Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilevel memory bus system for transferring information between at least one DMA controller and at least one solid-state semiconductor memory device, such as NAND flash memory devices or the like. This multilevel memory bus system includes at least one DMA controller coupled to an intermediate bus; a flash memory bus; and a flash buffer circuit between the intermediate bus and the flash memory bus. This multilevel memory bus system may be disposed to support: an n-bit wide bus width, such as nibble-wide or byte-wide bus widths; a selectable data sampling rate, such as a single or double sampling rate, on the intermediate bus; a configurable bus data rate, such as a single, double, quad, or octal data sampling rate; CRC protection; an exclusive busy mechanism; dedicated busy lines; or any combination of these.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises: a first flash module comprising a first flash device; and a second flash module comprising a second flash device; wherein the first flash module and second flash module are coupled by a flash interconnect; wherein the first flash device is configured to store a first data stripe of a data and wherein the second flash device is configured to store a second data stripe of the data. In another embodiment of the invention, a method comprises: storing, in a first flash device in a first flash module, a first data stripe of a data; and storing, in a second flash device in a second flash module, a second data stripe of the data; wherein the first flash module and second flash module are coupled by a flash interconnect.

Abstract: In an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises: a data storage device comprising a first prefetch buffer, a second prefetch buffer, and a third prefetch buffer; wherein the second prefetch buffer and the third prefetch buffer are both coupled in parallel to the first prefetch buffer; and wherein any of the prefetch buffers is configured to store prefetch data. The prefetch data is available to a host that sends a memory read transaction request to the data storage device. In another embodiment of the invention, a method comprises: storing prefetch data in any one of a first prefetch buffer, a second prefetch buffer, or a third prefetch buffer in a storage device; wherein the second prefetch buffer and the third prefetch buffer are both coupled in parallel to the first prefetch buffer. The prefetch data is available to a host that sends a memory read transaction request to a data storage device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilevel memory bus system for transferring information between at least one DMA controller and at least one solid-state semiconductor memory device, such as NAND flash memory devices or the like. This multilevel memory bus system includes at least one DMA controller coupled to an intermediate bus; a flash memory bus; and a flash buffer circuit between the intermediate bus and the flash memory bus. This multilevel memory bus system may be disposed to support: an n-bit wide bus width, such as nibble-wide or byte-wide bus widths; a selectable data sampling rate, such as a single or double sampling rate, on the intermediate bus; a configurable bus data rate, such as a single, double, quad, or octal data sampling rate; CRC protection; an exclusive busy mechanism; dedicated busy lines; or any combination of these.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilevel memory bus system for transferring information between at least one DMA controller and at least one solid-state semiconductor memory device, such as NAND flash memory devices or the like. This multilevel memory bus system includes at least one DMA controller coupled to an intermediate bus; a flash memory bus; and a flash buffer circuit between the intermediate bus and the flash memory bus. This multilevel memory bus system may be disposed to support: an n-bit wide bus width, such as nibble-wide or byte-wide bus widths; a selectable data sampling rate, such as a single or double sampling rate, on the intermediate bus; a configurable bus data rate, such as a single, double, quad, or octal data sampling rate; CRC protection; an exclusive busy mechanism; dedicated busy lines; or any combination of these.

Abstract: A solution for performing reduced latency memory read transactions is disclosed. In one example, a storage apparatus has a memory array that includes: a flash device having a data register, a memory interface coupled to the memory array and a buffer set that includes at least one buffer suitable for use as a prefetch buffer. The memory interface, in response to a memory read transaction request, performs a read operation and, if stored data exists within the memory array that meets a prefetch selection criterion, also performs an internal read operation. The internal read operation includes allocating a prefetch buffer in the buffer set and storing the data as prefetch data in the prefetch buffer. If the memory interface receives a second memory read transaction request for data that is currently available as prefetch data, the memory interface responds by performing a forwarding transaction that includes retrieving the prefetch data from the prefetch buffer and forwarding the prefetch data to a host.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method for optimizing flash device accesses, comprising: interleaving and striping, in tandem, for a transfer of data the other portions of the data.

Abstract: A solution for performing reduced latency memory read transactions is disclosed. In one example, a storage apparatus has a memory array that includes: a flash device having a data register, a memory interface coupled to the memory array and a buffer set that includes at least one buffer suitable for use as a prefetch buffer. The memory interface, in response to a memory read transaction request, performs a read operation and, if stored data exists within the memory array that meets a prefetch selection criterion, also performs an internal read operation. The internal read operation includes allocating a prefetch buffer in the buffer set and storing the data as prefetch data in the prefetch buffer. If the memory interface receives a second memory read transaction request for data that is currently available as prefetch data, the memory interface responds by performing a forwarding transaction that includes retrieving the prefetch data from the prefetch buffer and forwarding the prefetch data to a host.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilevel memory bus system for transferring information between at least one DMA controller and at least one solid-state semiconductor memory device, such as NAND flash memory devices or the like. This multilevel memory bus system includes at least one DMA controller coupled to an intermediate bus; a flash memory bus; and a flash buffer circuit between the intermediate bus and the flash memory bus. This multilevel memory bus system may be disposed to support: an n-bit wide bus width, such as nibble-wide or byte-wide bus widths; a selectable data sampling rate, such as a single or double sampling rate, on the intermediate bus; a configurable bus data rate, such as a single, double, quad, or octal data sampling rate; CRC protection; an exclusive busy mechanism; dedicated busy lines; or any combination of these.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilevel memory bus system for transferring information between at least one DMA controller and at least one solid-state semiconductor memory device, such as NAND flash memory devices or the like. This multilevel memory bus system includes at least one DMA controller coupled to an intermediate bus; a flash memory bus; and a flash buffer circuit between the intermediate bus and the flash memory bus. This multilevel memory bus system may be disposed to support: an n-bit wide bus width, such as nibble-wide or byte-wide bus widths; a selectable data sampling rate, such as a single or double sampling rate, on the intermediate bus; a configurable bus data rate, such as a single, double, quad, or octal data sampling rate; CRC protection; an exclusive busy mechanism; dedicated busy lines; or any combination of these.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilevel memory bus system for transferring information between at least one DMA controller and at least one solid-state semiconductor memory device, such as NAND flash memory devices or the like. This multilevel memory bus system includes at least one DMA controller coupled to an intermediate bus; a flash memory bus; and a flash buffer circuit between the intermediate bus and the flash memory bus. This multilevel memory bus system may be disposed to support: an n-bit wide bus width, such as nibble-wide or byte-wide bus widths; a selectable data sampling rate, such as a single or double sampling rate, on the intermediate bus; a configurable bus data rate, such as a single, double, quad, or octal data sampling rate; CRC protection; an exclusive busy mechanism; dedicated busy lines; or any combination of these.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilevel memory bus system for transferring information between at least one DMA controller and at least one solid-state semiconductor memory device, such as NAND flash memory devices or the like. This multilevel memory bus system includes at least one DMA controller coupled to an intermediate bus; a flash memory bus; and a flash buffer circuit between the intermediate bus and the flash memory bus. This multilevel memory bus system may be disposed to support: an n-bit wide bus width, such as nibble-wide or byte-wide bus widths; a selectable data sampling rate, such as a single or double sampling rate, on the intermediate bus; a configurable bus data rate, such as a single, double, quad, or octal data sampling rate; CRC protection; an exclusive busy mechanism; dedicated busy lines; or any combination of these.