Abstract: An apparatus, as well as systems, methods, and articles can operate to record the address of write operations to a memory cached by a non-volatile cache prior to executing an operating system cache driver. In an embodiment, a non-volatile cache may be implemented by creating a device option read only memory (ROM), or modifying the associated computer basic input-output system (BIOS) to trap software interrupts associated with disk and other media access requests. Associated addresses, such as logical block addresses, can be stored in a log for data that is modified. The resulting log can be stored in a non-volatile medium, including the cache itself. If the available log space is not large enough to record all write activity prior to loading operating system drivers, a flag may be set to indicate the overrun condition.

Abstract: An apparatus, as well as systems, methods, and articles can operate to record the address of write operations to a memory cached by a non-volatile cache prior to executing an operating system cache driver. In an embodiment, a non-volatile cache may be implemented by creating a device option read only memory (ROM), or modifying the associated computer basic input-output system (BIOS) to trap software interrupts associated with disk and other media access requests. Associated addresses, such as logical block addresses, can be stored in a log for data that is modified. The resulting log can be stored in a non-volatile medium, including the cache itself. If the available log space is not large enough to record all write activity prior to loading operating system drivers, a flag may be set to indicate the overrun condition.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, endurance management techniques are disclosures. Adherence to endurance and data retention ratings are ensured by managing write accesses to a memory device.

Abstract: The write disturb that occurs in polymer memories may be reduced by writing back data after a read in a fashion which offsets any effect on the polarity of bits in bit lines associated with the addressed bit. For example, each time the data is written back, its polarity may be alternately changed. In another embodiment, the polarity may be randomly changed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for reading an identifier stored in a non-volatile memory, where the identifier is associated with an operating system that caused storage of the identifier, determining if the identifier matches a comparison value provided by a current operating system of a system to which the non-volatile memory is coupled, and resetting the non-volatile memory if the identifier and the comparison value do not match. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus to refresh/rewrite the data in a NAND solid state storage device (“SSD”) only when it needs to be re-written. Upon power-up, the SSD assumes that it may have been a long time since some of its data was last written, and a background task to scan through all the data is started in the SSD. During idle periods, the entire contents of the drive is read. If a location is read and it has more than “bit error threshold” bits (for example three (3) bits if there is capability to correct eight (8) bits) in error before error correction is applied, it is assumed that this memory location is retaining the data only marginally, and the corrected data should be re-written to a new location, or alternatively re-written in the same location. The corrected data is then re-written to a new location or the same location.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for maintaining a sequence of writes into a disk cache, where the writes correspond to disk write requests stored in the disk cache, and ordering cache writes from the disk cache to a disk drive according to the sequence of writes. In this way, write ordering from an operating system to a disk subsystem is maintained. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Write operations store data in different physical memory locations. Each of the physical memory locations are associated with a logical address that is shared in common among the physical addresses. Sequence information stored in the physical memory location indicates which one of the write operations occurred last. The available erased memory location can be split into a list of erased memory locations available to be used and a list of erased memory locations not available to be used. Then, on a failure, only the list of erased memory locations available to be used needs to be analyzed to reconstruct the consumption states of memory locations.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus and method to store initialization and configuration information is provided. The method may include storing basic input/output system (BIOS) software in a polymer memory. The method may further include copying a first portion of the BIOS software from the polymer memory to a random access memory (RAM) buffer of a memory controller, wherein the RAM buffer has a storage capacity of at least about two kilobytes (KB).

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus and method to store initialization and configuration information is provided. The method may include storing basic input/output system (BIOS) software in a polymer memory. The method may further include copying a first portion of the BIOS software from the polymer memory to a random access memory (RAM) buffer of a memory controller, wherein the RAM buffer has a storage capacity of at least about two kilobytes (KB).

Abstract: A mass storage system. Two or more dissimilar non-volatile storage mediums have the appearance to an operating system of a single device. In an embodiment, the storage mediums are located within a hard disk drive. In a further embodiment, the non-volatile storage medium is block oriented.

Abstract: An apparatus, as well as systems, methods, and articles can operate to record the address of write operations to a memory cached by a non-volatile cache prior to executing an operating system cache driver. In an embodiment, a non-volatile cache may be implemented by creating a device option read only memory (ROM), or modifying the associated computer basic input-output system (BIOS) to trap software interrupts associated with disk and other media access requests. Associated addresses, such as logical block addresses, can be stored in a log for data that is modified. The resulting log can be stored in a non-volatile medium, including the cache itself. If the available log space is not large enough to record all write activity prior to loading operating system drivers, a flag may be set to indicate the overrun condition.

Abstract: The write disturb that occurs in polymer memories may be reduced by writing back data after a read in a fashion which offsets any effect on the polarity of bits in bit lines associated with the addressed bit. For example, each time the data is written back, its polarity may be alternately changed. In another embodiment, the polarity may be randomly changed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to de-allocate data in a cache memory is disclosed. Using a clock that has a predetermined number of periods, the invention provides a usage timeframe information to approximate the usage information. The de-allocation decisions can then be made based on the usage timeframe information.

Abstract: A temperature sensitive memory, such as a ferroelectric polymer memory, may be utilized as a disk cache memory in one embodiment. If the temperature begins to threaten shutdown, the memory may be transitioned from a write-back to a write-through cache memory. In such case, the system is ready for shutdown without the loss of critical data.

Abstract: Briefly, one or more memory access parameters used to access a memory cell are adjusted based on a sensed operating temperature. In one embodiment, a pulse width of an access voltage is increased as the operating temperature decreases below a threshold. In another embodiment, a drive voltage is decreased as the operating temperature increases.

Abstract: Briefly, voltages to write a memory cell are adjusted if the memory cell is determined to be imprinted. In one embodiment, a positive voltage not including zero is applied to one of a bit line and a word line and a negative voltage not including zero is applied to another of the bit line and the word line to write a specified logic state to an imprinted memory cell. Neighboring cells do not receive disturb voltages in excess of a disturb voltage threshold.

Abstract: A data storage comprises memory having a plurality of memory cells operative to retain data until read. A buffer cooperates, under the control of an address and buffer manager, with the memory to receive data read from the memory cells of a plurality of memory blocks of the memory. Error correction logic is operatively configured to examine the data read from the memory blocks and determine and correct corrupt data thereof. After the data has been processed by the error correction logic, the address and buffer manager enables write circuitry to write-back the select blocks of memory cells with the processed data of the buffer.

Abstract: A series of address lines extend in a first direction through at least two layers of memory material spaced apart in the first direction. The memory material may be a ferroelectric polymer in one embodiment. The arrangement of lines and layers may increase the density of a memory in one embodiment.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods relating to a cache coherency administrator. The cache coherency administrator can include a display to indicate a cache coherency status of a non-volatile cache.