Silicon Motion, Inc.

Te-Kai Wang

Yu-Da Chen

Chang-Wei Shen

Pin-Hua Chen

Cheng-Yu Lee

Shen-Ting Chiu

Hsing-Lang Huang

Hong-Ren Fang

Po-Lin Wu

Lu-Ting Wu

Chun-Che Yang

A data storage device includes a memory device and a memory controller. The memory controller executes a first firmware, sets a value of a lock indicator to a first value in the first firmware, and sequentially receive a first firmware update command and a second firmware update command. In response to the first firmware update command, the memory controller receives file of a second firmware. When determining that a version number of the second firmware is set to a specific version number, the memory controller sets the value of the lock indicator to a second value. In response to the second firmware update command, the memory controller receives a file of a third firmware. When the value of the lock indicator is set to the second value, the memory controller performs a firmware update procedure to the first firmware with the third firmware.

Firmware updating method and data storage device utilizing the same

A method for performing access management of a memory device in a predetermined communications architecture with aid of automatic parameter setting and associated apparatus are provided. The method includes: utilizing the memory controller to set at least one write booster static parameter of a write booster function of the memory device; utilizing the memory controller to perform device initialization corresponding to at least one initialization phase of the memory device; and after completing the device initialization corresponding to the at least one initialization phase, performing at least one adaptive flag-setting operation, for setting at least one write booster flag among a plurality of write booster flags of the write booster function, wherein the at least one write booster flag includes a first write booster flag acting as a write booster switch. The adaptive flag-setting operation includes setting the first write booster flag to enable the write booster function by default.

Method and apparatus for performing access management of memory device in predetermined communications architecture with aid of automatic parameter setting

A data storage device with flash memory. The controller receives a mode selection command from a host. In response to the mode selection command, the controller sends a ready-to-transfer message to the host, to further receive a data out message from the host that is sent by the host in response to the ready-to-transfer message. The ready-to-transfer message and the data out message are UFS protocol information unit (UPIU) messages. The data out message is arranged to rewrite a first mode page setting among a plurality of mode page settings of firmware stored in the flash memory. In response to the data out message, the controller determines whether the data out message will change mode parameters which cannot be rewritten in the first mode page setting, to adopt or refuse new mode parameters issued through the data out message for the first mode page setting.

Data storage device and method for rewriting parameters thereof

A method for performing communications specification version control of a memory device in predetermined communications architecture with aid of compatibility management, associated apparatus and computer-readable medium are provided. The method may include: utilizing a memory controller to receive a first command from a host device through a transmission interface circuit of the memory controller; utilizing the memory controller to execute a device-side compatibility management procedure of a compatibility management function to detect whether the host device conforms to any version of multiple predetermined versions of a predetermined communications specification according to the first command to generate a detection result, and selectively switch from one firmware version to another firmware version according to the detection result; and utilizing the memory controller to send a first response to the host device through the transmission interface circuit, wherein the first response is sent to the host device in response to the first command.

Method and apparatus for performing communications specification version control of memory device in predetermined communications architecture with aid of compatibility management, and associated computer-readable medium

A memory controller coupled to a memory device and configured to control access operations of the memory device includes a host interface and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is coupled to the host interface and configured to set a value of a predetermined parameter to a specific value after the memory controller powers up and start to perform a link flow to try to establish a transmission link via the host interface. The predetermined parameter is one of a plurality of capability parameters of the host interface and the predetermined parameter is related to reception of the host interface. After the link flow is completed, the microprocessor is further configured to identify an object device with which the host interface establishes the transmission link according to the specific value and at least one of a plurality of attribute parameters associated with the transmission link.

Memory controller, test device and link identification method

A data storage device is provided. The data storage device includes a flash memory and a controller. The flash memory stores a firmware that includes a plurality of mode page settings, and each mode page setting includes a plurality of mode parameters. The controller receives a data out message arranged to rewrite a first mode page setting among the plurality of mode page settings. When determining, based on a reference array, that the data out message will change the mode parameters which cannot be rewritten in the first mode page setting, the controller rejects to change the mode parameters which cannot be rewritten in the first mode page setting. The reference array stores a rewriteable setting for each bit of the first mode page setting.

The invention introduces a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for adjusting operating frequencies when executed by a processing unit of a device, containing program code to: collect an interface-activity parameter comprising information about data transmissions on a host access interface and/or a flash access interface; select one from multiple frequencies according to the interface-activity parameter; and drive a clock generator to output a clock signal at the selected frequency, thereby enabling the host access interface and/or the flash access interface to operate at an operating frequency.

Method and computer-readable storage medium and apparatus for adjusting operating frequencies

A data storage device is provided. The data storage device includes a flash memory and a controller. The flash memory stores a firmware that includes a plurality of mode page settings, and each mode page setting includes a plurality of mode parameters. The controller receives a mode selection command and a data out message arranged to rewrite a first mode page setting among the plurality of mode page settings from a host. The controller determines whether the data out message will change the mode parameters which cannot be rewritten in the first mode page setting by performing bitwise logic operations on a new mode page setting in the data out message, preset values of the plurality of mode parameters of the first mode page setting, and a rewriteable setting for each bit of the first mode page setting.

The invention introduces a non-transitory computer program product for adjusting operating frequencies when executed by a processing unit of a device, containing program code to: collect an interface-activity parameter comprising information about data transmissions on a host access interface and/or a flash access interface; select one from multiple frequencies according to the interface-activity parameter; and drive a clock generator to output a clock signal at the selected frequency, thereby enabling the host access interface and/or the flash access interface to operate at an operating frequency.

Method and computer program product and apparatus for adjusting operating frequencies

A data storage device is provided. The data storage device includes a flash memory and a controller. The flash memory stores a firmware that includes a plurality of mode page settings, and each mode page setting includes a plurality of mode parameters. The controller receives a data out message arranged to rewrite a first mode page setting among the plurality of mode page settings from a host. The controller determines whether the data out message will change the mode parameters which cannot be rewritten in the first mode page setting by performing bitwise logic operations on a new mode page setting in the data out message, preset values of the plurality of mode parameters of the first mode page setting, and a rewriteable setting for each bit of the first mode page setting.

A card activation device includes a first control unit and a central control unit. In response to a first control command, the central control unit provides first authentication data to the first control unit and the first control unit transmits the first authentication data to the data storage device. After the first authentication data is transmitted to the data storage device, the central control unit provides second authentication data to the first control unit and the first control unit transmits the second authentication data to the data storage device. After the second authentication data is transmitted to the data storage device, the card activation device enters a fully locked state and performs an authentication procedure for authenticating the data storage device. Before the data storage device has passed the authentication procedure, the central control unit is not allowed to transmit any data to the data storage device.

Card activation device and methods for authenticating and activating a data storage device by using a card activation device

A data storage device is provided. The data storage device includes a flash memory and a controller. The flash memory stores a firmware. The firmware includes a plurality of mode page settings, and each mode page setting includes a plurality of mode parameters. The controller receives a mode selection command and a data out message arranged to rewrite a first mode page setting among the plurality of mode page settings from a host. The controller determines whether the data out message will change the mode parameters which cannot be rewritten in the first mode page setting according to the data out message. When the data out message will not change the mode parameters which cannot be rewritten in the first mode page setting, the controller determines whether a plurality of new mode parameters are kept in the flash after the data storage device is turned off.

A data storage device is provided. The data storage device includes a flash memory and a controller. The flash memory stores a firmware. The firmware includes a plurality of mode page settings, and each mode page setting includes a plurality of mode parameters. The controller receives a data out message from a host, arranged to rewrite a first mode page setting among the plurality of mode page settings. The controller determines whether the data out message will change the mode parameters which cannot be rewritten in the first mode page setting according to the data out message. When the data out message will change the mode parameters which cannot be rewritten in the first mode page setting, the controller replies to the host with an UPIU response message indicating a failure event.

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Taipei, Taiwan

Te-Kai Wang