Patents by Inventor Rudolph J. Sterbenz

Rudolph J. Sterbenz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20150156020
    Abstract: Various storage devices may benefit from encryption technologies. For example, storage devices may benefit from systems and methods for a fully isolated encryption key filling port. A system can, for example, include a host connector installed in a host computer and configured to connect to a storage connector in a storage device. The system can also include a key fill device connected to the host connector. The key fill device may be configured to communicate data to the storage device via one or more pins in the host connector. The host computer may be configured to not use the one or more pins as data pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel P. Fogelson, Robert V. Lazaravich, Sabrina S. Pina, Kenneth R. Paxman, Rudolph J. Sterbenz
  • Publication number: 20150100795
    Abstract: Various devices may benefit from enhanced security. For example, secure storage devices and authentication devices may benefit from security that permits isolation of the devices from the operating system and data ports of a host computer. An apparatus can include a first interface configured to connect to a non-volatile storage device. The apparatus can also include circuitry configured to supply an encryption key over the first interface to decrypt data on the non-volatile storage device. The first interface is configured to connect directly to the non-volatile storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel P. Fogelson, Sabrina S. Pina, Rudolph J. Sterbenz, Kenneth R. Paxman, Robert V. Lazaravich
  • Patent number: 8566505
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for flash memory management, including receiving data from a host, writing the data to a flash memory device in the order it was received from the host, and providing at least one data structure configured to locate the data written to the flash memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Kilzer, Robert W. Ellis, Rudolph J. Sterbenz
  • Patent number: 8271722
    Abstract: A method for flash memory management comprises providing a head pointer configured to define a first location in a flash memory, and a tail pointer configured to define a second location in a flash memory. The head pointer and tail pointer define a payload data area. Payload data is received from a host, and written to the flash memory in the order it was received. The head pointer and tail pointer are updated such that the payload data area moves in a circular manner within the flash memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L Kilzer, Robert W. Ellis, Rudolph J. Sterbenz
  • Patent number: 8185778
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for flash memory management, including storing metadata and/or error correcting information separately from payload data. In various embodiments, metadata and/or error correcting information are stored in a random access memory within a solid state drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L Kilzer, Robert W Ellis, Rudolph J Sterbenz
  • Patent number: 8180954
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for flash memory management, including tracking payload data via one or more data structures configured to define the size of logical pages in a flash memory. In various embodiments, the logical page size may be larger than, equal to, or smaller than a physical page size of a flash memory chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: SMART Storage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L Kilzer, Robert W Ellis, Rudolph J Sterbenz
  • Publication number: 20110296094
    Abstract: A method for flash memory management comprises providing a head pointer configured to define a first location in a flash memory, and a tail pointer configured to define a second location in a flash memory. The head pointer and tail pointer define a payload data area. Payload data is received from a host, and written to the flash memory in the order it was received. The head pointer and tail pointer are updated such that the payload data area moves in a circular manner within the flash memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES (AZ), INC.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Kilzer, Robert W. Ellis, Rudolph J. Sterbenz
  • Patent number: 8028123
    Abstract: A method for flash memory management comprises providing a head pointer configured to define a first location in a flash memory, and a tail pointer configured to define a second location in a flash memory. The head pointer and tail pointer define a payload data area. Payload data is received from a host, and written to the flash memory in the order it was received. The head pointer and tail pointer are updated such that the payload data area moves in a circular manner within the flash memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: SMART Modular Technologies (AZ) , Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Kilzer, Robert W. Ellis, Rudolph J. Sterbenz
  • Publication number: 20090259806
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for flash memory management, including utilizing defect information corresponding to a granularity smaller than a physical erase block size of a flash memory chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: ADTRON, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Kilzer, Robert W. Ellis, Rudolph J. Sterbenz
  • Publication number: 20090259805
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for flash memory management, including tracking payload data via one or more data structures configured to define the size of logical pages in a flash memory. In various embodiments, the logical page size may be larger than, equal to, or smaller than a physical page size of a flash memory chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: ADTRON, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Kilzer, Robert W. Ellis, Rudolph J. Sterbenz
  • Publication number: 20090259919
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for flash memory management, including storing metadata and/or error correcting information separately from payload data. In various embodiments, metadata and/or error correcting information are stored in a random access memory within a solid state drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: ADTRON, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Kilzer, Robert W. Ellis, Rudolph J. Sterbenz
  • Publication number: 20090259801
    Abstract: A method for flash memory management comprises providing a head pointer configured to define a first location in a flash memory, and a tail pointer configured to define a second location in a flash memory. The head pointer and tail pointer define a payload data area. Payload data is received from a host, and written to the flash memory in the order it was received. The head pointer and tail pointer are updated such that the payload data area moves in a circular manner within the flash memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: ADTRON, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Kilzer, Robert W. Ellis, Alan A. Fitzgerald, Rudolph J. Sterbenz
  • Publication number: 20090259800
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for flash memory management, including receiving data from a host, writing the data to a flash memory device in the order it was received from the host, and providing at least one data structure configured to locate the data written to the flash memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: ADTRON, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Kilzer, Robert W. Ellis, Alan A. Fitzgerald, Rudolph J. Sterbenz