Patents by Inventor Holloway H. Frost
Holloway H. Frost 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).
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Patent number: 9189164Abstract: A Flash-based storage system, card, and/or module comprises a Flash controller configured to encrypt the data pages of a page stripe by shuffling the data pages, including loading each data page into a data shuffling buffer in a sequential order relative to other data pages in the page stripe, and thereafter unloading each data page in a non-sequential order relative to other data pages in the page stripe. The Flash controller is also configured to scramble the data pages of the page stripe by performing a bitwise logical operation on the data pages that are unloaded from the data shuffling buffer. A user key and one or more system keys are used to perform the shuffling and scrambling. The Flash controller is further configured to flush the user key by bypassing the system's backup power supply and performing an emergency system shutdown without backing up system data.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2014Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Holloway H. Frost, Charles J. Camp
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Patent number: 9158708Abstract: The disclosed embodiments are directed to methods and apparatuses for providing efficient and enhanced protection of data stored in a nonvolatile memory system. The methods and apparatuses involve a system controller for a plurality of nonvolatile memory devices in the nonvolatile memory system that is capable of protecting data using two layers of data protection, including inter-card card stripes and intra-card page stripes.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Holloway H. Frost, Charles J. Camp, Kenneth Scianna, Lance W. Shelton
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Patent number: 9128871Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for enhanced protection of data stored in a non-volatile memory system involve a controller capable of adapting to the failure of one or more non-volatile memory devices in the memory system. The controller stores data in the form of page stripes, each page stripe composed of data pages, and each data page stored in a different non-volatile memory device. The controller also detects failure of a non-volatile memory device in which a data page of a particular page stripe is stored, reconstructs the data page, and stores the reconstructed data page in a new page stripe, where the number of data pages in the new page stripe is less than the number of data pages in the particular page stripe, and where no page of the new page stripe is stored in a memory location within the failed non-volatile memory device.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2014Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Holloway H. Frost, Charles J. Camp, James A. Fuxa
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Patent number: 9110831Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a Flash-based memory module having high-speed serial communication. The Flash-based memory module comprises, among other things, a plurality of I/O modules, each configured to communicate with an external device over one or more external communication links, a plurality of Flash-based memory cards, each comprising a plurality of Flash memory devices, and a plurality of crossbar switching elements, each being connected to a respective one of the Flash-based memory cards and configured to allow each one of the I/O modules to communicate with the respective one of the Flash-based memory cards. Each I/O module is connected to each crossbar switching element by a high-speed serial communication link, and each crossbar switching element is connected to the respective one of the Flash-based memory cards by a plurality of parallel communication links.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2014Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Holloway H. Frost, Rebecca J. Hutsell
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Publication number: 20150220281Abstract: A Flash-based storage system, card, and/or module comprises a Flash controller configured to encrypt the data pages of a page stripe by shuffling the data pages, including loading each data page into a data shuffling buffer in a sequential order relative to other data pages in the page stripe, and thereafter unloading each data page in a non-sequential order relative to other data pages in the page stripe. The Flash controller is also configured to scramble the data pages of the page stripe by performing a bitwise logical operation on the data pages that are unloaded from the data shuffling buffer. A user key and one or more system keys are used to perform the shuffling and scrambling. The Flash controller is further configured to flush the user key by bypassing the system's backup power supply and performing an emergency system shutdown without backing up system data.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2014Publication date: August 6, 2015Inventors: Holloway H. Frost, Charles J. Camp
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Publication number: 20150213904Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for reduction of read disturb errors in a memory system utilizing modified or extra memory cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Charles J. Camp, Holloway H. Frost
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Publication number: 20150113341Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for reduction of Read Disturb errors in a NAND FLASH memory system comprise a controller configured to organize FLASH memory devices into blocks, each block having a plurality of pages, and each page defining an individually addressable physical memory location. The controller is further configured to accumulate a Block READ Count corresponding to the number of times any pages in a first block of pages have been read since the first block was last erased. Once the READ count reaches a predetermined number, the controller responds to subsequent READ requests for pages within the first block by moving data associated with a requested page to a page in a second, different block without moving data associated with other pages in the first block, and modifying a logical-to-physical translation table to associate the moved data with the physical address of the page in the second block.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Inventors: Holloway H. Frost, Charles J. Camp, Timothy J. Fisher, James A. Fuxa, Lance W. Shelton
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Publication number: 20150113211Abstract: The disclosed embodiments are directed to methods and apparatuses for providing efficient and enhanced protection of data stored in a nonvolatile memory system. The methods and apparatuses involve a system controller for a plurality of nonvolatile memory devices in the nonvolatile memory system that is capable of protecting data using two layers of data protection, including inter-card card stripes and intra-card page stripes.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Inventors: Holloway H. FROST, Charles J. Camp, Ken Scianna, Lance W. Shelton
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Patent number: 9007825Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for reduction of Read Disturb errors in a memory system utilizing modified or extra memory cells.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2014Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Charles J. Camp, Holloway H. Frost
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Patent number: 8977807Abstract: A Flash-based storage system, card, and/or module comprises a Flash controller configured to encrypt the data pages of a page stripe by shuffling the data pages, including loading each data page into a data shuffling buffer in a sequential order relative to other data pages in the page stripe, and thereafter unloading each data page in a non-sequential order relative to other data pages in the page stripe. The Flash controller is also configured to scramble the data pages of the page stripe by performing a bitwise logical operation on the data pages that are unloaded from the data shuffling buffer. A user key and one or more system keys are used to perform the shuffling and scrambling. The Flash controller is further configured to flush the user key by bypassing the system's backup power supply and performing an emergency system shutdown without backing up system data.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2014Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Holloway H. Frost, Charles J. Camp
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Patent number: 8943263Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for reduction of Read Disturb errors in a NAND FLASH memory system comprise a controller configured to organize FLASH memory devices into blocks, each block having a plurality of pages, and each page defining an individually addressable physical memory location. The controller is further configured to accumulate a Block READ Count corresponding to the number of times any pages in a first block of pages have been read since the first block was last erased. Once the READ count reaches a predetermined number, the controller responds to subsequent READ requests for pages within the first block by moving data associated with a requested page to a page in a second, different block without moving data associated with other pages in the first block, and modifying a logical-to-physical translation table to associate the moved data with the physical address of the page in the second block.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2012Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Holloway H. Frost, Charles J. Camp, Timothy J. Fisher, James A. Fuxa, Lance W. Shelton
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Patent number: 8930622Abstract: The disclosed embodiments are directed to methods and apparatuses for providing efficient and enhanced protection of data stored in a FLASH memory system. The methods and apparatuses involve a system controller for a plurality of FLASH memory devices in the FLASH memory system that is capable of protecting data using two layers of data protection, including inter-card card stripes and intra-card page stripes.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2012Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Holloway H. Frost, Charles J. Camp, Ken Scianna, Lance W. Shelton
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Publication number: 20140301140Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for reduction of Read Disturb errors in a memory system utilizing modified or extra memory cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Charles J. Camp, Holloway H. Frost
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Publication number: 20140297934Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for optimizing the performance of a storage system comprise a FLASH storage system, a hard drive storage system, and a storage controller. The storage controller is adapted to receive READ and WRITE requests from an external host, and is coupled to the FLASH storage system and the hard drive storage system. The storage controller receives a WRITE request from an external host containing data and an address, forwards the received WRITE request to the FLASH storage system and associates the address provided in the WRITE request with a selected alternative address, and provides an alternative WRITE request, including the selected alternative address and the data received in the WRITE request, to the hard drive storage system, wherein the alternative address is selected to promote sequential WRITE operations within the hard drive storage system.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Inventors: Holloway H. FROST, Daniel E. SCHEEL
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Publication number: 20140237266Abstract: A Flash-based storage system, card, and/or module comprises a Flash controller configured to encrypt the data pages of a page stripe by shuffling the data pages, including loading each data page into a data shuffling buffer in a sequential order relative to other data pages in the page stripe, and thereafter unloading each data page in a non-sequential order relative to other data pages in the page stripe. The Flash controller is also configured to scramble the data pages of the page stripe by performing a bitwise logical operation on the data pages that are unloaded from the data shuffling buffer. A user key and one or more system keys are used to perform the shuffling and scrambling. The Flash controller is further configured to flush the user key by bypassing the system's backup power supply and performing an emergency system shutdown without backing up system data.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2014Publication date: August 21, 2014Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Holloway H. Frost, Charles J. Camp
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Publication number: 20140215290Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to a Flash-based memory module having high-speed serial communication. The Flash-based memory module comprises, among other things, a plurality of I/O modules, each configured to communicate with an external device over one or more external communication links, a plurality of Flash-based memory cards, each comprising a plurality of Flash memory devices, and a plurality of crossbar switching elements, each being connected to a respective one of the Flash-based memory cards and configured to allow each one of the I/O modules to communicate with the respective one of the Flash-based memory cards. Each I/O module is connected to each crossbar switching element by a high-speed serial communication link, and each crossbar switching element is connected to the respective one of the Flash-based memory cards by a plurality of parallel communication links.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Holloway H. FROST, Rebecca J. HUTSELL
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Patent number: 8756387Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for optimizing the performance of a storage system comprise a FLASH storage system, a hard drive storage system, and a storage controller. The storage controller is adapted to receive READ and WRITE requests from an external host, and is coupled to the FLASH storage system and the hard drive storage system. The storage controller receives a WRITE request from an external host containing data and an address, forwards the received WRITE request to the FLASH storage system and associates the address provided in the WRITE request with a selected alternative address, and provides an alternative WRITE request, including the selected alternative address and the data received in the WRITE request, to the hard drive storage system, wherein the alternative address is selected to promote sequential WRITE operations within the hard drive storage system.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2010Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Holloway H. Frost, Daniel E. Scheel
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Publication number: 20140143636Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for enhanced protection of data stored in a non-volatile memory system involve a controller capable of adapting to the failure of one or more non-volatile memory devices in the memory system. The controller stores data in the form of page stripes, each page stripe composed of data pages, and each data page stored in a different non-volatile memory device. The controller also detects failure of a non-volatile memory device in which a data page of a particular page stripe is stored, reconstructs the data page, and stores the reconstructed data page in a new page stripe, where the number of data pages in the new page stripe is less than the number of data pages in the particular page stripe, and where no page of the new page stripe is stored in a memory location within the failed non-volatile memory device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2014Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Holloway H. Frost, Charles J. Camp, James A. Fuxa
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Patent number: 8730721Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for reduction of Read Disturb errors in a NAND FLASH memory system utilizing modified or extra FLASH memory cells.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2012Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Charles J. Camp, Holloway H. Frost
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Patent number: 8713245Abstract: A Flash-based storage system, card, and/or module comprises a Flash controller configured to encrypt the data pages of a page stripe by shuffling the data pages, including loading each data page into a data shuffling buffer in a sequential order relative to other data pages in the page stripe, and thereafter unloading each data page in a non-sequential order relative to other data pages in the page stripe. The Flash controller is also configured to scramble the data pages of the page stripe by performing a bitwise logical operation on the data pages that are unloaded from the data shuffling buffer. A user key and one or more system keys are used to perform the shuffling and scrambling. The Flash controller is further configured to flush the user key by bypassing the system's backup power supply and performing an emergency system shutdown without backing up system data.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2012Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Holloway H. Frost, Charles J. Camp