Specific Memory Composition Patents (Class 711/101)
  • Publication number: 20080266129
    Abstract: The present invention provides a portable device comprising: a control unit; a display coupled to the control unit; a dual wireless module coupled to the control unit for wireless data transferring, wherein the dual wireless module includes a first and a second wireless data transferring modules to allow a user to select desired one to communicate with an external device. The dual wireless module further includes a management unit to manage the first and second wireless data transferring modules according to a policy engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Kuo Ching Chiang
  • Patent number: 7437497
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses encoded memory control signals to reduce pin count on chips that generate and drive memory control signals. During operation, the system receives encoded memory control signals from a memory controller, wherein the memory control signals were encoded to reduce the number of memory control signals, and wherein the encoded memory control signals are received at a buffer chip, which is external to the memory controller. Next, the system decodes the encoded memory control signals on the buffer chip to restore the memory control signals, and then drives the memory control signals from the buffer chip to corresponding memory modules in the system memory. By transferring the memory control signals in encoded form from the memory controller to the buffer chip, fewer pins are required on both the memory controller chip and the buffer chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: William P. Cornelius
  • Patent number: 7430631
    Abstract: A processing system includes a processor and a physical memory (500) with a single-size memory port (505) for accessing data in the memory. The processor is arranged to operate on data of at least a first data size and a smaller second data size. The first data size is equal to or smaller than the size of memory port. The processing system including at least one data register (514) of the first data size connected to the memory port (505), and at least one data port (525) of the second data size connected to the data register (525) and the processor for enabling access to data elements of the second size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Cornelis Hermanus Van Berkel, Patrick Peter Elizabeth Meuwissen
  • Publication number: 20080235434
    Abstract: A user-information managing unit controls reading of information stored in a user-information DB and a rule DB and writing of information to these databases. A customization processing unit receives a request for customizing rule information stored in the rule DB and, according to the request, customizes the rule information stored in the rule DB via the user-information managing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Jongsook Eun, Yohko Mizunashi
  • Patent number: 7426604
    Abstract: A buffer architecture enables linked lists to be used to administer virtual output queue buffering. The buffer has three random access memories (RAMs). A data RAM holds data. A free RAM holds a linked list of entries defining free space in the data RAM. Destination RAM holds a linked list of entries defining data in the data RAM to be forwarded to a destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans Olaf Rygh, Finn Egil Hoeyer Grimnes, Brian Edward Manula
  • Publication number: 20080222345
    Abstract: A memory access method for accessing data from a non-volatile memory in a south bridge is provided. Memory access is performed under a system management mode (SMM). Under the protection of the SMM mode, the desired memory address is not altered by an interrupt handler, therefore memory data is accessed correctly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: VIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Wen-Juin Huang, Chung-Ching Huang, Chien-Ping Chung
  • Patent number: 7424571
    Abstract: A device performs lookup functions for a semantic processing unit. The device comprises a plurality of interface circuits for receiving data operation requests from the semantic processing unit. The device comprises a buffer for allocating an interface circuit to a semantic processing unit having a data operation request. A selection circuit, coupled between the plurality of interface circuits and a memory unit, selects an allocated circuit for accessing the memory unit to process the data operation request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Gigafin Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Somsubhra Sikdar, Kevin Jerome Rowett, Hoai V. Tran, Jonathan Sweedler, Komal Rathi, Mike Davoudi
  • Patent number: 7421535
    Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for destaging a track from cache to a storage device. The destaged track is retained in the cache. Verification is made of whether the storage device successfully completed writing data. Indication is made of destaged tracks eligible for removal from the cache that were destaged before the storage device is verified in response to verifying that the storage device is successfully completing the writing of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Charles Jarvis, Michael Howard Hartung, Karl Allen Nielsen, Jeremy Michael Pinson, Steven Robert Lowe
  • Publication number: 20080209105
    Abstract: A memory controller sequentially holds access requests including access addresses. A semiconductor memory includes a plurality of banks each having a plurality of pages. The memory controller decides page hit/page miss of the bank corresponding to each of the held access addresses. Further, the memory controller outputs an all-banks precharge command for performing a precharge operation of all the banks when deciding, based on an analysis of the successive access addresses, that outputting the all-banks precharge command results in improvement in access efficiency. It is possible to precharge the plural banks only by supplying the all-banks precharge command once, and therefore, in a case where the number of empty cycles for the insertion of a command is small, it is possible to supply the command efficiently to the semiconductor memory according to the states of the banks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Soji Hara
  • Publication number: 20080189472
    Abstract: A semiconductor storage device includes a first nonvolatile memory to store user data of a file, a second nonvolatile memory to store management data of the file, the second nonvolatile memory being different in type from the first nonvolatile memory, and a controller to control read/write of data with respect to the first and second nonvolatile memories.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki TANAKA
  • Patent number: 7409488
    Abstract: A data processing system comprises a local probe storage array having a plurality of sensors for reading data from a storage surface. A plurality of data processing elements are mounted on the storage array. Each data processing element is connected to different sensor of the array for processing data read by the connected sensor. The data processing elements may be logic gates for performing simple comparisons with input data. Alternatively, each data processing element may comprise more complex logic circuitry for performing more complex functions based on data read by the storage array. Such function may involve a combination of data read by the storage array and data input to the data processing system from an another source. Each data processing element may comprise a complete microprocessor system responsive to data read from the storage array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Inc
    Inventors: Gerd K. Binnig, Michel Despont, Urs T. Durig, Walter Haberle, Peter Vettiger
  • Patent number: 7404058
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for enqueuing and dequeuing packets to and from a shared packet memory, while avoiding collisions. An enqueue process or state machine enqueues packets for a communication connection (e.g., channel, queue pair, flow). A dequeue process or state machine operating in parallel dequeues packets and forwards them (e.g., to an InfiniBand node). Packets are stored in the shared packet memory, and status/control information is stored in a control memory that is updated for each packet enqueue and packet dequeue. Prior to updating the packet and/or control memory, each process interfaces with the other to determine if the other process is active and/or to identify the other process' current communication connection. If the enqueue process detects a collision, it pauses (e.g., for a predetermined number of clock cycles). If the dequeue process detects a collision, it selects a different communication connection to dequeue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Lo, Charles T. Cheng
  • Patent number: 7398484
    Abstract: A schedule can be generated for physically transposing an array such that when the array is transferred from a first memory type to a second memory type, the number of block transfers performed is minimized. The array can be rearranged to ensure that most or all data elements in any block read into internal memory are used before that block's internal storage is reused. The algorithm can compute an offline schedule and then execute that schedule. The method can assemble the schedule during one or more passes with an algorithm. Scheduling passes can apply a permutation to a representation of the array's structure and then tile the representation to ensure efficient use of internal memory. Tiling may alter the permutation, so the algorithm can be reinvoked and run on the tiled representation. The algorithm can be run on successively retiled representations until no additional tiling is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Erik S. Ruf
  • Publication number: 20080162781
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus, methods and systems that include a substrate including a central region and a peripheral region; a plurality of layers above a surface of the substrate, a first plurality of pitch-multiplied spacers on a top surface of the plurality of layer, the first plurality of pitch-multiplied spacers being above the central region of the substrate, and a second plurality of pitch-multiplied spacers on the top surface of the plurality of layers, the second plurality of pitch-multiplied spacers above the peripheral region and including at least one pitch-multiplied spacer having a surface at a distance from the at least one pitch multiplied spacer having a surface at the boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Gordon Haller, Luan C. Tran
  • Publication number: 20080155171
    Abstract: A file system and a method for file storage and file search by the same are provided. All files have unique names in a block-based storage device, such as a hard disk, a flash memory, etc., so that each file is mapped and stored in a one-dimensional storage area. Each file name is matched with a memory block storing data of the corresponding file so that a memory block corresponding to a file name can be found when the file name is input. In addition, through information stored in the found memory block, the data corresponding to the file name can be read from the memory block storing the data or can be stored in a specific memory block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Soon-Yong JEONG
  • Publication number: 20080140912
    Abstract: Memory architecture provides capabilities for high performance content search. The architecture creates an innovative memory that can be programmed with content search rules which are used by the memory to evaluate presented content for matching with the programmed rules. When the content being searched matches any of the rules programmed in the Programmable Intelligent Search Memory (PRISM) action(s) associated with the matched rule(s) are taken. Content search rules comprise of regular expressions which are converted to finite state automata and then programmed in PRISM for evaluating content with the search rules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventor: Ashish A. Pandya
  • Publication number: 20080137468
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a circuit output, a data input that receives a data signal, and a clock input that receives a clock signal. The integrated circuit further includes first and second logic gates. The first logic gate has a first input coupled to the clock input, a second input coupled to the data input, and an output and a second logic gate. The second logic gate has a first input coupled to the data input, a second input coupled to the output of the first logic gate, and an output coupled to the circuit output. Setup time of the data signal relative to the clock signal at the second logic gate is improved by reciprocal gating of the data and clock signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventor: Ed Seewann
  • Publication number: 20080140911
    Abstract: Memory architecture provides capabilities for high performance content search. The architecture creates an innovative memory that can be programmed with content search rules which are used by the memory to evaluate presented content for matching with the programmed rules. When the content being searched matches any of the rules programmed in the Programmable Intelligent Search Memory (PRISM) action(s) associated with the matched rule(s) are taken. Content search rules comprise of regular expressions which are converted to finite state automata (FSA) and then programmed in PRISM for evaluating content with the search rules. PRISM architecture comprises of a plurality of programmable PRISM Search Engines (PSE), each capable of supporting a predetermined size FSAs. FSA extension architecture is created to extend the predetermined size limit of an FSA supported by PSE, by coupling multiple PSEs together to behave as a composite PSE to support larger FSAs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventor: Ashish A. Pandya
  • Patent number: 7386659
    Abstract: A memory controller converts controller output signals output from a controller into memory input signals according to the operation specifications of memory chips to operate, and outputs the resultant to the memory chips through a common bus. The memory controller also receives memory output signals output from the memory chips through the common bus, and converts the received signals into controller input signals receivable to the controller. This allows the single memory controller to access the plurality of types of memory chips. As a result, the memory controller can be reduced in chip size, lowering the cost of the memory system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Takemae
  • Patent number: 7386652
    Abstract: In a user-configurable pre-recorded memory (UC-PM), a user can select contents he is interested in, and pay copyright fees accordingly. With large capacity, low cost and great integratibility, 3D-M, more particularly 3D-MPM, is suitable for UC-PM. It provides excellent access control and impenetrable copyright protection. UC-PM will enable a copyright distribution model fair to both copyright holders and users. On the other hand, the 3D-MPM scaling should be the fastest among all memory types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Inventor: Guobiao Zhang
  • Publication number: 20080133819
    Abstract: A Double Data Rate (DDR) nonvolatile memory includes a DDR I/F block to receive an address that is used to separate DDR data into coherent data and non-coherent data that are stored separately in the DDR nonvolatile memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Ramkarthik Ganesan, Saad Monasa
  • Patent number: 7383421
    Abstract: A data processing system includes an associative memory device containing n-cells, each of the n-cells includes a processing circuit. A controller is utilized for issuing one of a plurality of instructions to the associative memory device, while a clock device is utilized for outputting a synchronizing clock signal comprised of a predetermined number of clock cycles per second. The clock device outputs the synchronizing clock signal to the associative memory device and the controller which globally communicates one of the plurality of instructions to all of the n-cells simultaneously, within one of the clock cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Brightscale, Inc.
    Inventors: Gheorghe Stefan, Dan Tomescu
  • Patent number: 7383376
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods store data in a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) in a fast and efficient manner. Embodiments advantageously decrease the number of clock cycles required to store data by eliminating at least one wait state in a transition from a read state to a write state. Embodiments advantageously enhance the throughput of the MRAM and a related digital circuit, such as a computer system, which advantageously enhances the operating speed of the digital circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard W. Swanson
  • Publication number: 20080126671
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory system having: a first nonvolatile memory in which data writing is limited to writing data on a per-sector basis; a second nonvolatile memory for storing a portion of data to be stored in the first memory; and a controller for controlling data read and write operations; wherein when the controller receives a write command for writing write data in the first memory, the controller writes the write data in the second memory linking to a write address specified by the write command under a condition that the same data as the write data designated to be written by the write command is not stored in a region in the first memory corresponding to the write address specified by the write command, and the controller performs a matching process, in which data in the second memory is moved in the first memory when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Satoru Kashiwada
  • Publication number: 20080126683
    Abstract: A memory system is configured to receive write data each labeled with a logical address from a host device and includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory and a controller. The memory stores data in units of a first unit area and erases data in units of a second unit area, each of second unit areas consists of a predetermined number of first unit areas. The controller classifies the logical address of the write data into one of management units in accordance with the logical address, manages correspondence information that shows a correspondence between logical addresses of stored data and second unit areas that store corresponding write data for each of the management units, and assigns to the write data one of the second unit areas that have at least as large address space as an address space of logical addresses belonging to two or more of the management units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Hidetaka Tsuji
  • Patent number: 7380050
    Abstract: A parallel data storage device includes a data storage medium having a first cluster and a second cluster. The first cluster includes a first patch and the second cluster includes a second patch. The parallel data storage device also includes a first reader for reading the first patch of the first cluster and a second reader for reading the second patch of the second cluster. A first multiplexer is used for addressing the first cluster while a second multiplexer is used for addressing the second cluster. The first and second readers are arranged in a single column such that the first reader is electrically connected to the first multiplexer and the second reader is electrically connected to the second multiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Inventors: Curt N. Van Lydegraf, Tracy A. Sauerwein, Donald J. Fasen, Richard L. Hilton, Craig Raese, Michael Clinton Allyn, Charles David Smith
  • Patent number: 7379442
    Abstract: So-called LCH packets are defined in the Hiperlan Type 2 System for wire-free transmission of video and audio data streams. These LCH packets have a length of 54 data bytes. Furthermore, the Hiperlan/2 Standard provides for so-called ARQ messages to be sent back to the transmitter in an SCH packet in a QOS mode (Quality Of Service), in which all the LCH data packets must be confirmed by the receiver. Space for the LCH and SCH data packets must be provided in a buffer store in the Hiperlan/2 interface for each connection that is set up. When there is a possibility of several hundred connections having been set up, separate reservation of memory areas for LCH and SCH packets would involve considerable complexity for the memory organization. The invention proposes that only one common area be reserved for LCH and SCH packets in the buffer store. The section which is provided for each LCH package is of such a size that it corresponds to a value 2n where n?[0, 1, 2, 3, . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Malte Borsum, Klaus Gaedke, Thomas Brune
  • Patent number: 7376801
    Abstract: It is an object to provide, in a data storage circuit for storing data, a power saving data storage circuit and a data writing method in the data storage circuit, and, further, to provide a data storage device. Thus, in the present invention, reading out existing data stored in a storage element M is performed prior to performing writing of new data to the storage element M to compare the existing data and the new data. The data storage circuit is configured so that in a case where the existing data and the new data are identical with each other, writing to the storage element M is not performed, and, in a case where the existing data and the new data are not identical with each other, writing of the new data to the storage element M is performed. The data storage circuit is formed on a semiconductor substrate to have a data storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Moriyama, Hironobu Mori, Hisanobu Tsukazaki
  • Patent number: 7372713
    Abstract: A Content Addressable Memory (CAM) device with an improved match sensing circuit is provided. The CAM is provided with a dummy cell and a respective dummy match line, as well as a reference dummy match line. The dummy match line is designed to be evaluated after all other cell match lines. The reference dummy match line triggers a dummy sensing block to initiate a time window for sensing the dummy match line. By this time, all other array match lines will have been stabilized and have reached their respective sensing blocks, to then allow the data to be latched. The match sensing circuit provided may be applied to a variety of arrangements including BCAMs and TCAMs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Nisha Padattil Kuliyampattil, Krishnan S Rengarajan
  • Patent number: 7370141
    Abstract: A memory controller converts controller output signals output from a controller into memory input signals according to the operation specifications of memory chips to operate, and outputs the resultant to the memory chips through a common bus. The memory controller also receives memory output signals output from the memory chips through the common bus, and converts the received signals into controller input signals receivable to the controller. This allows the single memory controller to access the plurality of types of memory chips. As a result, the memory controller can be reduced in chip size, lowering the cost of the memory system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Takemae
  • Patent number: 7363427
    Abstract: A memory subsystem controller and buffer for a computer and a second buffer for memory tag operations. The buffers are linked to the memory controller by two bidirectional data busses. The controller operates the memory subsystem by passing memory addresses to the memory subsystem data bus through the buffers. Unidirectional control interfaces between the controller and the buffers provide memory control commands to both buffers and memory tag information to the tag buffer. The controller performs read and write operations to memory, normally interleaving a plurality of read operations with a plurality of write operations. The read and write data is temporarily stored on the buffer devices while other operations are being executed to optimize the data bandwidth of the memory subsystem of the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Theodore Carter Briggs, John Michael Wastlick, Gary Belgrave Gostin
  • Patent number: 7363423
    Abstract: Multiple matches of words in a content addressable memory are detected by identifying each match of the input word to a word in the memory, and generating a representation of a relationship OR (xi AND xj), where xi=x1, x2, . . . xN?1, xj?xi+1, xi+2, . . . xN, and x1, x2, . . . , xN are the compare results of the individual words in the memory to the input word. A representation of at least one match is identified by generating a representation of a relationship x1 OR x2 OR x3 OR . . . OR xN. The apparatus comprises a hierarchy of logic that carries a general match representation indicating at least one match between the input word and all of the memory words, and a multiple-match representation indicating multiple matches between the input word and the words in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventor: Dechang Sun
  • Patent number: 7360001
    Abstract: An external connection device is to connectable to a host device. The host device includes transmission means for transmitting, to the external connection device, a parameter and an operation control command indicating a command for performing operation control of the external connection device. The external connection device includes a parameter register operable to store the parameter, a command register operable to store the operation control command provided from the host device, and a controller operable to refer to the operation control command stored in the command register and to perform operation control specified by the operation control command. The parameter register and the command register of the external connection device are accessed from the host device based on a transfer protocol command (TPC) issued from the host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20080086586
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus including: a nonvolatile memory; a volatile system memory in which predetermined data stored in the nonvolatile memory is developed; a control section to save the predetermined data stored in the system memory in the nonvolatile memory when a start of power-off operation is detected; and a storage section that stores a first timing information representing a time point of terminating the operation of saving the predetermined data in the nonvolatile memory, and a second timing information representing a power-off time point, wherein the control section compares the first timing information stored in the storage section with the second timing information, subsequent to the next operation of turning on of the power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Tomoya Ogawa, Tomohiro Suzuki, Yuji Tamura, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Hiroyasu Nishimura, Fumikage Uchida, Nao Moromizato, Munetoshi Eguchi, Kenji Okuyama
  • Patent number: 7356743
    Abstract: An RRAM design having linear BIST memory and rectangular BIST memory, the improvement comprising at least one of the linear BIST memory and the rectangular BIST memory formed only of flipflops and logic cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventors: Andrey Nikitin, Ilya V. Neznanov, Alexander Andreev
  • Patent number: 7352766
    Abstract: A high-speed memory is provided, the memory having a write port and a read port and comprised of the following: a plurality of N memory modules for storing fixed size cells, which are segments of a variable size packet divided into X cells, the X cells being grouped into ?X/N? groups of cells; a read-write control block receiving cells from the write port and storing each cell, which belongs to the same group, in a selected different one of the N memory modules at the same memory address (the group address); a multi-cell pointer (MCP) storage for storing an MCP for the group of cells (an associated MCP) at an MCP address, the MCP having N memory module identifiers to record the order in which cells of the group of cells are stored in the N memory modules; the MCP address being the same as the group address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Kizito Gysbertus Antonius Van Asten, Faisal Dada, Edward Aung Kyi Maung
  • Patent number: 7353348
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory may include a plurality of blocks as a unit for performing writing and erasing of data which is stored in the respective blocks. The block may include a write data area in which data is written and stored, a correlative code area in which a correlative code indicating a correlation between the data which are written in the respective write data areas of the respective blocks is stored, and an inspection data area in which inspection data required in inspection is stored in the respective blocks for inspecting the validity of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation
    Inventor: Tsutomu Baba
  • Patent number: 7325095
    Abstract: An intelligent disk drive is described which includes means for executing distributed computing tasks including a CPU and associated memory. The communication interface with the host computer is modified to allow the host computer to send executable code for a task to the drive and to allow the drive to communicate the results and status information about the task to the host computer. A method of organizing data for distributed processing in the intelligent disk drive is described which utilizes physical placement of the data around the rotating disk to optimize the execution of the task. In one embodiment head switching is used as further optimization in a disk drive having a plurality of heads to implement alternatives in the task program. In another embodiment, the intelligent disk drive has means for reading from at least one or more heads simultaneously while writing to another head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Larry Lynn Williams
  • Patent number: 7321900
    Abstract: Described herein are approaches that allow an XML entity to be accessed in a way that requires less memory. These approaches involve dynamically generating and maintaining an in-memory representation of only a portion of an XML tree. The in-memory representation of an XML tree is herein referred to as a node tree. The node tree contains data from the XML tree, and is generated by extracting data from a compressed form of an XML entity. In addition, the node tree contains information about the location of specific elements within the compressed XML entity. The approaches described herein allow an XML tree to be accessed without having to generate an in-memory representation of the whole XML tree, thus reducing the amount of memory needed to access the data in the XML tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: K. Karun, Anjana Manian
  • Publication number: 20070288683
    Abstract: Described is a technology by which a memory controller is a component of a hybrid memory device having different types of memory therein (e.g., SDRAM and flash memory), in which the controller operates such that the memory device has only a single memory interface with respect to voltage and access protocols defined for one type of memory. For example, the controller allows a memory device with a standard SDRAM interface to provide access to both SDRAM and non-volatile memory with the non-volatile memory overlaid in one or more designated blocks of the volatile memory address space (or vice-versa). A command protocol maps memory pages to the volatile memory interface address space, for example, permitting a single pin compatible multi-chip package to replace an existing volatile memory device in any computing device that wants to provide non-volatile storage, while only requiring software changes to the device to access the flash.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ruston Panabaker, Jack Creasey
  • Patent number: 7308570
    Abstract: A system and method of booting an embedded system having a processor, nonvolatile memory and a remote media interface connected to the processor. Boot code is executed within the nonvolatile memory. The processor determines if a storage device is connected to the remote media interface and, if a storage device is connected to the remote media interface, program code loaded from the storage device to the processor is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Digi International Inc.
    Inventors: Joel K. Young, Michael L. Zarns
  • Patent number: 7296129
    Abstract: A packetized cascade memory system including a plurality of memory assemblies, a memory bus including multiple segments, a bus repeater module and a segment level sparing module. The bus repeater module is in communication with two or more of the memory assemblies via the memory bus. The segment level sparing module provides segment level sparing for the communication bus upon segment failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin C. Gower, Kevin W. Kark, Mark W. Kellogg, Warren E. Maule
  • Patent number: 7287115
    Abstract: A multichip package type memory system is disclosed, which comprises a plurality of types of memory integrated circuits which are provided in a memory system in a package having an internal bus, and accessed from exterior of the package and/or within the package, and a controlling integrated circuit which is provided in the memory system in the package, and when an instruction of data transfer within the memory system is received from exterior of the package, controls an execution of the data transfer to be executed within the memory system such that data of memory cells at addresses of a first memory integrated circuit are read out, and the readout data are written into memory cells at addresses of a second memory integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takayuki Otani, Takashi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7274283
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus that allow restricted access to internal registers of an integrated circuit (IC) device via an interface are provided. Unrestricted access to internal registers via the interface may be allowed during a manufacturing process to allow device testing. After such testing is complete, the device may be placed in a restricted access mode, for example, by blowing a master “lock” fuse, to prevent unrestricted access to one or more of the internal registers via the interface. However, full or partial access to the internal registers may still be provided via an access code or “combination lock” allowing the master fuse lock, in effect, to be bypassed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Stewart Yosim, Irfan Rashid
  • Patent number: 7269691
    Abstract: A device for managing removable storage media includes a first management unit and a control unit. The first management unit is adapted to update first media management information which is held in said device and which includes at least a first datum that is used to detect that one removable storage medium has been replaced with a second removable storage medium, when the second removable storage medium is connected to said device, the first datum being information other than a user-input password. The control unit is adapted to test a command from an external device for consistency with the first datum and to execute the command if the first datum is consistent with second media management information contained in the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Onishi
  • Publication number: 20070208903
    Abstract: A plurality of first transistors formed on a substrate share a gate electrode. Isolation regions isolate the plurality of first transistors from one another. In the region where the plurality of first transistors, an impurity region is formed in such a manner that it includes the source and drain regions of the plurality of first transistors and that the depth of the impurity region is greater than the depth of the source and drain regions. The impurity region sets the threshold voltage of the first transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventors: Kenji Gomikawa, Mitsuhiro Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7257665
    Abstract: A branch aware first-in first-out (FIFO) memory may include a memory array to store data; a push pointer to address memory locations therein to write data; a pop pointer to address memory locations therein to read data; a pointer memory; and control logic coupled to the pointer memory. The pointer memory saves prior pop pointer values of the pop pointer. The control logic may restore prior pop pointer values from the pointer memory into the pop pointer in response to receiving program branching information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jose S. Niell, Mark B. Rosenbluth
  • Patent number: 7254675
    Abstract: A memory system system includes a single in-line memory module (SIMM) which contains a memory device and a signal transmission line connected between the memory device and a connection terminal, and a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) which contains two memory devices and a signal transmission line connected between the two memory devices and a connection terminal. A length of the signal transmission line of the SIMM is longer than a length of the signal transmission line of the DIMM. The load of the memory device of the SIMM is less than the load of memory devices of the DIMM, and the longer length of the signal transmission line of the SIMM increases a signal delay time of the SIMM to compensate for the different loads of the SIMM and DIMM memory devices. The longer length of the signal transmission line of the SIMM may further compensate for a signal transmission line connected between the first and second sockets which receive the SIMM and DIMM, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Jun Lee, Byung-Se So, Myun-Joo Park
  • Patent number: 7254666
    Abstract: Systems and methods of using the systems for delivering information related to an inaccessible location to individuals at the inaccessible location are disclosed. The system comprises a memory device affixed to the inaccessible location, the information related to the inaccessible location residing on the memory device, and a portable memory reading device, separate from the memory device, that retrieves the information from the memory device when positioned at the inaccessible location and communicates the information to a party located at the inaccessible location. The system may further comprise a database wherein the information residing on the memory device is replicated and the database can be accessed by a user of the system via a suitable communications medium or combination of mediums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Memory Medallion, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn R. Toothman, III, Ravinder P. Chandhok, Kimberly H. Chandhok
  • Patent number: 7254668
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently enabling pages within a block to be accessed are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for writing data into a first block in a non-volatile memory which includes pages that are grouped into groups which each include two or more pages involves determining when a first group is available to receive the data. When it is determined that the first group is available to receive the data, the data is written into a first page included in the first group. The method also includes determining when a second group is available to receive the data if it is determined that the first group is not available to receive the data, and writing the data into a second page included in the second group when it is determined that the second group is available to receive the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: SanDisk Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Chang, Bahman Qawami, Farshid Sabet-Sharghi