Abstract: A storage device with a memory, a controller, a storage device interface and a host interface, and a method of data transfer to and from a storage device are provided. The storage device is operative to connect with a host device and the storage device interface is operative to couple with an add-on memory. When the host interface is connected to a host device, the controller is configured to receive a data transfer command specifying a memory address from the host interface; and if the memory address is beyond the address space of the memory, to route the data transfer command to the storage device interface for access to the add-on memory. The address space of the memory and an address space of the add-on memory are addressed as one integral address space transparently to the host.

Abstract: A storage device with a memory, a controller, a storage device interface and a host interface, and a method of data transfer to and from a storage device are provided. The storage device is operative to connect with a host device and the storage device interface is operative to couple with an add-on memory. When the host interface is connected to a host device, the controller is configured to receive a data transfer command specifying a memory address from the host interface; and if the memory address is beyond the address space of the memory, to route the data transfer command to the storage device interface for access to the add-on memory. The address space of the memory and an address space of the add-on memory are addressed as one integral address space transparently to the host.

Abstract: Systems and methods of memory management storage to a host device are disclosed. A method is performed in a data storage device with a non-volatile memory and a controller operative to manage the non-volatile memory and to generate management data for managing the non-volatile memory. The method includes performing, at a given time, originating at the controller data management transfer to a host device or originating at the controller data management retrieval from the host device.

Abstract: A host device includes an electrical activity monitoring (EAM) module that is configured to monitor the electrical activity of a slave storage device interfaced with the host device. Responsive to the value of, or change in, the electric current fed to the slave storage device being at or near a certain level, or within a predetermined range, the EAM module notifies the host device that the slave storage device has pending service request(s) or information for the host device.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for indexing transactions over a plurality of communication lines is described. In various embodiments, the system includes a host controller and a plurality of storage devices in communication with one another. Each of the storage devices is configured to store data. The communication lines facilitate communications between the host controller and the plurality of storage devices. A selected one of the storage devices is configured to function as a transaction indexer to monitor the communication lines and index and store selected transaction information associated with operations that occur over the communication lines. While the host controller may be arranged to configure the transaction indexer, the transaction monitoring, indexing and storing are performed substantially automatically by the transaction indexer without requiring further instructions from the host controller.

Abstract: A computing system having a host device and at least one client device having a lock used to prevent modification of data in the client device. A lock clear signal from the host device causes the client device to clear a lock used to prevent modification of data stored in at least a protected portion of the client device where the client device remains fully operational.

Abstract: A method of performing a storage operation includes: receiving a storage command, estimating the completion time of the associated storage operation, and providing the estimated completion time to a processor.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for indexing transactions over a shared bus is described. In various embodiments, the system includes a host controller and a plurality of storage devices in communication with the bus. Each of the storage devices is configured to store data. The bus facilitates communications between the host controller and the plurality of storage devices. A selected one of the storage devices is configured to function as a transaction indexer to monitor the bus and index and store selected transaction information associated with operations that occur over the bus. While the host controller may be arranged to configure the transaction indexer, the transaction monitoring, indexing and storing are performed substantially automatically by the transaction indexer without requiring further instructions from the host controller.

Abstract: A storage device or system provides to a host processor an estimation of a completion time of a storage operation. The completion time may be based on the duration of automatic storage operations, which are not administered by the host processor. The storage device includes a non-volatile memory and a controller. The storage system includes: a storage device having a non-volatile memory; and a controller module. The controller or controller module estimates the completion time of a storage operation and provides to the processor the estimated completion time before the storage operation completes.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of transferring data over a plurality of communication lines is described. A first command is sent from a master device coupled with the communication lines to a first destination slave device coupled with the communication lines instructing the first destination slave device to listen to and write data from the communication lines starting at a first time. A second command is sent from the master device to a second source slave device coupled with the communication lines instructing the second source slave device to read and output first data onto the communication lines starting at or after the first time. In this way, the first data output from the second source slave device beginning at the first time is stored by the first destination slave device beginning at the first time without requiring first transferring the data to the master device or any other device.

Abstract: A method and system for enhancing efficiency in power failure handling in flash memory devices is disclosed. The method includes the controller of a storage device receiving a page of data, selecting a block having a desired back-up cost and copying previously stored data in the selected block to a back-up block prior to writing the received page to the selected block based on a category of the previously stored data. The system includes non-volatile memory having a plurality of operative blocks, at least one spare block and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a page of data, select an operative block in the memory having a desired back-up cost, and copy previously stored data in the selected block to a spare block based on a category of the previously stored data prior to writing the received page to the selected block.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed that permit a storage device to remain fully functional despite running out of a sufficient supply of spare blocks in memory. The storage device includes a non-volatile memory and a controller, where the controller is configured to detect an insufficiency of spare blocks and convert operative blocks to spare blocks. The method includes techniques for selecting certain operative blocks for conversion to spare blocks using the storage manager on the storage device and a file system manager that may or may not be part of the storage device.

Abstract: A system and a method for asynchronously signaling interrupts from a plurality of devices in a computing system, while optimizing the latencies in handling the interrupts. In a particular embodiment, an interrupt is signaled via a plurality of daisy chained devices by handing over the interrupt request from one device to another while retaining information regarding any interrupts handed over (also referred to as passed). In this way, the interrupt source can be readily identified (using a binary search, for example) thereby reducing interrupt latency and memory resources required to retain interrupt history.

Abstract: A method of performing a storage operation includes: receiving a storage command, estimating the completion time of the associated storage operation, and providing the estimated completion time to a processor.

Abstract: Techniques for rendering the management of processes supported by a storage device are described. In particular, the efficient allocation of storage array processing resources when managing concurrent processes on a storage array is described.

Abstract: A computing system having a host device and at least one client device having a lock used to prevent modification of data in the client device. A lock clear signal from the host device causes the client device to clear a lock used to prevent modification of data stored in at least a protected portion of the client device where the client device remains fully operational.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of transferring data over a plurality of communication lines is described. A first command is sent from a master device coupled with the communication lines to a first destination slave device coupled with the communication lines instructing the first destination slave device to listen to and write data from the communication lines starting at a first time. A second command is sent from the master device to a second source slave device coupled with the communication lines instructing the second source slave device to read and output first data onto the communication lines starting at or after the first time. In this way, the first data output from the second source slave device beginning at the first time is stored by the first destination slave device beginning at the first time without requiring first transferring the data to the master device or any other device.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for indexing transactions over a plurality of communication lines is described. In various embodiments, the system includes a host controller and a plurality of storage devices in communication with one another. Each of the storage devices is configured to store data. The communication lines facilitate communications between the host controller and the plurality of storage devices. A selected one of the storage devices is configured to function as a transaction indexer to monitor the communication lines and index and store selected transaction information associated with operations that occur over the communication lines. While the host controller may be arranged to configure the transaction indexer, the transaction monitoring, indexing and storing are performed substantially automatically by the transaction indexer without requiring further instructions from the host controller.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for indexing transactions over a shared bus is described. In various embodiments, the system includes a host controller and a plurality of storage devices in communication with the bus. Each of the storage devices is configured to store data. The bus facilitates communications between the host controller and the plurality of storage devices. A selected one of the storage devices is configured to function as a transaction indexer to monitor the bus and index and store selected transaction information associated with operations that occur over the bus. While the host controller may be arranged to configure the transaction indexer, the transaction monitoring, indexing and storing are performed substantially automatically by the transaction indexer without requiring further instructions from the host controller.

Abstract: A host device includes an electrical activity monitoring (EAM) module that is configured to monitor the electrical activity of a slave storage device interfaced with the host device. Responsive to the value of, or change in, the electric current fed to the slave storage device being at or near a certain level, or within a predetermined range, the EAM module notifies the host device that the slave storage device has pending service request(s) or information for the host device.