Data storage apparatus with block reclaim for nonvolatile buffer
US7987315B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 29, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jul 26, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 7, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/7211
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An embodiment of a data storage apparatus includes a storage medium, a flash memory buffer configured to store write data to be written in the storage medium, and a controller configured to compare the amount of unused space in the flash memory buffer to a first reference value, compare the amount of valid data in the flash memory buffer to a second reference value, and in response to the comparisons, conducts either a block reclaim operation on the flash memory buffer or a buffer flush operation to transfer valid data from the flash memory buffer to the storage medium. An embodiment of a method for managing a data storage apparatus includes determining when to perform a reclaim operation on a nonvolatile memory buffer, and performing the reclaim operation by moving data either physically or virtually within the nonvolatile memory buffer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.