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 host device is provided comprising an interface configured to communicate with a storage device having a public memory area and a private memory area, wherein the public memory area stores a virtual file that is associated with content stored in the private memory area. The host device also comprises a cache, a host application, and a server. The server is configured to receive a request for the virtual file from the host application, send a request to the storage device for the virtual file, receive the content associated with the virtual file from the private memory area of the storage device, wherein the content is received by bypassing the cache, generate a response to the request from the host application, the response including the content, and send the response to the host application.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a storage device with a memory, a controller, and a host interface has a write-once read-many device configuration. The memory contains a database having entries, each entry for a logical memory address. The memory further contains information for converting each logical memory address to a redirected logical memory address that corresponds to a physical memory location. The controller receives a command specifying a logical memory address and interprets the command based on information extracted from the database. The controller executes the command according to the information.

Abstract: A method for storing information, the method includes: receiving information to be stored on a removable mass storage device; and storing a compact disc recordable (CDR) session representation on a non-optical re-writable storage area of the removable mass storage device; wherein the CDR session representation comprises the received information.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory has its cells' thresholds programmed within any one of a first set of voltage bands partitioned by a first set of reference thresholds across a threshold window. Hard bits are obtained when read relative to the first set of reference thresholds. The cells are read at a higher resolution relative to a second set of reference thresholds so as to provide additional soft bits for error correction. The soft bits are generated by a combination of a first modulation of voltage on a current word line WLn and a second modulation of voltage on an adjacent word line WLn+1, as in a reading scheme known as “Direct-Lookahead (DLA)”.

Abstract: A system and method to protect a target file from data damage wherein a wrapper application transparently intercepts a write call operative to affect the target file and stores the pertinent data in a delta file. Occasionally the target file is backed up in a temporary file and then updated. The wrapper application also intercepts a read call operative to access the target file and merges the update information with data from the target file in a temporary file. The resulting merged data is returned as read results data.

Abstract: Various methods, devices and systems are described for providing distributed storage services. A data storage device is capable of initiating a communication session with an external entity such as a local host computer (and vice versa) coupled directly to the data storage device, a remote server computer, or directly with remote data storage devices with or without intervention by a local host computer.

Abstract: Methods for enabling software from a storage-capable device including the steps of: loading, by a host system operationally connected to the storage-capable device, software from an authenticatable storage area residing in the storage-capable device; validating the software; and installing the validated software, wherein the validated software provides an interface between the host system and the storage-capable device. In some embodiments, the software is enabling software, the method further including the step of: loading, by the host system, device-functionality software from the authenticatable storage area. In some embodiments, the method further includes the steps of: validating the device-functionality software; and enabling the validated device-functionality software.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and computer-code are disclosed where an impending decoupling between a peripheral device and a host is detected. In some embodiments, in response to the detected impending disconnection, a user alert signal is generated. In some embodiments, an ‘onboard detector’ that is associated with housing of the peripheral device and operative to detect the impending disconnection is provided. In some embodiments, the user alert signal is generated in accordance with inter-device data flow between the host and the peripheral device. Exemplary peripheral devices include but are not limited to transient storage devices such as a USB flash drives (UFD).

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a storage device are disclosed. Generally, in a host to which a storage device is operatively coupled, wherein the storage device includes a cache for storing one or more discardable files, a file is identified to be uploaded to an external location. A determination is made whether sufficient free space exists in the cache to pre-stage the file for upload to the external location and the file is stored in the cache upon determining that sufficient free space exists in the cache to pre-stage the file for upload to the external location, wherein pre-stating prepares a file for opportunistically uploading such file in accordance with an uploading policy.

Abstract: A host device includes a first file system, and a storage device includes a plurality of memory units and a plurality of controllers. While the host device is operative coupled to the storage device, the host device creates a second file system corresponding to the storage device and copies host content from the first file system to the second file system. The second file system is segmented into a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments being uniquely associated with a particular one of the plurality of controllers. The host device selects a data transfer rate to write the host content from the second file system to the storage device.

Abstract: Data to be screened for undesired content can be quickly downloaded into a non-volatile storage of a system, stored in a manner so as to be unavailable to the system for general use, and then screened later at a convenient time regardless of whether the data source is still available. At the time of screening, a screening module retrieves the data objects stored in the non-volatile storage and indicates whether they comply with screening criteria. Data objects not complying with the screening criteria are either deleted or otherwise made unavailable for general use by the system. By retaining the data objects that do not comply with the screening criteria, the downloaded content remains available for a different system having less restrictive or otherwise different screening criteria.

Abstract: A first storage device provides a host device with access to a private memory area by communicating a password between the first storage device and a second storage device via the host device using a double-encryption scheme. In one embodiment, a host device receives a twice-encrypted password from a first storage device, sends the twice-encrypted password to a second storage device, receives a once-encrypted password from the second storage device, decrypts the once-encrypted password to obtain the password, and sends the password to the first storage device. In another embodiment, a first storage device sends a twice-encrypted password to a host device, receives the password from the host device after the twice-encrypted password is decrypted by a second storage device and the host device, and provides the host device with access to the private memory area only if the password matches one that is stored in the first storage device.

Abstract: Code of a software product is delivered by embodying, on a computer-readable storage medium, installation code for installing the software product code on a computer and DRM code for permitting the installation only if a predetermined condition is satisfied. If the condition is violated, the installation code is erased and that part of the storage medium then is available for general use.

Abstract: Portable smartcard devices, methods of operating smartcard devices, systems including a smartcard device and a terminal, and computer readable storage media including instructions for smartcard devices are provided. According to some embodiments, the smartcard includes a controller for executing commands received from a terminal, where execution of at least one command affects a power consumption of the smartcard device during subsequent execution of at least one other command. Optionally, the command which modifies smartcard power consumption is issued by the terminal in accordance with a power consumption decision.

Abstract: A method of storing and reading data, using a memory that includes a plurality of cells (e.g. flash cells), such that data are stored in the cells by setting respective values of a physical parameter of the cells (e.g. threshold voltage) to be indicative of the data, and such that data are read from the cells by measuring those values. One of the cells and its neighbors are read. The data stored in the cell are estimated, based on the measurements and on respective extents to which the neighbors disturb the reading. Preferably, the method also includes determining those respective extents to which the neighbors disturb the reading, for example based on the measurements themselves.

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 non-volatile memory has its cells' thresholds programmed within any one of a first set of voltage bands partitioned by a first set of reference thresholds across a threshold window. Hard bits are obtained when read relative to the first set of reference thresholds. The cells are read at a higher resolution relative to a second set of reference thresholds so as to provide additional soft bits for error correction. The soft bits are generated by a combination of a first modulation of voltage on a current word line WLn and a second modulation of voltage on an adjacent word line WLn+1, as in a reading scheme known as “Direct-Lookahead (DLA)”.

Abstract: Storage devices with multimedia interface connectors and methods are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a data storage device includes a controller coupled to a memory, a streaming media capture circuit coupled to the controller, and a video playback circuit coupled to the controller. A multimedia interface connector is coupled to the streaming media capture circuit and further coupled to the video playback circuit. In response to detecting streaming multimedia data incoming from an external device via the multimedia interface connector, the incoming streaming multimedia data is provided to the streaming media capture circuit to generate multimedia file format data that is stored to the memory as a multimedia file.

Abstract: A storage unit made of flash array and a USB controller, is implemented to be compatible with then USB specification. The unit includes memory modules which can accept write commands and read commands and are erasable and non-volatile herein referred to as flash modules. The USB/flash controller is configured to provide USB functionality and compatibility alone with common flash operations such as programming reading and erasing the above mentioned components. A USB flash memory device includes at least one flash memory module, a USB connector, a USB controller, and an identification structure for holding memory size and manufacturing type information of the flash memory module.