Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying data that is to be accessible in a low power state of a data storage device, and store this data in a physical (or logical) block that will be accessible in a low power state of the data storage device. Low power accessible data may be identified by host metadata of the data, indicating access is needed in a low power state. In other embodiments, the data storage device may learn the power state in which data should be accessible. In these embodiments, a controller stores information regarding the power state of a namespace in which the data is stored as an indicator to make the data accessible in a low power state. Alternatively, the controller stores a previous power state in which the data was accessed as an indicator to make the data accessible in a low power state.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for preventing accidental updates and deletions using data versioning are provided. In one embodiment, a data storage device is provided comprising a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to: receive a command from a host to modify data stored in the memory, wherein the data is associated with a host identifier created by the data storage device; determine whether the host is associated with the host identifier; in response to determining that the host is associated with the host identifier, modify the data; and in response to determining that the host is not associated with the host identifier, create a new version of the data without modifying the data. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for reliable watermarking are provided. In one embodiment, a data storage device is provided comprising a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to determine whether a watermarking operation to be performed on the data is to be performed by the controller or by the memory; in response to determining that the watermarking operation is to be performed by the controller, performing the watermarking operation; and in response to determining that the watermarking operation is to be performed by the memory, instruct the memory to perform the watermarking operation. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A storage system and method for media-based fast-fail configuration are provided. In one embodiment, the storage system aggregates elapsed time spent handling errors in parts of a media frame read from the memory of the storage system. The storage system compares the aggregated elapsed time to a threshold representing a total acceptable latency. If the aggregated elapsed time does not exceed the threshold, the storage system handles error(s) in other part(s) of the media frame read from the memory. However, if the aggregated elapsed time exceeds the threshold, the storage system sends an error to a host without handling error(s) in other part(s) of the media frame read from the memory. Other embodiments are provided.

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: A storage system and method for optimized surveillance search are provided. In one embodiment, a storage system is provided comprising a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to: receive, from a host, an image of an object and a logical block address range of video data stored in the memory; search for the image of the object in video data in the logical block address range; and provide the host with possible hits from the search. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for enabling endurance re-evaluation are provided. In one embodiment, a data storage device is provided comprising a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to receive data and a first storage requirement for the data from a host; store the data in a first group of memory cells in the memory, wherein the first group of memory cells satisfies the first storage requirement; receive a notification from the host that the first storage requirement has changed to a second storage requirement; and move the data from the first group of memory cells to a second group of memory cells in the memory, wherein the second group of memory cells satisfies the second storage requirement. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A storage system and method for multiprotocol handling are provided. In one embodiment, a computing device is provided comprising a plurality of communication channels configured to communicate with a storage system, wherein a first communication channel has a faster data transfer speed than a second communication channel. The computing device also comprises a processor configured to determine a priority level of a command; send the command with an indication of its priority level to the storage system; in response to the command being a high-priority command, use the first communication channel for transferring data for the command; and in response to the command being a low-priority command, use the second communication channel for transferring data for the command. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A storage system and method for retention-based zone determination are provided. In one embodiment, a storage system is presented comprising a memory comprising a plurality of blocks and a controller. The controller is configured to receive, from a host, a zone-create command comprising a health requirement; and in response to receiving the zone-create command, create a zone of memory from blocks of the memory that satisfy the health requirement. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for application-defined data retrieval in surveillance systems are provided. In one embodiment, a data storage device is provided comprising a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to store, in the memory, a stream that combines data from a plurality of receivers; receive a request from a host for data generated by a selected receiver; extract, from the stored stream, the data generated by the selected receiver; and send the extracted data to the host. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A data storage device including a non-volatile memory coupled to a controller. The controller is configured to transmit data between the non-volatile memory and an external electronic device and receive one or more commands to read or write data to the non-volatile memory. The controller is further configured to identify an urgent command in the one or more commands, transmit the urgent command to a negative index of an input queue of the data storage device, and execute a plurality of commands in the input queue.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to creating new zones in a data storage device in a manner that ensures substantially even workload of the memory device storage locations. When receiving a zone open command in a zone namespace (ZNS) system, rather than randomly selecting an unopen zone, zones may be categorized based upon storage location workload so that any new zone that is opened utilizes the least utilized storage location. In so doing, generally even workload of the memory device storage locations is achieved.

Abstract: A storage system and method for token provisioning for faster data access are provided. In one embodiment, a storage system is provided comprising a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a write command from a host to write data in the memory; write the data in the memory at a starting physical address; provide the host with a token indicating the starting physical address; receive a read command and the token from the host; and read the data stored in the memory at the starting physical address as indicated by the token. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to creating new zones in a data storage device in a manner that ensures substantially even workload of the memory device storage locations. The data storage device can guide a host device to select a particular zone to open in zone namespace (ZNS) systems where the host device selects which zone to open. The data storage device tracks the workload of the various storage locations and create zones. The data storage device then provides selected zones having the least used storage locations with the idea of guiding the host device to select the zone having the least used storage locations. Thus, rather than utilizing a randomly selected unopened zone, the host will select, based upon guidance from the data storage device, zones that contain the least utilized storage location. In so doing, generally even workload of the memory device storage locations is achieved.

Abstract: Aspects of a storage device including a memory and a controller are provided. The controller may receive a prefetch request to retrieve data for a host having a promoted stream. The controller may access a frozen time table indicating hosts for which data has been prefetched and frozen times associated with the host and other hosts. The controller can determine whether the host has a higher priority over other hosts included in the frozen time table based on corresponding frozen times and data access parameters associated with the host. The controller may determine to prefetch the data for the host in response to the prefetch request when the host has a higher priority than the other hosts. The controller can receive a host read command associated with the promoted stream from the host and provide the prefetched data to the host in response to the host read command.

Abstract: Storage devices are described herein that are capable of communicating with host-computing devices using multiple protocols. These Multi-Protocol Storage Devices (MPSDs) can be configured to utilize a persistent memory region (PMR) across a variety of protocols. Often, one of these protocols is the Non-Volatile Memory express (NVMe) protocol which provides for the ability to utilize and manage a PMR within the storage device. Other protocols may not have native support for PMR like the NVMe protocol does. Therefore, MPSDs are disclosed that may determine which protocol is in use in response to an initialization event and adjust the use of the PMR as needed based on the determined protocol. These adjustments may allow for the direct access of the PMR as an extension of general memory storage or may be configured to provide increased performance of the storage device overall. These storage devices may be hot-swappable between numerous host-computing systems.

Abstract: A storage system and method for automatic data phasing are disclosed. In one embodiment, a storage system is configured to receive, from a host, data to be written in the memory and an indication of an expected lifespan of the data; and determine whether to perform a garbage collection operation on the data based on the expected lifespan of the data. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to creating new zones in a data storage device in a manner that ensures substantially even workload of the memory device storage locations. When receiving a zone open command in a zone namespace (ZNS) system, rather than randomly selecting an unopen zone, zones may be categorized based upon storage location workload so that any new zone that is opened utilizes the least utilized storage location. In so doing, generally even workload of the memory device storage locations is achieved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying data that is to be accessible in a low power state of a data storage device, and store this data in a physical (or logical) block that will be accessible in a low power state of the data storage device. Low power accessible data may be identified by host metadata of the data, indicating access is needed in a low power state. In other embodiments, the data storage device may learn the power state in which data should be accessible. In these embodiments, a controller stores information regarding the power state of a namespace in which the data is stored as an indicator to make the data accessible in a low power state. Alternatively, the controller stores a previous power state in which the data was accessed as an indicator to make the data accessible in a low power state.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for legitimized data transfer are provided. In one embodiment, a data storage device is provided comprising a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a request from a host for a frame of media data; read the frame of media data from the memory, wherein the frame of media data comprises a plurality of fragments; determine whether a fragment of the plurality of fragments contains an error that would prevent playback of other fragments of the plurality of fragments, even if the other fragments do not contain an error; and in response to determining that the fragment contains the error, refrain from sending the other fragments to the host. Other embodiments are provided.