Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods of operating storage devices. The storage device comprises a controller and a media unit. The capacity of the media unit is divided into a plurality of zones. The controller is configured to make informed use of errors by update zone metadata to indicate one or more first logical block addresses were skipped and to indicate the next valid logical block address is available to store data. The controller is further configured to update zone metadata to recommend to the host device to reset one or more full zones, to recommend to the host device to transition one or more open zones to a full state, to alert the host device that one or more open zones have been transitioned to the full state, and to notify the host device of the writeable zone capacity of each of the plurality of zones.

Abstract: A storage system and method for validation of hints prior to garbage collection are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising receiving a command from a host to store data in a memory; storing, in the memory, the data and a hint that characterizes the data; determining whether the hint is still valid; and in response determining that the hint is still valid, using the hint in performing garbage collection. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide various apparatus, devices, systems and methods for dynamically configuring a cache partition in a solid state drive (SSD). The SSD may include non-volatile memory (NVM) that can be configured to store a different number of bits per cell. The NVM is partitioned into a cache partition and a storage partition, and the respective sizes of the partitions is dynamically changed based on a locality of data (LOD) of the access pattern of the NVM.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for protecting in-flight data during a fundamental reset of a SSD by a connected host are presented. In embodiments, a controller for the SSD includes an input interface configured to receive commands from the host over a link, and processing circuitry coupled to the input interface. The processing circuitry is configured to, in response to receiving a reset command from the host, reset the link and an address space of the SSD, complete a flush of in-flight data from temporary buffers to non-volatile storage of the SSD, and, during an initialization sequence performed by the host, perform an internal reset. In embodiments, in response to the SSD performing the internal reset, the host's state of the SSD is reset, and the host is caused to re-initialize the link and configure the address space of the SSD.

Abstract: A system and method for optimization of non-volatile storage operational parameters is provided. The method may utilize a crowdsourcing server to gather performance data for multiple storage devices connected to respective remotely located host systems. The performance data may be transmitted at regular intervals or at predefined events and the crowdsourcing server may aggregate and determine improved operating parameters for each different type of storage device based on the data gathered for multiple instances of that type of storage device. The optimized operating parameters may be selected from pre-stored and pre-qualified operating parameter sets on the respective storage devices that the crowdsourcing server is aware of. The system includes a non-volatile memory and a controller that is configured to log performance data and transmit at least a portion of that logged data to the crowdsourcing server.

Abstract: The disclosure relates in some aspects to the use of host metadata by a controller of a data storage device, such as the controller of a solid state device (SSD) having non-volatile memory (NVM) arrays that is coupled to a host device. In some aspects, the controller parses metadata within host commands to extract relevant hints and then correlates the hints with actual host device behavior. If the controller finds a strong correlation between the metadata hints and the host behavior, the hints are used for command storage optimization. Later, if there ceases to be a strong correlation between the hints and the host behavior, hint-based storage optimization may be suspended. In other aspects, the controller uses metadata to provide for virtual or expanded write streams. In still other aspects, the controller and the host device negotiate a structure for metadata during an initialization phase.

Abstract: An open block management apparatus, system, and method for non-volatile memory devices is disclosed herein, providing improved performance for namespace-based host applications. The namespace identifier is applied to determine the open blocks to which to direct data from storage commands. One benefit of the disclosed technique is fewer de-fragmentation operations and more efficient memory garbage collection. Another benefit is the ability to secure private allocations of physical memory without needing to assign a partition or implement hardware isolation.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method and device for reduce the amount of energy used to revert data within a storage device to a consistent state after a power loss event. Once power is lost from a host device, and prior to complete shutdown, a log is created within non-volatile memory (NVM) of the storage device. The log contains logical block addresses (LBAs) corresponding to data that experienced a write failure. At the next power-on event, the log is checked to see if any LBAs are present. If LBAs are present in the log, then the data that experienced a write failure can be properly written to the storage device.

Abstract: An illustrative embodiment disclosed herein is an apparatus including a processor having programmed instructions that write data having mixed deletion characteristics sequentially to a plurality of data entries of a first physical erase block (PEB) in intermediate storage. The data having the mixed deletion characteristics includes first data having a first deletion characteristic. The processor has programmed instructions that maintain metadata in a plurality of metadata entries in a log. The metadata corresponds to the data having the mixed deletion characteristics. The processor has programmed instructions that identify, using the log, the first data having the first deletion characteristic and evacuate the first data having the first deletion characteristic to a second PEB in main memory.

Abstract: A storage system and method for enabling host-driven regional performance in memory are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising receiving a directive from a host device as to a preferred logical region of a non-volatile memory in a storage system; and based on the directive, modifying a caching policy specifying which pages of a logical-to-physical address map stored in the non-volatile memory are to be cached in a volatile memory of the storage system. Other embodiments are provided, such as modifying a garbage collection policy of the storage system based on information from the host device regarding a preferred logical region of the memory.

Abstract: After an ungraceful shutdown (UGSD) event, a data storage apparatus restores a fast boot-up table from a copy stored in a non-volatile memory (NVM), and receives a first read command from a host. The first read command includes a request to read data from a logical block address (LBA). The apparatus maintains a fast boot-up table that includes a plurality of entries, and each entry includes an LBA and an associated physical block address of the NVM. If the LBA is contained in the fast boot-up table, the apparatus determines a first physical block address associated with the LBA using the fast boot-up table. The apparatus reads data from the NVM at the first physical block address, prior to completing an initialization process of the data storage apparatus, and transmits the data read from the NVM to the host.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for enhancing solid state drive endurance by utilizing host memory capabilities. Such use of host memory capabilities increases solid state drive service life and limits errors that may develop over time. Example embodiments are disclosed that should not be considered limiting.

Abstract: A storage system and method for thermal throttling via command arbitration are provided. In one embodiment, a storage system is provided comprising a memory and a controller in communication with the memory. The controller is configured to determine whether a temperature of the storage system exceeds a threshold; and in response to determining that the temperature of the storage system exceeds the threshold, pause fetching of new commands from a host. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to split, non-operational power states for a data storage device. The data storage device can transition between the split, non-operational power states without advertising the transition to the host device. The power state parameters that are advertised to the host device are adjusted such that the host device is guided to the correct power decision based on the advertised power and duration. By splitting the non-operational power states, the data storage device does not incur additional transitional energy costs for short idle durations.

Abstract: Storage devices that can perform adaptive management of intermediate storage memory, and methods for use therewith, are described herein. Such a storage device includes non-volatile memory, wherein a portion thereof is designated as intermediate storage (IS) memory and another portion thereof designated as main storage (MS) memory. The IS memory has lower write and read latencies, greater endurance, and lower storage density and capacity than the MS memory. In certain embodiments, a host activity pattern is predicted, a relocation schemes is selected based on the predicted host activity pattern, and the selected relocation scheme is executed to thereby selectively relocate one or more portions of the data from the IS memory to the MS memory in accordance with the selected relocation scheme. The relocation scheme that is selected and executed can change over time. Additionally relocation schemes can be generated based on activity log(s) and thereafter selected for execution.

Abstract: Methods and equipment for determining whether a ransomware attack is suspected include a data storage device including a controller; non-volatile memory; a data path between the controller and the non-volatile memory; and an anti-ransomware module configured to monitor the data path. Methods and equipment also include monitoring a data path between a controller and a non-volatile memory on a data storage device; calculating an entropy of a data set to be written to the non-volatile memory; analyzing the calculated entropy; and determining whether a malware attack is suspected. Methods and equipment also include monitoring a data path between a controller and a non-volatile memory on a data storage device; identifying activity indicative of ransomware; once activity indicative of ransomware has been identified, calculating an entropy of a data set to be written to the non-volatile memory; analyzing the calculation; and determining whether a ransomware attack is suspected.

Abstract: A method of transitioning between a sleep mode for a storage device to reduce power consumption and to increase responsiveness includes collecting one or more recent parameters related to host-storage device workload. The host-storage device workload is correlated to project a next host idle time. A transition between a storage sleep mode is determined.

Abstract: A memory device may be configured to leverage memory resources of a host computing device to efficiently transition between different power states. In some embodiments, the memory device stores resume data within a host memory buffer (HMB) before transitioning to a low-power state, and uses the resume data stored within the HMB to resume operation from the low-power state. The memory device may be configured to pre-populate the HMB with resume data prior to transitioning to the low-power state. In some embodiments, the disclosed memory device is configured to gradually resume from the low-power state, which may comprise resuming services of the memory device in the order such services are required during the resume process.

Abstract: A system and method for storage system property deviation are provided. In one embodiment, a storage system is presented comprising a memory and a controller configured to: receive a request from a host to modify a write parameter used to write data to the memory; write data to the memory using the modified write parameter; restore the write parameter to its pre-modified state; and re-write the data to the memory in a background operation using the write parameter in its pre-modified state. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A system and method for storage system property deviation are provided. In one embodiment, a storage system is presented comprising a memory and a controller configured to: receive a request from a host to modify a write parameter used to write data to the memory; write data to the memory using the modified write parameter; restore the write parameter to its pre-modified state; and re-write the data to the memory in a background operation using the write parameter in its pre-modified state. Other embodiments are provided.