Abstract: A storage device comprising a non-volatile memory for storing data, and an input device that is operative to select an operating mode of the storage device prior to mounting the storage device, such that each operating mode represents a different type of storage device. A controller interfaces with the input device to establish the selected operating mode of the storage device once the storage device is mounted.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for verifying a charge payment transaction subsequent to executing the charge payment transaction in a retail location. The method includes moving a charge payment device into the retail location and presenting the charge payment device at a merchant point of sale located at the retail location for performing the charge payment transaction. A transaction record of the charge payment transaction is stored in a transaction log within the charge payment device. A report record of the charge payment transaction is transmitted from the merchant point of sale to a settlement system and added to an electronic payments report. The transaction log is electronically correlated with the electronic payments report, checking for discrepancies between the transaction log and the electronic payments report.

Abstract: Data storage devices and methods to encode and decode data using divisions of memory cell states are disclosed. A method includes dividing data bits into disjoint multiple groups of data bits and storing the data bits into a plurality of memory cells. The storing is done by setting each of the plurality of memory cells to a corresponding state selected from at least three ordered states. For each of the multiple groups of data bits, when a request is received for reading a particular group of the data bits, the request is serviced by selecting a disjoint division of the at least three ordered states of the memory cells into a first set of states and a second set of states. Each of the states in the first set of states has a higher position than any of the states in the second set of states according to the order of the states. For each cell of the plurality of memory cells, a determination is made whether the cell is in the first set of states or the second set of states.

Abstract: Memory cells are programmed and read, at least M=3 data bits per cell, according to a valid nonserial physical bit ordering with reference to a logical bit ordering. The logical bit ordering is chosen to give a more even distribution of error probabilities of the bits, relative to the probability distributions of the data error and the cell state transition error, than would be provided by the physical bit ordering alone. Preferably, both bit orderings have 2M?1 transitions. Preferably, the logical bit ordering is evenly distributed. The translation between the bit orderings is done by software or hardware.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer-readable code for maintaining flash data structures in accordance with events of a flash memory system are disclosed. Both an events log as well as at least one flash management table are maintained in flash memory. For at least one point in time, a most recently stored flash memory table is indicative of an earlier state of the flash memory system, while at least one event that is more recent than the earlier state is stored in the events log. During power-up, the flash management table is retrieved from flash memory. If the most recent event of the flash memory table is earlier than the most recent event of the events log, events are retrieved from the events log in order to update the flash memory table. Optionally, the updated flash memory table is saved to flash memory.

Abstract: A method includes defining a host capability; creating for a storage device a second directory tree from a first directory tree of the storage device that is included in a file system within the storage device; and, for a data file that is stored in the storage device and is selectable for consumption by a host through the first directory tree that is included in the storage device's file system, determining whether the data file requires for consumption a host having the defined host capability. If the data file requires a host having the defined host capability, an entry is created in the second directory tree in which the data file is not selectable for consumption by the host. Otherwise, an entry is created in the second directory tree in which the data file is selectable for consumption by the host.

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 computer system for correction of errors in a memory array includes an error correction algorithm and a memory. The error correction algorithm is capable of correcting errors up to a first bit error rate in a correctable group of memory cells having a standard size. The memory is operative to store a first set of ECC bits having information corresponding to a first group of memory cells having a first size larger than the standard size, and to store a second set of ECC bits having information corresponding to a second group of memory cells having a second size smaller than said first size and being a portion of said first group. The error correction algorithm is operative to correct errors in the second group based on the second set of ECC bits if a failure occurs in correction of the first group based on the first set of ECC bits.

Abstract: Methods and devices for simultaneously verifying or reading multiple states in non-volatile storage are disclosed. Methods and devices for efficiently reducing or eliminating cross-coupling effects in non-volatile storage are disclosed. Methods and devices for efficiently performing reads at a number of voltages to search for the threshold voltage of a memory cell are disclosed. Memory cells on different NAND strings that are read at the same time may be tested for different threshold voltage levels. Memory cells may be tested for different threshold voltages by applying different gate-to-source voltages to memory cells being tested for different threshold voltages. Memory cells may be tested for different threshold voltages by applying different drain to source voltages to the memory cells. Different amounts of compensation for cross-coupling affects may be applied to memory cells on different NAND strings that are read or programmed at the same time.

Abstract: A method of using a device, including monitoring host activity in an autonomous manner, without the host reporting to the device about its activity. The method also including initiating communications from the device and using resources of the host for such communications, thereby enabling the device to function as a proactive device.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable code embodied on the computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable code including: program code for delivering, in response to a CPU request, from a host-system processor of a host system, for a command code, an SWI that is different than the command code. Preferably, the computer-readable code further includes: program code for selecting between providing the command code and providing the SWI based on an availability of the command code. Preferably, the computer-readable code further includes: program code for distinguishing between a command-code read-request and a data read-request according to a built-in command-codes table, wherein the command-code read-request and the data read-request are different.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a memory card structure having an edge connector portion. The edge connector portion has a thickness that complies with a memory card specification. The data storage device also includes an electrical connector portion of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) compatible receptacle or of an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 1394 compatible receptacle. The electrical connector portion is attached within the edge connector portion of the memory card structure to remain stationary with respect to the memory card structure.

Abstract: Methods of operating a portable media device 100 including two onboard hardware media decoders (124, 128) operative to decode a given digital content item 148 are disclosed. In some embodiments, one of the onboard hardware media decoders 128 has a relatively high power consumption and produces a relatively ‘high quality’ media signal, and the other of the onboard hardware media decoder 124 has a relatively low power consumption and produces a relatively ‘low quality’ media signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) die includes two bonding pads, that share a common logical function, such as signal input or signal output, separated by the width of the die, and preferably on opposite sides of the die. System-in-package devices are produced by steps including directly electrically connecting one or the other bonding pad to bonding pads of other, functionally different IC dies, with the bonding pads of the other IC dies, to which are connected bonding pads of common logical function of the IC dies of the present invention, being functionally identical but geometrically different. Multchip package devices are produced by stacking the IC dies of the present invention with other IC dies and directly electrically connecting one or the other bonding pad to different bonding pads of the other IC dies.

Abstract: An information system includes a server that creates an information reservoir with data units for a user of a mobile communication device based on a unique user profile of the user of the mobile communication device. The server creates the unique user profile based on interaction of the user with the mobile communication device or with another computing system. The server transfers the information reservoir to the mobile communication device and each time the user requests data from a web site, the server scans it to find key terms. If the server finds key term(s) in the data, it uses a tagging rule to mark the key term(s) and, then, it transfers the data with the marked term(s) to the mobile communication device. The user may, then, select a marked key term to call/display a data unit that is locally stored on the mobile communication device.

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: Methods and systems for counting items in storage containers in an array of at least two storage containers, the method including the steps of: providing a storage array of at least two storage containers, each of the storage containers containing an unknown amount of items; providing a receiving array of at least two receiving containers, wherein the receiving containers initially contain no items; extracting a layer of the items from the storage array; inserting the layer into corresponding locations in the receiving array; repeating the steps of extracting and inserting while at least one of the storage containers is not empty; counting, for each storage container in the storage array, a productive-extraction amount; and reporting, for at least some of the storage containers, the productive-extraction amount from each storage container. Preferably, the method further includes recovering a storage identity upon recovery from a system failure that erases the productive-extraction amount.

Abstract: The present application includes methods and system for managing a storage device. In one implementation, a storage allocator that is present in a host or a storage device receives a request to store a file in a storage area of the storage device. The storage allocator marks the file as discardable in a file system structure associated with the storage device and updates a primary file allocation table (“FAT”) to associate a cluster chain that is allocated to the file with the file. The storage allocator additionally updates a discardable FAT or a database to reflect a physical location of the file, or may generate one or more location files that store the physical location of the file. The storage allocator then manages the storage area device based on the FAT and a discardable FAT, database, or one more location files indicating the physical location of the file.

Abstract: A system and method for clearing data from a cache is disclosed. The method may include the steps of receiving data at a cache of a self-caching storage device, determining a cost-effectiveness of flushing a logical block from the cache and, if the current available capacity of the cache is greater than a minimum capacity parameter, only flushing the logical block if a predetermined criteria is met, regardless of whether the storage device is idle. The system may include a cache storage, a main storage and a controller configured to only flush a logical block from the cache if a determined cost effectiveness meets a predetermined criteria when the current available capacity of the cache is greater than a minimum capacity parameter.

Abstract: Side channel attacks against a computing device are prevented by combinations of scrambling data to be stored in memory and scrambling the memory addresses of the data using software routines to execute scrambling and descrambling functions. Encrypted versions of variables, data and lookup tables, commonly employed in cryptographic algorithms, are thus dispersed into pseudorandom locations. Data and cryptographic primitives that require data-dependent memory accesses are thus shielded from attacks that could reveal memory access patterns and compromise cryptographic keys.