Detachable Memory Patents (Class 711/115)
  • Patent number: 8185705
    Abstract: An information recording medium such as a semiconductor memory card includes a first semiconductor memory having a first recording area accessed by a relatively small access unit and storing file system management information, a second semiconductor memory having a second recording area accessed by a relatively large access unit and storing file data (file entity data), and a controller for controlling the first and second semiconductor memories. The information recording medium selects either one of recording areas of the first and second semiconductor memories depending on the data type, and writes data into the selected recording area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takuji Maeda, Masahiro Nakanishi, Shinji Inoue, Hirokazu Sou
  • Publication number: 20120124288
    Abstract: A method for physically identifying an association between a removable storage device and its assigned drive letter, the removable storage device connecting to a computing device. A data structure which comprises the drive letter assigned by an operating system of the computing device is received and analyzed to retrieve the drive letter assigned to the removable storage device. The drive letter of the removable storage device is displayed on a screen of the removable storage device or on a display device connected to the removable storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD, HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD
    Inventors: YAN LI, DE-HUA DANG
  • Publication number: 20120124390
    Abstract: A system (and a method) are disclosed for generating a virtual secure digital (SD) card. One embodiment detects an SD card and reads a media key block and media identification for the SD card. The system stores the media key block and the media identification. The system creates a file system for secure data on a storage device for storage of secure data corresponding to a secure data area of the SD card and creates a file system for user data on the storage device for storage of user data corresponding to a user data area of the SD card. In addition, the system uses the virtual secure digital (SD) card. The system determines if the virtual SD card is provisioned and provisions it if not. The system accesses the data stored in the secure area of the provisioned virtual SD card. The system extracts the data from the secured area of the provisioned virtual SD card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: MOD SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Joseph P. Zipperer, John Calixto
  • Patent number: 8180988
    Abstract: A system provided for authenticating a storage device includes a computer system, an intermediate converter and a storage device. The computer system stores an application program to execute functions of a storage device. The intermediate converter connects the computer system and the storage device. The storage device store multiple predetermined sector addresses and an order of the predetermined sector addresses. The computer system authenticates the storage device using the application program and sector data stored at the predetermined sector addresses. The predetermined sector addresses may be predetermined by both the storage device and the application program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Moon-sang Kwon, Chang-eun Choi, Sung-joo Kim
  • Publication number: 20120117315
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory card includes a first pin group which includes a plurality of pins arranged in a line at an end portion on a side of an inserting direction into a connector and part of which is used both in a first and second modes; and a second pin group which includes a plurality of pins including at least two pin pairs for differential signal, is arranged so that a ground is positioned on both sides of each of the pin pairs for differential signal, and is used only in the second mode. In the second mode, among the respective pins configuring the first pin group, any of adjacent two pins are changed to a pin pair for differential clock signal, and a function of remaining pins of the first pin group is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takashi OKADA
  • Patent number: 8176249
    Abstract: Method for embedding a session secret, within an application instance, comprising the steps of generating an ephemeral session secret by a master application. Embedding, by master application, secret bytes, within application bytes of a slave application. Calculating said ephemeral session secret, by slave application, from said embedded secret bytes, when slave application is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Inventor: Amiram Grynberg
  • Patent number: 8176231
    Abstract: A method for handling data updating of a flash memory is disclosed, in which the flash memory comprises a mother block with a plurality of pages to be updated, and each page comprises a plurality of sectors. In such method, a first data for updating a target page in the mother block is obtained, and then whether the first data comprises data for updating an ending sector in the target page is determined. The first data is written into a replacing page in a first FAT block when the first data does not comprise data for updating the ending sector in the target page. The first data is written into a corresponding page in a second FAT block when the first data comprises the data for updating the ending sector, in which the corresponding page in the second FAT block and the target page in the mother block have the same page indexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Silicon Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Wu-Chi Kuo, Chi-Hsiang Hung
  • Patent number: 8176344
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus used to reduce power supply to nonvolatile memory when in power saving mode. To accomplish this, the information processing apparatus stores data in the nonvolatile memory that can be used in power saving mode to a volatile memory to which power will still be supplied while in power saving mode. Further, the information processing apparatus enables the operating system to recognize the storage area in which the data is stored as a replacement for the nonvolatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Koshika, Hidenori Higashi
  • Patent number: 8176230
    Abstract: A Flash memory card system is disclosed. The Flash memory card system comprises a Flash memory wireless host adapter and a Flash memory bus wireless device. The Flash memory wireless host adapter comprises a Flash memory card connector and a Flash memory controller coupled to the Flash memory card connector. The Flash-52 memory card signals are converted to standard Flash memory internal bus signals by the Flash memory controller. The host adapter further comprises a Flash memory wireless module coupled to the Flash memory controller for receiving and transmitting the standard Flash memory bus signals wirelessly. The Flash-51 memory bus wireless device comprises a Flash memory bus wireless device adapter coupled to a Flash memory. The device adapter is paired to the wireless module for receiving and transmitting the standard Flash memory bus signals wirelessly. A host device storage capacity utilizing the Flash memory card system is expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Kingston Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ben Wei Chen, Ngoc Le, David Sun
  • Publication number: 20120110264
    Abstract: A method for selectively utilizing a plurality of disparate solid state storage locations is disclosed. The technology initially receives class types for a plurality of disparate solid state storage locations. The characteristics of the received data are determined. The received data is then allocated to one of the plurality of disparate solid state storage locations based upon the determined characteristics of the received data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Bohdan Raciborski, Dilesh Dhokia, Bhrighu Sareen
  • Publication number: 20120110265
    Abstract: Method of securing exchanges between two electronic devices, by using an imprint of at least one of the two devices. This imprint is obtained on the basis of all or part of the electronic components of which this device is composed. This imprint will serve, either to protect the confidentiality of the data exchanged, or to attest to the identity of the device issuing the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Gemalto SA
    Inventors: Jacques Fournier, Franck Imoucha, Laurent Gauterron, VĂ©ronique Charpeignet
  • Patent number: 8171205
    Abstract: Incrementing sequence numbers in the metadata of non-volatile memory is used in the event of a resume from power fail to determine which data in the memory is current and valid, and which data is not. To reduce the amount of metadata space consumed by these sequence numbers, the numbers are permitted to be small enough to wrap around when the maximum value is reached. Two different techniques are disclosed to keep this wrap around condition from causing ambiguity in the relative values of the sequence numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Royer, Han H. Chau, Sanjeev N. Trika
  • Patent number: 8171218
    Abstract: A memory card system and memory card. The memory card system may include a host and a memory card able to be received by the host. The memory card may transfer an application program index to the host in response to a command from the host. Time spent finding information relating to the application programs loaded in the memory card may be saved and a convenient and efficient interface may be provided to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gwang-Myung Kim, Tae-Hyun Yoon
  • Patent number: 8171244
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for maintaining immutable data in an archiving system using random access memory. To ensure data is immutable, novel pointers are maintained in the hardware/firmware of the drive ports and on the removable disk drives. For example, a hardware/firmware in a modular drive bay maintains a pointer to a memory address in the removable disk drive memory that cannot write to a memory block that precedes the pointer. Data may only be stored after the pointer in the removable disk drive. As such, once data is written to the removable disk drive, the data cannot be overwritten although the removable disk drive employs random access memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Imation Corp.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Bondurant, Mark Payne, S. Christopher Alaimo
  • Patent number: 8171207
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a control method of an adaptive hybrid density memory storage device suitable for locating a data to the storage device. The storage device includes a high density memory unit and a low density memory unit. The method is characterized in that the property of the data is determined by its length, and the data is written to the high density memory unit or the low density memory unit according to the property of the data and the relative wearing rate and the amount of data processed by the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: A-Data Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Li-Pin Chang, Ming-Dar Chen
  • Patent number: 8166230
    Abstract: A memory system is provided includes a host processor, and a plurality of cascade connected memory cards connected to the host processor. Each of the memory cards stores a same default relative card address (RCA) prior to initialization of the memory system. The host processor is configured to sequentially access each memory card using the default RCA, and to change the default RCA to a unique RCA upon each sequential access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Hyeok Choi, Sung-Hoon Lee, Si-Hoon Hong, Tae-Keun Jeon
  • Patent number: 8166244
    Abstract: A removable storage device with a processor and a non-volatile memory, and a method for using a removable storage device, are provided to emulate the computer system. The storage device stores in the non-volatile memory data it obtained from a first computer system, the data containing computer applications. When the storage device is removably connected to a second computer system and the second computer system is associated with a computer peripheral device, the processor in the storage device is instructed to emulate the original process environment of the first computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Sandisk IL Ltd.
    Inventors: Ari Daniel Fruchter, Judah Gamliel Hahn
  • Patent number: 8166245
    Abstract: A solid-state storage subsystem, such as a non-volatile memory card or drive, includes multiple interfaces and a memory area storing information used by a data arbiter to prioritize data commands received through the interfaces. As one example, the information may store a priority ranking of multiple host systems that are connected to the solid-state storage subsystem, such that the data arbiter may process concurrently received data transfer commands serially according to their priority ranking. A host software component may be configured to store and modify the priority control information in solid-state storage subsystem's memory area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: SiliconSystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark S. Diggs, David E. Merry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8166231
    Abstract: The access device 100 designates a file ID without relating different address spaces of an access device 100 and a nonvolatile memory device 200 with each other and manages a data storing state only in a physical address space in the nonvolatile memory device 200. The access device 100 sends a transfer rate to the nonvolatile memory device 200 by using a transfer rate sending part 121. A filling rate calculation part 251 calculates a filling rate of physical block corresponding to a guaranteed speed required by the access device 100. A remaining capacity corresponding to the transfer rate is obtained by using the calculated filling rate and is sent to a remaining capacity receiving part 122 of the access device 100.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Ono, Tatsuya Adachi, Masahiro Nakanishi, Takuji Maeda
  • Publication number: 20120092044
    Abstract: A circuit for hot-swapping a memory card in an electronic device is disclosed. A power-reset unit has a first node electrically coupled to a power supply, and a second node electrically coupled to a power pin of the memory card. The power-reset unit is configured to generate a rising voltage at the second node without rebooting the electronic device when the memory card is hot-plugged into the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: ABILITY ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chien-Hsin Lien
  • Publication number: 20120096222
    Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for storing data on two or more removable disk drives. The two or more removable disk drives are inserted into a modular drive bay having two or more drive ports. Embodiments of the modular drive bay include a switch to redirect operations to a drive port. By arraying the drive ports, the removable disk drives may be replaced without needing to readdress the removable disk drives when new removable disk drives are inserted. Thus, the modular drive bay does not require configuration changes when new removable disk drives are inserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: IMATION CORP.
    Inventors: ROBERT SUGAR, S. CHRISTOPHER ALAIMO, CHRIS MAYNE
  • Patent number: 8157575
    Abstract: A combination terminal includes a first logic circuit that is configured to interface with a first device using a first protocol. The combination terminal also includes a second logic circuit configured to interface with a second device using a second protocol. The combination terminal includes a retractable portion that includes a first plurality of contacts and retracts based upon an insertion of the second device; connects a first portion of the first device with the first logic circuit; and selects an active logic circuit. The combination terminal includes a static portion comprising a second plurality of contacts and connects the second device with the second logic circuit; and connects a second portion of the first device with the first logic circuit using the second plurality of contacts. The first device is connected to the first logic circuit using the first plurality of contacts and the second plurality of contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshimichi Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 8161231
    Abstract: A memory card has a data scrambler that performs a data scrambling operation on data stored in the memory card according to a device ID associated with the memory card. The device ID is either set at the factory and permanently stored in the card, or configurable by a user or a host system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Steven S. Cheng
  • Publication number: 20120089780
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to communication technical filed, and a system and method for communicating between a smart memory card and an external host apparatus are disclosed. The system includes: the smart memory card, including a SDK middleware programmed in an application thereof; and the external host apparatus utilizing the smart memory card, which installs an application programming the SDK middleware; wherein an operating system of the external host apparatus is capable of accessing the smart memory card via the SDK middleware. A stable high-level application environment is provided, and when a user changes the host apparatus, the smart memory card can be used directly without purchasing and installing a new application for the smart memory card. Thus the cost for developing and maintaining the new application can be saved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Zhixiong Li, Tianzhu Yang
  • Publication number: 20120084610
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and device for reading a memory card comprising a primary partition and at least one backup partition. The method comprises the following steps that: after writing a first file into the primary partition of the memory card, a read/write device writes the first file into the at least one back partition; and when reading a second file from the memory card, the read/write device reads the second file from the at least one backup partition or from the primary partition if an error occurs in the reading of the second file from the backup partition. The method and device provided herein address the problems existing in the prior art that an embedded system is unstable because of the low error tolerance of a memory card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shiyou Sun
  • Patent number: 8151052
    Abstract: The memory card includes a memory controller covered by a main body, a first non-volatile memory, a memory interface configured to transfer a signal between the memory controller and the first non-volatile memory, and a cover coupled to the main body and removeably covering the first memory and the memory interface. Here, the memory interface includes a connection detector configured to generate a connection detector signal when sensing that a package including a second non-volatile memory is added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Won-Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 8151064
    Abstract: A hybrid hard disk drive includes a hard disk drive controller to receive a plurality of write commands from a host, a buffer to receive and store write data, which are input through the hard disk drive controller and correspond to each of the plurality of write commands, a command history tracker to receive the plurality of write commands and analyze a pattern of the plurality of write commands, and a CPU to control storage of the write data, which correspond to each of the plurality of write commands, on a disk or in a flash memory device based on the analysis result by the command history tracker. The drive may determine whether to store write data on the disk or in the flash memory device without operation system support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Sung Lee
  • Publication number: 20120079197
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a card-reading device and a method for using the card-reading device to access a memory card, the card-reading device comprises: a central processing unit; at least one connecting unit; at least two interface unit, comprising a first interface unit connecting to the central unit and the connecting unit, and a second interface unit connecting to the central processing unit; and at least one accommodating unit, adapted for accommodating an external memory card. Moreover, through the method, a first electronic device or a second electronic device is able to access the memory card accommodated by the card-reading device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: DATFAB SYSTEM INC.
    Inventor: Su-Yi Cheng
  • Publication number: 20120079198
    Abstract: Systems and methods for commonality factoring for storing data on removable storage media that may allow for highly compressed data to be stored efficiently on portable memory devices. The methods include breaking data into unique chunks and calculating identifiers, e.g., hash identifiers, based on the unique chunks. Redundant chunks can be identified by comparing identifiers of other chunks to the identifiers of unique chunks. When a redundant chunk is identified, a reference to the existing unique chunk is generated such that the chunk can be reconstituted in relation to other chunks in order to recreate the original data. One or more of the unique chunks, the identifiers, and/or the references may be stored on the portable memory device. Hardware and/or software for the chunking and/or hashing functions can reside in a host computer, a removable storage device or cartridge, and/or a removable cartridge holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Matthew D. Bondurant, Steven W. Scroggs
  • Patent number: 8140813
    Abstract: A storage device includes a controller that is configured to execute safe deletion operations so as to free up storage space on the device in response to triggering events. The safe deletion operations ensure that the data states of a host device making use of the storage device and the storage device itself are synchronized so as to prevent deletion of data from the storage device before it is offloaded to another storage platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Eye-Fi, Inc.
    Inventors: Berend Ozceri, Eugene M. Feinberg
  • Publication number: 20120066453
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a card-reading device for multiple cards, which is adapted for inserting a plurality of memory cards, so as to access the plurality of memory cards, the card-reading device comprises: a connecting unit, a reading unit, a micro control unit (MCU), a plurality of switch unit, and a plurality of slots. Wherein the reading unit is able to directly access the first memory card M1 through the first switch unit when a first memory card is inserted into the first slot, in the meantime, when other memory cards are respectively inserted into the corresponding slots thereof, the reading unit can still directly access the first memory card, moreover, by way of the other switch unit except the first switch unit, the micro unit is able to access the memory cards except the first memory card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: ACTION STAR ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ching-Wei Cheng
  • Publication number: 20120066454
    Abstract: Disclosed is a terminal device which is provided with: a starting processing means for executing a starting process of the terminal device; a non-volatile memory for storing data to be executed by the starting processing means; and a volatile memory for loading the data to be stored. The nonvolatile memory comprises: a read only area for storing read only data which does not need to be rewritten by a user; a rewritable area for storing rewritable data which is likely to be rewritten; and a hibernation area for storing a snap shot image being the result of execution of the read only data. The starting processing means is provided with a hibernation unit which loads the snap shot image to the volatile memory and a rewritable data execution unit which executes the rewritable data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Access Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Daisuke Fuji
  • Patent number: 8134875
    Abstract: A data storage system includes a first circuit board, a plurality of sockets coupled to the first circuit board, an connector coupled to each of the sockets for coupling each of the sockets to external circuitry, and a plurality of memory modules, each memory module disposed within one of the sockets. The memory module includes a circuit board, an integrated circuit device having configurable blocks, DRAM devices that form parallel channels of DRAM memory and flash memory devices that form parallel channels of flash memory. The memory module also includes an interface electrically coupled to the integrated circuit device for coupling input and output between the integrated circuit device and external circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn A. Baxter
  • Patent number: 8135999
    Abstract: Memory apparatus and methods utilizing multiple bit lanes may redirect one or more signals on the bit lanes. A memory agent may include a redrive circuit having a plurality of bit lanes, a memory device or interface, and a fail-over circuit coupled between the plurality of bit lanes and the memory device or interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Warren Morrow, Pete Vogt, Dennis Brzezinski
  • Publication number: 20120059993
    Abstract: A computing device comprises: a memory; a processor; an interpreter; and a Memory Management Unit. The interpreter is for controlling the processor to execute a program comprising at least one first instruction in a format that is not native to the processor and at least one second instruction in machine code that is native to the processor. The Memory Management Unit is adapted to control access by the processor to the memory and possibly also to peripherals when the at least one second instruction is executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Ernst Haselsteiner, Christian Kirchstaetter
  • Patent number: 8131903
    Abstract: A multi-channel memory connection system comprises a circuit board comprising a plurality of memory connectors, at least one of the plurality of memory connectors configured to receive either a memory module or a memory riser, the at least one memory connector having at least two memory channels connected thereto through the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Roger A. Pearson, Shane Ward
  • Patent number: 8131929
    Abstract: A memory device and method for content virtualization are disclosed. In one embodiment, a plurality of directories are created in the memory of the memory device, wherein each of the plurality of directories points to a same storage location of the digital content. In another embodiment, a first header for the digital content is stored in each of the different directories, wherein the first header comprises information about where to find the digital content in the memory. In yet another embodiment, the memory device comprises circuitry that receives an identification of a host device in communication with the memory device and reorganizes a directory structure of the memory in accordance with the identification of the host device, wherein the reorganization results in the digital content appearing to be located in a directory expected by the host device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Fabrice E. Jogand-Coulomb, Robert Chin-Tse Chang
  • Publication number: 20120054434
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus which uses a detachable cache device as a cache of a storage device, the apparatus includes a memory, a detachment request detection module, a setting module, and a cache management information module. The memory configured to store cache management information includes information to be used to manage cache data stored in the cache device. The detachment request detection module configured to detect a detachment request of the cache device. The setting module configured to set a non-cache mode to interrupt use of the cache device serving as the cache when the detachment request detection module has detected the detachment request. The cache management information module configured to invalidate information concerning first cache data corresponding to first data in the cache management information when writing the first data to the storage device in the non-cache mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Kazunari Kawamura, Takehiko Kurashige
  • Patent number: 8127109
    Abstract: A virtual block device is an interface with applications that appears to the applications as a memory device, such as a standard block device. The virtual block device interacts with additional elements to do data deduplication to files at the block level such that one or more files accessed using the virtual block device have at least one block which is shared by the one or more files.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Inventor: John Edward Gerard Matze
  • Patent number: 8127068
    Abstract: Removable cartridge storage devices and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the removable cartridge storage device comprises a plurality of cartridge holders, each of the cartridge holders including an electrical connector configured to removably couple with a mating electrical connector of a portable data cartridge having an electronic interface, a system controller configured to control data operations, and a switch, coupled between the cartridge holders and the system controller, to electronically switch connections between the system controller and each of the cartridge holders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Tandberg Data Holdings S.A.R.L.
    Inventor: Steven P. Georgis
  • Patent number: 8122180
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reconfiguring data memory of an embedded controller managed flash memory device are disclosed. According to one method, using a controller managed flash memory device reconfiguration module configured to execute on a general purpose computing platform separate from a computing platform in which an embedded controller managed flash memory device is located, reconfiguration data to be written to a data memory of the embedded controller managed flash memory device is received from a user and I/O commands for writing the reconfiguration data to an external device are generated. Flash device commands corresponding to the I/O commands are generated. The reconfiguration data is communicated to the data memory of the embedded controller managed flash memory device by sending the flash device commands and the reconfiguration data over a flash device interface of the embedded controller managed flash memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: SanDisk Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Alan M. Chiou, Wes Shi-Yen Lee, Benjamin Telya, Donald J. Kadish
  • Publication number: 20120036313
    Abstract: A method for controlling a memory card which includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory whose memory area includes a plurality of write areas is disclosed. A first area which is a part of the plurality of write areas is set in accordance with management executed by a first file system. The first file system sequentially writes data along a direction in which addresses of the plurality of write areas increase. A second area which is a part of the plurality of write areas is set in accordance with management executed by a second file system. The second file system writes data in an order which does not depend on the addresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Takafumi ITO, Hiroyuki Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20120036319
    Abstract: Systems and methods for commonality factoring for storing data on removable storage media are described. The systems and methods allow for highly compressed data, e.g., data compressed using archiving or backup methods including de-duplication, to be stored in an efficient manner on portable memory devices such as removable storage cartridges. The methods include breaking data, e.g., data files for backup, into unique chunks and calculating identifiers, e.g., hash identifiers, based on the unique chunks. Redundant chunks can be identified by calculating identifiers and comparing identifiers of other chunks to the identifiers of unique chunks previously calculated. When a redundant chunk is identified, a reference to the existing unique chunk is generated such that the chunk can be reconstituted in relation to other chunks in order to recreate the original data. The method further includes storing one or more of the unique chunks, the identifiers and/or the references on the removable storage medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventor: Matthew D. Bondurant
  • Patent number: 8112608
    Abstract: Described is a memory system in which the memory core organization changes with device width. The number of physical memory banks accessed reduces with device width, resulting in reduced power usage for relatively narrow memory configurations. Increasing the number of logic memory banks for narrow memory widths reduces the likelihood of bank conflicts, and consequently improves speed performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E Perego, Donald C. Stark, Frederick A. Ware, Ely K. Tsern, Craig E. Hampel
  • Publication number: 20120025960
    Abstract: A user interface of a configurable light timer is described. The user interface comprises an input portion for receiving timing characterization data, the input portion having a slot adapted to receive a portable memory device storing the timing characterization data; and a feedback portion providing an indication of the status of the timer in based upon the timing characterization data and a current day and time setting. A method of implementing a user interface in a configurable light timer is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: John J. King
  • Patent number: 8108591
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes first and second interfaces, and a control unit. The first interface is capable of being connected to a memory card and communicating with the memory card. The memory card has a nonvolatile semiconductor memory and has an unlock state and a lock state. The memory card in the unlock state permits an access to the nonvolatile semiconductor memory. The memory card in the lock state prohibits the access. The second interface is capable of being connected to a host device and communicating with the host device. The host device generates an access command to access the memory card. The control unit operates based on the access command sent from the host device through the second interface so as to release the lock state of the memory card, when the memory card is connected to the first interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Takafumi Ito
  • Patent number: 8108607
    Abstract: Systems, among other embodiments, include topologies (data and/or control/address information) between an integrated circuit buffer device (that may be coupled to a master, such as a memory controller) and a plurality of integrated circuit memory devices. For example, data may be provided between the plurality of integrated circuit memory devices and the integrated circuit buffer device using separate segmented (or point-to-point link) signal paths in response to control/address information provided from the integrated circuit buffer device to the plurality of integrated circuit buffer devices using a single fly-by (or bus) signal path. An integrated circuit buffer device enables configurable effective memory organization of the plurality of integrated circuit memory devices. The memory organization represented by the integrated circuit buffer device to a memory controller may be different than the actual memory organization behind or coupled to the integrated circuit buffer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Shaeffer, Ely Tsern, Craig Hampel
  • Publication number: 20120023293
    Abstract: A wireless communication device transfers instructions to a host device over a USB connection responsive to being connected to the host device over the USB connection. The instructions direct the host device to enumerate the wireless communication device as a USB MSC device. The wireless communication device wirelessly transfers a device identifier for the wireless communication device to a wireless communication network responsive to being connected to the host device over the USB connection. The wireless communication network processes the device identifier to limit communication service for the wireless communication device to communications with a particular data storage system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Contino, Warren B. Cope, Douglas Alan Olding
  • Publication number: 20120017044
    Abstract: An information handling system is returned to its original manufacture state with a tool stored on a detachable memory device that retrieves image restore information from non-volatile memory of the information handling system, cleanses information stored on the non-volatile memory and then returns the image restore information to the non-volatile memory. By executing an image restore tool that applies the image restore information, the original manufacture image is re-built in the non-volatile memory after the cleansing so that any personal information stored on the non-volatile memory by a previous user is erased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Ashley George, David Butler
  • Publication number: 20120011087
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure support techniques for storing synaptic weights separately from a neuro-processor chip into a replaceable storage. The replaceable synaptic memory gives a unique functionality to the neuro-processor and improves its flexibility for supporting a large variety of applications. In addition, the replaceable synaptic storage can provide more choices for the type of memory used, and might decrease the area and implementation cost of the overall neuro-processor chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Vladimir Aparin