Data storage device overlapping host data transfer for a write command with inter-command delay

• US 8,631,188 B1
• Filed: 09/02/2009
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Heath, Mark A., Coker, Kenny T., Viraraghavan, Praveen
• Primary Examiner(s): LO, KENNETH M
• Application Number:
  US12/553,012
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 711/103, 711/154, 711/167
• US Class Current: 711/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices

Abstract

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a non-volatile memory, such as a disk of a disk drive or a non-volatile semiconductor memory. First and second write commands are received from a host, and in response first and second write data are requested from the host. The first write data is stored in the non-volatile memory, and after storing the first write data, a first acknowledge is transmitted to the host to acknowledge completion of the first write command. After transmitting the first acknowledge, a third write command is received from the host. The second write data is stored in the non-volatile memory, and after storing the second write data, a second acknowledge is transmitted to the host acknowledging completion of the second write command. After transmitting the second acknowledge, third write data is requested from the host associated with the third write command.

Claims

1. A data storage device comprising:

a non-volatile memory; and

control circuitry operable to;

receive a first write command and a second write command from a host;

request first write data and second write data from the host associated with the first write command and the second write command;

store the first write data in the non-volatile memory;

after storing the first write data, transmit a first acknowledge to the host to signal the host to transmit a third write command;

after transmitting the first acknowledge, receive the third write command from the host;

store the second write data in the non-volatile memory;

after storing the second write data and after receiving the third write command, transmit a second acknowledge to the host to signal the host to transmit a fourth write command; and

after transmitting the second acknowledge, request third write data from the host associated with the third write command.

2. The data storage device as recited in claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is further operable to receive the third write data from the host while waiting to receive the fourth write command from the host.

3. The data storage device as recited in claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is further operable to:

receive the fourth write command from the host;

store pending write data associated with a pending write command in the non-volatile memory;

after storing the pending write data and after receiving the fourth write command, transmit a third acknowledge to the host to signal the host to transmit a fifth write command; and

after transmitting the third acknowledge, request fourth write data from the host associated with the fourth write command.

4. The data storage device as recited in claim 3, wherein the control circuitry is further operable to receive the fourth write data from the host while waiting to receive the fifth write command from the host.

5. The data storage device as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises a disk of a disk drive.

6. The data storage device as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises a semiconductor memory.

7. A method of operating a data storage device comprising a non-volatile memory, the method comprising:

receiving a first write command and a second write command from a host;

requesting first write data and second write data from the host associated with the first write command and the second write command;

storing the first write data in the non-volatile memory;

after storing the first write data, transmitting a first acknowledge to the host to signal the host to transmit a third write command;

after transmitting the first acknowledge, receiving the third write command from the host;

storing the second write data in the non-volatile memory;

after storing the second write data and after receiving the third write command, transmitting a second acknowledge to the host to signal the host to transmit a fourth write command; and

after transmitting the second acknowledge, requesting third write data from the host associated with the third write command.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the third write data is received from the host while waiting to receive the fourth write command from the host.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

receiving the fourth write command from the host;

storing pending write data associated with a pending write command in the non-volatile memory;

after storing the pending write data and after receiving the fourth write command, transmitting a third acknowledge to the host to signal the host to transmit a fifth write command; and

after transmitting the third acknowledge, requesting fourth write data from the host associated with the fourth write command.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the fourth write data is received from the host while waiting to receive the fifth write command from the host.

11. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises a disk of a disk drive.

12. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises a semiconductor memory.