Abstract: The present invention is directed to a geared chalk line preferably configured for a left-handed user. The geared chalk line may comprise an enclosure, a reel, a string line, a hook, a plurality of gears, and a crank. The geared chalk line may be a tool for striking a straight line across a work surface using chalk. The enclosure may comprise a chalk box and a gear box. The chalk box may house the reel and the chalk. The string line may be deployed from the reel for use. The plurality of gears may be configured for the crank to rewind the string line faster than if ungeared. The plurality of gears be housed in the gear box separate from the chalk such that the chalk does not impede the plurality of gears. The string line may be stretched across the work surface and snapped to deposit the chalk on the work surface.

Abstract: A method of transferring data in a flash storage device is provided. A plurality of data segments for transfer between a memory buffer and a plurality of flash memory devices via a plurality of flash memory interfaces is associated with a plurality of respective memory commands. The plurality of memory commands are allocated among the plurality of flash memory interfaces, with each respective memory command being queued at a respective memory interface for transfer of a respective data segment associated with the respective memory command. The plurality of data segments are transferred between the memory buffer and the plurality of flash memory devices based on the plurality of memory commands, with each respective data segment being transferred via the memory interface to which the memory command associated with the respective data segment is queued. The data segments are transferred sequentially in an order corresponding to the queued memory commands.

Abstract: A data storage method, comprising, receiving host data to be written to a plurality of flash storage devices, allocating the host data to one or more data units of a plurality of data units, allocating pad data to one or more data units of the plurality of data units that have not been filled with host data and generating redundant data in a redundant data unit based on the plurality of data units. The method further comprises steps for writing the plurality of data units and the redundant data unit to a stripe across the plurality of flash storage devices, wherein each of the plurality of data units and the redundant data unit is written in the respective flash storage devices at a common physical address.

Abstract: A method of transferring data in a flash storage device is provided. A plurality of data segments for transfer between a memory buffer and a plurality of flash memory devices via a plurality of flash memory interfaces is associated with a plurality of respective memory commands. The plurality of memory commands are allocated among the plurality of flash memory interfaces, with each respective memory command being queued at a respective memory interface for transfer of a respective data segment associated with the respective memory command. The plurality of data segments are transferred between the memory buffer and the plurality of flash memory devices based on the plurality of memory commands, with each respective data segment being transferred via the memory interface to which the memory command associated with the respective data segment is queued. The data segments are transferred sequentially in an order corresponding to the queued memory commands.

Abstract: A method of transferring data in a flash storage device comprising a random access memory and a plurality of channels of a flash array is provided. The method comprises receiving a plurality of data segments from a host system, storing the plurality of data segments in the random access memory, allocating the plurality of data segments among the plurality of channels of the flash array, and writing the allocated data segments from the random access memory to the respective channels of the flash array.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the prioritized erasure of data blocks in a flash storage device are provided. A data block in the flash storage device is selected for erasure based upon the number of valid data segments therein, thereby minimizing the number of data segments that are carried over to another data block before erasing the selected data block. The overhead of write operations in the flash storage device is therefore greatly reduced, and the overall performance thereof greatly increased. A method for managing memory operations in a flash storage device having a plurality of data blocks comprises the steps of selecting one of the plurality of data blocks for erasure based upon a number of valid data segments therein, and erasing the selected one of the plurality of data blocks.

Abstract: A flash storage device comprises a plurality of data blocks, each data block comprising a plurality of data segments, a system memory, and a controller. The controller is configured to cache in the system memory a plurality of data sectors to be written, to write to a first one of the plurality of data segments a first one of the plurality of data sectors, to write to the first one of the plurality of data segments a first portion of a second one of the plurality of data sectors, and to write to a second one of the plurality of data segments a second portion of the second one of the plurality of data sectors.

Abstract: A data storage method, comprising, receiving host data to be written to a plurality of flash storage devices, allocating the host data to one or more data units of a plurality of data units, allocating pad data to one or more data units of the plurality of data units that have not been filled with host data and generating redundant data in a redundant data unit based on the plurality of data units. In certain aspects, the method further comprises steps for writing the plurality of data units and the redundant data unit to a stripe across the plurality of flash storage devices, wherein each of the plurality of data units and the redundant data unit is written in the respective flash storage devices at a common physical address.

Abstract: A method of transferring data in a flash storage device comprising a random access memory and a plurality of channels of a flash array is provided. The method comprises receiving a plurality of data segments from a host system, storing the plurality of data segments in the random access memory, allocating the plurality of data segments among the plurality of channels of the flash array, and writing the allocated data segments from the random access memory to the respective channels of the flash array.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the prioritized erasure of data blocks in a flash storage device are provided. A data block in the flash storage device is selected for erasure based upon the number of valid data segments therein, thereby minimizing the number of data segments that are carried over to another data block before erasing the selected data block. The overhead of write operations in the flash storage device is therefore greatly reduced, and the overall performance thereof greatly increased. A method for managing memory operations in a flash storage device having a plurality of data blocks comprises the steps of selecting one of the plurality of data blocks for erasure based upon a number of valid data segments therein, and erasing the selected one of the plurality of data blocks.

Abstract: A flash storage device comprises a plurality of data blocks, each data block comprising a plurality of data segments, a system memory, and a controller. The controller is configured to cache in the system memory a plurality of data sectors to be written, to write to a first one of the plurality of data segments a first one of the plurality of data sectors, to write to the first one of the plurality of data segments a first portion of a second one of the plurality of data sectors, and to write to a second one of the plurality of data segments a second portion of the second one of the plurality of data sectors.