Prior art — US Patent 7120832

I have successfully accessed the USPTO database for patent 7120832 via the provided information. I will now identify and describe the relevant prior art cited in US7120832.

Here is an analysis of the most relevant prior art cited in US patent 7120832:

Prior Art Analysis for US Patent 7120832

The following patent citations are listed as "Prior art" in US7120832 and are analyzed for their potential to anticipate claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

1. US5506955A: System and method for monitoring and optimizing performance in a data processing system

Full Citation: US5506955A (International Business Machines Corporation)
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1992-10-23, Published: 1996-04-09
Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for monitoring and optimizing the performance of a data processing system, including monitoring system performance and making adjustments. It focuses on general data processing system performance, rather than specifically storage devices.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): While broadly related to performance monitoring, this patent may not directly anticipate the specific focus on storage device performance monitoring and automatic data reallocation or backup prior to predicted failure as defined in claims 1, 12, 22, and 25. However, the concept of monitoring and optimizing system performance in general could be considered foundational, potentially impacting broader aspects of the independent claims, especially the general idea of "analyzing intercepted communications" and "responding to a decline in performance."

2. US5566317A: Method and apparatus for computer disk drive management

Full Citation: US5566317A (International Business Machines Corporation)
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1994-06-14, Published: 1996-10-15
Brief Description: This patent details a method and apparatus for managing computer disk drives. It likely involves aspects of disk operation and maintenance, which might include some form of performance consideration.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent's focus on "disk drive management" suggests it might touch upon aspects of monitoring and responding to disk drive conditions. If it includes any form of performance monitoring leading to automated action like reallocation or proactive measures, it could potentially anticipate elements of claims 1, 12, 22, and 25, particularly the "reallocating at least some data" aspect if that management is tied to performance.

3. US5684945A: System and method for maintaining performance data in a data processing system

Full Citation: US5684945A (International Business Machines Corporation)
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1992-10-23, Published: 1997-11-04
Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for maintaining performance data within a data processing system. This would involve collecting and potentially analyzing performance metrics.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): The general concept of "maintaining performance data" is relevant to the "intercepting communications" and "analyzing said intercepted communications" steps in claims 1, 12, and 25. However, the key distinguishing features of US7120832's claims are the comparison to a threshold/predicted failure and the proactive response (reallocation/backup). If US5684945A does not explicitly detail these proactive, predictive response mechanisms for storage devices, it would likely not fully anticipate the independent claims.

4. US5802069A: Implementing mass storage device functions using host processor memory

Full Citation: US5802069A (Intel Corporation)
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1995-11-13, Published: 1998-09-01
Brief Description: This patent concerns the implementation of mass storage device functions utilizing host processor memory. This likely relates to how data is managed and accessed between the host and storage.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): While dealing with mass storage devices, this patent's focus on "implementing functions using host processor memory" does not immediately suggest the performance monitoring and predictive response elements of US7120832. It is less likely to anticipate the independent claims unless it contains explicit teachings on intercepting communications to monitor performance, predict failure, and initiate proactive responses like reallocation or backup.

5. US5859823A: Optical disk device method for detecting and replacing a defective sector within a block containing recording data and error correction data on an optical disk

Full Citation: US5859823A (Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba)
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1996-03-25, Published: 1999-01-12
Brief Description: This patent describes a method for detecting and replacing defective sectors on an optical disk, including using error correction data. This is a form of maintenance for data integrity.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent directly addresses defect management by "detecting and replacing a defective sector." This action is a form of "reallocating at least some data on said storage device to enhance continued operation" as found in claim 1 and claim 25. The "intercepting communications" (e.g., encountering an error in a sector) and "analyzing said intercepted communications" to determine a defective sector could be seen as anticipating aspects of US7120832. This patent appears to be highly relevant to claims involving data reallocation due to performance or errors.

6. US5956750A: Apparatus and method for reallocating logical to physical disk devices using a storage controller, with access frequency and sequential access ratio calculations and display

Full Citation: US5956750A (Hitachi, Ltd.)
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1996-04-08, Published: 1999-09-21
Brief Description: This patent describes an apparatus and method for reallocating data on disk devices using a storage controller, specifically considering access frequency and sequential access ratios. This is directly related to optimizing storage performance through data organization.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant, especially to claims 1, 22, and 25, which explicitly mention "reallocating at least some data on said storage device to enhance continued operation" or "enhance the performance." The use of "access frequency and sequential access ratio calculations" aligns with "analyzing said intercepted communications" to determine performance decline and guide reallocation. This patent appears to strongly anticipate the data reallocation aspects of US7120832, particularly when reallocation is based on usage patterns (as in claim 10 and 20).

7. US6101619A: Method for improving access performance on track with re-allocation sector in a hard disk drive

Full Citation: US6101619A ([[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.))
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1996-12-31, Published: 2000-08-08
Brief Description: This patent describes a method for improving hard disk drive access performance through sector reallocation. This is a direct approach to optimizing storage by rearranging data.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US5956750A, this patent is highly relevant to claims 1, 22, and 25 due to its focus on "re-allocation sector in a hard disk drive" for "improving access performance." The interception and analysis of communications related to access performance would logically precede such reallocation, thus potentially anticipating several elements of the independent claims.

8. US6223252B1: Hot spare light weight mirror for raid system

Full Citation: US6223252B1 (International Business Machines Corporation)
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1998-05-04, Published: 2001-04-24
Brief Description: This patent describes a "hot spare light weight mirror for a RAID system." This relates to data redundancy and fault tolerance in storage systems.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): While not directly about performance monitoring leading to data reallocation or defragmentation, a "hot spare" system inherently involves responding to a potential or actual drive failure by utilizing a mirrored drive to maintain operation. This could be seen as a form of "responding to a decline in the performance of said storage device" by ensuring continued operation, even if the primary response is not reallocation on the same device. It might potentially anticipate the "backing up at least some data" aspect of claim 12, as a mirror serves a similar purpose to a backup.

9. US6249887B1: Apparatus and method for predicting failure of a disk drive

Full Citation: US6249887B1 (William G. Gray)
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1998-09-21, Published: 2001-06-19
Brief Description: This patent explicitly describes an apparatus and method for predicting disk drive failure. This directly relates to the "predicted failure" aspect of US7120832.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is extremely relevant, particularly to claims 1 and 12, which involve "comparing said intercepted communications to a predicted failure of the storage device" and "responding to a decline in the performance... prior to the predicted failure thereof." If this patent also teaches intercepting communications for prediction and initiating a response to the predicted failure (even if the response differs from reallocation/backup), it could anticipate core elements of these claims.

10. US6289484B1: Disk drive employing off-line scan to collect selection-control data for subsequently deciding whether to verify after write

Full Citation: US6289484B1 (Western Digital Technologies, Inc.)
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1999-05-19, Published: 2001-09-11
Brief Description: This patent describes a disk drive that uses an off-line scan to collect data for determining whether to verify data after a write operation. This is related to data integrity and reliability.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): While focused on data verification, the "off-line scan to collect selection-control data" could be interpreted as a form of "intercepting communications" or acquiring information about the state of the storage device. If this collection and analysis leads to a determination of declining performance or predicted failure and a subsequent response, it could potentially anticipate aspects of the independent claims. However, the specific response of US7120832 (reallocation/backup/defragmentation) would need to be present or directly inferable.

11. US6327106B1: Disk drive having data-guarding firmware

Full Citation: US6327106B1 (Western Digital Technologies, Inc.)
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1998-08-21, Published: 2001-12-04
Brief Description: This patent describes a disk drive with data-guarding firmware, which would likely involve mechanisms to protect data integrity and prevent data loss.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): "Data-guarding firmware" implies proactive measures to protect data. If these measures are triggered by intercepted communications indicating declining performance or a predicted failure, and involve actions like reallocation or backup, it could potentially anticipate the response elements of claims 1, 12, and 25.

12. US6401214B1: Preventive recovery action in hard disk drives

Full Citation: US6401214B1 (International Business Machines Corporation)
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1999-03-04, Published: 2002-06-04
Brief Description: This patent explicitly addresses "preventive recovery action in hard disk drives." This is highly aligned with the concept of responding prior to an actual failure in US7120832.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is extremely relevant to all independent claims, particularly the "responding to a decline in the performance of said storage device prior to said predicted failure thereof" and "to enhance continued operation" or "enhance the performance." If the "preventive recovery action" involves intercepting communications to detect a decline and performing actions like reallocation or backup, it could be highly anticipatory of US7120832's claims.

13. US6408406B1: Hard disk drive infant mortality test

Full Citation: US6408406B1 (Western Digital Technologies, Inc.)
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1999-08-31, Published: 2002-06-18
Brief Description: This patent describes a test for "hard disk drive infant mortality," suggesting methods to identify early-life failures.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): While focused on early-life testing, the underlying principle of identifying potential failures through diagnostics could relate to predicting failure. If the test involves monitoring performance metrics (intercepted communications) and initiating a response based on predicted failure, it could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1 and 12.

14. US6412089B1: Background read scanning with defect reallocation

Full Citation: US6412089B1 (Compaq Computer Corporation)
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1999-02-26, Published: 2002-06-25
Brief Description: This patent describes background read scanning with defect reallocation. This is a direct method for identifying and managing defective areas on a storage device.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant to claims 1, 22, and 25 due to its explicit teaching of "defect reallocation." The "background read scanning" can be seen as a form of "intercepting communications" to detect issues, leading to "reallocating at least some data" to enhance performance or continued operation.

15. US6460151B1: System and method for predicting storage device failures

Full Citation: US6460151B1 (Microsoft Corporation)
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1999-07-26, Published: 2002-10-01
Brief Description: This patent directly describes a "system and method for predicting storage device failures."
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is extremely relevant, directly addressing the "predicting storage device failures" aspect of US7120832's claims 1 and 12. If it further includes intercepting communications for prediction and initiating a response to that prediction (even if the specific response differs), it could be highly anticipatory of these claims.

16. US20020184580A1: Storage media scanner apparatus and method providing media predictive failure analysis and proactive media surface defect management

Full Citation: US20020184580A1 (International Business Machines Corporation)
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2001-06-01, Published: 2002-12-05
Brief Description: This patent application describes a storage media scanner providing predictive failure analysis and proactive defect management. This combines failure prediction with active management of storage issues.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent application is highly relevant as it explicitly teaches "predictive failure analysis" and "proactive media surface defect management." This directly addresses the core concepts of US7120832's independent claims (1, 12, 22, 25) regarding intercepting communications, analyzing them for predicted decline/failure, and responding proactively (e.g., through defect management, which is a form of reallocation).

17. US6571354B1: Method and apparatus for storage unit replacement according to array priority

Full Citation: US6571354B1 (Dell Products, L.P.)
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1999-12-15, Published: 2003-05-27
Brief Description: This patent describes a method and apparatus for replacing storage units based on array priority, likely in a multi-drive system like RAID.
Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): "Storage unit replacement" is listed as a possible response to declining performance in the detailed description of US7120832. While not reallocation or backup on the same device, it is a direct response to a detected problem. If this replacement is triggered by monitoring and analysis of communications indicating a decline or predicted failure, it could potentially anticipate the "responding to a decline in the performance" aspects of claims 1 and 12.

Non-Patent Literature (NPL) Citations (Examples provided in US7120832):

It is also noteworthy that US7120832 itself references several non-patent literature documents related to Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) and other hard disk drive diagnostics from companies like Quantum, IBM, Seagate, and Western Digital. These NPLs, published as early as 1995, demonstrate that the concept of monitoring disk drive health and performance for predictive purposes was known in the art prior to the filing date of US7120832 (2001-09-27). Specifically, the concepts of "Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.)" and "Pre-Failure Alerting" were existing technologies. This NPL could be particularly relevant for establishing that the general idea of monitoring for "predicted failure" (as in claims 1 and 12) was publicly available prior art.