IP Library Granted Patent US 8,214,580
Granted Patent B2
US 8,214,580 · App. 12/604,616 · Granted Jul 3, 2012

Solid state drive with adjustable drive life and capacity

Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,214,580
App. No.
12/604,616
Granted
Jul 3, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for adjusting a drive life and a capacity of a solid state drive (SSD), the SSD comprising a plurality of memory devices includes determining a desired drive life for the SSD; determining a utilization for the SSD; and allocating a portion of the plurality of memory devices as available memory and a portion of the plurality of memory devices as spare memory based on the desired drive life and the utilization. An SSD with an adjustable drive life and capacity includes a plurality of memory devices; and a memory allocation module configured to: determine a desired drive life for the SSD; determine a utilization for the SSD; and allocate a portion of the plurality of memory devices as available memory and a portion of the plurality of memory devices as spare memory based on the desired drive life and the utilization.

Claims (30)

1. A method for adjusting a drive life and a capacity of a solid state drive (SSD), the SSD comprising a plurality of memory devices, the method comprising:

determining a desired drive life for the SSD;

determining a utilization for the SSD, wherein the utilization comprises an average frequency of program/erase (PE) cycles; and

allocating a portion of the plurality of memory devices as available memory and a portion of the plurality of memory devices as spare memory based on the desired drive life and the utilization.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the desired drive life is configured by a user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the plurality of memory devices of the SSD allocated as available memory is greater than or equal to a minimum storage capacity of the SSD, the minimum storage capacity being configured by a user.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating the utilization.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising adjusting the portion the plurality of memory devices allocated as available memory and the portion of the plurality of memory devices allocated as spare memory based on the updated utilization.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in the event a portion of the available memory of the SSD fails, replacing the failed available memory with a portion of the spare memory.

7. An SSD with an adjustable drive life and capacity, comprising:

a plurality of memory devices; and

a memory allocation module configured to:

determine a desired drive life for the SSD;

determine a utilization for the SSD, wherein the utilization comprises an average frequency of program/erase (PE) cycles; and

allocate a portion of the plurality of memory devices as available memory and a portion of the plurality of memory devices as spare memory based on the desired drive life and the utilization.

8. The SSD of claim 7 , wherein the desired drive life is configured by a user.

9. The SSD of claim 7 , wherein the portion of the plurality of memory devices of the SSD allocated as available memory is greater than or equal to a minimum storage capacity of the SSD, the minimum storage capacity being configured by a user.

10. The SSD of claim 7 , wherein the memory allocation module is further configured to update the utilization.

11. The SSD of claim 10 , wherein the memory allocation module is further configured to adjust the portion the plurality of memory devices allocated as available memory and the portion of the plurality of memory devices allocated as spare memory based on the updated utilization.

12. The SSD of claim 7 wherein the memory allocation module is further configured to:

in the event a portion of the available memory of the SSD fails, replacing the failed available memory with a portion of the spare memory.

13. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium containing computer code that, when executed by a computer, implements a method for adjusting a drive life and capacity of a solid state drive (SSD), the SSD comprising a plurality of memory devices, wherein the method comprises:

determining a desired drive life for the SSD;

determining a utilization for the SSD, wherein the utilization comprises an average frequency of program/erase (PE) cycles; and

allocating a portion of the plurality of memory devices as available memory and a portion of the plurality of memory devices as spare memory based on the desired drive life and the utilization.

14. The computer program product according to claim 13 , wherein the desired drive life is configured by a user.

15. The computer program product according to claim 13 , wherein the portion of the plurality of memory devices of the SSD allocated as available memory is greater than or equal to a minimum storage capacity of the SSD, the minimum storage capacity being configured by a user.

16. The computer program product according to claim 13 , further comprising updating the utilization.

17. The computer program product according to claim 16 , further comprising adjusting the portion the plurality of memory devices allocated as available memory and the portion of the plurality of memory devices allocated as spare memory based on the updated utilization.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2009
From: LUCAS, GREGG S.; TRESSLER, GARY A.; VANSTEE, DUSTIN J.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023415/0125 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110099320A1 · Apr 28, 2011