Abstract: Methods and systems for queuing transfers of multiple non-contiguous address ranges within a single command are disclosed. Embodiments of systems include system processors, memory to store data and executable software, and storage devices to receive transfer commands stored in system memory. A host controller interface driver is executed by one or more system processors and collects multiple non-continuous address ranges from storage-device transfer requests and records starting addresses and quantities of data to transfer for each non-continuous range in a tagged command list. It records the number of address ranges in the tagged command list, and a tagged-transfer opcode in a command, and stores the command and the tagged command list in a command table for the storage device. It records a base address for the command table in memory and an offset for the tagged command list into a command header, which is stored in a command queue.

Abstract: A system and method for a virtualization aware hard drive. A method may include issuing a context command and an input/output (I/O) command by a virtual machine to either a hardware controller or a virtual machine monitor (VMM). The controller (or VMM) fills in a context tag that corresponds to the context command and the I/O command. The controller (or VMM) provides the context tag and the I/O command to a virtualization aware hard drive. The context tag provides context to the hard drive for the I/O command. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for queuing transfers of multiple non-contiguous address ranges within a single command are disclosed. Embodiments of systems include system processors, memory to store data and executable software, and storage devices to receive transfer commands stored in system memory. A host controller interface driver is executed by one or more system processors and collects multiple non-continuous address ranges from storage-device transfer requests and records starting addresses and quantities of data to transfer for each non-continuous range in a tagged command list. It records the number of address ranges in the tagged command list, and a tagged-transfer opcode in a command, and stores the command and the tagged command list in a command table for the storage device. It records a base address for the command table in memory and an offset for the tagged command list into a command header, which is stored in a command queue.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for serial link down detection are described. In one embodiment, the method includes the detection of an initial link down condition of a serial link. In one embodiment, the initial link down condition is detected, for example, when a transition from a normal signaling voltage level to a squelch signaling voltage level is detected at a receiver input. When an initial link down condition is detected, the issuance of a link down signal is delayed for a predetermined period of time from the detection of the squelch voltage over the serial link. In one embodiment, the link down signal is asserted if a data error is detected following the predetermined period of time from the detection of the squelch voltage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A computer system is disclosed. The computer system includes a storage device, a device controller and a chipset. The device controller includes lock registers having values that correspond to the ranges of locked sectors of the storage device. The lock registers verify if a storage device access request is targeted for ranges of sectors of the storage device that are locked. The chipset includes an embedded controller to authenticate the storage device access request and to manage configuration of the storage device.

Abstract: In some embodiments a determination is made as to whether a file is to be placed on a slower drive of a logical storage volume span or a faster drive of the logical storage volume span. The file is placed on the slower drive or the faster drive based on the determining, and a user does not need to be aware of whether the file has been placed on the slower drive or the faster drive. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A system and method for a virtualization aware hard drive. A method may include issuing a context command and an input/output (I/O) command by a virtual machine to either a hardware controller or a virtual machine monitor (VMM). The controller (or VMM) fills in a context tag that corresponds to the context command and the I/O command. The controller (or VMM) provides the context tag and the I/O command to a virtualization aware hard drive. The context tag provides context to the hard drive for the I/O command. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A computer system provides a program access to a first register during real mode operation by using an index register and a data register, wherein the index register and the data register are located in real mode memory space and the first register is located outside of real mode memory space.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for serial link down detection are described. In one embodiment, the method includes the detection of an initial link down condition of a serial link. In one embodiment, the initial link down condition is detected, for example, when a transition from a normal signaling voltage level to a squelch signaling voltage level is detected at a receiver input. When an initial link down condition is detected, the issuance of a link down signal is delayed for a predetermined period of time from the detection of the squelch voltage over the serial link. In one embodiment, the link down signal is asserted if a data error is detected following the predetermined period of time from the detection of the squelch voltage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements to handle non-queued commands for data storage devices, such as Parallel and Serial ATA hard drives, are disclosed. Embodiments may comprise a host and/or a data storage device. The host and data storage device may form, e.g., a handheld device such as an MP3 player, a cellular phone, or the like. The storage device may comprise a new method of responding to a non-queued command while the storage device may be processing a queue of commands. In many embodiments, the method involves processing queued commands until the drive receives a non-queued command that requires immediate processing by the drive. In many of these embodiments, the drive will respond in a new manner to process the non-queued command, the end result having no or minimal impact on host system operation.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a request to access a disk drive. The request has a size. The method further includes selecting a queue, based at least in part on the size of the request, from among a plurality of queues, and assigning the request to the selected queue.

Abstract: A computer system is disclosed. The computer system includes a storage device, a device controller and a chipset. The device controller includes lock registers having values that correspond to the ranges of locked sectors of the storage device. The lock registers verify if a storage device access request is targeted for ranges of sectors of the storage device that are locked. The chipset includes an embedded controller to authenticate the storage device access request and to manage configuration of the storage device.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements to remap degraded storage blocks on, e.g., IDE/ATA drives are disclosed. Embodiments may comprise a host and/or a data storage device for, e.g., a handheld device. The host may comprise remapping logic. In many embodiments, the remapping logic may track degraded storage blocks as indicated by the data storage device. In several embodiments, the host may remap data from degraded storage blocks in response to indications from the data storage device that the degraded storage blocks have degraded to a point at which further use may risk loss of data. The data storage device may execute error correction code to acquire valid data and if error correction measures exceed a threshold, or are otherwise determined to be excessive, the data storage device may communicate the degradation of the storage block to the host. Other embodiments may be disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements to interface a data storage device such as a small form factor IDE/ATA hard drive are disclosed. Embodiments may comprise a host and/or a data storage device. The host and data storage device may form, e.g., a handheld device such as an MP3 player, a cellular phone, or the like. The host may comprise a new interface referred to as a CE-ATA interface that facilitates interaction with the data storage device. In many embodiments, the CE-ATA interface combines an ATA command layer or emulator with a Multimedia Card (MMC) electrical interface, advantageously accommodating a fast time-to-market solution by leveraging existing technologies. More specifically, ATA commands may be mapped into an MMC register space to transmit the commands to the data storage device. Several embodiments also implement interrupt functions for the data storage device. Other embodiments may be disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A computer system provides a program access to a first register during real mode operation by using an index register and a data register, wherein the index register and the data register are located in real mode memory space and the first register is located outside of real mode memory space.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a current media status is determined for a storage device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a presence of a fail over switch is described. In one embodiment, during an Serial ATA sequence initialization handshake, a host transmits a COMRESET to a device. In return, the host receives a COMWAKE from the device. If the host is of a first type of host, then the host identifies a presence of a fail over switch, in response to receipt of the COMWAKE. If the host is of a second type of host, then the host ignores the COMWAKE. The host then receives a COMINIT from the device, in accordance with the Serial ATA sequence handshake. The host transmits a COMWAKE to the device, and the host receives a COMWAKE in return from the device.

Abstract: In some embodiments, disk accesses made during normal operation of a disk drive are monitored. One or more data blocks on the disk drive are identified as candidates for replication on the disk drive in response to the monitoring. Each of the identified data blocks are replicated in at least one other place on the disk drive. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a register is to store one or more bits indicating whether a low power mode is to be entered. A controller is to put at least one link in a low power state in response to the one or more bits indicating whether a low power mode is to be entered without waiting for a software interrupt routine when a particular condition occurs (for example, when the link is idle and/or when there are no commands outstanding and no commands to issue on the link). Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Data is read in response to a request for a predetermined amount of data. The amount of data that has been read is determined prior to completing reading the predetermined amount of data. The predetermined amount of data may include prefetch data and demand data, where demand data is data for a computer program and prefetch data is data adjacent to the demand data.