IP Library Granted Patent US 11,531,476
Granted Patent B2
US 11,531,476 · App. 17/313,685 · Granted Dec 20, 2022

Memory system and memory system discard method

Inventors: Han Choi (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Dae Hee Kim (Gyeonggi-do, KR); Jae Wan Kim (Gyeonggi-do, KR)
Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
G06F3/0622G06F3/0659G06F3/0673G06F9/4401G06F12/10G06F21/575G06F21/79
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 11,531,476
App. No.
17/313,685
Granted
Dec 20, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a memory system including a controller configured to authenticate a user who inputs a request for discarding the memory system, to verify whether the request is valid when the user is authenticated as a legitimate user, to register discard activation of the memory system when the request is valid, and to transmit the request to a memory device; and the memory device configured to determine whether the transmitted request is valid, and to register the discard activation of the memory system when the request is valid.

Claims (49)

1. A memory system comprising:

a controller configured to authenticate a user who inputs a request for discarding the memory system, to verify whether the request is valid when the user is authenticated as a legitimate user, to register discard activation of the memory system when the request is valid, and to transmit the request to a memory device; and

the memory device configured to determine whether the transmitted request is valid, and to register the discard activation of the memory system when the request is valid,

wherein the controller is configured to register the discard activation of the memory system by burning at least one electronic fuse, and

wherein the at least one electronic fuse includes:

a common electronic fuse indicating whether the memory system is discarded; and

an electronic fuse indicating a method of discarding the memory system.

2. The memory system of claim 1 , wherein, when the request includes blocking booting, the controller is configured to block booting of the memory system after registering of the discard activation of the memory system.

3. The memory system of claim 1 , wherein, when the request includes blocking a read command after booting and the discard activation of the memory system is registered, the controller is configured to block the read command for the memory system after booting of the memory system.

4. The memory system of claim 1 , wherein, when the discard activation of the memory system is registered, the controller or the memory device is configured not to respond to a read command input to the controller or the memory device, or to cancel the read command.

5. The memory system of claim 1 , wherein the memory device is configured to register the discard activation of the memory system in a register.

6. The memory system of claim 5 , wherein the register includes a one-time programmable (OTP) memory.

7. The memory system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cancel or not to respond to at least one of the following based on a read command:

receive a read command and a logical address of data corresponding to the read command from a host,

transfer a physical address corresponding to the logical address of the data,

request the memory device to read data corresponding to the physical address,

transfer the data stored in a location corresponding to the physical address to the controller,

store the data received from the memory device in a memory, and

transfer the data to the host.

8. A method of discarding a memory system, the method comprising:

authenticating, by a controller, a user who inputs a request for discarding the memory system;

verifying, by the controller, whether the request is valid when the user is authenticated as a legitimate user;

registering, by the controller, discard activation of the memory system when the request is valid and transmitting the request to a memory device; and

determining, by the memory device, whether the transmitted request is valid; and

registering, by the memory device, the discard activation of the memory system when the request is valid,

wherein registering the discard activation of the memory system includes burning at least one electronic fuse, and

wherein the at least one electronic fuse includes:

a common electronic fuse indicating discard of the memory system; and

an electronic fuse indicating a method of discarding the memory system.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein, when the request includes blocking booting, booting of the memory system is blocked after the discard activation of the memory system is registered.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein, when the request includes blocking a read command after booting, and the discard activation of the memory system is registered, the read command for the memory system is blocked after booting of the memory system.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein, when the discard activation of the memory system is registered, the method includes providing no response to a read command input to the controller or the memory device or canceling the read command.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein registering, by the memory device, the discard activation of the memory system is performed in a register.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the register includes a one-time programmable (OTP) memory.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising canceling or not providing a response to at least one of the following:

receiving a read command and a logical address of data corresponding to the read command from a host,

transferring a physical address corresponding to the logical address of the data,

requesting the memory device to read data corresponding to the physical address,

transferring the data stored in a location corresponding to the physical address to the controller,

storing the data received from the memory device in a memory, and

transferring the data to the host.

15. A method of discarding a memory system including a controller and a memory device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the controller, a delete command for data of the memory device;

checking, by the controller, whether the memory device is able to execute the delete command; and

registering discard activation of the memory system when the memory device reaches end of life and is not able to execute the delete command,

wherein registering the discard activation of the memory system includes burning at least one electronic fuse, and

wherein the at least one electronic fuse includes:

a common electronic fuse indicating discard of the memory system; and

an electronic fuse indicating a method of discarding the memory system.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2024
From: SK HYNIX INC.
To: MIMIRIP LLC
Reel/Frame 067335/0246 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2021
From: CHOI, HAN; KIM, DAE HEE; KIM, JAE WAN
To: SK HYNIX INC.
Reel/Frame 056161/0388 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,596,394