MEMORY LIFETIME GAUGING SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT

• US 20080126891A1
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: SandForce, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Danilak, Radoslav
• Granted Patent: US 7,904,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/718
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/008 Reliability or availability analysis

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying at least one aspect associated with a lifetime of memory. Further, an indicia is visually displayed reflecting the at least one aspect.

Claims

1. A computer program product embodied on a computer readable medium, comprising:

computer code for identifying at least one aspect associated with a lifetime of memory; and

computer code for visually displaying indicia reflecting the at least one aspect.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the lifetime of the memory includes at least one of a desired lifetime, an actual lifetime, and an estimated lifetime.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the at least one aspect includes a period of time.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the at least one aspect includes a rate of operations that reduce the lifetime of the memory.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the at least one aspect includes a total permitted number of operations that reduce the lifetime of the memory.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the at least one aspect includes a duration of the lifetime of the memory.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the at least one aspect includes an amount of total memory lifetime remaining as a function of a number of lifetime-reducing operations that have been performed over time.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer code is a component of a plug-in.

9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the indicia includes a gauge.

10. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the indicia includes an estimation of the lifetime of the memory.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the estimation of the lifetime of the memory is based on an extrapolation of prior usage.

12. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the indicia includes a warning.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the warning indicates that a minimum amount of lifetime remains for the memory.

14. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the memory includes a mechanical storage device.

15. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the memory includes a non-mechanical storage device.

16. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the memory includes a volatile memory device.

17. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the memory includes a nonvolatile memory device.

18. A method, comprising:

identifying at least one aspect associated with a lifetime of memory; and

visually displaying indicia reflecting the at least one aspect.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a controller for identifying at least one aspect associated with a lifetime of memory, and visually displaying indicia reflecting the at least one aspect.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller is coupled between a system and the memory.