Abstract: A method includes compressing input data to form compressed data and comparing a size of the compressed data to a maximum allowed size determined from a fixed sector size for a lower tier of the multi-tier storage system and a minimum pad length for a pad that is stored in the same sector as the compressed data when the compressed data is migrated to the lower tier. When the size of the compressed data is greater than the maximum allowed size, the input data is stored instead of the compressed data in an upper tier of the multi-tier storage system.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing data in a hybrid data storage device. The device has a first non-volatile memory (NVM) of solid state memory cells arranged into a first set of garbage collection units (GCUs), and a second NVM as a rotatable data recording medium arranged into a second set of GCUs each comprising a plurality of shingled magnetic recording tracks. A control circuit combines a first group of logical block units (LBUs) stored in the first set of GCUs with a second group of LBUs stored in the second set of GCUs to form a combined group of LBUs arranged in sequential order by logical address. The control circuit streams the combined group of LBUs to a zone of shingled magnetic recording tracks in a selected one of the second set of GCUs. A combined media translation map identifies physical addresses in both the first and second NVMs.

Abstract: A method includes compressing input data to form compressed data and comparing a size of the compressed data to a maximum allowed size determined from a fixed sector size for a lower tier of the multi-tier storage system and a minimum pad length for a pad that is stored in the same sector as the compressed data when the compressed data is migrated to the lower tier. When the size of the compressed data is greater than the maximum allowed size, the input data is stored instead of the compressed data in an upper tier of the multi-tier storage system.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing data in a hybrid data storage device. The device has a first non-volatile memory (NVM) of solid state memory cells arranged into a first set of garbage collection units (GCUs), and a second NVM as a rotatable data recording medium arranged into a second set of GCUs each comprising a plurality of shingled magnetic recording tracks. A control circuit combines a first group of logical block units (LBUs) stored in the first set of GCUs with a second group of LBUs stored in the second set of GCUs to form a combined group of LBUs arranged in sequential order by logical address. The control circuit streams the combined group of LBUs to a zone of shingled magnetic recording tracks in a selected one of the second set of GCUs. A combined media translation map identifies physical addresses in both the first and second NVMs.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a media controller for processing a diagnostic request received from a diagnostic source. The received diagnostic request is parsed by a corresponding request handling module of the media controller, where each diagnostic source type has a corresponding request handling module. If the received diagnostic request requires allocation of buffer space, a common diagnostic handling module of the media controller allocates buffer space in a buffer for the received diagnostic request. The common diagnostic handling module is common for all diagnostic source types. The common diagnostic handling module provides the received diagnostic request to a corresponding one of a plurality of end diagnostic handling modules. The end diagnostic handling module performs the diagnostic tasks. If the received diagnostic request requires a transfer of data to the diagnostic source, the common diagnostic handling module performs the data transfer between the media controller and the diagnostic source.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a host subsystem that generates a host context corresponding to a received host data transfer request. A programmable sequencer generates one or more sequencer contexts based on the host context. Each of the sequencer contexts corresponds to at least part of the host data transfer request. The sequencer contexts are provided to a buffer subsystem of the media controller. For host read requests, the buffer subsystem retrieves the data associated with the sequencer contexts of the read request from a corresponding buffer or a storage media and transmits the data associated with the sequencer contexts to the host device. For host write requests, the buffer subsystem receives the data associated with the host context from the host device and stores the data associated with the sequencer contexts of the write request to a corresponding buffer or the storage media.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a media controller that synchronizes data cached in a buffer and corresponding data stored in one or more sectors of a storage device. A buffer layer module of the media controller caches data transferred between the buffer and the storage device. One or more contiguous sectors are associated with one or more chunks. The buffer layer module updates a status corresponding to each chunk of the cached data and scans the status corresponding to a first chunk of cached data. If, based on the status, the first chunk of cached data is more recent than the corresponding data stored on the storage device, a media layer module synchronizes the data on the storage device with the cached data. The status corresponding to the group of one or more sectors is updated. The media layer module scans a next chunk of cached data, if present.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide tracking and processing of commands received by a storage device. For each received command, the storage device determines one or more requested logical block addresses (LBAs), including a starting LBA and a length of one or more LBAs of the received command. The storage device determines whether command reordering is restricted. If command reordering is not restricted, the storage device processes the received commands. Otherwise, if command reordering is restricted, the storage device conflict checks each received command. If no conflict is detected, the storage device tracks and processes the received command. Otherwise, if a conflict is detected, the storage device queues the received command.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a method of transferring, by a media controller, data associated with a host data transfer between a host device and a storage media. A buffer layer module of the media controller segments the host data transfer into one or more data transfer segments. Each data transfer segment corresponds to at least a portion of the data. The buffer layer module allocates a number of physical buffers to a virtual circular buffer for buffering the one or more data transfer segments. The buffer layer module transfers, by the virtual circular buffer, each of the data transfer segments between the host device and the storage media through the allocated physical buffers.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a media controller that determines the size of a cache of data being transferred between a host device and one or more sectors of a storage device. The one or more sectors are segmented into a plurality of chunks, and each chunk corresponds to at least one sector. The contents of the cache are managed in a cache hash table. At startup of the media controller, a buffer layer module of the media controller initializes the cache in a buffer of the media controller. During operation of the media controller, the buffer layer module determines a number of chunks allocated to the cache. Based on the number of chunks allocated to the cache, the buffer layer module updates the size of the of the cache hash table.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide logical-to-physical address translation for data stored on a storage device having sectors organized into blocks and superblocks. A flash translation layer maps a physical address in the storage device to a logical sector address. The logical sector address corresponds to mapping data that includes i) a page index, ii) a block index, and iii) a superblock number. The mapping data is stored in at least one summary page corresponding to the superblock containing the physical address. A block index and a page index of a next empty page in the superblock are stored in a page global directory corresponding to the superblock. A block index and a page index of the at least one summary page and the at least one active block table for each superblock are stored in at least one active block table of the storage device.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide skip operations for transferring data to or from a plurality of non-contiguous sectors of a solid-state memory. A host layer module sends data to, and receives commands from, a communication link. Received commands are one of read requests or write requests, with commands including i) a starting sector address, ii) a skip mask indicating the span of all sector addresses in the request and the sectors to be transferred, iii) a total number of sectors to be transferred; and, for write requests, iv) the data to be written to the sectors. A buffer stores data for transfer to or from the solid-state memory. A buffer layer module i) manages the buffer, ii) segments the span of the request into a plurality of chunks, and iii) determines, based on the skip mask, a number of chunks to be transferred to or from the solid-state memory.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide tracking and processing of commands received by a storage device. For each received command, the storage device determines one or more requested logical block addresses (LBAs), including a starting LBA and a length of one or more LBAs of the received command. The storage device determines whether command reordering is restricted. If command reordering is not restricted, the storage device processes the received commands. Otherwise, if command reordering is restricted, the storage device conflict checks each received command. If no conflict is detected, the storage device tracks and processes the received command. Otherwise, if a conflict is detected, the storage device queues the received command.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a media controller that synchronizes data cached in a buffer and corresponding data stored in one or more sectors of a storage device. A buffer layer module of the media controller caches data transferred between the buffer and the storage device. One or more contiguous sectors are associated with one or more chunks. The buffer layer module updates a status corresponding to each chunk of the cached data and scans the status corresponding to a first chunk of cached data. If, based on the status, the first chunk of cached data is more recent than the corresponding data stored on the storage device, a media layer module synchronizes the data on the storage device with the cached data. The status corresponding to the group of one or more sectors is updated. The media layer module scans a next chunk of cached data, if present.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a media controller that determines the size of a cache of data being transferred between a host device and one or more sectors of a storage device. The one or more sectors are segmented into a plurality of chunks, and each chunk corresponds to at least one sector. The contents of the cache are managed in a cache hash table. At startup of the media controller, a buffer layer module of the media controller initializes the cache in a buffer of the media controller. During operation of the media controller, the buffer layer module determines a number of chunks allocated to the cache. Based on the number of chunks allocated to the cache, the buffer layer module updates the size of the of the cache hash table.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide logical-to-physical address translation for data stored on a storage device having sectors organized into blocks and superblocks. A flash translation layer maps a physical address in the storage device to a logical sector address. The logical sector address corresponds to mapping data that includes i) a page index, ii) a block index, and iii) a superblock number. The mapping data is stored in at least one summary page corresponding to the superblock containing the physical address. A block index and a page index of a next empty page in the superblock are stored in a page global directory corresponding to the superblock. A block index and a page index of the at least one summary page and the at least one active block table for each superblock are stored in at least one active block table of the storage device.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a method of transferring, by a media controller, data associated with a host data transfer between a host device and a storage media. A buffer layer module of the media controller segments the host data transfer into one or more data transfer segments. Each data transfer segment corresponds to at least a portion of the data. The buffer layer module allocates a number of physical buffers to a virtual circular buffer for buffering the one or more data transfer segments. The buffer layer module transfers, by the virtual circular buffer, each of the data transfer segments between the host device and the storage media through the allocated physical buffers.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a media controller for processing a diagnostic request received from a diagnostic source. The received diagnostic request is parsed by a corresponding request handling module of the media controller, where each diagnostic source type has a corresponding request handling module. If the received diagnostic request requires allocation of buffer space, a common diagnostic handling module of the media controller allocates buffer space in a buffer for the received diagnostic request. The common diagnostic handling module is common for all diagnostic source types. The common diagnostic handling module provides the received diagnostic request to a corresponding one of a plurality of end diagnostic handling modules. The end diagnostic handling module performs the diagnostic tasks. If the received diagnostic request requires a transfer of data to the diagnostic source, the common diagnostic handling module performs the data transfer between the media controller and the diagnostic source.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a host subsystem that generates a host context corresponding to a received host data transfer request. A programmable sequencer generates one or more sequencer contexts based on the host context. Each of the sequencer contexts corresponds to at least part of the host data transfer request. The sequencer contexts are provided to a buffer subsystem of the media controller. For host read requests, the buffer subsystem retrieves the data associated with the sequencer contexts of the read request from a corresponding buffer or a storage media and transmits the data associated with the sequencer contexts to the host device. For host write requests, the buffer subsystem receives the data associated with the host context from the host device and stores the data associated with the sequencer contexts of the write request to a corresponding buffer or the storage media.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide skip operations for transferring data to or from a plurality of non-contiguous sectors of a solid-state memory. A host layer module sends data to, and receives commands from, a communication link. Received commands are one of read requests or write requests, with commands including i) a starting sector address, ii) a skip mask indicating the span of all sector addresses in the request and the sectors to be transferred, iii) a total number of sectors to be transferred; and, for write requests, iv) the data to be written to the sectors. A buffer stores data for transfer to or from the solid-state memory. A buffer layer module i) manages the buffer, ii) segments the span of the request into a plurality of chunks, and iii) determines, based on the skip mask, a number of chunks to be transferred to or from the solid-state memory.