Matrix Semiconductor, Inc.

Ic Manage Inc.

Roger March

Christopher S Moore

Daniel T Brown

J James Tringali

James E Schneider

Roy E Scheuerlein

James Montague Cleeves

Mark G Johnson

Bendik Kleveland

Derek Bosch

Daniel C Steere

Shivinder Singh Sikand

A computer implemented method implemented by at least one processor performing executable instructions improves the performance of multi-disk arrays by aggregating several file block variant commitments into a fewer number of parallel file write operations. Using the method, a system and apparatus intermediates between a central file service and distributed virtual machine data center servers. Requests for file block variants are redirected to the location of the freshest retention. Each data center has a non-transitory file block variant store locally attached. Each file block librarian provides a file system view to each virtual machine. Several Virtual Machine Data Centers are coordinated by a tracker which locates, redirects, and retrieves any file block variant within its name space or a name subspace delegated to a librarian. A threshold of parallelism related to dimensions of a multi-disk array determines scheduling of write operations.

Hierarchical file block variant tracking for performance in parallelism at multi-disk arrays

A system and apparatus intermediates between a centralized remote file service and several distributed virtual machine data center servers. When several file blocks are committed by applications running in virtual machines, they are aggregated together into a fewer number of file write operations to exploit the parallelism of multi-disk arrays. Requests for frequently retrieved file blocks are redirected to the location of the freshest retention. Each data center has a non-transitory file block store locally attached which provides images of virtual machines, applications, and data. Each file block librarian provides a file system view to each virtual machine. Several Virtual Machine Data Centers are coordinated by a tracker that locates, redirects, and retrieves any file block of any version of any file within its name space.

Method of operation for a hierarchical file block variant tracker apparatus

A system and apparatus intermediates between a centralized remote file service and several distributed virtual machine data center servers. When several file blocks are committed by applications running in virtual machines, they are aggregated together into a fewer number of file write operations to exploit the parallelism of multi-disk arrays. An application within a virtual machine may be released without risk of data loss as soon as the commitment has been acknowledged. Requests for frequently retrieved file blocks are redirected to the location of the freshest retention. Each data center has a non-transitory file block store locally attached which provides images of virtual machines, applications, and data. Each file block librarian provides a file system view to each virtual machine. Several Virtual Machine Data Centers are coordinated by a tracker which locates, redirects, and retrieves any file block within its name space.

Hierarchical file block variant store apparatus and method of operation

A coherent file system and method of operation for a file state authority coupled to file state sub-set satellites addresses congestion and latency effects on a plurality of peer workstation clients organized in neighborhoods. Very large files are versioned and metadata recorded in a file state view determines which file blocks make up each version of a committed file. Metadata may be requested from neighboring workstations to locate desired file blocks. File block transmission is minimized to fulfill read requests only when not accessible at a workstation's local file block store.

File state subset satellites to provide block-based version control

The preferred embodiments described herein provide a method for reading data in a write-once memory device using a write-many file system. In one preferred embodiment, data traffic between a data storage device and a write-once memory device is redirected so that file system structures of a write-many file system do not overwrite previously-stored file system structures. Data traffic between the write-once storage device and a data reading device is also redirected so that a current file system structure of the write-many file system is provided to the data reading device instead of an out-of- date file system structure. In another preferred embodiment, a non-volatile write-many memory array is provided in the write-once memory device to store file system structures of a write-many file system. With these preferred embodiments, data stored during multiple sessions using a write-once file system can be read by a write-many file system, thereby increasing the memory device's interoperability among existing data reading devices. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.

Method for reading data in a write-once memory device using a write-many file system

The preferred embodiments described herein provide a memory device and method for storing and reading a file system structure in a write-once memory array. In one preferred embodiment, a plurality of bits representing a file system structure is inverted and stored in a write-once memory array. When the inverted plurality of bits is read from the memory array, the bits are inverted to provide the file system structure bits in their original, non-inverted configuration. With this preferred embodiment, a file system structure can be updated to reflect data stored in the memory array after the file system structure was written. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.

Memory device and method for storing and reading a file system structure in a write-once memory array

The preferred embodiments described herein provide a memory device and method for storing and reading data in a write-once memory array. In one preferred embodiment, a plurality of bits representing data is inverted and stored in a write-once memory array. When the inverted plurality of bits is read from the memory array, the bits are inverted to provide the data in its original, non-inverted configuration. By storing data bits in an inverted form, the initial, un-programmed digital state of the memory array is redefined as the alternative, programmed digital state. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another. For example, the embodiments in which data bits are inverted can be used alone or in combination with the embodiments in which data is redirected.

Memory device and method for storing and reading data in a write-once memory array

The preferred embodiments described herein provide a memory device and methods for use therewith. In one preferred embodiment, a method is presented for using a file system to dynamically respond to variability in an indicated minimum number of memory cells of first and second write-once memory devices. In another preferred embodiment, a method for overwriting data in a memory device is described in which an error code is disregarded after a destructive pattern is written. In yet another preferred embodiment, a method is presented in which, after a block of memory has been allocated for a file to be stored in a memory device, available lines in that block are determined. Another preferred embodiment relates to reserving at least one memory cell in a memory device for file structures or file system structures. A memory device is also provided in which file system structures of at least two file systems are stored in the same memory partition. Additionally, methods for permanently preventing modification of data stored in a memory device and for identifying memory cells storing data are disclosed.

Configuring file structures and file system structures in a memory device

The preferred embodiments described herein provide a method for altering a word stored in a write-once memory device. In one preferred embodiment, a write-once memory device is provided storing a word comprising a plurality of data bits and a plurality of syndrome bits. The word is altered by identifying X bit(s) in the word that are in an un-programmed state and switching the X bit(s) from the un-programmed state to a programmed state, where X is sufficient to introduce an uncorrectable error in the word. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments can be used alone or in combination with one another.

Method for altering a word stored in a write-once memory device

Method for identifying memory cells storing replacement data on a memory device

The preferred embodiments described herein provide a memory device and method for reading data stored in a portion of a memory device unreadable by a file system of a host device. In one preferred embodiment, a memory device is provided comprising a first portion that is readable by a file system of a host device and a second portion that is unreadable by the file system of the host device. The first portion stores program code operative to enable the host device to read the second portion. In operation, after the memory device is connected with the host device, the program code is provided to the host device, and the host device reads the data stored in the second portion of the memory device. Other preferred embodiments are provided, and each of the preferred embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Roger March