IP Library Granted Patent US 9,298,252
Granted Patent B2
US 9,298,252 · App. 13/855,567 · Granted Mar 29, 2016

Storage control system with power down mechanism and method of operation thereof

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,298,252
App. No.
13/855,567
Filed
Apr 2, 2013
Granted
Mar 29, 2016
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2118
USPC
713/300
Abstract

A storage control system and method of operation thereof includes: a control unit for initiating a hardening process beginning at a power-down signal; a counter module, coupled to the control unit for tracking a recorded time beginning at the power-down signal; a completion module, coupled to the counter module, for generating a work-complete entry in memory devices at a conclusion of the hardening process; and a calculation module, coupled to the completion module, for calculating a power down margin by determining the recorded time between the work-complete entry and a complete power loss of a hold-up power.

Claims (36)

1. A method of operation of a storage control system comprising:

initiating a hardening process beginning at a power-down signal, wherein host data and meta data are stored in a first portion of non-volatile memory of the storage control system during the hardening process;

tracking time information beginning at the power-down signal;

generating a work-complete entry in the non-volatile flash memory at a conclusion of the hardening process;

calculating a power down margin corresponding to elapsed time between the conclusion of the hardening process and a complete power loss of a hold-up power; and

in accordance with a determination that the power down margin is less than a buffer threshold, designating a second portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage control system, different from the first portion, to be used during a next hardening process.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein tracking the time information includes generating tick entries between the power-down signal and the complete power loss.

3. The method as claimed in claim, wherein tracking the time information includes generating timestamp information between the power-down signal and the complete power loss.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising generating a unique identifier for distinguishing the time information of the hardening process from the time information of a different hardening process.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

storing the time information, corresponding to the power-down signal, in the non-volatile memory of the storage control system in parallel with the hardening process; and

calculating a work length of the hardening process corresponding to elapsed time between the power-down signal and the conclusion of the hardening process.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

tracking the time information includes generating a power-cycle record; and

further comprising:

generating a unique identifier for indexing the power-cycle record.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein tracking the time information includes generating timestamp information after the power-down signal, the timestamp information includes a power-loss stamp, a completion stamp, and a depletion stamp.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising generating a warning when the power down margin is below the buffer threshold.

9. A storage control system comprising:

a control unit for initiating a hardening process beginning at a power-down signal, wherein host data and meta data are stored in a first portion of non-volatile memory of the storage control system during the hardening process;

a counter module, coupled to the control unit, for tracking time information beginning at the power-down signal;

a completion module, coupled to the counter module, for generating a work-complete entry in the non-volatile flash memory at a conclusion of the hardening process; and

a calculation module, coupled to the completion module, for calculating a power down margin corresponding to elapsed time between the conclusion of the hardening process and a complete power loss of a hold-up power;

the control unit is further for designating a second portion of the non-volatile memory of the storage control system, different from the first portion, to be used during a next hardening process in accordance with a determination that the power down margin is less than a buffer threshold.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the counter module is for generating tick entries between the power-down signal and the complete power loss.

11. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the counter module is for generating timestamp information between the power-down signal and the complete power loss.

12. The system as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising an identifier module, coupled to the control unit, for generating a unique identifier for distinguishing the time information of the hardening process from the time information of a different hardening process.

13. The system as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising a length module, coupled to the control unit, for calculating a work length of the hardening process corresponding to elapsed time between the power-down signal and the conclusion of the hardening process.

14. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein:

the counter module is for generating a power-cycle record; and

further comprising:

an identifier module, coupled to the control unit, for generating a unique identifier for indexing the power-cycle record.

15. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the counter module is for generating timestamp information after the power-down signal, the timestamp information includes a power-loss stamp, a completion stamp, and a depletion stamp.

16. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein:

the counter module is for tracking the time information in the non-volatile memory in parallel with the hardening process.

17. The system as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising an alert module, coupled to the control unit, for generating a warning when the power down margin is below the buffer threshold.

Assignments (6)
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 071382/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 25, 2025
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071050/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2024
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 069796/0423 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 25, 2016
From: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES INC
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 038807/0898 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2016
From: SMART STORAGE SYSTEMS, INC
To: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 038290/0033 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 2, 2013
From: ELLIS, ROBERT W.; VIRGIN, THERON WAYNE; CREASMAN, SCOTT
To: SMART STORAGE SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 030136/0768 →