Abstract: Herein are data storage devices that transfer a reference to a data object during a storage operation. The data storage devices include a host controller configured to obtain a reference of an object stored in a shared memory system for writing to a storage media controlled by a drive controller. The host controller transfers the reference of the object in the memory system to the drive controller. The host controller also transfers a storage command to the drive controller to write the object to the storage media.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for distributed file systems (DFS) are provided herein. In one example, the DFS is operable to respond to a write operation for the DFS by transferring a write command to a selected storage system for broadcast of the write command to a plurality of storage devices associated with a network switch fabric of the selected storage system. Further operations of the DFS can include, responsive to a read operation for the DFS, transferring a read command to a selected storage system for broadcast of the read command to a plurality of storage devices associated with a network switch fabric of the selected storage system.

Abstract: To provide enhanced operation of data storage devices and systems, various systems, methods, and firmware are provided herein. In a first example, a data storage device is presented. The data storage device includes a network interface configured to receive a data stream for storage on a storage medium, the data stream comprising meta data that precedes payload data. The data storage device includes a processing system configured to process at least the meta data when writing the data stream from the network interface to a memory to identify a data gap for the data stream to establish a byte alignment of at least the payload data in the memory. The processing system is also configured to insert the data gap in the memory and store the data stream in the memory.

Abstract: Herein are data storage devices to transfer a data object between memory regions during a storage operation. These data storage devices include a host controller configured to identify an object stored in a host region of a memory system for writing to a storage media controlled by a drive controller. The host controller initiates a memory transfer operation to transfer an object from the host region of the memory system to a drive region of the memory system. The host controller transfers a storage command to the drive controller to write the object to the storage media. The drive controller may be configured to transfer an object from the drive region to the host region when reading the object.

Abstract: To provide enhanced operation of data storage devices and systems, various systems, methods, and firmware are provided herein. In a first example, a data storage device is presented. The data storage device includes a network interface configured to receive a data stream for storage on a storage medium, the data stream comprising meta data that precedes payload data. The data storage device includes a processing system configured to process at least the meta data when writing the data stream from the network interface to a memory to identify a data gap for the data stream to establish a byte alignment of at least the payload data in the memory. The processing system is also configured to insert the data gap in the memory and store the data stream in the memory.

Abstract: Herein are data storage devices that transfer a reference to a data object during a storage operation. The data storage devices include a host controller configured to obtain a reference of an object stored in a shared memory system for writing to a storage media controlled by a drive controller. The host controller transfers the reference of the object in the memory system to the drive controller. The host controller also transfers a storage command to the drive controller to write the object to the storage media.

Abstract: To provide enhanced operation of data storage devices and systems, various systems, methods, and firmware are provided herein. In a first example, a data storage device is presented. The data storage device includes a network interface configured to receive a data stream for storage on a storage medium, the data stream comprising meta data that precedes payload data. The data storage device includes a processing system configured to process at least the meta data when writing the data stream from the network interface to a memory to identify a data gap for the data stream to establish a byte alignment of at least the payload data in the memory. The processing system is also configured to insert the data gap in the memory and store the data stream in the memory.

Abstract: Herein are data storage devices to transfer a reference of a data object during a storage operation. These data storage devices include a host controller configured to obtain a reference of an object stored in a shared memory system for writing to a storage media controlled by a drive controller. To the drive controller, the host controller transfers the reference of the object in the memory system. The host controller transfers a storage command to the drive controller to write the object to the storage media. The drive controller may be configured to transfer a reference of an object read into the memory system.

Abstract: Tiered mass storage assemblies are presented. The mass storage assembly in one example includes a plurality of drive interfaces configured to couple to a plurality of storage devices, with each drive interface of the plurality of drive interfaces being configured to exchange digital data at a predetermined maximum interface throughput, one or more low-output storage drives coupled to one or more corresponding drive interfaces, with a low-output storage drive exchanging digital data using the predetermined maximum interface throughput, and one or more high-output storage drives, with each high-output storage drive of the one or more high-output storage drives being coupled to two or more drive interfaces and with a high-output storage drive exchanging digital data using two or more predetermined maximum interface throughputs of the two or more drive interfaces.

Abstract: Tiered mass storage assemblies are presented. The mass storage assembly in one example includes a plurality of drive interfaces configured to couple to a plurality of storage devices, with each drive interface of the plurality of drive interfaces being configured to exchange digital data at a predetermined maximum interface throughput, one or more low-output storage drives coupled to one or more corresponding drive interfaces, with a low-output storage drive exchanging digital data using the predetermined maximum interface throughput, and one or more high-output storage drives, with each high-output storage drive of the one or more high-output storage drives being coupled to two or more drive interfaces and with a high-output storage drive exchanging digital data using two or more predetermined maximum interface throughputs of the two or more drive interfaces.

Abstract: Herein are data storage devices to transfer a reference of a data object during a storage operation. These data storage devices include a host controller configured to obtain a reference of an object stored in a shared memory system for writing to a storage media controlled by a drive controller. To the drive controller, the host controller transfers the reference of the object in the memory system. The host controller transfers a storage command to the drive controller to write the object to the storage media. The drive controller may be configured to transfer a reference of an object read into the memory system.

Abstract: Herein are data storage devices to transfer a data object between memory regions during a storage operation. These data storage devices include a host controller configured to identify an object stored in a host region of a memory system for writing to a storage media controlled by a drive controller. The host controller initiates a memory transfer operation to transfer an object from the host region of the memory system to a drive region of the memory system. The host controller transfers a storage command to the drive controller to write the object to the storage media. The drive controller may be configured to transfer an object from the drive region to the host region when reading the object.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for distributed file systems (DFS) are provided herein. In one example, the DFS is operable to respond to a write operation for the DFS by transferring a write command to a selected storage system for broadcast of the write command to a plurality of storage devices associated with a network switch fabric of the selected storage system. Further operations of the DFS can include, responsive to a read operation for the DFS, transferring a read command to a selected storage system for broadcast of the read command to a plurality of storage devices associated with a network switch fabric of the selected storage system.

Abstract: A software protection system comprises a memory system and a microprocessing system. The memory system is configured to store a software program comprised of a plurality of program instructions that, when executed, have a program order. The microprocessing system is coupled to the memory system and is configured to, when executing the software program, determine a next program instruction of the plurality of program instructions in the program order based on an order identifier, fetch the next program instruction from the memory system, determine if the next program instruction requires decrypting, decrypt the next program instruction responsive to determining that the next program instruction requires decrypting, and execute the next program instruction.

Abstract: To provide enhanced operation of data storage devices and systems, various systems, methods, and firmware are provided herein. In a first example, a data storage device is presented. The data storage device includes a network interface configured to receive a data stream for storage on a storage medium, the data stream comprising meta data that precedes payload data. The data storage device includes a processing system configured to process at least the meta data when writing the data stream from the network interface to a memory to identify a data gap for the data stream to establish a byte alignment of at least the payload data in the memory. The processing system is also configured to insert the data gap in the memory and store the data stream in the memory.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a control system which includes an interface configured to receive a content request from a request source wherein the content request identifies content stored on a storage medium. The control system also includes a processing system coupled to the interface and configured to process the content request to determine when the request source is a valid destination for the content based on a first identifier stored with the content on the storage medium and a second identifier provided with the content request. The interface is further configured to transfer the content to the request source when the request source is a valid destination.

Abstract: A control arrangement, for example, in a digital component that forms part of a system, draws an input current for its operation and is configured for monitoring an interface for any one of a group of commands and, upon detecting an issued one of the group of commands, operates the component for executing the issued command in an operational mode, and during an idle time on the interface, the control arrangement exclusively monitors the interface for any one of the group of commands such that the input current is limited to a leakage current. The component may draw less than 1 milliamp of current during the idle mode.

Abstract: A control arrangement, for example, in a digital component that forms part of a system, draws an input current for its operation and is configured for monitoring an interface for any one of a group of commands and, upon detecting an issued one of the group of commands, operates the component for executing the issued command in an operational mode, and during an idle time on the interface, the control arrangement exclusively monitors the interface for any one of the group of commands such that the input current is limited to a leakage current. The component may draw less than 1 milliamp of current during the idle mode.

Abstract: An end user system comprises a communication interface configured to receive content in a protected state and transfer the content in the protected state, a processing system coupled to the communication interface and configured to receive the content in the protected state, process the content with a key hard coded internally to the processing system to modify the content to an unprotected state, and transfer the content in the unprotected state, and a user interface coupled to the processing system and configured to receive the content in the unprotected state and output the content.

Abstract: A communication system comprises a content provider system configured to receive a content request indicating content and a device identifier, determine a first key based on the device identifier, process the content using the first key to modify the content from an unprotected state to a protected state, and transfer the content in the protected state. The communication system further comprises an end user system configured to receive the content in the protected state and process the content with a second key to modify the content from the protected state to an unprotected state wherein the second key is internally hard coded to the end user system.