Patents by Inventor David N. Steffen

David N. Steffen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9690696
    Abstract: Memory lifetime extension for a data storage system having a first memory and a second memory includes determining a plurality of age-adjusted access values for a data block stored in the first memory based on access of the data block and at least one aging weight, determining an overall access value for the data block based on the plurality of age-adjusted access values, and determining if at least a portion of the data block should be stored in a cache memory of the second memory based on the overall access value. The at least one aging weight can be dynamically adjusted based on an expected remaining practical usable life of the second memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: George B. Hefner, David N. Steffen
  • Patent number: 9641378
    Abstract: Storing data from a volatile memory of a host in a non-volatile memory (NVM) of a data storage device (DSD). Data from the volatile memory of the host is identified which has been compressed with a first compression ratio. The identified data is decompressed and a second compression ratio is determined based on a time to restore the data to the volatile memory of the host and characteristics of the NVM. At least a portion of the decompressed data is recompressed with the second compression ratio and at least a portion of the recompressed data is stored in the NVM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David N. Steffen
  • Patent number: 9189264
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for propagating notifications between computing environments, such as virtual computing environments. A computing device includes a processor configured to execute a user application in a first virtual computing environment, intercept notification information associated with a notification event associated with the user application, and provide the notification information to a second virtual computing environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David N. Steffen
  • Patent number: 7447618
    Abstract: Method and system for testing an Application Specific Integrated Circuit is provided. The system includes, a simulator that interfaces with a host computer emulation module; and a virtual interface driver (“VID”) that interfaces with the host computer emulation module and a bus interface module, wherein the VID maps plural stimulus to the simulator via the bus interface module. The method includes, loading a bus functional module in an ASIC simulator; determining configuration of devices supported by a host emulation system; and mapping configuration information to the host emulation system, wherein a virtual interface driver maps the configuration information to the host emulation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: QLOGIC, Corporation
    Inventor: David N. Steffen