Patents by Inventor Alan W. Sinclair

Alan W. Sinclair has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8166267
    Abstract: Data files are assigned addresses within one or more logical blocks of a continuous logical address space interface (LBA interface) of a usual type of flash memory system with physical memory cell blocks. This assignment may be done by the host device which typically, but not necessarily, generates the data files. The number of logical blocks containing data of any one file is controlled in a manner that reduces the amount of fragmentation of file data within the physical memory blocks, thereby to maintain good memory performance. The host may configure the logical blocks of the address space in response to learning the physical characteristics of a memory to which it is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W. Sinclair, Barry Wright
  • Patent number: 8055832
    Abstract: Host system data files are written directly to a large erase block flash memory system with a unique identification of each file and offsets of data within the file but without the use of any intermediate logical addresses or a virtual address space for the memory. Directory information of where the files are stored in the memory is maintained within the memory system by its controller, rather than by the host. A type of memory block is selected to receive additional data of a file that depends upon the types of blocks into which data of the file have already been written. Blocks containing data are selected for reclaiming any unused capacity therefrom by a process that selects blocks in order starting with those containing the least amount of valid data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W. Sinclair, Barry Wright
  • Patent number: 8046522
    Abstract: Data files are assigned addresses within one or more logical blocks of a continuous logical address space interface (LBA interface) of a usual type of flash memory system with physical memory cell blocks. This assignment may be done by the host device which typically, but not necessarily, generates the data files. The number of logical blocks containing data of any one file is controlled in a manner that reduces the amount of fragmentation of file data within the physical memory blocks, thereby to maintain good memory performance. The host may configure the logical blocks of the address space in response to learning the physical characteristics of a memory to which it is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan W. Sinclair, Barry Wright
  • Patent number: 7984233
    Abstract: Host system data files are written directly to a large erase block flash memory system with a unique identification of each file and offsets of data within the file but without the use of any intermediate logical addresses or a virtual address space for the memory. Directory information of where the files are stored in the memory is maintained within the memory system by its controller, rather than by the host. The file based interface between the host and memory systems allows the memory system controller to utilize the data storage blocks within the memory with increased efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventor: Alan W. Sinclair
  • Publication number: 20110161621
    Abstract: Methods of maintaining an address table for mapping logical addresses to physical addresses include continuously consolidating main address maps and an update address map, and periodically compacting the update address map. Consolidating includes selecting a main address map, reading valid mapping entries from the main and update address maps, constructing a mapping set including the valid mapping entries, and writing the mapping set to a second main address map. The update address map is compacted if a criterion is met, and includes copying the valid mapping entries to an unwritten block or metablock and assigning the unwritten block or metablock as a new update address map. The length of consolidation may depend on the average length of compacted mapping entries following a compaction operation. Increased performance due to lower maintenance overhead may result by using these methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Alan W. Sinclair, Nicholas J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7949845
    Abstract: Host system data files are written directly to a large erase block flash memory system with a unique identification of each file and offsets of data within the file but without the use of any intermediate logical addresses or a virtual address space for the memory. Directory information of where the files are stored in the memory is maintained within the memory system by its controller, rather than by the host. Each data file is uniquely identified in a file directory, which points to entries in a file index table (FIT) of data groups that make up the file and their physical storage locations in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Alan W. Sinclair, Barry Wright
  • Patent number: 7917686
    Abstract: Data files are assigned addresses within one or more logical blocks of a continuous logical address space interface (LBA interface) of a usual type of flash memory system with physical memory cell blocks. This assignment may be done by the host device which typically, but not necessarily, generates the data files. The number of logical blocks containing data of any one file is controlled in a manner that reduces the amount of fragmentation of file data within the physical memory blocks, thereby to maintain good memory performance. The host may configure the logical blocks of the address space in response to learning the physical characteristics of a memory to which it is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Alan W. Sinclair, Barry Wright
  • Patent number: 7877539
    Abstract: Host system data files are written directly to a large erase block flash memory system with a unique identification of each file and offsets of data within the file but without the use of any intermediate logical addresses or a virtual address space for the memory. Directory information of where the files are stored in the memory is maintained within the memory system by its controller, rather than by the host. The file based interface between the host and memory systems allows the memory system controller to utilize the data storage blocks within the memory with increased efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Alan W. Sinclair, Peter J. Smith
  • Patent number: 7814262
    Abstract: A change in the amount of data to be stored that results from various encoding, compression, encryption or other data transformation algorithms, is handled by individually identifying distinct units of the transformed data and storing such units in physical succession within storage blocks of a memory system such as flash memory. The data being stored may come from a host system external to the memory system or from an application running on a processor within the memory system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventor: Alan W. Sinclair
  • Patent number: 7793068
    Abstract: Method and mass storage memory system is provided. The system includes, re-programmable non-volatile memory cells, the memory cells being arranged in a plurality of blocks that are erasable together; and a controller including a microprocessor that is adapted to receive files of data identified by unique identifiers via a first interface and the controller causes a received data file to be stored in one or more memory blocks; and the controller receives data identified by logical addresses via a second interface and stores the received data in one or more memory blocks, wherein data written via the first interface is indexed using the unique identifiers so that data is accessible via the second interface or the first interface; and data received via the second interface is indexed so that data can be accessed via the first interface or the second interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Alan W. Sinclair, Sergey A. Gorobets
  • Publication number: 20100223308
    Abstract: A method and system for reading data from a non-volatile mass storage device is provided. The method includes, performing logical configuration for the non-volatile mass storage device, wherein file data is allocated addresses in a virtual logical address space; and data identified by virtual logical addresses is read by a host system. The system includes a file storage segment that reads and writes data on a file-by-file basis, allowing a host system to access data from the non-volatile mass storage device using a file interface format; and a logical interface segment that allows the host system to access data using logical addressing, wherein the host system is unaware of a storage format under which data is stored on a file-by-file basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventor: Alan W. Sinclair
  • Publication number: 20100223423
    Abstract: Host system data files are written directly to a large erase block flash memory system with a unique identification of each file and offsets of data within the file but without the use of any intermediate logical addresses or a virtual address space for the memory. Directory information of where the files are stored in the memory is maintained within the memory system by its controller, rather than by the host. The file based interface between the host and memory systems allows the memory system controller to utilize the data storage blocks within the memory with increased efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Alan W. Sinclair, Peter J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20100217926
    Abstract: Host system data files are written directly to a large erase block flash memory system with a unique identification of each file and offsets of data within the file but without the use of any intermediate logical addresses or a virtual address space for the memory. Directory information of where the files are stored in the memory is maintained within the memory system by its controller, rather than by the host. The file based interface between the host and memory systems allows the memory system controller to utilize the data storage blocks within the memory with increased efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Alan W. Sinclair
  • Patent number: 7769978
    Abstract: Method for transferring data between a host system and a re-programmable non-volatile mass storage system having memory cells organized into blocks of memory cells is provided. The method includes receiving data via a first interface and/or a second interface; and making data accessible via the first interface and the second interface, even if a file name is not provided by a host system or before a write operation is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Sergey A. Gorobets, Alan W. Sinclair
  • Publication number: 20100169540
    Abstract: A method and system for relocating selected groups of data in a storage device having a non-volatile memory consisting partitions with different types of non-volatile memory. The method may include determining whether data received a first partition meets one or more heightened read probability criteria and/or heightened delete probability criteria. If the criteria are not met, the received data is moved to a second partition, where the first partition has a higher endurance than the second partition. The system may include a first non-volatile memory partition and a second non-volatile memory partition having a lower endurance than the first, where a controller in communication with the first and second partitions determines if a heightened read probability and/or a heightened delete probability are present in received data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Alan W. Sinclair
  • Publication number: 20100169542
    Abstract: A method and system writes data to a memory device including dynamic assignment of logical block addresses (LBAs) to physical write blocks. The method includes receiving a request to write data for a logical block address within an LBA range to the memory device. The method assigns the LBA range to a particular write block exclusively or non-exclusively, depending on the existence of previously assigned write blocks and the availability of unwritten blocks. A data structure may be utilized to record the recent usage of blocks for assigning non-exclusive write blocks. An intermediate storage area may be included that implements the dynamic assignment of LBA ranges to physical write blocks. Data in the intermediate storage area may be consolidated and written to the main storage area. Lower fragmentation and write amplification ratios may result by using this method and system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Alan W. Sinclair
  • Publication number: 20100169588
    Abstract: A method and system writes data to a memory device including writing data to varying types of physical write blocks. The method includes receiving a request to write data for a logical block address within an LBA range to the memory device. Depending on whether the quantity of valid data in the memory device meets a predetermined criteria, the data is written to a specific chaotic block, a general chaotic block, or a mapped block. The mapped block is assigned for writing data for the LBA range, the specific chaotic block is assigned for writing data for contiguous LBA ranges including the LBA range, and the general chaotic block is assigned for writing data for any LBA range. Lower fragmentation and write amplification ratios may result by using this method and system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Alan W. Sinclair
  • Patent number: 7747837
    Abstract: A mass storage memory system is provided. The memory system includes, re-programmable non-volatile memory cells arranged in a plurality of blocks of memory cells; and a controller that is adapted to receive data via a first interface, and/or a second interface, and data received via the first interface and the second interface is accessible via the first interface and the second interface even if a file name for the data is not provided by a host system or before a write operation is complete. The first interface is a file based interface and the second interface is a logical interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Sergey A. Gorobets, Alan W. Sinclair
  • Patent number: 7739444
    Abstract: Data files are assigned addresses within one or more logical blocks of a continuous logical address space interface (LBA interface) of a usual type of flash memory system with physical memory cell blocks. This assignment may be done by the host device which typically, but not necessarily, generates the data files. The number of logical blocks containing data of any one file is controlled in a manner that reduces the amount of fragmentation of file data within the physical memory blocks, thereby to maintain good memory performance. The host may configure the logical blocks of the address space in response to learning the physical characteristics of a memory to which it is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Alan W. Sinclair, Barry Wright
  • Patent number: 7669003
    Abstract: Host system data files are written directly to a large erase block flash memory system with a unique identification of each file and offsets of data within the file but without the use of any intermediate logical addresses or a virtual address space for the memory. Directory information of where the files are stored in the memory is maintained within the memory system by its controller, rather than by the host. Each data file is uniquely identified in a file directory, which points to entries in a file index table (FIT) of data groups that make up the file and their physical storage locations in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Alan W. Sinclair, Barry Wright