Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing accurate command aging in a data storage device. A host provides multiple doorbell requests for the same command queue and a timestamp is saved for each request. When the storage device fetches the commands associated with the requests, the commands are all given the value of the timestamp associated with the requests and placed into the command queue and the aging algorithm of the storage device ages the commands. In an alternate embodiment, the commands may be assigned timestamps based on statistical values such as an average value, between the first and last doorbell request timestamps.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory system comprises a memory structure and a control circuit connected to the memory structure. The control circuit includes a programmable and reprogrammable microcontroller. The microcontroller has a first processor that executes instructions to coordinate sequences of voltages applied to the memory structure by a first circuit in order to perform memory operations. The microcontroller has a second processor that executes second instructions to control a second circuit to test conditions of the non-volatile memory cells in response to the voltages applied to the memory structure. The microcontroller may have a third processor that controls the flow of the memory operation and directs the first and second processors to execute the instructions. The instructions of the various processors may be updated, which provides for flexible flow, core operation control, and condition testing.