Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for memory block utilization in memory systems are described. A system configured to allow a memory device to group or segment a memory block into two or more sub-memory blocks, which can be independently programmed is described herein. For example, a host system may determine a configuration of a memory array, and communicate the configuration information to the memory system, and transmit a command for an operation to the memory system. In some examples, the memory system may utilize the memory array configuration information and determine to segment the blocks of memory cells into sub-blocks. By segmenting the memory block into sub-blocks, the memory device may maintain its memory block density while supporting efficient programming of blocks of the memory array.

Abstract: A method of managing load units of executable instructions between internal memory in a microcontroller with multiple bus masters, and a non-volatile memory device external to the microcontroller. A copy of the load units are loaded from the external memory device into the internal memory for use by corresponding bus masters. Each load unit is with a corresponding load entity queue and each load entity queue is associated with a corresponding one of the multiple bus masters. Each load entity queue selects an eviction candidate from the associated copy of the load units currently loaded in the internal memory. Information identifying the eviction candidate for each load entity queue is broadcasted to all load entity queues. The eviction candidate is added to a set of managed eviction candidates if none of the load entity queues vetoes using the eviction candidate.

Abstract: A system reserves and manages a hidden service partition through components of the hardware platform of a computing device. The hidden partition is not accessible by way of a host operating system on the computing device. A hardware platform controller provisions a portion of nonvolatile storage through configuration settings of the hardware platform controller. When the host system requests settings related to storage in the system, the request is routed through the interfaces of the hardware platform, and the hardware platform controller reports in accordance with the configuration settings, hiding the service partition. The hidden partition is dynamically modifiable through secure remote access to the hardware platform controller, not through the host system such as operating system or BIOS.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing device includes a first determination section and a setting section. The first determination section determines inconsistency between first data and second data. The first data is stored in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory. The second data is corresponding to the first data and stored in a semiconductor memory. The setting section sets execution timing of write back based on access frequency information associated with the second data.

Abstract: A method for removing cache blocks from a cache queue includes detecting a first cache miss for the cache queue, identifying, within the cache queue, a new cache block storing a value of a storage block, calculating an estimated cache miss cost for a storage container having the storage block, calculating a removal probability for the storage container based on a mathematical formula of the estimated cache miss cost, randomly selecting a probability number from a uniform distribution, where the removal probability exceeds the probability number, and evicting, in response to the removal probability exceeding the probability number, the new cache block from the cache queue.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to improving address translation caching and/or input/output (I/O) cache performance in virtualized environments are described. In one embodiment, a hint provided by an endpoint device may be utilized to update information stored in an I/O cache. Such information may be utilized for implementation of a more efficient replacement policy in an embodiment. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to efficiently determining which cache entries are to be evicted from memory and to incorporating a probability of reuse estimation in a cache entry eviction determination. A computer system with multiple different caches accesses a cache entry. The computer system determines an entry cost value for the accessed cache entry. The entry cost value indicates an amount of time the computer system is slowed down by to load the cache entry into cache memory. The computer system determines an opportunity cost value for the computing system caches. The opportunity cost value indicates an amount of time by which the computer system is slowed down while performing other operations that could have used the cache entry's cache memory space. Upon determining that the entry cost value is lower than the opportunity cost value, the computer system probabilistically evicts the cache entry from cache memory.

Abstract: A method and a system for utilizing less recently used (LRU) bits and presence bits in selecting cache-lines for eviction from a lower level cache in a processor-memory sub-system. A cache back invalidation (CBI) logic utilizes LRU bits to evict only cache-lines within a LRU group, following a cache miss in the lower level cache. In addition, the CBI logic uses presence bits to (a) indicate whether a cache-line in a lower level cache is also present in a higher level cache and (b) evict only cache-lines in the lower level cache that are not present in a corresponding higher level cache. However, when the lower level cache-line selected for eviction is also present in any higher level cache, CBI logic invalidates the cache-line in the higher level cache. The CBI logic appropriately updates the values of presence bits and LRU bits, following evictions and invalidations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to improving address translation caching and/or input/output (I/O) cache performance in virtualized environments are described. In one embodiment, a hint provided by an endpoint device may be utilized to update information stored in an I/O cache. Such information may be utilized for implementation of a more efficient replacement policy in an embodiment. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A data storage system apparatus and associated method with a virtualization engine connectable to a remote device over a network for passing access commands between the remote device and a storage space. A plurality of intelligent storage elements (ISEs) are configured for replicating data from a first ISE to a second ISE independently of access commands being simultaneously passed between the virtualization engine and the first ISE.

Abstract: A storage system includes plural storage units having respective storage controllers and associated caches. A first one of the storage units further includes an internal workload generator to initiate a data operation with respect to at least one destination storage unit, where the data operation is associated with tag information to affect a caching algorithm used by the cache of the at least one destination storage unit. The at least one destination storage unit includes at least one of the plural storage units.

Abstract: A data storage system apparatus and associated method with a virtualization engine connectable to a remote device over a network for passing access commands between the remote device and a storage space. A plurality of intelligent storage elements (ISEs) are configured for replicating data from a first ISE to a second ISE independently of access commands being simultaneously passed between the virtualization engine and the first ISE.