Patent · US Active

Data-retention controller/driver for stand-alone or hosted card reader, solid-state-drive (SSD), or super-enhanced-endurance SSD (SEED)

US9720616B2 · kind B2 · utility

45Cited by
5References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 9, 2015
Grant dateAug 1, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 12, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C29/765
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A Green NAND SSD Driver (GNSD) driver executes on a host to increase data-retention of flash memory attached to a Super Enhanced Endurance Device (SEED) or Solid-State Drive (SSD). Host accesses to flash are intercepted by the GNSD driver using upper and lower-level filter drivers. A retention-check timer causes a retention routine to be periodically executed. The routine sends high-level commands to the SEED that causes the SEED to refresh either all data or just data blocks with older write dates. Data is refreshed by moving to a new physical block. The retention routine can track write dates of logical blocks and command a SSD to move logical blocks with older write dates. A retention card has a controller that performs the retention routine when not connected to a host, while a SEED power card allows the SEED to refresh data when no host is attached to the SEED.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.