FILESYSTEM TUNED FIRMWARE FOR STORAGE MODULES

• US 20150160873A1
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Published: 06/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Memory Technologies LLC (Pendrell Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Memory Technologies LLC (Pendrell Corporation)
• Inventors: Mylly, Kimmo Juhani
• Application Number:
  US14/566,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20150160873A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0632 by initialisation or re-initialisation of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]

Abstract

Embodiments include a storage device comprising a plurality of memory blocks each having a plurality of memory cells for storing data. The plurality of memory cells collectively forming a mass storage. Firmware includes first operating instructions to manage a first portion of the mass storage, and the first operating instructions are associated with a first type of file system. A controller is configured to manage at least the first portion based at least in part upon the first operating instructions in the firmware. The controller is operable to provide an indication related to a mismatch between the first type of file system and a second type of file system detected to be used by a host device.

Claims

1. A storage device comprising:

a plurality of memory blocks each having a plurality of memory cells for storing data, the plurality of memory cells collectively forming a mass storage;

firmware that includes first operating instructions to manage a first portion of the mass storage, the first operating instructions being associated with a first type of file system; and

a controller configured to manage at least the first portion based at least in part upon the first operating instructions in the firmware, the controller operable to provide an indication related to a mismatch between the first type of file system and a second type of file system detected to be used by a host device.

2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the indication relates to a request for the host device to cause installation of second operating instructions to manage a second portion of the mass storage based at least in part upon the second operating instructions, the second operating instructions being associated with the second type of file system.

3. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to detect the second type of file system by analyzing at least a portion of the data stored in the mass storage.

4. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to detect the second type of file system by reading a register of the storage device that has previously been written with another indication of the second type of file system.

5. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to detect the first type of file system.

6. The storage device of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to store another indication of the first type of file system and transmit the other indication to the host device.

7. The storage device of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to read the other indication of the first type of file system.

8. The storage device of claim 1, further comprising:

a register for storing a parameter related to operation of the first type of file system, wherein the firmware includes instructions to read the parameter and configure the first operating instructions to manage the mass storage based on the parameter.

9. A storage device comprising:

a mass storage; and

a controller configured to manage at least a first portion of the mass storage based at least in part upon first operating instructions in a firmware of the storage device, the controller operable to provide an indication related to a mismatch between the first type of file system and a second type of file system detected to be used by a host device.

10. The storage device of claim 9, wherein the indication relates to a request for the host device to cause installation of second operating instructions to manage a second portion of the mass storage based at least in part upon the second operating instructions, the second operating instructions being associated with the second type of file system.

11. The storage device of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to detect the second type of file system by analyzing at least a portion of data stored in the mass storage.

12. The storage device of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to detect the second type of file system by reading a register of the storage device that has previously been written with another indication of the second type of file system.

13. The storage device of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to detect the first type of file system.

14. The storage device of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to store another indication of the first type of file system and transmit the other indication to the host device.

15. The storage device of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to read the other indication of the first type of file system.

16. The storage device of claim 9, further comprising:

a register for storing a parameter related to operation of the first type of file system, wherein the firmware includes instructions to read the parameter and configure the first operating instructions to manage the mass storage based on the parameter.

17. A method, comprising:

storing, by a controller of a storage device, data in a mass storage of the storage device;

managing, by the controller of the storage device, at least a first portion of the mass storage based at least in part upon first operating instructions in a firmware of the storage device; and

providing an indication related to a mismatch between the first type of file system and a second type of file system detected to be used by a host device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the indication relates to a request for the host device to cause installation of second operating instructions to manage a second portion of the mass storage based at least in part upon the second operating instructions, the second operating instructions being associated with the second type of file system.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising detecting the second type of file system by one or more of analyzing at least a portion of the data stored in the mass storage or reading a register of the storage device that has previously been written with another indication of the second type of file system.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

detecting the first type of file system;

storing another indication of the first type of file system; and

transmitting the other indication to the host device.

21. A host device, comprising:

an interface for interfacing the host device with a storage device that comprises a plurality of memory circuits for storing data, the storage device including a firmware having first operating instructions to manage a first portion of the mass storage, the first operating instructions being associated with a first type of file system; and

a host controller configured to;

receive, from the storage device, an indication related to a mismatch between the first type of file system and a second type of file system being used by the host device; and

provide to the storage device second operating instructions, the second operating instructions being associated with the second type of file system.

22. The host device of claim 21, wherein the indication relates to a request for the host device to cause installation of the second operating instructions.

23. A host device of claim 21, wherein the second operating instructions are for managing a second portion of the mass storage based at least in part upon the second operating instructions.

24. A storage device, comprising:

means for storing data;

means for managing the means for storing data, including managing at least a first portion of the means for storing data based at least in part upon first operating instructions in a firmware, the first operating instructions being associated with a first type of file system; and

means for providing an indication related to a mismatch between the first type of file system and a second type of file system detected to be used by a host device.

25. The storage device of claim 24, wherein the indication relates to a request for the host device to cause installation of second operating instructions to manage a second portion of the mass storage based at least in part upon the second operating instructions, the second operating instructions being associated with the second type of file system.