Abstract: A data storage device usually performs better when executing a sequential read command than when executing a plurality of random read commands. If the amount of data requested to be read by a plurality of random read commands in an address range is greater than a certain percentage of the address range, it may be more efficient to treat the plurality of random read commands as a sequential read command for the entire address range. After reading the entire address range, the data storage device can determine which portions of the read data should be returned in response to the plurality of random read commands.

Abstract: A data storage device is provided comprising a memory and one or more processors. The memory comprises a plurality of blocks, wherein each block is configurable as a single-level cell (SLC) block or as a multi-level cell (MLC) block. The one or more processors, individually or in combination, are configured to: receive a request from a host, wherein the request indicates a total amount of data to be written in the memory during a lifetime of the memory; determine a first number of blocks of the plurality of blocks to configure as SLC blocks and a second number of blocks of the plurality of blocks to configure as MLC blocks in order to attempt to satisfy the request; configure the first number of blocks as SLC blocks; and configure the second number of blocks as MLC blocks. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: A data storage device usually performs better when executing a sequential read command than when executing a plurality of random read commands. If the amount of data requested to be read by a plurality of random read commands in an address range is greater than a certain percentage of the address range, it may be more efficient to treat the plurality of random read commands as a sequential read command for the entire address range. After reading the entire address range, the data storage device can determine which portions of the read data should be returned in response to the plurality of random read commands.

Abstract: A data storage device can include control circuitry configured to: receive a write command from a host, wherein data associated with the write command includes one or more game assets relating to a gaming application; determine a first game asset file associated with the data; add one or more logical block addresses (LBAs) associated with the first game asset file and corresponding game asset information to a game asset mapping table; receive a read command from a host, wherein data associated with the read command relates to one or more game assets; determine, based on the game asset mapping table, a second game asset file associated with one or more LBAs associated with the read command; determine game progress associated with the second game asset file; and provide display control instructions to a display unit configured to provide a visual indication relating to the game progress.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for host-assisted deferred defragmentation and system handling are provided. In one embodiment, the data storage device comprises a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to receive, from a host, a plurality of write commands and a grouping identifier associated with the plurality of write commands, wherein the plurality of write commands comprise a plurality of non-sequential logical block addresses and a plurality of sequential segments of a file; and in response to the grouping identifier being associated with the plurality of write commands, execute the plurality of write commands by storing the plurality of sequential segments of the file sequentially in the memory even though the logical block addresses associated with the segments of the file are non-sequential. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Abstract: A data storage device is provided comprising a memory and one or more processors. The memory comprises a plurality of blocks, wherein each block is configurable as a single-level cell (SLC) block or as a multi-level cell (MLC) block. The one or more processors, individually or in combination, are configured to: receive a request from a host, wherein the request indicates a total amount of data to be written in the memory during a lifetime of the memory; determine a first number of blocks of the plurality of blocks to configure as SLC blocks and a second number of blocks of the plurality of blocks to configure as MLC blocks in order to attempt to satisfy the request; configure the first number of blocks as SLC blocks; and configure the second number of blocks as MLC blocks. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: Various embodiments of this disclosure are directed to a mixed digital and analog domain approach to computational storage or memory applications. The mixed approach enables certain compute operations to be advantageously performed in the analog domain, achieving power saving. In some embodiments, an analog compute core is implemented based on a first set of memory elements that are made available with a second set of memory elements for digital data storage. A controller coupled to both sets of memory elements is able to selectively direct computational tasks to either the analog compute core or a digital processor coupled with the controller, based on one or more parameters including power, precision, and workload. In certain embodiments involving neural network tasks, the controller is configured to route certain tasks to the analog compute core based on neural network based factors such as network layer positioning and input signal type.

Abstract: Instead of using trees to group key values (KV) based on KV information, use host provided information for grouping KVs. In the cases where the host provides KV information, the host determines how to group the information. The controller will then use the KV information to store the KV information in a group. The KVs can be sorted in the group by either size, length, type, etc. of the KV received from the host. Independent backend logic, such as data routing management, parity management, block management, and proactive data retrieval, is used to group KV information. Grouping the KV information using the independent backend logic will make garbage collection (GC) less difficult and increase retrieval performance due to the grouping of the KVs.

Abstract: A storage device performs a format operation for host devices using different format times and commands configurations. When a controller on the storage device receives an erase command from a host device, the controller determines the format time and a chunk size associated with data in the erase command. The controller executes a first format operation scheme, a second format operation scheme, or a third format operation scheme to perform an erase operation on the data in the erase command within the format time. The controller halts execution of the erase operation and returns operation to the host device when the format time expires.

Abstract: In solid state memory devices, garbage collection can be a bottleneck in meeting stringent performance requirements of certain hosts that generate a relatively-large amount of data (e.g., hosts that generate video data). With such hosts, the performance drop caused by background garbage collection can result in video recording failures. The memory device and method presented herein performs background operations in such a way as to enhance sustained performance. In general, a counter is maintained that reflects an amount of memory written to by a host, as well as an amount of memory freed by garbage collection operations. Each step of a garbage collection operation can be performed in response to a value of the counter being greater than a threshold for the step such that there is a balance between memory written and memory freed.

Abstract: In solid state memory devices, garbage collection can be a bottleneck in meeting stringent performance requirements of certain hosts that generate a relatively-large amount of data (e.g., hosts that generate video data). With such hosts, the performance drop caused by background garbage collection can result in video recording failures. The memory device and method presented herein performs background operations in such a way as to enhance sustained performance. In general, a counter is maintained that reflects an amount of memory written to by a host, as well as an amount of memory freed by garbage collection operations. Each step of a garbage collection operation can be performed in response to a value of the counter being greater than a threshold for the step such that there is a balance between memory written and memory freed.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for host-assisted deferred defragmentation and system handling are provided. In one embodiment, the data storage device comprises a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to receive, from a host, a plurality of write commands and a grouping identifier associated with the plurality of write commands, wherein the plurality of write commands comprise a plurality of non-sequential logical block addresses and a plurality of sequential segments of a file; and in response to the grouping identifier being associated with the plurality of write commands, execute the plurality of write commands by storing the plurality of sequential segments of the file sequentially in the memory even though the logical block addresses associated with the segments of the file are non-sequential. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for enabling metadata-based seek points for media access are provided. In one embodiment, a data storage device is provided comprising a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to identify a plurality of frames in video data that differ from surrounding frames by more than a threshold amount; store identifiers of the plurality of frames in the memory; and send the identifiers to the host to enable quick playback of the video data by the host. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for enabling metadata-based seek points for media access are provided. In one embodiment, a data storage device is provided comprising a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to identify a plurality , of frames in video data that differ from surrounding frames by more than a threshold amount; store identifiers of the plurality of frames in the memory; and send the identifiers to the host to enable quick playback of the video data by the host. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.

Abstract: A storage system and method for device-determined, application-specific dynamic command clustering are provided. In one embodiment, the storage system comprises a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to analyze commands received from a host to detect a pattern of a plurality of commands; inform the host of the pattern; receive, from the host, a single command comprising an identifier associated with the plurality of commands; and in response to receiving the single command from the host, executing the plurality of commands. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: Example storage systems, storage devices, and methods provide proactive management of storage operations to, for example, beneficially minimize bottlenecking, latency, and other issues. An example system has a storage pool with a first storage device and a second storage device, and a processor configured to generate a storage request including a storage command, include a command processing time constraint in the storage request, send the storage request to the first storage device, and receive, from the first storage device, a proactive response including an estimation for an execution of the storage command by the first storage device based on the command processing time constraint. The processor may then select a fallback mechanism for executing the storage command based on the proactive response.

Abstract: Various embodiments of this disclosure are directed to a mixed digital and analog domain approach to computational storage or memory applications. The mixed approach enables certain compute operations to be advantageously performed in the analog domain, achieving power saving. In some embodiments, an analog compute core is implemented based on a first set of memory elements that are made available with a second set of memory elements for digital data storage. A controller coupled to both sets of memory elements is able to selectively direct computational tasks to either the analog compute core or a digital processor coupled with the controller, based on one or more parameters including power, precision, and workload. In certain embodiments involving neural network tasks, the controller is configured to route certain tasks to the analog compute core based on neural network based factors such as network layer positioning and input signal type.

Abstract: A storage system and method for device-determined, application-specific dynamic command clustering are provided. In one embodiment, the storage system comprises a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to analyze commands received from a host to detect a pattern of a plurality of commands; inform the host of the pattern; receive, from the host, a single command comprising an identifier associated with the plurality of commands; and in response to receiving the single command from the host, executing the plurality of commands. Other embodiments are provided.

Abstract: Example storage systems, storage devices, and methods provide proactive management of storage operations to, for example, beneficially minimize bottlenecking, latency, and other issues. An example system has a storage pool with a first storage device and a second storage device, and a processor configured to generate a storage request including a storage command, include a command processing time constraint in the storage request, send the storage request to the first storage device, and receive, from the first storage device, a proactive response including an estimation for an execution of the storage command by the first storage device based on the command processing time constraint. The processor may then select a fallback mechanism for executing the storage command based on the proactive response.

Abstract: Apparatuses and techniques are described for more efficiently allocating blocks of data in a memory device. The number of dedicated single-level cell (SLC) blocks which are allocated at the time of manufacture of a memory device can be reduced by transitioning a portion of the multi-level cell (MLC) blocks to an SLC mode at various times in the lifetime of the memory device. In one approach, separate counts are maintained for an MLC block in the SLC and MLC modes. The separate counts can be used to select an MLC block to transition to the SLC mode, or to select an MLC block to program. In another approach, a single count is maintained, where the SLC cycles are weighted less heavily than the MLC cycles.