Power efficient scheduling for disc accesses

摘要

A device for scanning a record carrier has a head for scanning a track for reading and/or writing information. A disc scheduler controls receiving requests for accessing the record carrier, the requests including streaming requests regarding real time information and auxiliary requests ( 44 ) regarding auxiliary information. The disc scheduler reduces power consumption of the device by switching the scanning means to a stand-by mode when no requests are pending and switching the scanning means to an operational mode when a request has to be executed. The auxiliary requests are executed in a processing interval ( 45 ) in combination with a selected one of the streaming requests. Hence the number of spin-ups of the record carrier is reduced.