Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to improved techniques for managing a data storage device (DSD) pool, and in particular the selecting of DSDs based on commands distribution and latencies among the command queues in the DSDs. In some aspects, a DSD may have multiple queues that enable the DSD to perform certain commands (e.g., write commands and/or read commands) in parallel. Thus, such DSD has various head-of-line blocking latencies based on which queue the command is directed to. A storage management device can reduce the command latency of the DSDs, for example, based on queue information (e.g., head-of-line blocking, parallel queue utilization, etc.) learned from the DSDs.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for host-assisted improved error recovery using a correlation factor are provided. In one embodiment, the data storage device receives, from a host, an indication that data associated with a first logical address is correlated with data associated with a second logical address; determines a correlation factor based on a degree of correlation between the data associated with the first logical address and the data associated with the second logical address; and in response to the correlation factor being above a threshold: stores the data associated with the first logical address and the data associated with the second logical address in different regions of the memory having different bit error rates; and uses the data associated with the first logical address to assist in correcting an error in the data associated with the second logical address. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for delaying execution of a host write command to perform an internal memory operation. In one embodiment, a data storage device is provided comprising a memory with single-level cell (SLC) blocks and multi-level cell (MLC) blocks, as well as a controller. The controller is configured to store, in a queue, a plurality of write commands received from a host, wherein each write command is associated with a timeout window; determine how long each of the plurality of write commands has been pending in the queue; and for each write command, delay execution of the write command within the write command's timeout window until the write command has been pending in the queue for a specified amount of time, wherein delaying execution of each write command provides the controller with time to perform a memory operation to increase an amount of available SLC blocks in the memory. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: Various devices, such as storage devices or systems are configured to efficiently process and update logical mappings within control table sets. Control table sets are often groupings of logical mapping corresponding to the logical locations of data requested by a host-computing device and the physical locations of the data within the memory array. As data is written and erased, these mappings must be updated within the control table set. Received changes to these mappings are typically stored and updated in two locations: a cache memory and a control table update list. By tracking and marking various control table sets as dirty or having undergone multiple changes, additional received updates can be stored and updated in only the cache memory, bypassing the second control table change list. By only utilizing one method of updating control table sets, processing overhead is reduced and various read or write activities are more efficiently done.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for host-assisted efficient handling of multiple versions of data are provided. In one embodiment, a data storage device is provided comprising a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to receive, from a host, identification of different versions of data that are to deleted together, store the different versions of the data in areas of the memory that are erasable in parallel; receive, from the host, a command to erase the different versions of the data; and erase the different versions of the data in parallel. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for optimizing the power consumption of a data storage device included in a battery-operated device. The battery-operated device (e.g., portable devices like wearable devices, smartwatches, and mobile phones) can access certain data stored on the data storage device more frequently when the device operates on battery power as compared to when the device does not operate on battery power. Techniques are provided for identifying and classifying data into different classifications, for example, power sensitive data and non-power sensitive data. Then the device can optimize the battery power consumption of the data storage device by storing or relocating data stored at the data storage device based on the classification of the data.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for storage device pool management based on storage device logical to physical (L2P) table information are provided. One such data storage system includes data storage devices each including a non-volatile memory; and a storage management device configured to receive L2P table information from at least two of the data storage devices; receive host data from a host device to be stored in one or more of the data storage devices; select, based on the L2P table information from the at plurality of data storage devices and the size of the host data, a target data storage device from the plurality of data storage devices; and send the host data to the target data storage device.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to improved techniques for managing a data storage device (DSD) pool, and in particular the selecting of DSDs based on commands distribution and latencies among the command queues in the DSDs. In some aspects, a DSD may have multiple queues that enable the DSD to perform certain commands (e.g., write commands and/or read commands) in parallel. Thus, such DSD has various head-of-line blocking latencies based on which queue the command is directed to. A storage management device can reduce the command latency of the DSDs, for example, based on queue information (e.g., head-of-line blocking, parallel queue utilization, etc.) learned from the DSDs.

Abstract: Aspects directed toward data storage management are provided. A storage management device is connected to data storage devices (DSDs) that form a virtual storage pool (VSP), where the storage management device is configured to increase the overall performance of the VSP, as well as the lifespans of the individual DSDs. The storage management device can be configured to learn about the over-provisioning (OP) information of each DSD and strategically select the DSD to send write commands or data based on the OP information. The storage management device can be configured to borrow spare OP capacity from a DSD and use the borrowed capacity to expend the exported/logical capacity of the DSD.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for host-assisted efficient handling of multiple versions of data are provided. In one embodiment, a data storage device is provided comprising a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to receive, from a host, identification of different versions of data that are to deleted together, store the different versions of the data in areas of the memory that are erasable in parallel; receive, from the host, a command to erase the different versions of the data; and erase the different versions of the data in parallel. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for host-assisted improved error recovery using a correlation factor are provided. In one embodiment, the data storage device receives, from a host, an indication that data associated with a first logical address is correlated with data associated with a second logical address; determines a correlation factor based on a degree of correlation between the data associated with the first logical address and the data associated with the second logical address; and in response to the correlation factor being above a threshold: stores the data associated with the first logical address and the data associated with the second logical address in different regions of the memory having different bit error rates; and uses the data associated with the first logical address to assist in correcting an error in the data associated with the second logical address. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A data storage device and method are provided for host multi-command queue grouping based on write-size alignment in a multi-queue-depth environment. In one embodiment, a data storage device is provided comprising a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to provide a host with an indication of a required amount of data needed to program a set of multi-level cell blocks in the memory; receive an assurance from the host that the host will be providing the data storage device with the required amount of data; and based on the assurance received from the host, program the set of multi-level cell blocks as data is received from the host but before the required amount of data is received from the host. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for memory-die-state-aware host command submission are provided. In one embodiment, a data storage device comprises a memory comprising a plurality of memory dies and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a query from a host for a status of a memory die that will be accessed by a command; determine the status of the memory die; and respond to the query by providing the status of the memory die to the host. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for host-initiated transactional handling for large data set atomicity across multiple memory commands are provided. In one embodiment, a data storage device is provided comprising a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to commence performance of a plurality of atomic operations; and prior to successful completion of the plurality of atomic operations: determine an available capacity of the memory, wherein memory locations storing data written by the plurality of atomic operations are considered unavailable even though the data is not yet committed to the memory locations; and inform the host of the determined available capacity of the memory. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Abstract: Aspects directed towards data storage management are provided. In one aspect, a data storage system receives fragmentation level information from data storage devices, and host data from a host device to be stored in the data storage devices. Based on the received fragmentation level information, a target data storage device is selected from the data storage devices, and the host data is sent to the target data storage device. In another aspect, a data storage device determines threshold conditions that trigger a defragmentation process. For this aspect, a fragmentation level metric indicating a proximity of the data storage device to initiating the defragmentation process is calculated based on the threshold conditions and a current amount of data stored in a non-volatile memory (NVM). The fragmentation level metric is then sent to a storage management device.

Abstract: Described herein are storage devices that allow the host-computing device and various users of the storage device to understand what configurations are available for partitions and to select various configurations and preferences that can inform the storage device on how to best allocate memory blocks/dies to provide service levels and performance equal or surpassing the requested amount from the host-computing device and/or user. In this way, users can select particular die(s)/memory blocks based on their desired application. Alternatively, the user/host-computing device can indicate service quality preferences that can be parsed and translated to various characteristics that can inform the selection of the available memory blocks and dies.

Abstract: Providing constant fixed commands to memory dies within a data storage device may result in hardware and firmware overheads impacting the performance at a flash interface module (FIM) because the FIM has to handle both the constant fixed commands and the overheads associated with the constant fixed commands. To avoid the impact on performance at the FIM, multiple fixed commands may be combined into individual multi-commands that may be provided to the memory dies. The use of multi-commands reduces hardware and firmware overheads at the FIM relative to the constant fixed commands, which improves performance of the data storage device because the saturation of the FIM is decreased.

Abstract: Data blocks may be optimized and managed in a mixed mode that utilizes a single-level cell (SLC) mode in combination with higher-density memory modes to promote full block utilization and to increase overall cycles of the data blocks. A data block cycling process in the mixed mode can place a data block in a higher-density memory mode that includes a multi-level cell (MLC) mode, a triple-level cell (TLC) mode, or a quad-level cell (QLC) mode, if the SLC cycle count of the data block is relatively higher as compared to other data blocks. Similarly, in the mixed mode, a data block may be placed in the SLC mode to store parity data or intermediate data if the corresponding TLC cycle count is relatively higher than other data blocks. Data clocks cycles may also be evenly distributed in the mixed mode, thereby balancing the mixed mode usage across all data blocks.

Abstract: Storage devices and systems are capable of dynamically managing QoS requirements associated with host applications via a management interface. The management interface may the enable storage devices to: (i) decide which data needs to be transferred back to the hosts, (ii) choose to skip portions of the data transferred back to the hosts to improve throughput and maintain low cost, and (iii) operate contention resolutions with host applications. Furthermore, storage devices and systems may achieve a virtual throughput that may be greater than its actual physical throughput. The management interface may also be operated at an application level, which advantageously allows the devices and systems the capabilities of managing contention resolutions of host applications, and managing (changing, observing, fetching, etc.) one or more QoS requirements for each host application.

Abstract: Aspects directed towards configuring new storage devices in a storage device pool are provided. In one aspect, a storage management device receives optimization information that includes at least one optimization learned by at least one source data storage device while part of a data storage system. A new data storage device for the data storage system is then configured with the at least one device optimization. In another aspect, a data storage device receives optimization information from a storage management device coupled to a plurality of pooled data storage devices, which includes the data storage device and at least one source data storage device. For this aspect, the optimization information includes at least one optimization learned by the at least one source data storage device while coupled to the storage management device. The data storage device is then configured to include the at least one device optimization.