Abstract: The present disclosure relates to display devices, external storage devices and methods of operating the same. In some embodiments, a display device that detects a coupling with an external media device is provided. Before device coupling, the display device displays a video signal from a first source. In response to the detected coupling, the display device may mix or superimpose a video signal received from the external storage device with the video signal from the first source. In some embodiments, a multi-mode external storage device that provides a file download mode, a video menu mode, and a content display mode is disclosed. The external storage device is operative to couple with different types of hosts via a multi-use device port. In response to a detected coupling with a host display device, the external storage device adopts the menu mode, which allows a user to select a given content item for display and/or playback.

Abstract: A method for prioritized erasure of a non-volatile storage device, the method including the steps of: providing at least one flash unit of the storage device, wherein each flash unit has a plurality of blocks; writing data into the plurality of blocks; assigning an erasure-priority to each block, wherein the erasure-priority correlates with an erasure-priority of the data; and erasing the data in each block according to the erasure-priority of each block upon receiving an emergency-erase command. Preferably, the step of writing data into the plurality of blocks is performed in an arbitrary order in a first flash unit, and the step of writing into subsequent flash units is performed in correlation with the order in the first flash unit. Preferably, the step of erasing includes aborting erasure, before completing the erasure, for at least some of the plurality of blocks.

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: Apparatus and methods for effecting bad-block testing operations are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, instead of effecting bad-block testing for the majority of the flash memory blocks of a flash memory device during manufacture, most or all bad-block testing is postponed until the end user is in possession of the flash memory device. In some embodiments, after user data is received by the flash memory device from a host device, one or more blocks of the flash memory device are subjected to bad-block testing.

Abstract: A memory device includes an executable flash memory partition and a non-executable partition, both partitions being fabricated on a common die. Preferably, both partitions are fabricated using the same flash memory technology. Most preferably, the flash cells of both partitions have insulating floating gates.

Abstract: A portable storage device including a microprocessor and a secure user data area, the microprocessor operable to perform on-the-fly encryption/decryption of secure data stored on the storage device under a user password, the microprocessor also operable to exclude access to the secure user data area unless the user password is provided.

Abstract: A client designates and transfers a file to a server in distinct chunks. The number of data chunks equals the number of communication sessions that are required to complete the transfer of the designated file to the server, that number being dependent on the number of times the communication session between the client and the server is interrupted. If the designated file includes several concatenated client files, each chunk of the designated file may include one or more such client files. Each chunk of the designated file may include some part of a client file and one or more whole client files. The byte-wise size or length of a chunk depends on the duration of the related communication session: the longer a communication session, the larger the related chunk. By transferring the designated file to the server as distinctly recognizable chunks, the need to retransmit large files to the server is avoided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods, devices and computer-readable medium for implementing a caching policy and/or a cache flushing policy in a peripheral non-volatile storage device operatively coupled to a host device. In some embodiments, data is stored to a cache area of a non-volatile memory within the peripheral non-volatile storage device in accordance with a historical rate at which other data was received by the peripheral storage device from the host device and/or a historical average time interval between successive host write requests received and/or an assessed rate at which data is required to be written to the non-volatile memory and/or a detecting by the peripheral non-volatile memory device that the host has read the storage ready/busy flag. In some embodiments, data is copied from a cache storage area of the non-volatile memory to a main storage area in accordance with the historical rate and/or the historical average time interval.

Abstract: Data storage devices and methods are disclosed that provide a status indication when a maintenance operation is to be performed prior to completion of a write command. A method includes receiving a write command from a host device to write data to the non-volatile memory while the data storage device is operatively coupled to the host device. In response to determining that a maintenance operation is to be performed prior to the completion of the write command, an indication is sent to the host device that the write command has a status of incomplete.

Abstract: Devices, methods and computer-readable code for simultaneously monitoring the content of at least two streaming audio content channels are disclosed. In some embodiments, the monitored content is analyzed, and one or more features of the monitored content channels are computed, including but not limited to music classification features, content genre features, and spoken content features. These computed features may be used, for example, to compute a rating or score for each monitored audio channel, for example, a rating computed relative to user listening preferences, expressed, for example, in preference rules. In some embodiments, the presently disclosed device includes a channel selector for automatically tuning, for example, to a channel assigned a higher rating at a given time. Alternatively or additionally, content rating scores may be displayed to a user who manually selects and tunes to an audio content channel.

Abstract: A recording unit includes one or more signal sensors and a recording controller. The recording controller is configured to execute a first recording instruction to record first data received from the one or more signal sensors. The first data is recorded according to first recording rules that specify a first value of a parameter. The recording controller is also configured to, in response to an irregularity detected in the first data, execute a second recording instruction to record second data received from the one or more signal sensors. The second data is recorded according to second recording rules that specify a second value of the parameter, where the second value differs from the first value.

Abstract: A method for data integrity protection includes arranging in an integrity hierarchy a plurality of data blocks, which contain data. The integrity hierarchy includes multiple levels of signature blocks containing signatures computed respectively over lower levels in the hierarchy, wherein the levels culminate in a top-level block containing a top-level signature computed over the hierarchy. A modification to be made in the data stored in a given data block is received. One or more of the signatures is recomputed in response to the modification, including the top-level signature. Copies of the given data block, and of the signature blocks, including a copy of the top-level block, are stored in respective locations in a storage medium. An indication that the copy is a valid version of the top-level block is recorded in the copy of the top-level block.

Abstract: A threshold voltage distribution of a set of storage elements in a memory device is measured by sweeping a control gate voltage while measuring a characteristic of the set of storage elements as a whole. The characteristic indicates how many of the storage elements meet a given condition, such as being in a conductive state. For example, the characteristic may be a combined current, voltage or capacitance of the set which is measured at a common source of the set. The control gate voltage can be generated internally within a memory die. Similarly, the threshold voltage distribution can be determined internally within the memory die. Optionally, storage elements which become conductive can be locked out, such as by changing a bit line voltage, so they no longer contribute to the characteristic. New read reference voltages are determined based on the threshold voltage distribution to reduce errors in future read operations.

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 flash memory device includes a flash memory residing on at least one flash memory die. The flash memory device also includes a flash controller residing on a flash controller die that is separate from the at least one flash memory die. The flash memory and the flash controller reside within, reside on, or are attached to a common housing. The flash controller is configured to execute at least one test program to test at least one flash memory die.

Abstract: A flash memory storage system includes a memory array containing a plurality of memory cells and a controller for controlling the flash memory array. The controller dedicates a first group of memory cells to operate with a first number of bits per cell and a second, separate group of memory cells to operate with a second number of bits per cell. A mechanism is provided to apply wear leveling techniques separately to the two groups of cells to evenly wear out the memory cells.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a controller and a non-volatile memory coupled to the controller. The non-volatile memory includes executable boot code that is executable by a processor associated with the data storage device. The controller is configured to read a first portion of the executable boot code from a first region of the non-volatile memory, and in response to detecting a condition, move a second portion of the executable boot code in a second region of the non-volatile memory to a third region of the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: Information stored as physical states of cells of a memory is read first by setting each of one or more references to a respective member of a first set of values and reading the physical states of the cells relative to the values of the first set. Subsequently, the references are set to respective members of a second set of values, and the physical states of the cells are read again relative to the values of the second set. The second set is different from the first set, so that the two readings together read the physical states of the cells with higher resolution than the first reading alone.

Abstract: A data transmission system and method includes providing a current to a first conductor by a current source to transmit a first binary digit while isolating a second conductor from the current source. In response to a command to transmit a second binary digit, amount of current provided by the current source to the first conductor is decreased from a maximum value to zero while simultaneously increasing the amount of current provided to the second conductor from zero to a maximum value. The increase and the decrease in the amount of current are done the same rate. A first and a second signal corresponding to the current provided to the first and the second conductors each have a transition edge with a leading section, a midsection and trailing section such that an average slope of the midsection is greater than average slope of the leading section and the average slope of the trailing section.

Abstract: When a memory device receives two or more pluralities of bits from a host to store in a nonvolatile memory, the device first stores the bits in a volatile memory. Then, in storing the bits in the nonvolatile memory, the device raises the threshold voltages of some cells of the volatile memory to values above a verify voltage. While those threshold voltages remain substantially at those levels, the device raises the threshold voltages of other cells of the volatile memory to values below the verify voltage. In the end, every cell stores one or more bits from each plurality of bits. Preferably, all the cells share a common wordline. A data storage device operates similarly with respect to storing pluralities of bits generated by an application running on the system.