SiliconSystems (WD) Assigned Two Patents

Storage subsystem capable of adjusting ECC settings
based on monitored conditions

SiliconSystems, Inc., Aliso Viejo, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,296,625) developed by Mark S. Diggs, Laguna Hills, CA, and David E. Merry Jr., Irvine, CA, for a "storage subsystem capable of adjusting ECC settings based on monitored conditions."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A storage subsystem monitors one or more conditions related to the probability of a data error occurring. Based on the monitored condition or conditions, the storage subsystem adjusts an error correction setting, and thus the quantity of ECC data used to protect data received from a host system. To enable blocks of data to be properly checked when read from memory, the storage subsystem stores ECC metadata indicating the particular error correction setting used to store particular blocks of data. The storage subsystem may be in the form of a solid-state non-volatile memory card or drive that attaches to the host system."

The patent application was filed on Jan. 5, 2012 (13/344,502).

Systems and methods for measuring the useful life
of solid-state storage devices

SiliconSystems, Inc., Aliso Viejo, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,312,207) developed by David E. Merry Jr., Irvine, CA, Mark S. Diggs, Laguna Hills, CA, and Gary A. Drossel, Laguna Niguel, CA, for "systems and methods for measuring the useful life of solid-state storage devices."

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: "A non-volatile solid-state storage subsystem, such as a non-volatile memory device, maintains usage statistics reflective of the wear state, and thus the remaining useful life, of the subsystem’s memory array. A host system reads the usage statistics information, or data derived therefrom, from the subsystem to evaluate the subsystem’s remaining life expectancy. The host system may use this information for various purposes, such as to (a) display or report information regarding the remaining life of the subsystem; (b) adjust the frequency with which data is written to the subsystem; and/or (c) select the type(s) of data written to the subsystem."

The patent application was filed on Feb. 17, 2012 (13/399,907).