IP Library Granted Patent US 9,684,520
Granted Patent B2
US 9,684,520 · App. 13/277,720 · Granted Jun 20, 2017

Computing system with non-disruptive fast memory restore mechanism and method of operation thereof

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,684,520
App. No.
13/277,720
Granted
Jun 20, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for operating a computing system includes: monitoring a central interface for a power event; accessing a high-speed memory for pre-shutdown data; accessing a non-volatile memory during the power event for the pre-shutdown data previously stored on the high-speed memory; selecting a multiplexer for allowing external access to the high-speed memory; and formatting the pre-shutdown data in the non-volatile memory for access through a non-disruptive interface.

Claims (42)

1. A method for operating a computing system comprising:

monitoring a central interface for a power event, wherein monitoring the central interface includes detecting a power-on sequence during system initialization;

training a high-speed volatile memory during the system initialization to determine a fastest write speed of the high-speed volatile memory by performing a series of write and read operations to and from the high-speed volatile memory at predetermined rates and increasing in write speed;

accessing a non-volatile memory during the power event for pre-shutdown data previously stored on the high-speed volatile memory;

selecting a multiplexer for allowing external access to the high-speed volatile memory;

formatting the pre-shutdown data in the non-volatile memory for access through a non-disruptive interface, wherein formatting the pre-shutdown data includes formatting the pre-shutdown data after detecting the power-on sequence; and

transferring the pre-shutdown data from the non-volatile memory to the high-speed volatile memory after the high-speed volatile memory training is finished, the non-volatile memory accessed through the non-disruptive interface, the high-speed volatile memory accessed through an access controller, and the high-speed volatile memory configured for the fastest write speed.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

monitoring the central interface includes detecting a power-off sequence; and

formatting the pre-shutdown data includes preserving the speed of the interface between the non-volatile memory and the high-speed volatile memory after detecting the power-off sequence.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising enabling simultaneous access to the non-volatile memory through the non-disruptive interface and to the high-speed volatile memory through the central interface.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein formatting the pre-shutdown data includes formatting the pre-shutdown data for communicating through a serial advanced technology attachment interface or a universal serial bus interface.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

transferring the pre-shutdown data from the high-speed volatile memory to the non-volatile memory during a power-off sequence; and

wherein:

selecting the multiplexer includes selecting the multiplexer through the central interface; and

formatting the pre-shutdown data includes formatting the pre-shutdown data for access through the non-disruptive interface during the power-on sequence.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein accessing the high-speed volatile memory includes reading a double data rate random synchronous dynamic random access memory.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein accessing the non-volatile memory includes accessing a flash memory.

8. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein accessing the non-volatile memory includes writing the pre-shutdown data to the non-volatile memory during the power-off sequence.

9. The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein accessing the non-volatile memory includes reading the pre-shutdown data from the non-volatile memory during the power-on sequence.

10. A computing system comprising:

an event detector coupled to a central interface, with the event detector for monitoring the central interface for a power event, wherein monitoring the central interface includes detecting a power-on sequence during system initialization;

a multiplexer, coupled to the central interface, for accessing a high-speed volatile memory through an access controller;

an access controller, coupled to the multiplexer, for accessing the high-speed volatile memory;

a memory controller, coupled to the multiplexer, for accessing a non-volatile memory during the power event for pre-shutdown data previously stored on the high-speed volatile memory, and

the memory controller having:

an on-sequence module for selecting the multiplexer to allow external access to the high-speed volatile memory, for training a high-speed volatile memory during the system initialization to determine a fastest write speed of the high-speed volatile memory by performing a series of write and read operations to and from the high-speed volatile memory at predetermined rates and increasing in write speed, and for transferring the pre-shutdown data from the non-volatile memory to the high-speed volatile memory after the high-speed volatile memory training is finished and with the high-speed volatile memory configured for the fastest write speed; and

a format module for formatting the pre-shutdown data in the non-volatile memory for access through the non-disruptive interface, wherein formatting the pre-shutdown data includes formatting the pre-shutdown data after detecting the power-on sequence.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein:

the event detector is for detecting a power-off sequence; and

the format module is for preserving the speed of the interface between the non-volatile memory and the high-speed volatile memory after detecting the power-off sequence.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the memory controller is for enabling simultaneous access to the non-volatile memory through the non-disruptive interface and to the high-speed volatile memory through the central interface.

13. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the format module is for formatting the pre-shutdown data for communicating through a serial advanced technology attachment interface or a universal serial bus interface.

14. The system as claimed in claim 10 further comprising:

an off-sequence module, coupled to the multiplexer, for transferring the pre-shutdown data from the high-speed volatile memory to the non-volatile memory during a power-off sequence; and

wherein:

the format module is for formatting the pre-shutdown data for access through the non-disruptive interface during the power-on sequence.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the high-speed volatile memory is a double pre-shutdown data rate random synchronous dynamic random access memory.

16. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the non-volatile memory is a flash memory.

17. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the off-sequence module is for writing the pre-shutdown data to the non-volatile memory during the power-off sequence.

18. The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the on-sequence module is for reading the pre-shutdown data from the non-volatile memory during the power-on sequence.

Assignments (8)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 30, 2025
From: CREELED, INC.; PENGUIN SOLUTIONS CORPORATION (DE); SMART EMBEDDED COMPUTING, INC.; SMART HIGH RELIABILITY SOLUTIONS LLC; SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PENGUIN COMPUTING, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 071755/0001 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT R/F 058983/0001 Recorded Jun 25, 2025
From: CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
To: SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMART EMBEDDED COMPUTING, INC.; SMART HIGH RELIABILITY SOLUTIONS LLC; CREELED, INC.
Reel/Frame 071725/0207 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
To: SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058913/0385 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 034036 FRAME 0779 Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC
To: SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058960/0876 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SMART HIGH RELIABILITY SOLUTIONS, LLC; SMART EMBEDDED COMPUTING, INC.; CREELED, INC.
To: CITIZENS BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058983/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 23, 2020
From: SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 054738/0855 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 23, 2014
From: SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 034036/0779 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2011
From: FREY, ROBERT TOWER; BROOKS, JOSHUA HARRIS
To: SMART MODULAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 027094/0793 →