Seagate Technology Incorporated

Lsi Corporation

Jonathan M Henze

Ryan James Goss

Stacey Secatch

Jeffrey John Pream

Indrajit Zagade

Charles McJilton

Jack Vincent Anderson

Michael Scott Hicken

Jeffrey L Williams

Jeremy Blair Goolsby

Stephen H Perlmutter

Randal Rysavy

Christopher A Smith

Matthew Stoering

A data storage system may store a first data block having a first data configuration generated by a host in a non-volatile memory that is connected to a data module. A data strategy may be generated with the data module in response to the storage of data with the data strategy consisting of at least one trigger associated with identifying the first data block as hot. The first data block can be replicated to a different memory location with a second data configuration as directed by the data strategy with the first data configuration being different than the second data configuration.

Hot data management in a data storage system

Method and apparatus for managing data in a storage device, such as a solid-state drive (SSD). An apparatus includes a main non-volatile memory (NVM) such as a NAND flash memory. A host command queue lists pending data transfer commands to transfer data between the NVM and a host. For each write command received by the NVM to store write data to an associated target location, a controller examines the host command queue. Based on this review, the controller may direct the NVM to read data adjacent the associated target location to which data are to be written by the write command and to transfer the read data to a read cache. The read data may use some or all of the same resources used to store the write data to the NVM. The read data may be subsequently transferred from the read cache to the host.

Pre-suspend before program in a non-volatile memory (NVM)

Method and apparatus for managing data in a non-volatile memory (NVM) of a storage device, such as a solid-state drive (SSD). Data are stored to and retrieved from a group of memory cells in the NVM using a controller circuit. The data are retrieved using a first set of read voltages which are applied to the respective memory cells. The first set of read voltages are accumulated into a history distribution, which is evaluated to arrive at a second set of read voltages based upon characteristics of the history distribution. A calibration operation is performed on the memory cells using the second set of read voltages as a starting point. A final, third set of read voltages is obtained during the calibration operation to provide error rate performance at an acceptable level. The third set of read voltages are thereafter used for subsequent read operations.

Optimization of reference voltages in a non-volatile memory (NVM)

Apparatus and method for a die kill and recovery sequence for a non-volatile memory (NVM). Data are stored in the NVM as data sets in garbage collection units (GCUs) that span multiple semiconductor dies. A die failure management circuit is configured to detect a die failure event associated with a selected die, and to generate a recovery strategy to accommodate the detected die failure event by selecting recovery actions to be taken in a selected sequence to maintain a current level of data transfer performance with a client device. The selected recovery actions are carried out in the selected sequence to transfer at least a portion of the user data stored in the selected die to a new replacement die, after which the selected die is decommissioned from further use. The NVM may be a flash memory of a solid-state drive (SSD).

Semiconductor die failure recovery in a data storage device

A solid-state memory may have many non-individually erasable memory cells arranged into calibration groups with each memory cell in each respective calibration group using a common set of read voltages to sense programmed states. An evaluation circuit of the solid-state memory may be configured to measure at least one read parameter for each calibration group responsive to read operations carried out upon the memory cells in the associated calibration group. An adjustment circuit of the solid-state memory may redistribute the memory cells of an existing calibration group into at least one new calibration group in response to the at least one measured read parameter.

Solid-state memory with intelligent cell calibration

Method and apparatus for managing data in a storage device, such as a solid-state drive (SSD). A non-volatile memory (NVM) is arranged into multiple garbage collection units (GCUs) each separately erasable and allocatable as a unit. Read circuitry applies read voltages to memory cells in the GCUs to sense a programmed state of the memory cells. Calibration circuitry groups different memory cells from different GCUs into calibration groups that share a selected set of read voltages. A read command queue accumulates pending read commands to transfer data from the NVM to a local read buffer. Read command coalescing circuitry coalesces selected read commands from the queue into a combined command for execution as a single batch command. The combined batch command may include read voltages for use in retrieval of the requested data.

Coalescing read commands by location from a host queue

Method and apparatus for managing data in a storage device, such as a solid-state drive (SSD). In some embodiments, a main memory has memory cells arranged on dies arranged as die sets accessible using parallel channels. A controller is configured to arbitrate resources required by access commands to transfer data to or from the main memory using the parallel channels, to monitor an occurrence rate of collisions between commands requiring an overlapping set of the resources, and to adjust a ratio among different types of commands executed by the controller responsive to the occurrence rate of the collisions. In further embodiments, the controller may divide a full command into multiple partial commands, each of which are executed as the associated system resources become available. In some cases, the ratio is established between read commands and write commands issued to the main memory.

Collision reduction through just-in-time resource allocation

Method and apparatus for intelligent caching, protection and transfers of data between a cache and a main memory in a data storage environment, such as but not limited to a solid-state drive (SSD). A main memory (MM) has non-volatile memory (NVM) cells configured for persistent storage of user data. A fast response cache (FRC) has NVM cells configured to provide storage of first data prior to transfer to the MM. A write cache (WC) has NVM cells configured to provide storage of second data prior to transfer to the MM. A controller directs input data to either the FRC or the WC. A first type of error correction encoding (ECC1) is applied to the first data and a different, second type of error correction encoding (ECC2) is applied to the second data. Data may be sent from the FRC to the MM either directly or through the WC.

Fast cache with intelligent copyback

Systems and methods are disclosed for the intelligent scheduling of garbage collection operations on a solid state memory. In certain embodiments, a method may comprise initiating a garbage collection process for a solid state memory (SSM) having a multiple die architecture, determining an order of die access for the garbage collection process based on an activity table indicating a use of one or more die in the multiple die architecture, and performing the garbage collection process based on the determined order of die access. Garbage collection reads may be directed to idle die to avoid conflicts with die busy performing other operations, thereby improving system performance.

Garbage collection command scheduling

Systems and methods are disclosed for die access order variation to a memory having a multiple-die architecture. In certain embodiments, an apparatus may comprise a controller configured to assign a unique die access order to each set of multiple sets of related commands, a die access order controlling an order in which a plurality of dies of a solid state memory are accessed to perform the related commands. A first stream may be assigned a first die access order, and a second stream may be assigned a second, different die access order, thereby distributing the timing of die access collisions between the streams.

Die access order variation

Aspects of the disclosure pertain to a system and method for key wrapping via a storage system to allow secure access to media of the system by multiple authorities with modifiable permissions. The keys used to encrypt ranges of the drive are not stored in plaintext and are recoverable using the credentials of an administrator or user with access to that particular range. An outside attacker cannot recover these keys and a malicious user can only recover the keys to the ranges that user is allowed to access. This is maintained while allowing administrators to modify permissions at any time and, while allowing both administrators and users to change their credentials at any time.

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Savage, MN, United States of America

Jonathan M Henze