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Abstract

A disk-based storage system for storing a plurality of data segments responds to a direction-selection signal by autonomously providing the data segments in a selected sequence so as to be concatenated together to define a continuous data stream. The disk-based storage system comprises nonvolatile storage including rotating disk media having a plurality of addressable locations. Each of the data segments is stored in a respective one of the addressable locations. Each of the addressable locations has a leading end and a trailing end. A first one of the addressable locations has a trailing end on a first track, and a second one of the addressable locations has a leading end on a second track, the second track being spaced from the first track. The non-volatile storage provides for locally storing a doubly-linked list of pointers. The system also comprises accessing structure controllable to seek to, and access, any of the addressable locations starting at the leading end and continuing through the trailing end. The system also comprises controller structure for causing the accessing structure to read the data segments in accordance with a sequence determined by the doubly-linked list of pointers and the direction-selection signal. The controller structure includes autonomously-operating control structure responsive to the trailing end of the first one of the locations having been read for causing the accessing structure to seek to the second track.

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First Claim