  470 . The address map information  470 - 1  may be configured to search for a virtual address based on LBA. The virtual address may be defined based on a physical address in a storage medium. When the storage medium is a disk, the virtual address may be defined based on a physical address of a sector. Also, the virtual address of the disk may be defined based on CHS (Cylinder Header Sector). Besides, the virtual address of the disk may be defined based on a physical zone, a virtual band, a track, and a sector. The address map information  470 - 1  may be generated such that data is sequentially written in any one of an inner circumferential direction and an outer circumferential direction in a track of the disk included in a virtual band according to the shingled write method. 
         [0234]    The address map information  470 - 1  may include information representing an allocation structure of logical bands and virtual bands for each physical zone. That is, the address map information  470 - 1  may include information representing the mapping structure of virtual bands allocated to logical bands for each physical zone as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0235]    Address map information showing an allocation state of the virtual bands allocated to the logical bands illustrated in  FIG. 10  may be generated as shown in  FIG. 25 . 
         [0236]    As shown in  FIG. 25 , the address map information may include a logical band number LBA NO, a virtual band number VB NO, and a finally accessed virtual address number LA VA in a virtual band. 
         [0237]    With reference to  FIG. 25 , it can be seen that virtual band numbers  2  and  0  are allocated to a logical band number  0 , a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band number  2  is 199, and a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band number  0  is A. 
         [0238]    For example, when the size of virtual bands is allocated into 200 sectors, and virtual addresses  0  to  199  are set for each virtual band, the final virtual address  199  is allocated to the virtual band number  2 , so there is no virtual address which can be newly allocated. In case in which ‘A’ has a value smaller than 199, when a write command with respect to LBAs included in a logical band  0  is received, the address map information is updated such that a virtual address (A+1) of the virtual band number  0  is mapped to LBAs designated by the write command. 
         [0239]    In  FIG. 25 , A, B, C, and D are virtual addresses having an integer value between 1 and 199. 
         [0240]    An example of a mapping structure of virtual addresses (VA) with respect to LBAs in the virtual band  0  (VB_ 0 ) allocated to the logical band number  0  is illustrated in  FIG. 26 . 
         [0241]    With reference to  FIG. 26 , the virtual band  0  (VB_ 0 ) includes virtual addresses  0  to  199 , and the virtual addresses are allocated by sector. Thus, according to  FIG. 26 , 200 sectors are included in a unit virtual band. Thus, in  FIG. 26 , 200 sectors are included in a unit virtual band. Horizontal lines show sectors included in a single track. As shown in  FIG. 26 , one track includes 20 sectors. 20 sectors included in a track  1  are designated as virtual addresses  0  to  19 , respectively. The 20 sectors included in a track  10  are designated as VAs  180  to  199  in the same manner. 
         [0242]    As shown in  FIG. 26 , LBAs  0  to  9  are allocated to VAs  0  to  9 , LBA  20  and  21  are allocated to VAs  15  and  16 , LBAs  50  to  59  are allocated to VAs  38  to  47 , and LBAs  10  to  18  are allocated to VAs  86  to  94 . VAs  10  to  14 ,  17  to  37 , and  48  to  85  represent invalidated virtual addresses, and VAs  95  to  199  represent non-allocated valid virtual addresses. The invalidated virtual addresses refer to previous virtual addresses corresponding to updated LBAs. 
         [0243]    Address map information with respect to virtual band  0 (VB_ 0 ) illustrated in  FIG. 26  may be generated as shown in  FIG. 27A , for example. 
         [0244]      FIG. 27A  is a view showing a mapping table simply showing mapping relationships of Vas corresponding to individual LBAs allocated in VB_ 0 . The mapping table having the structure as shown in  FIG. 27A  has a structure in which VAs corresponding to respective LBAs are simply arranged, so the amount of data is disadvantageously large. 
         [0245]    Thus, in order to complement the shortcomings, a method of generating address map information by grouping a group in which LBAs and Vas are sequentially increased together is proposed. 
         [0246]    Namely, in the newly proposed address map information, a group in which LBAs and Vas are sequentially increased together is represented by a start LBA, a start VA, and a number (SCN) of sequentially increased sector. 
         [0247]    With reference to  FIG. 26 , In VAs  0  to  9 , LBAs  0  to  9  are sequentially increased, in VAs  15  to  16 , LBA  20  to  21  are sequentially increased, in VAs  38  to  47 , LBA  50  to  59  are sequentially increased, and in VAs  86  to  94 , LBAs  10  to  18  are sequentially increased. 
         [0248]    The mapping information regarding the four groups in which LBAs and VAs are sequentially increased together as described above may be shown in  FIG. 27B . 
         [0249]    With respect to a group in which LBAs  0  to  9  are sequentially increased in VAs  0  to  9 , a start LBA  0 , a start VA  0 , and the number of sequentially increased sectors is 10, so (LBA, SCN, VA) may be represented as (0, 10, 0). 
         [0250]    In the same manner, with respect to a group in which LBAs  20  to  21  are sequentially increased in VAs  15  to  16 , since the start LBA  20 , the start VA  15 , and the number of sequentially increased sectors is 2, (LBA, SCN, VA) may be represented by (20, 2, 15). Also, in a group in which LBAs  50  to  59  are sequentially increased in VAs  38  to  47  may be represented by (50, 10, 38), and in a group in which LBAs  10  to  18  in VA  86 - 94 , (LBA, SCN, VA) may be represented by (10, 9, 86). 
         [0251]    To sum up, the address map information as shown in  FIG. 27   b  as shown in  FIG. 27B  may be generated. It can be seen that the address map information is simple and the amount of data is reduced in comparison to the address map information illustrated in  FIG. 27A . 
         [0252]    With respect to virtual bands allocated to logical bands, address map information for each virtual band may be generated in such a manner as shown in  FIG. 27B . 
         [0253]    Thus, the allocation relationship of the logical bands and the virtual bands as shown in  FIG. 25 , the mapping information representing a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band, and mapping information representing VAs corresponding to LBAs in the virtual band allocated to the logical band as shown in  FIG. 27A  or  27 B may be loaded to the RAM  470  by zone. 
         [0254]    With reference to  FIG. 14 , the power control processor  430 - 1  generates control signals required for controlling the power supply device in  FIGS. 11 to 13 . 
         [0255]    The power control processor  430 - 1  generates a first control signal CTL 1  having a logical value connecting a first input terminal IN 1  and an output terminal OUT of the power distribution unit  30 . 
         [0256]    The power control processor  430 - 1  generates a first control signal CTL 1  having a logical value for connecting the first input terminal IN 1  and the output terminal OU. When supplied power is abnormally cut off, the power control processor  430 - 1  generates the first control signal CTL 1  having a logical value for connecting the second input terminal IN 2  and the output terminal OUT. 
         [0257]    When a power voltage applied to the storage device is dropped to below a threshold value in a state in which power off control signal is not generated, the power control processor  430 - 1  determines that supplied power is abnormally cut off. Namely, when a voltage of power output in the power supply device  500  is dropped to below a threshold voltage, the power control processor  430 - 1  determines that abnormal power off has occurred. 
         [0258]    While supplied power is being normally supplied according to the first control signal CTL 1  generated in the power control processor  430 - 1 , power generated by the power supply unit  310  is supplied to the circuits constituting the disk drive, and when abnormal power off occurs, power generated by the reserved power charging unit  310  is supplied to the circuits constituting the disk drive. 
         [0259]    The power control processor  430 - 1  generates a second control signal CTL 2  having a logical value for connecting a first terminal T 1  and a second terminal T 2  of the first switching unit SW 1  illustrated in  FIG. 13  in a power on state. In a state in which abnormal power off occurs, the power control processor  430 - 1  generates the second control signal CTL 2  having a logical value for disconnecting the first terminal T 1  and the second terminal T 2  of the first switching unit SW 1 . 
         [0260]    According to the second control signal CTL 2 , In the power on state, the power voltage Vd is charged to the capacitor C 1 , and in a power off state in which power supply is abnormal, the voltage charged in the capacitor C 1  is applied to the second input terminal IN 2  of the power distribution unit  330 . Namely, when abnormal power off occurs, the voltage charged in the capacitor C 1  is supplied as reserved power to the circuits constituting the disk drive. 
         [0261]    Also, in a state in which abnormal power off occurs, the power control processor  430 - 1  generates a third control signal CTL 3  having a logical value for connecting the first terminal T 4  and the second terminal T 5  of the second switching unit SW 2  and applies it to the control terminal T 6  of the second switching unit SW 2 . Accordingly, the capacitor C 1  is charged by counter electromotive force (BEMF) generated from the spindle motor  14  rotating by inertia. 
         [0262]    The address map information management processor  430 - 2  performs a process of managing address map information. In detail, when power is supplied to the disk drive, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  loads address map information stored in the nonvolatile storage device  490  to the RAM  470 . Namely, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  reads the address map information from the disk  12  or the nonvolatile storage device  490  and stores it to the RAM  470 . 
         [0263]    The address map information management processor  430 - 2  changes the address map information  470 - 1  stored in the RAM  470  based on a write command. Namely, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  adds virtual band newly allocated to a logical band or virtual address information added according to LBAs in an allocated virtual band to the address map information  470 - 1  stored in the RAM  470 . Accordingly, the address map information  470 - 1  stored in the RAM  470  is updated whenever a write command is executed. 
         [0264]    Whenever a write command is executed, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  generates the address map change information  470 - 2  and stores it to the RAM  470 . The address map change information  470 - 2  is information related to a position of data written in the disk  12  without being reflected on address map information stored in the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490 . The address map change information  470 - 2  may be configured to include a logical band number, a virtual band number, and information regarding a finally accessed virtual address. Namely, the address map change information  470 - 2  may be configured by a logical band number LB NO with respect to data written to the disk  12  without being reflected on the address map information stored in the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory  490 , a virtual band number VB NO allocated to a corresponding logical band, and a virtual address LA VA finally accessed in a virtual band allocated to the corresponding logical band. 
         [0265]    In an embodiment of the present invention, whenever the address map information  470 - 1  stored in the RAM  470  is updated according to a write command, the updated address map information  470 - 1  is not stored in the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490 . The reason is because, if the process of storing the updated address map information in the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490  is performed whenever the address map information  470 - 1  is updated, while the address map information is being stored in the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490 , a write/read process cannot be performed, degrading the performance of the disk drive. 
         [0266]    Thus, in an embodiment of the present invention, for example, the address map information  470 - 1  stored in the RAM  470  is stored in the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490  under the following conditions. 
         [0267]    When a system termination command is received, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  stores the address map information  470 - 1  stored in the RAM  470  in the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490 . And, when the address map change information  470 - 2  stored in the RAM  470  is stored in a full state on an initially set address map change information list, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  stores the address map information  470 - 1  stored in the RAM  470  to the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490 . Here, the full state refers to a state in which address map change information cannot be added to the address map change information list any further. The size of the address map change information list may be determined to be a size for storing the address map change information in the nonvolatile storage device  490  by reserved power when power is abnormally cut off. 
         [0268]    After storing the address map information  470 - 1 , stored in the RAM  470 , to the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490 , the address map information management processor  430 - 2  deletes the address map change information  470 - 2  stored in the RAM  470 . Namely, after storing the address map information  470 - 1 , stored in the RAM  470 , to the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490 , the address map information management processor  430 - 2  performs a process of deleting the address map change information  470 - 2 . 
         [0269]    When abnormal power off occurs, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  stores the address map change information  470 - 2  stored in the RAM  470  to the nonvolatile memory device  490  by using reserved power. 
         [0270]    For reference, when voltage of power applied to the storage device is dropped to below a threshold voltage in a state in which power off control signal is not generated, the power control processor  430 - 1  determines that abnormal power off has occurred. 
         [0271]    Accordingly, when the power control processor  430 - 1  determines that abnormal power off has occurred, the address map change information  470 - 2 . stores the address map change information  470 - 2  stored in the RAM  470  to the nonvolatile memory device  490 . 
         [0272]    For example, it is assumed that after the address map information having an allocation state of virtual bands with respect to the logical bands as shown in  FIG. 28A  is stored from the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490  to the RAM  470 , the address map information stored in the RAM  470  is changed to the address map information having the allocation state of the virtual bands with respect to the logical bands as shown in  FIG. 28B  according to performing of a write command. Also, it is assumed that power is abnormally cut off before the address map information configured by the logical bands and the virtual bands as shown in  FIG. 28B  stored in the RAM  470  is stored in the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490 . 
         [0273]    The address map information regarding the logical bands and the virtual bands as shown in  FIG. 28A  is as shown in  FIG. 29 . 
         [0274]    With reference to  FIG. 29 , a virtual band number  0  is allocated to a logical band number  0 , and the finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band number  0  is 199. Virtual band numbers  1  and  3  are allocated to the logical band number  3 , a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band number  3  is 101. Virtual band numbers  2  and  4  are allocated to a logical band number K, a finally accessed virtual address in a virtual band number  2  is 199, and a finally accessed virtual address in a virtual band number  3  is 145. 
         [0275]    In the above description, a unit virtual band includes virtual addresses  0  to  199 . Namely, the unit virtual band includes 200 sectors. Thus, the virtual bands in which the finally accessed virtual address is 199 are virtual bands in which a valid virtual address that may be allocated to the LBAs does not exist. 
         [0276]    When the disk drive is initialized, the address map information as shown in  FIG. 29  stored in the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory  490  is loaded to the RAM  470 . Also, when the disk drive is initialized, address map information indicating a mapping relationship of VAs corresponding to LBAs in each virtual band allocated to the logical bands stored in the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490  is also loaded to the RAM  470 . 
         [0277]    For example, when an allocation structure of VAs with respect to the LBAs of the virtual band number  3  allocated to the logical band number  3  is as shown in  FIG. 36 , address map information indicating a mapping relationship of the VAs corresponding to the LBAs with respect to the virtual band number  3  may be expressed as shown in  FIG. 37 . Accordingly, the address map information as shown in  FIG. 37  representing the mapping relationship of VAs corresponding to LBAs in the virtual band number  3  is loaded to the RAM  470 . 
         [0278]    In this manner, the address map information indicating the mapping relationship of the VAs corresponding to the LBAs in the other remaining virtual bands allocated to the logical bands is located to the RAM  470 . 
         [0279]    Next, when the address map information stored in the RAM  470  is changed to the address map information including the logical bands and the virtual bands as shown in  FIG. 28B  according to performing of a write command, address map change information as shown in  FIG. 30  is generated. 
         [0280]    With reference to  FIG. 28B , since updating occurs in virtual band numbers  5 ,  6 , and  3 , corresponding address map change information is generated. 
         [0281]    When a finally accessed virtual address number in a virtual band number  5  allocated to the logical band number  0  is 13, address map change information (0, 5, 13) represented by (LB NO, VB NO, LA VA) is generated. When a finally accessed virtual address number in a virtual band number  6  allocated to the logical band number  2  is 8, address map change information (2, 6, 8) represented by (LB NO, VB NO, LA VA) is generated. When a finally accessed virtual address number in a virtual band number  3  allocated to the logical band number  3  is 106, address map change information (3, 3, 106) represented by (LB NO, VB NO, LA VA) is generated. 
         [0282]    Thus, the address map change information  470 - 2  as shown in  FIG. 30  is generated, and the thusly generated address map change information  470 - 2  is stored in the RAM  470 . 
         [0283]    In a state in which the address map change information  470 - 2  is stored in the RAM  470 , when abnormal power off occurs, as mentioned above, the address map change information  470 - 2  stored in the RAM  470  is stored in the nonvolatile memory  490 . 
         [0284]    The address map information management processor  430 - 2  checks whether or not the address map change information has been stored in the nonvolatile memory device  490  when power is supplied to the disk drive. When the address map change information has been stored in the nonvolatile memory device  490 , the address map information management processor  430 - 2  reads the address map change information  470 - 2  stored in the nonvolatile memory device  490  and stores it to the RAM  470 . 
         [0285]    When power is supplied to the disk drive, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  also reads the address map information  470 - 1  stored in the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490  and stores it to the RAM  470 . 
         [0286]    Accordingly, the address map information representing the mapping relationship of the virtual bands corresponding to the logical bands and the address map information representing the mapping relationship of the VAs corresponding to the LBAs for each virtual band allocated to the logical bands as shown in  FIG. 29  are stored in the RAM  470 . Also, the address map change information as shown in  FIG. 30  is stored in the RAM  470 . 
         [0287]    The address map information management processor  430 - 2  newly allocates a virtual band number not present in the address map information among the virtual band numbers included in the address map change information to the address map information. Namely, among the virtual band numbers  5 ,  6 ,  3  included in the address map change information illustrated in  FIG. 30 , the virtual band number  3  exists in the address map information illustrated in  FIG. 29 , but the virtual band numbers  5  and  6  do not exist. Thus, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  newly allocates the virtual band numbers  5  and  6 . As shown in  FIG. 30 , it can be seen that the virtual band number  5  in the address map change information corresponds to the logical band number  0 , and the virtual band number  6  corresponds to the logical band number  2 . 
         [0288]    Thus, as shown in  FIG. 31 , the virtual band number  5  is newly allocated to the logical band number  0 , and the virtual band number  6  is newly allocated to the logical band number  2 . 
         [0289]    In this manner, after reconfiguring the virtual bands, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  calculates an area of the disk  12  as a storage medium corresponding to a difference between a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual bands included in the address map change information and a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual bands included in the corresponding address map information. 
         [0290]    In detail, regarding a virtual band of the virtual band number newly allocated to the address map information among the virtual band numbers included in the address map change information, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  calculates an area of the disk corresponding to a section starting from a virtual start address with respect to the corresponding virtual band to a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band number included in the address map change information. 
         [0291]    With reference to  FIGS. 29 and 30 , the address map information management processor  430 - 2  calculates an area of virtual addresses  0  to  13  in the virtual band number  5  to which a virtual band is newly allocated, and calculates an area of virtual addresses  0  to  8  in the virtual band number  6  according to the address map change information. 
         [0292]    With respect to a virtual band included in the address map change information in which a virtual band number is not newly allocated to the address map information, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  calculates a disk area corresponding a section from an immediately next virtual address of a finally accessed virtual address read from the address map information to a finally accessed virtual address read from the address map change information. 
         [0293]    With reference to  FIGS. 29 and 30 , in a virtual band  3  to which a virtual band is not newly allocated, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  calculates an area corresponding to a section starting from a next virtual address  102  of a finally accessed virtual address  101  of the virtual band number  3  read from the virtual map information to a finally accessed virtual address  106  with respect to the virtual band  3  read from the address map change information. Namely, a disk area corresponding to virtual addresses  102  to  106  of the virtual band address number  3 . 
         [0294]    The address map information management processor  430 - 2  controls the disk drive to read the LBAs written in the disk areas calculated as described above. 
         [0295]    In detail, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  converts the virtual addresses with respect to the virtual bands calculated as described above into physical addresses of the disk, and controls the disk drive to access the disk according to the converted physical addresses. Namely, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  converts the virtual addresses into CHS (Cylinder Head Sector) information indicating a physical position of the disk and generates a voice coil motor driving control signal for accessing the disk based on the converted CHS (Cylinder Head Sector). 
         [0296]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , when the generated voice coil motor driving control signal is applied to the VCM driving unit  440 , the VCM driving unit  440  generates a voice coil motor driving current corresponding to the voice coil motor driving control signal and supplies the generated current to the voice coil motor  30 . Accordingly, the magnetic head  16  is moved to a track position of the disk desired to be accessed. 
         [0297]    And then, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  generates a control signal for reading logical block addresses from an area of the disk written without being reflected on the address map information. 
         [0298]    Namely, under the control of the address map information management processor  430 - 2 , LBAs may be read from the sector positions of the disk corresponding to the virtual addresses  0  to  13  of the virtual band number  5 , the virtual addresses  0  to  8  of the virtual band number  6 , and the virtual addresses  102  to  106  of the virtual band number  3 . 
         [0299]    The address map information management processor  430 - 2  adds the virtual address mapping information corresponding to the read logical block addresses to the address map information stored in the RAM  470 . 
         [0300]    For example, when the LBAs as shown in  FIG. 32  is read from the sectors of the disk corresponding to the virtual addresses  0  to  13  of the virtual band number  5 , VA mapping information corresponding to the LBAs as shown in  FIG. 33  is generated and added to the address map information regarding the virtual band number  5  stored in the RAM  470 . With reference to  FIG. 33 , LBAs  75  to  86  are mapped to 12 continuous sectors including VA  0  and LBAs  101  and  102  are mapped to two continuous sectors including VA  12 . 
         [0301]    And, when the LBAs as shown in  FIG. 34  are read from the sectors of the disk corresponding to the virtual addresses  0  to  6  of the virtual band number  6 , the VA mapping information corresponding to the LBAs as shown in  FIG. 35  are generated and added to address map information regarding the virtual band number  6  stored in the RAM  470 . With reference to  FIG. 35 , LBAs  3050  to  3058  are mapped to nine continuous sectors including VA  0 . 
         [0302]    And then, when address map information as mapping information of the Vas corresponding to LBAs with respect to the virtual band number  3  loaded to the RAM  470  is as shown in  FIG. 37 , an allocation relationship of the LBAs to the Vas in the virtual band number  3  may be represented as shown In  FIG. 36 . 
         [0303]    When LBAs read from sectors corresponding to virtual addresses  102  to  106  of the virtual band number  3  illustrated in  FIG. 38  according to address map change information are 3511 to 3515, (3511, 5, 102) is added to the address map information including (LBA, SCN, VA) with respect to the virtual band number  3 . 
         [0304]    Accordingly, the address map information as shown in  FIG. 37  with respect to the virtual band number  3  loaded to the RAM  470  is updated to the address map information as shown in  FIG. 39 . 
         [0305]    The address map information management processor  430 - 2  stores the updated address map information stored in the RAM  470  to the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  480 . And then, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  executes process of deleting the address map change information stored in the RAM  470  and the nonvolatile memory device  490 . 
         [0306]    In this manner, even when power is abnormally cut off, the address map information management processor  430 - 2  may restore the address map information by using the address map change information. 
         [0307]    With reference back to  FIG. 14 , the address conversion processor  430 - 3  performs a process of converting an LBA designated by a received command into physical location information of the storage medium by using a virtual band and a virtual address. A detailed configuration of the address conversion processor  430 - 3  is illustrated in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0308]    As shown in  FIG. 15 , the address conversion processor  430 - 3  may include a first processor  430 - 3 A, a second processor  430 - 3 B, and a third processor  430 - 3 C. The second processor  430 - 3 B and the third processor  430 - 3 C may be designed to be integrated into a single processor  430 - 3 B′. Obviously, though not shown in the drawings, the first processor  430 - 3 A and the second processor  430 - 3 B also may be designed to be integrated into a single processor. 
         [0309]    The first processor  430 - 3 A performs the operation of extracting an LBA designated by a received command. 
         [0310]    The second processor  430 - 3 B performs the operation of converting the LBA extracted by the first processor  430 - 3 A into a virtual address. That is, the second processor  430 - 3 B performs the operation of searching the mapping table  470 - 1  and converting the LBA into a virtual address. 
         [0311]    The second processor  430 - 3 B finds out virtual bands and virtual addresses corresponding to the LBA designated by a read command by using address map information stored in the RAM  470 . 
         [0312]    The second processor  430 - 3 B allocates the virtual bands and the virtual addresses corresponding to the LBA designated by the write command as follows. 
         [0313]    As shown in  FIG. 16 , the second processor  430 - 3 A may include a free queue  131 , an allocation queue  132 , and a garbage queue  133 . The second processor  430 - 3 B converts an LBA designated by a command into a virtual address by using the free queue  131 , the allocation queue  132 , and the garbage queue  133 . 
         [0314]    The second processor  430 - 3 B stores information about the virtual bands not assigned to a logical band in the free queue  131  in an order complying with a prescribed rule. The free queue  13  is means that stores information about virtual bands that can be allocated to a logical band in response to a command and is on standby for selection. The free queue  131  may store classified information about virtual bands that can be allocated to a logical band for each virtual zone or each physical zone. 
         [0315]    The second processor  430 - 3 B stores information about virtual bands allocated to a logical band in the allocation queue  132 . Specifically, if the virtual bands allocated to a logical band including an LBA designated by a command do not exist in the mapping table  470 - 1  or all virtual addresses are already allocated and consumed for the virtual bands allocated to the logical band including the LBA designated by the command, the second processor  430 - 3 B selects a virtual band on standby in the free queue  131 , and allocates the virtual band to the logical band including the LBA designated by the command and moves it to the allocation queue  132 . 
         [0316]    Next, the second processor  430 - 3 B allocates a virtual address corresponding to the LBA designated by the command based on the virtual band allocated to the logical band stored in the allocation queue  132 . Concretely, if a new virtual address is allocated to the logical band including the LBA designated by the command and stored in the allocation queue  132 , the second processor  430 - 3 B allocates the newly allocated virtual address corresponding to the first sector of the logical band to the LBA designated by the command. 
         [0317]    If a virtual band already allocated to the logical band including the LBA designated by the command exits in the allocation queue  132 , the second processor  430 - 3 B allocates a virtual address not allocated for the virtual band to the LBA designated by the command. For example, a virtual address of the sector right next to the last accessed sector in the virtual band can be allocated to the LBA designated by the command. 
         [0318]    The second processor  430 - 3 B selects a virtual band, whose number of virtual addresses invalidated because of data update exceeds a threshold value, from among the virtual bands allocated to the logical band, and moves it to the garbage queue  133  (P 2 ). 
         [0319]    For example, if the number of virtual bands stored in the free queue  1601  is less than the initially set minimum value, the second processor  430 - 3 B performs a garbage collection process. That is, the second processor  430 - 3 B reads data stored in the sectors of valid virtual addresses from the virtual bands stored in the garbage queue  133 , and executes rewriting to a newly allocated virtual address designated by a virtual band. 
         [0320]    The second processor  430 - 3 B moves information about the virtual band that has executed rewriting, among the virtual bands stored in the garbage queue  133 , to the free queue  131  (P 3 ). 
         [0321]    Next, the third processor  430 - 3 C controls the storage device to convert the virtual address converted in the second processor  430 - 3 B into a physical address of the disk and access the storage medium in accordance with the converted physical address. That is, the third processor  430 - 3 C generates a voice coil motor driving control signal for converting the virtual address into cylinder head sector (CHS) information representing the physical location of the disk and accessing the disk based on the converted CHS information. 
         [0322]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , when the voice coil motor driving control signal generated by the third processor  430 - 3 C is applied to the VCM driver  440 , the VCM driver  440  generates a voice coil motor driving current corresponding to the voice coil motor driving control signal and supplies it to the voice coil motor  30 . Therefore, the magnetic head  16  is moved to a track position of the disk desired to be accessed, and performs a data write or read operation corresponding to a command. 
         [0323]    Next, a storage medium accessing method according to an embodiment of the inventive concept executed under the control of the processor  110  shown in  FIG. 1  or the processor  430  shown in  FIG. 4  will be described with reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 17 . 
         [0324]    The processor  110  determines whether or not abnormal power off occurs in the storage device (S 101 ). For example, when a power voltage is dropped to below a threshold value in a state in which a power off control signal is not generated, the processor  110  may determine that abnormal power off has occurred. A specific embodiment of determining abnormal power off is illustrated in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0325]    A process of determining whether or not abnormal power off occurs will be described with reference to  FIG. 18 . 
         [0326]    The processor  110  determines whether or not the storage device is in a power on mode (S 201 ). The power on mode is a mode in which power is supplied to the storage device, and when once the storage device is changed to the power on mode, the power on mode is continuously maintained unless a command such as system termination, or the like, is generated. In the power on mode, a power off control signal is not generated unless a command such as system termination, or the like, is not generated. 
         [0327]    The processor  110  monitors the voltage Vd of the power while the storage device is maintained in the power on mode (S 202 ). 
         [0328]    The processor  110  compares the voltage Vd of the monitored supply power and a threshold voltage Vth (S 203 ). Here, the threshold voltage Vth may be set as a value obtained by adding a marginal voltage to a minimum voltage with which the processor  110  is normally operated. Obviously, the threshold voltage Vth is set to be lower than a normal power voltage. 
         [0329]    When the processor  110  compares the voltage Vd of the monitored supplied power with the threshold voltage Vth (S 203 ). Here, the threshold voltage Vth may be set to have a value obtained by adding a certain margin voltage to a minimum voltage with which the processor  110  can normally operate. Obviously, the threshold voltage Vth is set to be lower than the normal power voltage. 
         [0330]    When the monitored power voltage Vd is lower than the threshold voltage Vth, the processor  110  determines an abnormal power off state (S 204 ). 
         [0331]    In this manner, a state in which power is abnormally turned off can be determined. 
         [0332]    With reference back to  FIG. 17 , when abnormal power off occurs according to the determination results in step S 101 , the processor  110  stores the address map change information generated in the storage device in the nonvolatile storage device  170  by using reserved power (S 102 ). Here, the address map change information is generated whenever a write command is executed and stored in the RAM  130  as a volatile storage device. The address map change information is information related to a position of data written in the storage medium  150  without being reflected in the address map information stored in the storage medium  150  or the nonvolatile memory device  170 . The address map change information  470 - 2  may be configured to include a logical band number, a virtual band number, and information regarding a finally accessed virtual address. Namely, the address map change information may be configured by a logical band number with respect to data written to the storage medium  150  without being reflected on the address map information stored in the storage medium  150  or the nonvolatile memory device  170 , a virtual band number VB NO allocated to a corresponding logical band, and a virtual address LA VA finally accessed in a virtual band allocated to the corresponding logical band. For example, the address map change information may be generated in the manner as described above with reference to  FIGS. 29A ,  29 B, and  31 . 
         [0333]    Next, when power is supplied to the storage device again, the processor  110  performs of processing to update address map information stored in the storage medium  150  or the nonvolatile memory device  170  based on the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device  170  (S 103 ). 
         [0334]    An operation of performing processing of updating address map information based on the address map change information will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 19 . 
         [0335]    It is determined whether or not the storage device is in a power on mode in which power is supplied (S 301 ). Namely, the processor  110  determines whether or not the storage device transitions to a power on state from a power off state. 
         [0336]    When the storage device transitions to a power on state according to the determination results in step S 301 , the processor  110  reads address map information from the storage medium  150  or the nonvolatile memory device  170  and stores it in the RAM  130  (S 302 ). 
         [0337]    Next, the processor  110  determines whether or not the address map change information has been stored in the nonvolatile memory device  170  (S 303 ). When the storage device is abnormally turned off before transitioning to the power on state, the address map change information may be stored in the nonvolatile memory device  170 . If the storage device is normally turned off according to a power off control signal without experiencing an abnormal power off occurrence before transitioning to the power on state, the address map change information is not stored in the nonvolatile memory device  170 . 
         [0338]    When the address map change information is stored in the nonvolatile memory device  170  according to the determination results in step S 303 , the processor  110  reads the address map change information and the address map information (S 304 ). Namely, the processor  110  reads the address map change information from the nonvolatile memory device  170  and stores it in the RAM  130 . 
         [0339]    Next, the processor  110  performs a process of reconfiguring the address map information (S 305 ). Namely, the processor  110  performs a process of adding mapping information regarding a position of data written on the storage medium  150  without being reflected on the address map information stored in the storage medium  150  or the nonvolatile memory device  170  to the address map information based on the address map change information. 
         [0340]    The process of reconfiguring the address map information in step S 305  will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 20 . 
         [0341]    First, the processor  110  performs a process of reconfiguring a virtual band mapped to a logical band in the address map information based on the address map change information (S 401 ). In detail, the processor  110  newly allocates a virtual band number not present in the address map information among virtual band numbers included in the address map change information to the address map information. For example, it is assumed that address map information indicating an allocation relationship between the logical bands and the virtual bands is as shown in  FIG. 29  and the address map change information is as shown in  FIG. 30 . Then, among the virtual band numbers  5 ,  6 ,  3  included in the address map change information illustrated in  FIG. 30 , the virtual band number  3  exists in the address map information illustrated in  FIG. 29  but the virtual band numbers  5  and  6  do not exist. Thus, the processor  110  newly allocates the virtual band numbers  5  and  6 . 
         [0342]    Next, the processor  110  performs a process of reconfiguring VA mapping information corresponding to the LBAs in the address map information based on the address map change information (S 402 ). Namely, the processor  110  performs a process of adding the mapping information of the VAs and LBAs corresponding to the written sectors in the storage medium  150  without being reflected on the address map information to the address map information. 
         [0343]    A process of reconfiguring the VA mapping information corresponding to the LBAs in the address map information will be described in detail. 
         [0344]    The processor  110  calculates a storage area of data written in the storage medium  150  without being reflected on the address map information (S 501 ). Namely, the processor  110  calculates an area of the storage medium corresponding to a difference between a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band included in the address map change information and a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band included in the corresponding address map information. 
         [0345]    In detail, regarding a virtual band of the virtual band number newly allocated to the address map information among the virtual band numbers included in the address map change information, the processor  110  calculates an area of the disk corresponding to a section starting from a virtual start address with respect to the corresponding virtual band to a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band number included in the address map change information. 
         [0346]    With respect to a virtual band included in the address map change information in which a virtual band number is not newly allocated to the address map information, the processor  110  calculates a disk area corresponding a section from an immediately next virtual address of a finally accessed virtual address read from the address map information to a finally accessed virtual address read from the address map change information. 
         [0347]    Next, the processor  110  reads LBAs from the data storage area calculated in step S 501  (S 502 ). Namely, the processor  110  reads LBAs from the sectors of the area of the storage medium  150  written without being reflected on the address map information. As described above, data and corresponding LBAs are written in each sector of the storage medium  150  when a write operation is performed. 
         [0348]    Next, the VA mapping information corresponding to the LBAs read in step S 502  is added to the address map information (S 503 ). For example, 
         [0349]    For example, when the LBAs as shown in  FIG. 32  is read from the sectors of the storage medium  150  corresponding to the virtual addresses  0  to  13  of the virtual band number  5  in step S 502 , the processor  110  generates VA mapping information corresponding to the LBAs as shown in  FIG. 33  and adds it to the address map information regarding the virtual band number  5  stored in the RAM  130 . With reference to  FIG. 33 , LBAs  75  to  86  are mapped to 12 continuous sectors including VA  0  and LBAs  101  and  102  are mapped to two continuous sectors including VA  12 . 
         [0350]    Through the operation according to the flow charts of  FIGS. 20 and 21  as described above, the step S 305  of reconfiguring the address map information illustrated in  FIG. 19  may be performed. 
         [0351]    With reference back to  FIG. 19 , after reconfiguring the address map information in step S 305 , the processor  110  stores the reconfigured address map information in the storage medium  150  or the nonvolatile memory device  170  (S 306 ). 
         [0352]    And then, the processor  110  deletes the address map change information stored in the RAM  130  and the nonvolatile memory device  170  (S 307 ). Namely, the processor  110  performs an operation of deleting the address map change information stored in the RAM  130  and the nonvolatile memory device  170 . 
         [0353]    Through such an operation, the address map information can be updated based on the address map change information. 
         [0354]    Next, an access method in a disk drive according to an embodiment of the present invention of the technical concept of the present invention executed under the control of the processor  430  will be descried with reference to  FIG. 22 . 
         [0355]    The processor  430  controls the disk drive to write data and LBAs on the disk  12  based on a write command received through the host interface  480  (S 601 ). Namely, the processor  430  converts the LBAs designated by the write command into physical addresses of the disk  12  by using the address map information stored in the RAM  470  and write the data and the LBAs in sectors corresponding to the converted physical addresses. 
         [0356]    An operation of performing a write process will be described in detail with reference to the flow chart illustrated in  FIG. 23 . 
         [0357]    The processor  430  determines a logical band (LB) corresponding to LBAs designated by a received write command (S 701 ). In detail, the processor  430  determines a logical band corresponding to the LBAs designated by the write command received as logical band numbers including LBAs designated by the received write command. For example, when a logical band number  0  is allocated to LBAs  0  to  999  and LBAs designated by a write command is 75, a logical band corresponding to the LBAs designated by the write command is determined to be a logical band number  0 . 
         [0358]    The processor  430  determines whether or not a virtual band allocated to the logical band determined in step S 701  exists (S 702 ). In detail, the processor  430  searches the address map information  470 - 1  stored in the RAM  470  and determines whether or not a virtual band allocated to the determined logical bands already exists in step S 701 . 
         [0359]    When there is a virtual band allocated to the logical band determined in step S 701  according to the determination results in step S 702 , the processor  430  determines whether or not allocation-available virtual addresses VAs exist in the allocated virtual band (S 703 ). Namely, the processor  430  determines whether or not virtual addresses that can be allocated in the allocated virtual band have been all used up. When a finally accessed virtual address in the allocated virtual band is a virtual address corresponding to a final sector included in the virtual band, the processor  430  determines that all the virtual addresses have been used up. For example, in a state in which the size of the virtual band is set to have 200 sectors and start virtual addresses are set to be 0 to 199, when a finally accessed virtual address is 199, the processor  430  may determine that the virtual addresses in the corresponding virtual band have been all used up. 
         [0360]    When there is no virtual band allocated to the logical band determined in step S 701  according to the determination results in step S 702  or when there is no virtual address which can be allocated to the allocated virtual band, the processor  430  allocates a new virtual band to the logical band determined in step S 701  based on a physical zone (S 704 ). Namely, among virtual bands included in a physical zone corresponding to the logical zone including the LBAs designated by the command, the processor  430  may allocate a virtual band not allocated to a different logical band to the logical band including the LBAs designated by the command. 
         [0361]    Next, the processor  430  allocates virtual addresses Vas corresponding to the LBAs designated by the command based on the allocated virtual band (S 705 ). In detail, when a new virtual address is allocated in step S 704 , the processor  430  may allocate a start virtual address indicating a first virtual sector which has been newly allocated to the LBA designated by the command. When there are virtual addresses that can be allocated to the LBAs in the virtual band already allocated to the logical band, the processor  430  may allocate a next virtual address subsequent to the finally accessed virtual address to the LBA designated by the command. 
         [0362]    Next, the processor  430  converts the virtual addresses allocated in step S 705  into CHS (Cylinder Head Sector) information corresponding to physical access position information of the disk  12  (S 706 ). 
         [0363]    Next, the processor  430  executes a seek operation based on the CHS information corresponding to the physical access position information converted in step S 706  (S 707 ). In detail, the processor  430  generates a voice coil motor driving control signal for moving the magnetic head  16  to a target track position of the disk  12  according to the converted CHS information. With reference to  FIG. 4 , when the generated voice coil motor driving control signal is applied to the VCM driving unit  440 , the VCM driving unit  440  generates a voice coil motor driving current corresponding to the voice coil motor driving control signal and supplies the same to the voice coil motor  30 . Accordingly, the magnetic head  16  is moved to the track and sector position of the disk desired to be accessed. 
         [0364]    After finishing the seek operation in step S 707 , the processor  430  performs an operation of writing data and LBAs in the sector position corresponding to the Vas of the disk (S 708 ). As described above, the processor  430  controls the disk drive to write data in the data storage region of the sector and write LBAs in a spare area of the sector. 
         [0365]    According to this operation, the write process is performed in the disk drive. 
         [0366]    With reference back to  FIG. 22 , after the write process is performed in step S 601 , the processor  430  generates address map change information (S 602 ). The address map change information is information related to a position of data written in the disk  12  without being reflected on the address map information stored in the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490 . The address map change information may be configured to include information regarding a logical band number, a virtual band number, and a finally accessed virtual address. Namely, the address map change information may be configured to include a logical band number LB NO, a virtual band number VB NO allocated to the corresponding logical band, and a finally accessed virtual address LA VA in the virtual band allocated to the corresponding logical band, which are written in the disk  12  without being reflected on the address map information stored in the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490 . 
         [0367]    For example, after the address map information including the logical bands and the virtual bands as illustrated in  FIG. 28A  are stored to the RAM  470  from the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490 , when it is changed to the address map information including the logical bands and virtual bands as shown in  FIG. 28B  according to performing of a write command, the address map change information may be generated in the form as shown in  FIG. 30 . 
         [0368]    The processor  430  stores the address map change information generated in step S 602  in the RAM  470  as a nonvolatile memory device (S 603 ). 
         [0369]    After performing the step S 603 , the processor  430  determines whether or not abnormal power off occurs in the disk drive while waiting for receiving a next command (S 604 ). When the voltage of power applied to the disk drive is dropped to below a threshold voltage in a state in which a power off control signal is not generated, the processor  430  determines that abnormal power off has occurred. Namely, when the voltage of power output from the power supply device  500  is dropped to below the threshold voltage in a power on mode, the processor  430  determines that abnormal power off has occurred. 
         [0370]    When abnormal power off has occurred in the disk drive according to the determination results in step S 604 , the processor  430  reads the address map change information stored in the RAM  470  and stores it in the nonvolatile memory device  490  by using reserved power (S 605 ). 
         [0371]    After the abnormal power off occurs in the disk drive, when power is normally supplied to the disk drive again, the processor  430  updates the address map information stored in the disk  12  or the nonvolatile memory device  490  of the disk drive based on the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device  490  (S 606 ). The method of updating address map information based on the address map change information has been described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 20 and 21 , so a repetitive description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0372]    Next, a method for managing address map information according to another embodiment of the technical concept of the present invention executed under the control of the processor  110  illustrated in  FIG. 1  or the processor  430  illustrated in  FIG. 4  will be described with reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 24 . 
         [0373]    The processor  110  determines whether or not the address map change information is stored in a full state in an address map change information list allocated to the RAM  130  (S 801 ). Here, the full state refers to a state in which address map change information cannot be added to the address map change information list any further. For reference, three address map change information items including (LBNO, VB NO, and LA VA) are proposed in  FIG. 30 . In case in which the size of the address map change information list is designed to store ten address map change information items, when ten address map change information items are stored in the address map change information list, it becomes a full state. The size of the address map change information may be determined within a size in which the address map change information can be stored in the nonvolatile storage device  170  by reserved power when power is abnormally cut off. 
         [0374]    When the address map change information stored in the RAM  130  reaches a full state according to the determination results in step S 801 , the processor  110  stores the address map information stored in the RAM  130  to the storage medium  150  or the nonvolatile memory device  170  (S 802 ). When the storage device is a disk drive, the storage medium  150  may be a disk. 
         [0375]    After performing step S 802 , the processor  430  deletes the address map change information stored in the RAM  130  (S 803 ). 
         [0376]    A method of managing address map information through a network according to an embodiment of the technical concept of the present invention will be described. 
         [0377]    First, a network system performing a method for managing address map information regarding a storage device through a network will be described with reference to  FIG. 40 . 
         [0378]    As shown in  FIG. 40 , the network system according to an embodiment of the technical concept of the present invention includes a program providing terminal  510 , a network  520 , a host PC  530 , and a storage device  540 . 
         [0379]    The network  520  may be implemented as a communication network such as the Internet. Obviously, the network  520  may be implemented as a wireless communication network as well as as a wire communication network. 
         [0380]    The program providing terminal  510  stores a program for managing address map information according to the technical concept of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 17 to 24 . 
         [0381]    The program providing terminal  510  performs a process of transmitting a program for managing address map information according to a program transmission request from the host PC  530  connected through the network  520 . 
         [0382]    The host PC  530  includes hardware and software for performing accessing the program providing terminal  510  through the network  520 , requesting a transmission of a program for managing address map information, and downloading the requested program for managing address map information from the program providing terminal  510 . 
         [0383]    The host PC  530  may execute the method for managing address map information according to the technical concept of the present invention in the storage device  540  based on the flow charts illustrated in  FIGS. 17 to 24  according to the program for managing address map information downloaded from the program providing terminal  510 . 
         [0384]    A method for managing address map information through a network according to an embodiment of the technical concept of the present invention will be described with reference to the flow chart of  FIG. 41 . 
         [0385]    First, the host PC  530  using the storage device  540  such as a disk drive, or the like, accesses the program providing terminal  510  through the network  520  (S 901 ). After accessing the program providing terminal  510 , the host PC  530  transmits information requesting a transmission of the program for managing an address map information to the program providing terminal  510  (S 902 ). 
         [0386]    Then, the program providing terminal  510  transmits the requested program for managing address map information to the host PC  530 , so that the host PC  530  can download the program for managing address map information (S 903 ). 
         [0387]    And then, the host PC  530  processes to execute the downloaded program for managing address map information in the storage device (S 904 ). By executing the program for managing address map information in the storage device, when abnormal power off occurs in the storage device, the address map change information is stored in the nonvolatile memory device by using reserved power and address map information regarding the storage device may be updated by using the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device. 
         [0388]    One embodiment may be a method for managing address map information, the method comprising: when abnormal power off occurs in a storage device, storing address map change information generated in the storage device in a nonvolatile memory device; and when power is applied to the storage device, updating address map information with respect to the storage device based on the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map information includes information for converting a logical block address received from a host device into a physical address of a storage medium. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map information includes information for converting a logical block address received from a host device into a physical address of a storage medium by using a virtual address. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map information includes information for converting a logical block address received from a host device into a physical address of a storage medium such that it is sequentially written in one direction in a virtual band corresponding to a physical area of the storage medium. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map information includes mapping information between a logical band classified as an aggregate of logical block addresses and a virtual band corresponding to a physical area of a storage medium and mapping information between a logical block address in a virtual band allocated to a logical band and a virtual address. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map change information includes information regarding a position of data written without being reflected in the address map information. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map change information includes a logical band number, a virtual band number, and a finally accessed virtual address. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map change information includes a logical band number with respect to data written without being reflected in the address map information, a virtual band number allocated to the logical band, and a virtual address finally accessed in the virtual band allocated to the logical band. An embodiment may also include wherein when a power source voltage is dropped to below a threshold voltage in a state in which power off control signal is not generated in the storage device, it is determined that abnormal power off has occurred. An embodiment may also include wherein the nonvolatile memory device includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory device can include a NAND flash memory device or a NOR flash memory device. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map change information generated in the storage device is stored in a volatile memory device while power is being normally supplied. An embodiment may also include wherein, in the updating of the address map information, the address map information is reconfigured based on a logical block address read from an area in which data and a corresponding logical block address are written without being reflected in the address map information by using the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device. An embodiment may also include wherein the updating of the address map information comprises: reading the address map information and the address map change information when power is applied to the storage device; reconfiguring the address map information based on the address map change information; and storing the reconfigured address map information in the storage device. The address map information may be read from the nonvolatile memory device or the storage medium constituting the storage device, and the address map change information may be read from the nonvolatile memory device. An embodiment may also include wherein the reconfiguring of the address map information comprises: newly allocating a virtual band number not present in the address map information among virtual band numbers included in the address map change information to the address map information; reading a logical block address from an area of the storage medium corresponding to a difference between a virtual address finally accessed in the virtual band included in the address map change information and a virtual address finally accessed in a virtual band included in the address map information corresponding thereto; and adding mapping information of the virtual address corresponding to the read logical block address to the address map information. 
         [0389]    An embodiment may also include wherein, in the reading of the logical block address, the logical block address is read from an area of the storage medium corresponding to a section starting from a start virtual address with respect to the virtual band of the newly allocated virtual band number to a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band number included in the address map change information. An embodiment may also include wherein, in the reading of the logical block address, regarding a virtual band included in the address map change information to which the virtual band number is not newly allocated, the logical block address is read from an area of the storage medium corresponding to a section starting from an immediately next virtual address of the finally accessed virtual address read from the address map information to the finally accessed virtual address read from the address map change information. An embodiment may also include wherein the logical block address is read from a logical block address storage area allocated to the storage medium. An embodiment may also include wherein the logical block address storage area is allocated in units of areas designated by a physical address. An embodiment may also include wherein the physical address is allocated in units of sectors. An embodiment may also include wherein a logical block address corresponding to data written in a sector area while a write operation is being performed is written in the logical block address storage area. 
         [0390]    An embodiment may also include wherein the address map information is stored in the nonvolatile memory device or the storage medium of the storage device. An embodiment may also include wherein the storage device includes a disk drive, and the address map information is stored in a disk of the disk drive. 
         [0391]    An embodiment may also include deleting the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device after the address map information is updated. An embodiment may also include wherein when abnormal power off occurs in the storage device, the address map change information stored in the volatile memory device is read by using reserved power and stored in the nonvolatile memory device. An embodiment may also include wherein the reserved power includes power supplied by a voltage charged by a charging element. 
         [0392]    An embodiment may also include further comprising: when the address map change information is stored in a full state in an initially set address map change information list, reading the address map information stored in the volatile memory device and storing the read address map information in the nonvolatile memory device of the storage medium of the storage device; and deleting the address map change information stored in the volatile memory device after the address map information is stored in the nonvolatile memory device of the storage medium of the storage device, wherein the address map information regarding the storage device is stored in the volatile memory device when the storage device is initialized, and the address map information stored in the volatile memory device is updated whenever the address map change information is generated. 
         [0393]    Another embodiment may be an access method in a disk drive, the method comprising: converting a logical block address designated in a command into a physical address of a disk based on address map information; accessing the converted physical address position of the disk and executing a data write operation; generating address map change information based on the data write operation; and when abnormal power off occurs in a disk drive, storing the generated address map change information in a nonvolatile memory device, wherein when power is applied to the disk drive, a process of updating the address map information is executed based on the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device. An embodiment may also include wherein when the disk drive is initialized, the address map information is read from the disk and stored in a volatile memory device, and the logical block address designated in the command is converted into a physical address of the disk based on the address map information stored in the volatile memory device. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map information is stored in the disk or the nonvolatile memory device. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map information includes information for converting a logical block address received from a host device into a physical address of the disk by using a virtual address. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map information includes information for converting a logical block address received from the host device into a physical address of the disk such that it is sequentially written in any one direction of an inner circumferential direction and an outer circumferential direction in a track included in a virtual band corresponding to a physical area of the disk. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map information includes mapping information between a logical band classified as an aggregate of logical block addresses and a virtual band corresponding to a physical area of the disk and mapping information between a logical block address in a virtual band allocated to a logical band and a virtual address corresponding to a sector. An embodiment may also include wherein data and a logical block address corresponding thereto are written to the disk when the data write operation is executed. An embodiment may also include wherein the logical block address is written by data sector of the disk. An embodiment may also include wherein when a voltage of a power source applied from the disk drive is dropped to below a threshold voltage in a state in which power off control signal is not generated in the disk drive, it is determined that abnormal power off has occurred. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map change information includes information regarding a position of data written in the disk without being reflected in the address map information stored in the disk or the nonvolatile memory device. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map change information includes a logical band number, a virtual band number, and a finally accessed virtual address. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map change information includes a logical band number with respect to data written in the disk without being reflected in the address map information stored in the disk or the nonvolatile memory device, a virtual band number allocated to the logical band, and a virtual address finally accessed in the virtual band allocated to the logical band. An embodiment may also include wherein a process of updating the address map information comprises: reading the address map information and the address map change information when power is applied to the disk drive; reconfiguring the address map information based on the address map change information; and storing the reconfigured address map information in the disk drive. An embodiment may also include wherein, in the reconfiguring of the address map information, a virtual band number not present in the address map information among virtual band numbers included in the address map change information is newly allocated to the address map information based on the address map change information. An embodiment may also include wherein the updating of the address map information comprises: moving a magnetic head to a first area of the disk in which data and a logical block address corresponding thereto are written without being reflected in the address map information by using the address map change information; reading the logical block address from the first area; and adding virtual address mapping information corresponding to the logical block address read from the first area to the address map information. 
         [0394]    An embodiment may also include wherein the first area of the disk is determined based on a difference between a finally access virtual address in a virtual band included in the address map change information and a finally accessed virtual address in a virtual band included in the address map information corresponding thereto. An embodiment may also include wherein the first area includes an area of the disk corresponding to a section starting from a start virtual address with respect to the virtual band of the newly allocated virtual band number based on the address map change information to a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band number included in the address map change information. An embodiment may also include wherein, regarding a virtual band included in the address map change information to which the virtual band number is not newly allocated, the first area includes an area of the disk corresponding to a section starting from an immediately next virtual address of the finally accessed virtual address read from the address map information to the finally accessed virtual address read from the address map change information. An embodiment may also include wherein the process of updating the address map information further comprises: deleting the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device after the step of executing the reconfigured address map information in the disk drive is executed. 
         [0395]    Another embodiment may be a storage device comprising: a storage medium; a storage media interface accessing the storage medium to write data or read data, a volatile memory device; a nonvolatile memory device; and a processor controlling the storage medium interface to write data to the storage medium or read data from the storage medium, wherein the processor stores address map change information generated based on a data writing operation in the volatile memory device, reads the address map change information from the volatile memory device and stores the read address map change information in the nonvolatile memory device by using reserved power in case in which abnormal power off occurs, and performs an operation of updating address map information based on the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device. An embodiment may also include wherein when a voltage of a power source applied to the storage device is dropped to below a threshold voltage in a state in which power off control signal is not generated, the processor determines that abnormal power off has occurred. An embodiment may also include further comprising: a power supply device supplying reserved power to the storage device when abnormal power off occurs. An embodiment may also include wherein the power supply device comprises: a reserved power charging unit charging supplied power to a charging element; and a power distribution unit supplying power charged in the reserved power charging unit to the storage device when abnormal power off occurs. An embodiment may also include wherein when abnormal power off occurs, the power distribution unit supplies power charged in the reserved power charging unit to the processor, the volatile memory device, and the nonvolatile memory device constituting the storage device. An embodiment may also include wherein the reserved power charging unit further comprises: a circuit for charging a counter electromotive force generated from a motor rotating by inertia in a state in which abnormal power off occurs to the charging element. An embodiment may also include wherein when the storage device is initialized, the processor stores address map information stored in the storage medium to the volatile memory device, and update the address map information stored in the volatile memory device based on a write operation. An embodiment may also include wherein when the address map change information is stored in a full state in an initially set address map change information list, the processor reads the address map information stored in the volatile memory device and writes the read address map information to the storage medium. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map information is written to the storage medium. An embodiment may also include wherein the processor reads the address map information stored in the volatile memory device, writes the read address map information to the storage medium, and then, deletes the address map change information stored in the volatile memory device. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map information includes information for converting a logical block address into a physical address of the storage medium by using a virtual address. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map information includes information for converting a logical block address designated by a command into a physical address of the storage medium such that it is sequentially written in any one of an inner circumferential direction and an outer circumferential direction in a virtual band corresponding to a physical area of the storage medium. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map information includes mapping information between a logical band classified as an aggregate of logical block addresses and a virtual band corresponding to a physical area of the storage medium and mapping information between a logical block address in a virtual band allocated to a logical band and a virtual address corresponding to a sector. An embodiment may also include wherein the processor controls the storage medium interface to write data and a logical block address corresponding thereto to the storage medium when the data write operation is executed. An embodiment may also include wherein a data storage area and a logical block address storage area are allocated in units of sectors to the storage medium. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map change information includes information regarding a position of data written in the storage medium without being reflected in the address map information. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map change information includes a logical band number with respect to data written in the storage medium without being reflected in the address map information, a virtual band number allocated to the logical band, and a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band allocated to the logical band. 
         [0396]    An embodiment may also include wherein the processor performs an address map information updating process of accessing a first area of the storage medium written without being reflected in the address map information by using the address map change information read from the nonvolatile memory device when power is applied to the storage device, and adding virtual address mapping information corresponding to a logical block address read from the first area to the address map information. An embodiment may also include wherein the processor determines the first area based on a difference between a finally accessed virtual address in a virtual band included in the address map change information and a finally accessed virtual address in a virtual band included in the address map information. An embodiment may also include wherein the processor includes an area of the storage medium corresponding to a section starting from a start virtual address with respect to a virtual band of a newly allocated virtual band number based on the address map change information to a finally accessed virtual address in the virtual band number included in the address map change information, in the first area. An embodiment may also include wherein, regarding a virtual band included in the address map change information to which the virtual band number is not newly allocated, the processor includes an area of the storage medium corresponding to a section starting from an immediately next virtual address of the finally accessed virtual address read from the address map information to the finally accessed virtual address read from the address map change information, in the first area. 
         [0397]    An embodiment may also include wherein the processor executes an address map information updating process of newly allocating a virtual band number not present in the address map information among virtual band numbers included in the address map change information to the address map information based on the address map change information. An embodiment may also include wherein the processor performs processing of deleting the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory after performing the operation of updating the address map information. An embodiment may also include wherein the storage device includes a disk drive. 
         [0398]    An embodiment may also be a computer system comprising: a host device issuing a command for operating a connected storage device; and a storage device for writing data transmitted from the host device in a storage medium or reading data from the storage medium and transmitting the data to the host device based on the command issued from the host device, wherein when supplied power is abnormally cut off, the storage device stores generated address map change information based on a data write operation in a nonvolatile memory device by using reserved power, and updates address map information with respect to the storage device based on the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device. An embodiment may also include wherein the storage device writes data and a logical block address corresponding thereto in a storage medium when a data write operation is executed. An embodiment may also include wherein the address map change information includes information regarding a position of data written in a storage medium of the storage device without being reflected on the address map information. An embodiment may also include wherein, when power is applied, the storage device executes an address map information updating process of accessing a first area of the storage medium written without being reflected on the address map information by using the address map change information read from the nonvolatile memory device and adding virtual address mapping information corresponding to a logical block address read from the first area to the address map information. 
         [0399]    Another embodiment may be a method for managing address map information through a network, the method comprising: downloading a program for managing address map information with respect to a storage device from a terminal connected to the network; and executing the downloaded program for managing address map information with respect to the storage device, wherein the program for managing address map information with respect to the storage device includes a program code for performing a process of storing address map change information generated in the storage device to a nonvolatile memory device when power is abnormally cut off, and a process of updating address map information with respect to the storage device based on the address map change information stored in the nonvolatile memory device when power is applied to the storage device. 
         [0400]    Another embodiment may be a computer-readable storage medium storing a program code for executing a method described herein in a computer. 
         [0401]    The present invention can be applicable to storage devices using various write methods as well as to a disk drive using the shingled write method. 
         [0402]    The present invention can be realized as a method, an apparatus, a system and so on. When the present invention is realized as software, the members of the present invention are code segments which execute necessary operations. Programs or code segments may be stored in a processor readable medium. The processor readable medium may be any medium which can store or transmit information, such as an electronic circuit, a semiconductor memory device, a ROM, a flash memory, an EROM (Erasable ROM), a floppy disc, an optical disc, a hard disc, or the like. 
         [0403]    Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that modifications to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is obvious that the present invention is not restricted to the specific structures or arrangements shown or described in this specification. 
       DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 
       [0000]    
       
         2000: host device 
           160 : host I/F 
           110 : processor 
           140 : storage medium I/F 
           170 : nonvolatile memory device 
           180 : power supply device 
           150 : storage medium 
       
     
       FIG. 4 
       [0000]    
       
           410 : pre-amplifier 
           420 : R/W channel 
           480 : host interface 
           440 : VCM driving unit 
           450 : SPM driving unit 
           500 : power supply device 
           430 : processor 
           490 : nonvolatile memory device 
       
     
       FIG. 11 
       [0000]    
       
           310 : power supply unit 
           320 : reserved power charging unit 
           330 : power distribution unit 
       
     
       FIG. 12 
       [0000]    
       
                   : power distribution unit 
       
     
       FIG. 13 
       [0000]    
       
                   : power distribution unit 
       
     
       FIG. 14 
       [0000]    
       
           430 ; processor 
           430 - 1 : power control processor 
           430 - 2 : address map information management processor 
           430 - 3 : address conversion processor 
           470 - 2 : address map change information 
           470 - 1 : address map information (meta data) 
       
     
       FIG. 15 
       [0000]    
       
           430 - 3 A: first processor 
           430 - 3 B: second processor 
           430 - 3 C: third processor 
                   : address map information 
                   : storage medium 
       
     
       FIG. 16 
       [0000]    
       
           133 : garbage queue 
           132 : allocation queue 
           131 : free queue 
       
     
       FIG. 17 
       [0000]    
       
         S 101 : abnormal power off occurs? 
         S 102 : store address map change information in nonvolatile memory device 
         S 103 : update address map information based on address map change information stored in nonvolatile memory device 
       
     
       FIG. 18 
       [0000]    
       
         S 201 : power on mode? 
         S 202 : monitor power source voltage 
         S 204 : determine abnormal power off  FIG. 19   
         S 302 : store address map information in RAM 
         S 303 : address map change information is stored in nonvolatile memory device? 
         S 304 : store address map change information in RAM 
         S 305 : reconfigure address map information 
         S 306 : store reconfigured address map information in storage medium or nonvolatile memory device 
         S 307 : delete address map change information 
       
     
       FIG. 20 
       [0000]    
       
         S 401 : reconfigure virtual band (VB) mapped to logical band (LV) 
         S 402 : reconfigure VA mapping information corresponding to LBA 
       
     
       FIG. 21 
       [0000]    
       
         S 501 : calculate data storage area written without being reflected on address map information 
         S 502 : read LBA from calculated data storage area 
         S 503 : add VA mapping information corresponding to read LBA to address map information 
       
     
       FIG. 22 
       [0000]    
       
         S 601 : write data and LBA in storage medium based on write command 
         S 602 : generate address map change information 
         S 604 : abnormal power off occurs? 
         S 605 : store address map change information in nonvolatile memory device 
         S 606 : update address map information based on address map change information stored in nonvolatile memory device 
       
     
       FIG. 23 
       [0000]    
       
         S 701 : determine LB corresponding to LBA designated by write command 
         S 702 : allocated VB exists in determined LB? 
         S 703 : allocation-available VA exists in allocated VB? 
         S 704 : allocate new VB based on physical zone 
         S 705 : allocate VA to LBA 
         S 706 : convert VA into CHS information 
         S 707 : execute access based on CHS information 
         S 708 : write data and LBA 
       
     
       FIG. 24 
       [0000]    
       
         S 801 : address map change information list is full? 
         S 802 : store address map information 
         S 803 : delete address map change information 
       
     
       FIG. 40 
       [0000]    
       
           510 : program providing terminal 
           520 : network 
           530 : host device PC 
           540 : storage device 
       
     
       FIG. 41 
       [0000]    
       
         S 901 : access program providing terminal 
         S 902 : request program for managing address map information 
         S 903 : download program for managing address map information 
         S 904 : execute program for managing address map information

Technology Category: 3