Patents by Inventor Gary A. Drossel
Gary A. Drossel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9251381Abstract: A solid-state storage subsystem, such as a non-volatile memory card or drive, includes a main memory area that is accessible via standard memory access commands (such as ATA commands), and a restricted memory area that is accessible only via one or more non-standard commands. The restricted memory area stores information used to control access to, and/or use of, information stored in the main memory area. As one example, the restricted area may store one or more identifiers, such as a unique subsystem identifier, needed to decrypt an executable or data file stored in the main memory area. A host software component is configured to retrieve the information from the subsystem's restricted memory area, and to use the information to control access to and/or use of the information in the main memory area.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2011Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David E. Merry, Mark Diggs, Gary A. Drossel, Michael J. Hajeck
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Patent number: 8312207Abstract: A non-volatile solid-state storage subsystem, such as a non-volatile memory device, maintains usage statistics reflective of the wear state, and thus the remaining useful life, of the subsystem's memory array. A host system reads the usage statistics information, or data derived therefrom, from the subsystem to evaluate the subsystem's remaining life expectancy. The host system may use this information for various purposes, such as to (a) display or report information regarding the remaining life of the subsystem; (b) adjust the frequency with which data is written to the subsystem; and/or (c) select the type(s) of data written to the subsystem.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2012Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: SiliconSystems, Inc.Inventors: David E. Merry, Jr., Mark S. Diggs, Gary A. Drossel
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Publication number: 20120151130Abstract: A non-volatile solid-state storage subsystem, such as a non-volatile memory device, maintains usage statistics reflective of the wear state, and thus the remaining useful life, of the subsystem's memory array. A host system reads the usage statistics information, or data derived therefrom, from the subsystem to evaluate the subsystem's remaining life expectancy. The host system may use this information for various purposes, such as to (a) display or report information regarding the remaining life of the subsystem; (b) adjust the frequency with which data is written to the subsystem; and/or (c) select the type(s) of data written to the subsystem.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2012Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: DAVID E. MERRY, JR., MARK S. DIGGS, GARY A. DROSSEL
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Patent number: 8127048Abstract: A storage subsystem comprises a set of zone definitions that uses physical block addresses to divide a memory array in the storage subsystem into zones or segments. A set of zone parameters defines user access modes and security levels for each of the segments. Defining zones for the memory array provide flexibility and increased protection for data stored in the memory array. For example, data of one zone can be quickly erased without affecting data stored in other zones and critical data can be stored in read-only zones to prevent inadvertent overwrite.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2011Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: SiliconSystems, Inc.Inventors: David E. Merry, Mark S. Diggs, Gary A. Drossel, Michael J. Hajeck
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Patent number: 8122185Abstract: A non-volatile solid-state storage subsystem, such as a non-volatile memory device, maintains usage statistics reflective of the wear state, and thus the remaining useful life, of the subsystem's memory array. A host system reads the usage statistics information, or data derived therefrom, from the subsystem to evaluate the subsystem's remaining life expectancy. The host system may use this information for various purposes, such as to (a) display or report information regarding the remaining life of the subsystem; (b) adjust the frequency with which data is written to the subsystem; and/or (c) select the type(s) of data written to the subsystem.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2010Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: SiliconSystems, Inc.Inventors: David E. Merry, Jr., Mark S. Diggs, Gary A. Drossel
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Patent number: 8108692Abstract: A solid-state storage subsystem, such as a non-volatile memory card or drive, includes a main memory area that is accessible via standard memory access commands (such as ATA commands), and a restricted memory area that is accessible only via one or more non-standard commands. The restricted memory area stores information used to control access to, and/or use of, information stored in the main memory area. As one example, the restricted area may store one or more identifiers, such as a unique subsystem identifier, needed to decrypt an executable or data file stored in the main memory area. A host software component is configured to retrieve the information from the subsystem's restricted memory area, and to use the information to control access to and/or use of the information in the main memory area.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2006Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: SiliconSystems, Inc.Inventors: David E. Merry, Mark Diggs, Gary A. Drossel, Michael J. Hajeck
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Patent number: 7912991Abstract: A storage subsystem comprises a set of zone definitions that uses physical block addresses to divide a memory array in the storage subsystem into zones or segments. A set of zone parameters defines user access modes and security levels for each of the segments. Defining zones for the memory array provide flexibility and increased protection for data stored in the memory array. For example, data of one zone can be quickly erased without affecting data stored in other zones and critical data can be stored in read-only zones to prevent inadvertent overwrite.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2009Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Siliconsystems, Inc.Inventors: David E. Merry, Mark S. Diggs, Gary A. Drossel, Michael J. Hajeck
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Patent number: 7765373Abstract: A solid-state storage subsystem, such as a non-volatile memory card or drive, includes a main memory area that is accessible via standard memory access commands (such as ATA commands), and a restricted memory area that is accessible only via one or more non-standard commands. The restricted memory area stores information used to control access to, and/or use of, information stored in the main memory area. As one example, the restricted area may store one or more identifiers, such as a unique subsystem identifier, needed to decrypt an executable or data file stored in the main memory area. A host software component is configured to retrieve the information from the subsystem's restricted memory area, and to use the information to control access to and/or use of the information in the main memory area.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2006Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Siliconsystems, Inc.Inventors: David E. Merry, Mark Diggs, Gary A. Drossel, Michael J. Hajeck
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Publication number: 20100122200Abstract: A non-volatile solid-state storage subsystem, such as a non-volatile memory device, maintains usage statistics reflective of the wear state, and thus the remaining useful life, of the subsystem's memory array. A host system reads the usage statistics information, or data derived therefrom, from the subsystem to evaluate the subsystem's remaining life expectancy. The host system may use this information for various purposes, such as to (a) display or report information regarding the remaining life of the subsystem; (b) adjust the frequency with which data is written to the subsystem; and/or (c) select the type(s) of data written to the subsystem.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2010Publication date: May 13, 2010Applicant: SILICONSYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: David E. Merry, JR., Mark S. Diggs, Gary A. Drossel
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Patent number: 7653778Abstract: A non-volatile solid-state storage subsystem, such as a non-volatile memory device, maintains usage statistics reflective of the wear state, and thus the remaining useful life, of the subsystem's memory array. A host system reads the usage statistics information, or data derived therefrom, from the subsystem to evaluate the subsystem's remaining life expectancy. The host system may use this information for various purposes, such as to (a) display or report information regarding the remaining life of the subsystem; (b) adjust the frequency with which data is written to the subsystem; and/or (c) select the type(s) of data written to the subsystem.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2006Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Siliconsystems, Inc.Inventors: David E. Merry, Jr., Mark S. Diggs, Gary A. Drossel
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Patent number: 7509441Abstract: A storage subsystem comprises a set of zone definitions that uses physical block addresses to divide a memory array in the storage subsystem into zones or segments. A set of zone parameters defines user access modes and security levels for each of the segments. Defining zones for the memory array provide flexibility and increased protection for data stored in the memory array. For example, data of one zone can be quickly erased without affecting data stored in other zones and critical data can be stored in read-only zones to prevent inadvertent overwrite.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2006Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: SiliconSystems, Inc.Inventors: David E. Merry, Mark S. Diggs, Gary A. Drossel, Michael J. Hajeck
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Patent number: 7447807Abstract: A storage subsystem comprises a set of zone definitions that uses physical block addresses to divide a memory array in the storage subsystem into zones or segments. A set of zone parameters defines user access modes and security levels for each of the segments. Defining zones for the memory array provide flexibility and increased protection for data stored in the memory array. For example, data of one zone can be quickly erased without affecting data stored in other zones and critical data can be stored in read-only zones to prevent inadvertent overwrite.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2006Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Siliconsystems, Inc.Inventors: David E. Merry, Mark S. Diggs, Gary A. Drossel, Michael J. Hajeck
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Publication number: 20070260811Abstract: A non-volatile solid-state storage subsystem, such as a non-volatile memory device, maintains usage statistics reflective of the wear state, and thus the remaining useful life, of the subsystem's memory array. A host system reads the usage statistics information, or data derived therefrom, from the subsystem to evaluate the subsystem's remaining life expectancy. The host system may use this information for various purposes, such as to (a) display or report information regarding the remaining life of the subsystem; (b) adjust the frequency with which data is written to the subsystem; and/or (c) select the type(s) of data written to the subsystem.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2006Publication date: November 8, 2007Inventors: David Merry, Mark Diggs, Gary Drossel