Abstract: An apparatus may include a memory device, a memory controller, or both that can communicate via memory standard interfaces. However, the memory device may have physical memory that does not comply with the memory standard by itself. Disclosed herein are solutions that allow various non-standard types of memory, or emerging memory, to be utilized via a host, microprocessor, or memory controller that implements the interface standard. For example, by utilizing a command converter at the microprocessor and a tunneling register at the memory device, a microprocessor can send commands to the memory device by writing them to the tunneling register, which can then be processed at the memory device for operations to be performed with the non-standard or emerging memory.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to storage devices employing file-aware drivers. In one example, a device may comprise a driver configured to retrieve file system information related to an input/output (I/O) command, determine storage attributes based on the file system information, and store selected data in a preferred region of a data storage medium based on the storage attributes. Another embodiment may be a method comprising inspecting characteristics of an I/O request for a file, setting storage attributes for the file based on if the file is preferred, and storing the file on a data storage medium based on the storage attributes.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to systems and methods of nonvolatile data caching. In some embodiments, circuits or methods may be configured to store selected data to a nonvolatile data cache based on selection criteria. The selection criteria may be based on previous data access commands. The selection criteria may relate an amount of resources, such as time or power, needed to retrieve the selected data from a data storage medium. The selected data may be retrieved from the data storage medium and stored at the nonvolatile data cache during an idle state.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to data storage devices employing file-aware drivers. In one example, a device may comprise a driver configured to retrieve file system information related to an input/output (I/O) command, select priority attributes identifying whether the I/O command originated from a user-level application based on the file system information, and prioritize execution of the I/O command based on the priority attributes. Another embodiment may be a method comprising inspecting characteristics of a data input/output (I/O) request, choosing priority attributes for the I/O request based on the characteristics and a program initiating the I/O request, and executing operations in an order based on the priority attributes.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to systems and methods of dynamic dataflow in a multiple cache architecture. In an embodiment, a system having a data storage device with a multiple cache architecture may detect at least one attribute affecting a data storage workload or data storage performance. The system may select at least one of a plurality of data flow schemes based on the at least one attribute, which may be done to optimize the data storage workload for various conditions. In another embodiment, a data storage controller may automatically and dynamically select one of multiple data flow schemes within a data storage device having a multiple cache architecture. The data storage controller may monitor attributes to determine which data flow scheme to select for various workloads of the data storage device.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to systems and methods of concurrent actions for data storage. A controller may be configured to initialize a first data storage medium and a second data storage medium. The controller may receive a command when the first data storage medium is initialized but before the second data storage medium is initialized. The controller may service the command when the command utilizes the first data storage medium and the initialization for the second data storage medium is not complete. A controller may also be configured to send an indicator to a host that the system is ready to receive commands when a first data storage device is initialized, but a second data storage device is still in an initialization process.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to systems and methods of dynamic dataflow in a multiple cache architecture. In an embodiment, a system having a data storage device with a multiple cache architecture may detect at least one attribute affecting a data storage workload or data storage performance. The system may select at least one of a plurality of data flow schemes based on the at least one attribute, which may be done to optimize the data storage workload for various conditions. In another embodiment, a data storage controller may automatically and dynamically select one of multiple data flow schemes within a data storage device having a multiple cache architecture. The data storage controller may monitor attributes to determine which data flow scheme to select for various workloads of the data storage device.

Abstract: Systems and methods in a disc drive improve data transfer performance by interrupting disc write operations to service read commands.

Abstract: A read-on-arrival scheme for reading data stored on a track of a data storage disc is disclosed. The track is divided into a plurality of sequentially arranged data sectors. Each data sector stores a block of data. A host computer issues a read command requesting retrieval of a segment of data blocks stored on a plurality of the data sectors. The segment may include a target data segment as well as a pre-fetch and post-fetch data segment. The read command specifies a target sector that a transducer is to initially access on the track. Upon receipt of the read command, components of a disc drive move the transducer to the track for access of the segment requested in the command. The disc drive components enable the transfer of data regardless of whether the transducer first accesses a sector located in sequential order prior to or following the target sector.

Abstract: A method and system for managing the transfer of data into and out of a buffer in a disc drive is disclosed. The operation of the vectored buffer management (VBM) system is administered by a software-based control module. The control module creates and maintains a buffer table by dividing the buffer table into buffer sectors. The buffer sectors are further arranged into buffer segments, or circularly linked lists upon which the buffer table is partitioned. The control module effectuates the transfer by implementing an application module across the buffer table. Once the application module is arbitrarily positioned at an index sector by the control module, data transfer is accomplished when the application module walks through a particular buffer segment identified by the index sector. Specific control of the application module across a buffer segment is administered through host and disc address pointers, which are coupled to host and disc next pointers, respectively.

Abstract: A method and system for managing the transfer of data into and out of a buffer in a disc drive is disclosed. The operation of the vectored buffer management (VBM) system is administered by a software-based control module. The control module creates and maintains a buffer table by dividing the buffer table into buffer sectors. The buffer sectors are further arranged into buffer segments, or circularly linked lists upon which the buffer table is partitioned. The control module effectuates the transfer by implementing an application module across the buffer table. Once the application module is arbitrarily positioned at an index sector by the control module, data transfer is accomplished when the application module walks through a particular buffer segment identified by the index sector. Specific control of the application module across a buffer segment is administered through host and disc address pointers, which are coupled to host and disc next pointers, respectively.

Abstract: Systems and methods in a disc drive improve data transfer performance by interrupting disc write operations to service read commands.

Abstract: A read-on-arrival scheme for reading data stored on a track of a data storage disc is disclosed. The track is divided into a plurality of sequentially arranged data sectors. Each data sector stores a block of data. A host computer issues a read command requesting retrieval of a segment of data blocks stored on a plurality of the data sectors. The segment may include a target data segment as well as a pre-fetch and post-fetch data segment. The read command specifies a target sector that a transducer is to initially access on the track. Upon receipt of the read command, components of a disc drive move the transducer to the track for access of the segment requested in the command. The disc drive components enable the transfer of data regardless of whether the transducer first accesses a sector located in sequential order prior to or following the target sector.

Abstract: A method and system for managing the transfer of data into and out of a buffer in a disc drive is disclosed. The operation of the vectored buffer management (VBM) system is administered by a software-based control module. The control module creates and maintains a buffer table by dividing the buffer table into buffer sectors. The buffer sectors are further arranged into buffer segments, or circularly linked lists upon which the buffer table is partitioned. The control module effectuates the transfer by implementing an application module across the buffer table. Once the application module is arbitrarily positioned at an index sector by the control module, data transfer is accomplished when the application module walks through a particular buffer segment identified by the index sector. Specific control of the application module across a buffer segment is administered through host and disc address pointers, which are coupled to host and disc next pointers, respectively.