Abstract: Designs of controllers for flash memory array are described. A controller is designed to form data packs of a predefined size with compressed data segments in different sizes. The data packs are encoded with ECC in two dimensions. When the data packs are read out, the ECC is applied in two dimensions to detect and correct errors that can be corrected by the ECC.

Abstract: Designs of controllers for flash memory array are described. A controller is designed to form data packs of a predefined size with compressed data segments in different sizes. The data packs are encoded with ECC in two dimensions. When the data packs are read out, the ECC is applied in two dimensions, possibly repeated, to detect and correct errors that can be corrected by the ECC.

Abstract: Techniques for Implementation of keeping data integrity in multiple dimensions are described. A single but relatively complicated engine is used to encode a line of original data bits in one dimension once and for all, while a linear array of simple engines are used in another dimension to keep revising sets of redundant data bits for successive lines of original data bits, where the redundant data bits become final when a last line of original data bits is accessed.

Abstract: Designs of persistently managing mapping tables are described. To keep the performance of writing data into or reading out data from a storage device, such as flash memory, RAM (Random Access Memory) is often used to manage the mapping tables. To prevent the mapping tables from being damaged for whatever reason (e.g., power failure), MRAM (Magnetic RAM) is employed to keep the mapping tables in magnetic domains while the RAM is only used for updating the content of the mapping tables. Not only is the capacity for RAM is significantly reduced, the mapping tables are securely maintained in MRAM and available to RAM while data is being written into or read out from the storage device.

Abstract: A technique of extending a correction limit defined by an ECC is described. According to one aspect of the present invention, remaining errors that cannot be corrected by the ECCs in a data array is first identified and then formed in form of matrix with defined size. These remaining errors are flipped in value, namely from “1” to “0” or “0’ to “1” if the number of the errors are within a range or additional ECCs are applied to correct the errors in flipped data bits.

Abstract: A method of file management is disclosed for creating a virtual disk on a physical disk partition of a physical disk made of physical storage space. The virtual disk is made of virtual disk files having file system attributes. The method further includes determining a capacity of a storage space for storing a virtual disk file and formatting the virtual disk file with a particular file system format, wherein the virtual disk file has a distinct file system as stored in the physical disk partition. Additionally, the physical storage space of the physical disk is converted into a file system that supports the virtual disk. The virtual disk is configured to save nested virtual disk files, the nested virtual disk files are each configured to store additional nested virtual disk files thereby increasing security of files saved as virtual disk files in the physical disk.

Abstract: A Redundant Array of Independent Modules (RAIM) system has the similar function and architecture as Redundant Array of Independent Disk (RAID) system. It includes a RAID controller coupled to send and receive information to and from a host through an interface and a plurality of modules coupled to the RAID controller, wherein the plurality of modules are not disk drives, but SD/MMC/eMMC modules. Each such kind of modules in RAIM system acts as a single drive in RAID system.

Abstract: A self-search storage device includes a data buffer coupled between a host and a data storage medium and configured to receive a configuration information including keywords from the host. The self-search storage device further includes a data compare engine coupled to the data buffer and the data storage medium and including more than one data search units. The data compare engine is configured to receive data from the data bus and operable to employ the more than one data search units to compare parts of the data to the keyword, each data search unit of the more than one data search units comparing a distinct part of the data to the keyword, the data compare engine further operable to report the outcome of the comparison for use by the host.

Abstract: A storage device includes a disk controller and a non-volatile memory coupled to the disk controller and operable to save one or more passwords. The storage device further includes a media with more than one partition, the disk controller making each partition to be accessible to one or more users based on the saved one or more passwords.