Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring, controlling and operating a non-volatile cache are disclosed. A host system may poll a memory system as to the memory system's configuration of its non-volatile cache. Further, the host system may configure the non-volatile cache on the memory system, such as the size of the non-volatile cache and the type of programming for the non-volatile cache (e.g., whether the non-volatile cache is programmed according to SLC or the type of TRIM used to program cells in the non-volatile cache). Moreover, responsive to a command from the host to size the non-volatile cache, the memory system may over or under provision the cache. Further, the host may control operation of the non-volatile cache, such as by sending selective flush commands.

Abstract: A controller addresses portions of non-volatile memory via a memory interface using physical addresses and addresses portions of host data via the host interface using logical addresses. The controller maintains logical to physical mappings and physical to logical mappings for the logical addresses and the physical addresses. The controller is configured to move data from a source logical address to a destination logical address by updating logical to physical mappings and physical address to logical mappings without instructing the non-volatile memory to move the data between physical locations. In one embodiment, this process is used to implement a command to move or defragment data.

Abstract: A storage system and method for thin provisioning are provided. In one embodiment, a storage system is provided comprising a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to provide a logical exported capacity of the memory to a host, wherein the logical exported capacity is greater than an actual storage capacity of the memory; receive a command from the host to write data to a logical address; determine whether there is available actual storage capacity in the memory to write the data; and write the data to a physical address in memory that corresponds to the logical address only if it is determined that there is available actual storage capacity in the memory to write the data. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Abstract: A storage system and method are provided for flush optimization. In one embodiment, a storage system is provided comprising a cache, a non-volatile memory, and a controller. The controller is configured to: store, in the cache, data received from a host and to be written in the non-volatile memory; receive a command from the host to move the data stored in the cache into the non-volatile memory; without having executed the command, send a confirmation to the host that the command was executed; and execute the command after sending the continuation to the host.

Abstract: A storage system and method for fast lookup in a table-caching database 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 store, in the volatile memory, a data structure representing a compressed version of a logical-to-physical address table stored in the non-volatile memory; and search the data structure for a physical address associated with a logical address, wherein the controller is configured to find any physical address in the data structure in a fixed amount of time. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A storage system and method for thin provisioning are provided. In one embodiment, a storage system is provided comprising a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to provide a logical exported capacity of the memory to a host, wherein the logical exported capacity is greater than an actual storage capacity of the memory; receive a command from the host to write data to a logical address; determine whether there is available actual storage capacity in the memory to write the data; and write the data to a physical address in memory that corresponds to the logical address only if it is determined that there is available actual storage capacity in the memory to write the data. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, methods, and computer program products for providing dynamically assignable data latches are disclosed. A non-volatile memory die includes a non-volatile memory medium. A plurality of sets of data latches of a non-volatile memory die are configured to facilitate transmission of data to and from a non-volatile memory medium, and each of the sets of data latches are associated with a different identifier. An on-die controller is in communication with a sets of data latches. An on-die controller is configured to receive a first command for a first memory operation comprising a selected identifier. An on-die controller is configured to execute a first memory operation on a non-volatile memory medium using a set of data latches of a plurality of sets of data latches, and the set of data latches is associated with a selected identifier.

Abstract: In one non-limiting embodiment, a method is disclosed for performing a storage device operation on a die is provide having steps of choosing a storage device operation to perform, estimating which die is related to the storage device operation chosen to be performed and performing the storage device operation at the die based on the estimating.

Abstract: In one non-limiting embodiment, a method is disclosed for performing a storage device operation on a die is provide having steps of choosing a storage device operation to perform, estimating which die is related to the storage device operation chosen to be performed and performing the storage device operation at the die based on the estimating.

Abstract: A storage system and method for fast lookup in a table-caching database 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 store, in the volatile memory, a data structure representing a compressed version of a logical-to-physical address table stored in the non-volatile memory; and search the data structure for a physical address associated with a logical address, wherein the controller is configured to find any physical address in the data structure in a fixed amount of time. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A controller addresses portions of non-volatile memory via a memory interface using physical addresses and addresses portions of host data via the host interface using logical addresses. The controller maintains logical to physical mappings and physical to logical mappings for the logical addresses and the physical addresses. The controller is configured to move data from a source logical address to a destination logical address by updating logical to physical mappings and physical address to logical mappings without instructing the non-volatile memory to move the data between physical locations. In one embodiment, this process is used to implement a command to move or defragment data.

Abstract: Systems, methods and/or devices are used to pair metablocks in a non-volatile storage device. In one aspect, a method of data organization of a memory device includes, writing data to and reading data from respective metablocks in a set of metablocks. The method further includes while performing said writing and reading: (1) accessing one or more management data structures in controller memory, identifying two or more metablock pairs; (2) accessing and updating metablock status information indicating which metablocks of the set of metablocks are closed, free and open; and (3) accessing and updating a valid count, corresponding to a number of sub-block memory units having valid data for each of a plurality of metablocks in the set of metablocks.

Abstract: A storage system and method are provided for flush optimization. In one embodiment, a storage system is provided comprising a cache, a non-volatile memory, and a controller. The controller is configured to: store, in the cache, data received from a host and to be written in the non-volatile memory; receive a command from the host to move the data stored in the cache into the non-volatile memory; without having executed the command, send a confirmation to the host that the command was executed; and execute the command after sending the continuation to the host.

Abstract: A device includes a memory and a controller coupled to the memory. The controller is configured to maintain a first address translation table associated with the memory and a second address translation table associated with the memory. The controller is further configured to receive a command to erase the memory. The controller is further configured to switch an indicator of an active address translation table from the first address translation table to the second address translation table in response to receiving the command.

Abstract: A storage system and method for thin provisioning are provided. In one embodiment, a storage system is provided comprising a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to provide a logical exported capacity of the memory to a host, wherein the logical exported capacity is greater than an actual storage capacity of the memory; receive a command from the host to write data to a logical address; determine whether there is available actual storage capacity in the memory to write the data; and write the data to a physical address in memory that corresponds to the logical address only if it is determined that there is available actual storage capacity in the memory to write the data. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Abstract: A storage system uses consumption of transfer RAM as a trigger to enter and exit burst mode. In one embodiment, the storage system stores, in volatile memory, data to be written in non-volatile memory; monitors an allocation level of the volatile memory to determine a first amount of time that the allocation level is at a first level and a second amount of time that the allocation level is at second level; enters burst mode when a ratio of the first amount of time and the second amount of time is above a first threshold; and exits burst mode when the ratio of the first amount of time and the second amount of time is below a second threshold. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Abstract: A memory system and method are provided for increasing read parallelism of translation pages. In one embodiment, a memory system is provided comprising a plurality of memory dies, where each memory die is configured with storage space for a portion of a logical-to-physical address map that is distributed among the plurality of memory dies. The memory system also comprises a controller in communication with the plurality of memory dies and configured to receive a plurality of requests to read a plurality of logical block addresses, determine which memory dies store portions of the logical-to-physical address map that contain the logical block addresses, and determine an order in which to read the portions of the logical-to-physical address map so that at least some of the portions that are stored in different memory dies are read in parallel. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A memory system and method are provided for performing garbage collection on blocks based on their obsolescence patterns. In one embodiment, a controller of a memory system classifies each of the plurality of blocks based on its obsolescence pattern and performs garbage collection only on blocks classified with similar obsolescence patterns. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a write cache, a non-volatile memory and a controller coupled to the write cache and to the non-volatile memory. The controller is configured to, responsive to receiving a plurality of flush commands, write all data from the write cache to the non-volatile memory while executing fewer than all of the plurality of flush commands.

Abstract: 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.