Abstract: Systems and methods for managing transfer of data into and out of a host data buffer of a host are disclosed. In one implementation, a partial write completion module of a storage system retrieves from the host, stores in a memory, and acknowledges retrieving and storing with a partial write completion message, each subset of a larger set of data associated with a host write command. The host may utilize received partial write completion messages to release and use the portion of the host data buffer that had been storing the subset identified in the message rather than waiting to release data associated with the host write command until all the data associated with the command is stored in the memory. The memory in which each subset is stored may be non-volatile memory in the storage device or a shadow buffer on the host or an external memory device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing transfer of data into and out of a host data buffer of a host are disclosed. In one implementation, a partial write completion module of a storage system retrieves from the host, stores in a memory, and acknowledges retrieving and storing with a partial write completion message, each subset of a larger set of data associated with a host write command. The host may utilize received partial write completion messages to release and use the portion of the host data buffer that had been storing the subset identified in the message rather than waiting to release data associated with the host write command until all the data associated with the command is stored in the memory. The memory in which each subset is stored may be non-volatile memory in the storage device or a shadow buffer on the host or an external memory device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing a data buffer of a non-volatile memory system are disclosed. The method may include a controller of a storage system retrieving host data, storing the retrieved data in a data buffer and transferring the data to a non-volatile memory. The controller may then overwrite the retrieved data in the data buffer as soon as the retrieved data has been transferred to the non-volatile memory die but prior to sending a command to program that data to the non-volatile memory array of the non-volatile memory. The system includes a non-volatile memory with a plurality of data latches and a non-volatile memory array, a data buffer and a controller configured to free the data buffer for receiving new data as soon as the prior data is transferred to the data latches and prior to any indication on success of programming prior data to the non-volatile memory array.

Abstract: The following embodiments generally relate to the use of a “swap area” in a non-volatile memory as an extension to volatile memory in a computing device. These embodiments include techniques to use both volatile memory and non-volatile swap memory to pre-load a plurality of applications, to control the bandwidth of swap operations, to encrypt data stored in the swap area, and to perform a fast clean-up of the swap area.

Abstract: A device includes a non-volatile memory and a controller coupled to the non-volatile memory. The device may be configured according to a mode in which execution of a particular command is unauthorized while the device is configured in the mode. While in the mode, the device may authorize execution of the command to occur during the mod.

Abstract: A storage module and method for regulating garbage collection operations based on write activity of a host are disclosed. In one embodiment, a storage module determines whether the host is operating in a burst mode by determining whether write activity of the host over a time period exceeds a threshold. The write activity can comprise one or both of (i) an amount of data received from the host to be written in the storage module and (ii) a number of write commands received from the host. If the host is operating in the burst mode, the storage module limits an amount of garbage collection operations during the burst mode. When the host is no longer operating in the burst mode, the storage module increases an amount of garbage collection operations.

Abstract: A storage module and method for managing logical-to-physical address mapping are disclosed. In one embodiment, a storage module is provided comprising a memory having a plurality of wordlines and a controller. The controller is configured to use a logical-to-physical address map to convert a logical address to a physical address of a wordline. A plurality of logical addresses in the map point to a single wordline, and the single wordline contains both data associated with the plurality of logical addresses and information about where to find each of the plurality of logical addresses in the single wordline . Storing the information about where to find each of the plurality of logical addresses in the wordline itself avoids the delay and complexity of using a larger logical-to-physical address map or multiple maps.

Abstract: A storage device coordinator intercepts a memory command issued by a host device and intended for a target storage device which is one of a plurality of storage devices, and, if the memory command is not optimal, transforms the memory command into one or more storage commands, each being associated with a respective storage device selected from the plurality of storage devices according to an optimization rule. A host device is also provided, which includes the storage device coordinator. A data storage system is also provided, which includes the storage device coordinator.

Abstract: Techniques are presented to allow non-volatile memory system to operate by determining ranges of logical addresses that a host typically accesses as together. For example, the system's controller can determine that the host always, or most always, writes or reads a contiguous set of logical addresses as a single unit. The controller can exploit this information by operating on these ranges as single a unit for data operations it performs. To take one example, the memory system can treat such ranges as single units for on-system data compression prior to writing the data to non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A storage module and method are disclosed for determining whether to back-up a previously-written lower page of data before writing an upper page of data. In one embodiment, a storage module receives a command to write an upper page of data to memory cells that have already been programmed with a lower page of data. The storage module determines whether a command to protect the lower page of data was previously received. The storage module backs-up the lower page of data in another area of the memory before writing the upper page of data to the memory cells only if it is determined that the command to protect the lower page of data was previously received. The storage module then writes the upper page of data to the memory cells.

Abstract: Techniques are presented to operate a greater number of dice in parallel while not exceeding peak current limits. The device can arbitrate between multiple dice and, when needed, suspend operations on one or more dice in a way to average the chance of performance penalty so that all chips will proceed with write at an equal probability. In other aspects, the suspension of operations can be weighted based on factors such as the relative speed of the different dice or differing loads.

Abstract: The following embodiments generally relate to the use of a “swap area” in a non-volatile memory as an extension to volatile memory in a computing device. These embodiments include techniques to use both volatile memory and non-volatile swap memory to pre-load a plurality of applications, to control the bandwidth of swap operations, to encrypt data stored in the swap area, and to perform a fast clean-up of the swap area.

Abstract: A data storage device may be configured to direct access to at least a portion of a host memory of a host device. For example, the data storage device may store data at the host memory, such as data predicted to be subject to a read request from the host device. When the data storage device receives a read request from the host device to read the data, the data storage device may send an indication to the host device to enable the host device to read the data directly from the host memory.

Abstract: A method includes, in a data storage device including a non-volatile memory, receiving, from a host device, a read command to read data from the non-volatile memory. The host device is coupled to the data storage device and includes a memory having a unified memory (UM) area. The method also includes, responsive to the read command, sending a UM read command to the host device. The UM read command instructs the host device to read the data from a location of the UM area.

Abstract: The following embodiments generally relate to the use of a “swap area” in a non-volatile memory as an extension to volatile memory in a computing device. These embodiments include techniques to use both volatile memory and non-volatile swap memory to pre-load a plurality of applications, to control the bandwidth of swap operations, to encrypt data stored in the swap area, and to perform a fast clean-up of the swap area.

Abstract: A method and system for improving swap performance are provided. In one embodiment, a computing device is provided with a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory, wherein the non-volatile memory has a first swap area with multi-level cell (MLC) memory and a second swap area with single-level cell (SLC) memory. One of the characteristics of SLC memory is that data is written more quickly in the SLC memory than the MLC memory. A determination is made whether the computing device is operating in normal mode or burst mode. If it is determined that the computing device is operating in normal mode, data is moved from the volatile memory to the first swap area during a swap operation. If it is determined that the computing device is operating in burst mode, data is moved from the volatile memory to the second swap area during a swap operation.

Abstract: The following embodiments generally relate to the use of a “swap area” in a non-volatile memory as an extension to volatile memory in a computing device. These embodiments include techniques to use both volatile memory and non-volatile swap memory to pre-load a plurality of applications, to control the bandwidth of swap operations, to encrypt data stored in the swap area, and to perform a fast clean-up of the swap area.

Abstract: The following embodiments generally relate to the use of a “swap area” in a non-volatile memory as an extension to volatile memory in a computing device. These embodiments include techniques to use both volatile memory and non-volatile swap memory to pre-load a plurality of applications, to control the bandwidth of swap operations, to encrypt data stored in the swap area, and to perform a fast clean-up of the swap area.

Abstract: A storage module and method are disclosed for determining whether to back-up a previously-written lower page of data before writing an upper page of data. In one embodiment, a storage module receives a command to write an upper page of data to memory cells that have already been programmed with a lower page of data. The storage module determines whether a command to protect the lower page of data was previously received. The storage module backs-up the lower page of data in another area of the memory before writing the upper page of data to the memory cells only if it is determined that the command to protect the lower page of data was previously received. The storage module then writes the upper page of data to the memory cells.

Abstract: A method and host device for packing and dispatching read and write commands are provided. In one embodiment, a host device receives commands from at least one application, wherein the commands include read commands and write commands. The host device stores the commands in the memory. The host device then selects the read commands from the memory and packs them together but separately from the write commands. The same thing is done for the write commands. The host device then sends the packed read commands and the packed write commands to the storage device. In another embodiment, the host device determines when to send the packed commands to the storage device based on at least one parameter.