Sandisk Il Ltd.

Western Digital Technologies, Inc.

Sandisk Technologies Inc.

Nir Perry

Yacov Duzly

Alon Marcu

Eitan Mardiks

Alain Nochimowski

Yaniv Iarovici

Polina Marimont

Yaron Pikman

Rotem Sela

Hadas Oshinsky

Julian Vlaiko

Micha Rave

Ori Stern

Yoav Markus

Miki Sapir

Tal Heller

Asher Druck

David Landsman

Alex Lemberg

Guy Freikorn

Meytal Soffer

A storage system and method for dual fast release and slow release responses are provided. In one embodiment, a storage system is provided comprising a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive, from a host, a write command and data to be written in the non-volatile memory. The host comprises a command queue storing an identifier for the write command and a buffer storing a copy of the data. In response to storing the data in the volatile memory, the controller is configured to instruct the host to remove the identifier for the write command from the host's command queue. In response to successfully writing the data in the non-volatile memory, the controller is configured to instruct the host to remove the copy of the data from the host's buffer. Other embodiments are provided.

Storage system and method for dual fast release and slow release responses

A method includes receiving a first write command from a first data source and determining a first data type associated with the first data source. The method also includes allocating a first page of a memory block to the first data source. The method also writing data to the first page based on the first write command and setting, on the first page, a data type of the first page based on the first data type. The method also includes receiving a read command from one of a plurality of data sources. The method also includes determining a data type associated with the one of the plurality of data sources. The method also includes determining whether to perform the read operation on the first page based on the data type of the first page and the data type associated with the one of the plurality of data sources.

Systems and methods for data storage in a memory system

Systems and methods for managing transfer of data into and out of a host data buffer of a host are disclosed. In one implementation, a partial write completion module of a storage system retrieves from the host, stores in a memory, and acknowledges retrieving and storing with a partial write completion message, each subset of a larger set of data associated with a host write command. The host may utilize received partial write completion messages to release and use the portion of the host data buffer that had been storing the subset identified in the message rather than waiting to release data associated with the host write command until all the data associated with the command is stored in the memory. The memory in which each subset is stored may be non-volatile memory in the storage device or a shadow buffer on the host or an external memory device.

System and method for utilization of a shadow data buffer in a host where the shadow data buffer is controlled by external storage controller

In one aspect, a method of transferring data over a plurality of communication lines is described. A first command is sent from a master device coupled with the communication lines to a first destination slave device coupled with the communication lines instructing the first destination slave device to listen to and write data from the communication lines starting at a first time. A second command is sent from the master device to a second source slave device coupled with the communication lines instructing the second source slave device to read and output first data onto the communication lines starting at or after the first time. In this way, the first data output from the second source slave device beginning at the first time is stored by the first destination slave device beginning at the first time without requiring first transferring the data to the master device or any other device.

Direct data transfer between slave devices

A method and system for enhancing efficiency in power failure handling in flash memory devices is disclosed. The method includes the controller of a storage device receiving a page of data, selecting a block having a desired back-up cost and copying previously stored data in the selected block to a back-up block prior to writing the received page to the selected block based on a category of the previously stored data. The system includes non-volatile memory having a plurality of operative blocks, at least one spare block and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a page of data, select an operative block in the memory having a desired back-up cost, and copy previously stored data in the selected block to a spare block based on a category of the previously stored data prior to writing the received page to the selected block.

Enhancement of efficiency in power failure handling in flash memory

Systems and methods of memory management storage to a host device are disclosed. A method is performed in a data storage device with a non-volatile memory and a controller operative to manage the non-volatile memory and to generate management data for managing the non-volatile memory. The method includes performing, at a given time, originating at the controller data management transfer to a host device or originating at the controller data management retrieval from the host device.

Memory management storage to a host device

A storage device with a memory, a controller, a storage device interface and a host interface, and a method of data transfer to and from a storage device are provided. The storage device is operative to connect with a host device and the storage device interface is operative to couple with an add-on memory. When the host interface is connected to a host device, the controller is configured to receive a data transfer command specifying a memory address from the host interface; and if the memory address is beyond the address space of the memory, to route the data transfer command to the storage device interface for access to the add-on memory. The address space of the memory and an address space of the add-on memory are addressed as one integral address space transparently to the host.

Using an add-on storage device for extending the storage capacity of a storage device

Using an add-on storage device for extending the storage capacity of a storage device in a host device

Techniques for rendering the management of processes supported by a storage device are described. In particular, the efficient allocation of storage array processing resources when managing concurrent processes on a storage array is described.

Managing multiple concurrent operations with various priority levels in a local storage device

A storage device or system provides to a host processor an estimation of a completion time of a storage operation. The completion time may be based on the duration of automatic storage operations, which are not administered by the host processor. The storage device includes a non-volatile memory and a controller. The storage system includes: a storage device having a non-volatile memory; and a controller module. The controller or controller module estimates the completion time of a storage operation and provides to the processor the estimated completion time before the storage operation completes.

Storage device estimating a completion time for a storage operation

A host device includes an electrical activity monitoring (EAM) module that is configured to monitor the electrical activity of a slave storage device interfaced with the host device. Responsive to the value of, or change in, the electric current fed to the slave storage device being at or near a certain level, or within a predetermined range, the EAM module notifies the host device that the slave storage device has pending service request(s) or information for the host device.

System and method for notifying a host of a service required by a slave storage device

In one aspect, a system for indexing transactions over a plurality of communication lines is described. In various embodiments, the system includes a host controller and a plurality of storage devices in communication with one another. Each of the storage devices is configured to store data. The communication lines facilitate communications between the host controller and the plurality of storage devices. A selected one of the storage devices is configured to function as a transaction indexer to monitor the communication lines and index and store selected transaction information associated with operations that occur over the communication lines. While the host controller may be arranged to configure the transaction indexer, the transaction monitoring, indexing and storing are performed substantially automatically by the transaction indexer without requiring further instructions from the host controller.

Storage device with transaction indexing capability

A computing system having a host device and at least one client device having a lock used to prevent modification of data in the client device. A lock clear signal from the host device causes the client device to clear a lock used to prevent modification of data stored in at least a protected portion of the client device where the client device remains fully operational.

Peripheral device locking mechanism

A method of performing a storage operation includes: receiving a storage command, estimating the completion time of the associated storage operation, and providing the estimated completion time to a processor.

Method of providing to a processor an estimated completion time of a storage operation

In one aspect, a system for indexing transactions over a shared bus is described. In various embodiments, the system includes a host controller and a plurality of storage devices in communication with the bus. Each of the storage devices is configured to store data. The bus facilitates communications between the host controller and the plurality of storage devices. A selected one of the storage devices is configured to function as a transaction indexer to monitor the bus and index and store selected transaction information associated with operations that occur over the bus. While the host controller may be arranged to configure the transaction indexer, the transaction monitoring, indexing and storing are performed substantially automatically by the transaction indexer without requiring further instructions from the host controller.

Growing community of inventors

Holon, Israel

Nir Perry