Abstract: A solid-state mass storage device and method of operating the storage device to anticipate the failure of at least one memory device thereof before a write endurance limitation is reached. The method includes assigning at least a first memory block of the memory device as a wear indicator that is excluded from use as data storage, using pages of at least a set of memory blocks of the memory device for data storage, writing data to and erasing data from each memory block of the set in program/erase (P/E) cycles, performing wear leveling on the set of memory blocks, subjecting the wear indicator to more P/E cycles than the set of memory blocks, performing integrity checks of the wear indicator and monitoring its bit error rate, and taking corrective action if the bit error rate increases.

Abstract: A solid-state mass storage device and method of operating the storage device to anticipate the failure of at least one memory device thereof before a write endurance limitation is reached. The method includes assigning at least a first memory block of the memory device as a wear indicator that is excluded from use as data storage, using pages of at least a set of memory blocks of the memory device for data storage, writing data to and erasing data from each memory block of the set in program/erase (P/E) cycles, performing wear leveling on the set of memory blocks, subjecting the wear indicator to more P/E cycles than the set of memory blocks, performing integrity checks of the wear indicator and monitoring its bit error rate, and taking corrective action if the bit error rate increases.

Abstract: A solid-state mass storage device and method of operating the storage device to anticipate the failure of at least one memory device thereof before a write endurance limitation is reached. The method includes assigning at least a first memory block of the memory device as a wear indicator that is excluded from use as data storage, using pages of at least a set of memory blocks of the memory device for data storage, writing data to and erasing data from each memory block of the set in program/erase (P/E) cycles, performing wear leveling on the set of memory blocks, subjecting the wear indicator to more P/E cycles than the set of memory blocks, performing integrity checks of the wear indicator and monitoring its bit error rate, and taking corrective action if the bit error rate increases.

Abstract: A solid-state mass storage device and method of operating the storage device to anticipate the failure of at least one memory device thereof before a write endurance limitation is reached. The method includes assigning at least a first memory block of the memory device as a wear indicator that is excluded from use as data storage, using pages of at least a set of memory blocks of the memory device for data storage, writing data to and erasing data from each memory block of the set in program/erase (P/E) cycles, performing wear leveling on the set of memory blocks, subjecting the wear indicator to more P/E cycles than the set of memory blocks, performing integrity checks of the wear indicator and monitoring its bit error rate, and taking corrective action if the bit error rate increases.

Abstract: A solid-state mass storage device and method of anticipating a failure of the mass storage device resulting from a memory device of the mass storage device reaching a write endurance limit. A procedure is then initiated to back up data to a second mass storage device prior to failure. The method includes assigning at least a first memory block of the memory device as a wear indicator, using other memory blocks of the memory device as data blocks for data storage, performing program/erase (P/E) cycles and wear leveling on the data blocks, subjecting the wear indicator to more P/E cycles than the data blocks, performing integrity checks and monitoring the bit error rate of the wear indicator, and taking corrective action if the bit error rate increases, including the initiation of the backup procedure and generating a request to replace the device.

Abstract: Methods and systems capable of capitalizing on fast access capabilities (low initial access latencies) of nonvolatile memory technologies for use in a host system, such as computers and other processing apparatuses. The host system has a central processing unit, processor cache, and a system main memory. The system main memory includes first and second memory slots, a volatile memory subsystem having at least one DRAM-based memory module received in the first memory slot and addressed by the central processing unit, and a nonvolatile memory subsystem having at least a first nonvolatile-based memory module in the second memory slot and addressed by the central processing unit. At least one memory controller is integrated onto the central processing unit for controlling the processor cache, the volatile memory subsystem, and the nonvolatile memory subsystem.

Abstract: A solid-state mass storage device and method of operating the storage device to anticipate the failure of at least one memory device thereof before a write endurance limitation is reached. The method includes assigning at least a first memory block of the memory device as a wear indicator that is excluded from use as data storage, using pages of at least a set of memory blocks of the memory device for data storage, writing data to and erasing data from each memory block of the set in program/erase (P/E) cycles, performing wear leveling on the set of memory blocks, subjecting the wear indicator to more P/E cycles than the set of memory blocks, performing integrity checks of the wear indicator and monitoring its bit error rate, and taking corrective action if the bit error rate increases.

Abstract: A solid-state mass storage device and method of anticipating a failure of the mass storage device resulting from a memory device of the mass storage device reaching a write endurance limit. A procedure is then initiated to back up data to a second mass storage device prior to failure. The method includes assigning at least a first memory block of the memory device as a wear indicator, using other memory blocks of the memory device as data blocks for data storage, performing program/erase (P/E) cycles and wear leveling on the data blocks, subjecting the wear indicator to more P/E cycles than the data blocks, performing integrity checks and monitoring the bit error rate of the wear indicator, and taking corrective action if the bit error rate increases, including the initiation of the backup procedure and generating a request to replace the device.

Abstract: A video deinterlacing system receives interlaced video data at a non-deterministic rate and generates non-interlaced data as a function of the interlaced video data. The system includes processing units, some of which require clocking rates that differ from clocking rates required by other processing units. A timing generator responds to a base clock and to a data valid signal, that indicates arrival of a portion of the interlaced video data, to cause generation of a plurality of enable signals. Each of the enable signals operate to enable a corresponding one of the clocking rates required by the processing units. Video capture can be performed by causing capture of video frames that meet or exceed a specified quality level. The quality of the captured, still image, video can be improved by disabling certain enhancement functions performed to improve moving video images.

Abstract: A video deinterlacing system receives interlaced video data at a non-deterministic rate and generates non-interlaced data as a function of the interlaced video data. The system includes processing units, some of which require clocking rates that differ from clocking rates required by other processing units. A timing generator responds to a base clock and to a data valid signal, that indicates arrival of a portion of the interlaced video data, to cause generation of a plurality of enable signals. Each of the enable signals operate to enable a corresponding one of the clocking rates required by the processing units. Video capture can be performed by causing capture of video frames that meet or exceed a specified quality level. The quality of the captured, still image, video can be improved by disabling certain enhancement functions performed to improve moving video images.

Abstract: A decoder and decoding method is disclosed for real time decompression of coded picture-, video- and film information. The decoder provides an efficient implementation of the functions requiring an optimized processor comprising one multiplier having a minimized chip area. The process of decoding, frame reconstruction, block to raster conversion and color space conversion are combined using concurrent processing and resource sharing techniques. The processes IQ, IDCT, FR and optional CSC use one specialized processor comprising only one multiplier and further elements having no multiplier. The processor comprises process controls which are independent of each other for controlling the decompression.