LSI Assigned Six Patents

Multi-zone servo processor
LSI Corp., Milpitas, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,681,444) developed by three co-inventors for “multi-zone servo processor.“

The co-inventors are Haitao Xia, San Jose, CA, Xun Zhang, Westford, MA, and Dahua Qin, Allentown PA.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “The present inventions are related to systems and methods for transferring information to and from a storage medium, and more particularly to systems and methods for positioning a sensor in relation to a storage medium. For example, an apparatus for determining a sensor position is disclosed that includes a data stream processor operable to generate a number of data streams at different frequencies based on an input data stream, a number of servo preamble detectors each operable to process a different one of the data streams to detect a servo preamble, a selector operable to output one of the data streams in which the servo preamble was detected as a winning data stream, and a pattern detector operable to detect a pattern in the winning data stream.”

The patent application was filed on June 7, 2012 (13/491,135).

Storage system logical block address de-allocation management
LSI Corp., San Jose, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,671,258) developed by Ross Stenfort, Los Altos, CA, for a “storage system logical block address de-allocation management.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “Storage system Logical Block Address (LBA) de-allocation management and data hardening provide improvements in performance, efficiency, and utility of use. Optionally, LBA de-allocation information in a first format (e.g. associated with a first protocol) is converted to a second format (e.g. associated with a second protocol). An example of the first protocol is a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) protocol, and an example of the second protocol is an Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) protocol. Optionally, LBA de-allocation status information is determined by a storage device, such as a Solid-State Disk (SSD), and communicated to another device such as an initiator, expander, or bridge.”

The patent application was filed on March 27, 2010 (13/260,709).

Optimal dynamic resource allocation in storage system
LSI Corp., San Jose, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,677,095) developed by three co-inventors for a system and method for “optimal dynamic resource allocation in a storage system.”

The co-inventors are Roger T. J. Clegg, Wichita, KS, Brad D. Besmer, and Guy Kendall, Colorado Springs, CO.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “An apparatus and method to allocate memory in a storage system. Firmware running the method uses an iterative approach to find the best optimal memory configuration for a particular storage system given a variety of configuration data parameters stored as persistent data in non-volatile flash memory. The configuration data relates to resources in the environment that the storage system is found in, such as the number of virtual ports, targets and initiators supported by a storage system IOC. The configuration data is alterable, to allow flexibility in updating and changing parameters, and is employed at runtime when the storage system powers on, to enable the most flexible resource allocation. In a preferred method of determining the most optimal memory configuration for a given set of parameters corresponding to a given set of resources, an iterative method is employed to decrement parameter values from their maximum values, taking into account the minimums, and then testing the configuration by performing a memory allocation. If the allocation fails, because for example the wrong type memory or size of memory for any of the resources found, then the firmware resets the memory areas back to predetermined Start of Day (SOD) parameter values, decrements the values until a successful configuration of memory is found for the given set of parameters, and tries again, or until the firmware is caused to fault, whichever comes first.“

The patent application was filed on Nov. 21, 2008 (12/313,595).

Oversampling storage system captured waveform
LSI Corp., San Jose, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,693,121) developed by Bruce W. McNeill, Yokohama, Japan, and Jason D. Byrne, Lyons, CO, for “oversampling storage system captured waveform.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A method includes designating a first sampling phase for a signal captured from a magnetic storage medium, where the signal is representative of information stored by the magnetic storage medium. The method further includes capturing a first waveform associated with the signal at the first sampling phase. The method also includes designating a second sampling phase different from the first sampling phase for the signal. The method further includes capturing a second waveform associated with the signal at the second sampling phase. The method also includes interleaving the first waveform and the second waveform to form an oversampled waveform. The first waveform and the second waveform are captured at a rate at least substantially equal to a rate at which the information stored by the magnetic storage medium was written to the magnetic storage medium.”

The patent application was filed on March 7, 2013 (13/788,253).

HDD having write signal compensation for magnetization polarity of adjacent bits
LSI Corp., San Jose, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,654,471) developed by three co-inventors for a “disk-based storage device having write signal compensation for magnetization polarity of adjacent bits.”

The co-inventors are David M. Springberg, Fort Collins, CO, Boris Livshitz, Eagan, MN, and Jason S. Goldberg, St. Paul, MN.

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A hard disk drive or other disk-based storage device comprises a storage disk, a read/write head configured to read data from and write data to the storage disk, and control circuitry coupled to the read/write head and configured to process data received from and supplied to the read/write head and to control positioning of the read/write head relative to the storage disk. The control circuitry is further configured to adjust at least one parameter of a write signal for a target bit to be written to the storage disk based on respective magnetization polarities of one or more adjacent bits previously written to the storage disk.”

The patent application was filed on Sept. 30, 2011 (13/250,419).

Storage system data hardening
LSI Corp., San Jose, CA, has been assigned a patent (8,671,259) developed by Ross John Stenfort, Los Altos, CA, for a “storage system data hardening.”

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: “A bridge receives a power down command and in response converts the power down command to a data hardening command. The bridge issues the data hardening command to a solid state disk. In response to the data hardening command, data stored on the solid state disk is hardened. The hardening comprises writing data in volatile memory to non-volatile memory. The data that is hardened comprises user data and protected data. The data hardening command optionally comprises one or more of a flush cache command, a sleep command, and a standby immediate command.”

The patent application was filed on Dec. 31, 2012 (13/732,318).