Toshiba Memory Assigned Seventeen Patents

Storage device in which forwarding-function-equipped memory nodes
Toshiba Memory Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,397,139) developed by Tatsumura, Kosuke, Kawasaki, Japan, Kinoshita, Atsuhiro, Kamakura, Japan, Nishino, Hirotaka, Yokohama, Japan Suzuki, Masamichi, Tokyo, Japan, Nishi, Yoshifumi, Yokohama, Japan, Marukame, Takao, Tokyo, Japan, and Kurita, Takahiro, Kawasaki, Japan, for a “storage device in which forwarding-function-equipped memory nodes are mutually connected and data processing method.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”According to one embodiment, a storage device includes a plurality of memory nodes. Each of memory nodes includes a plurality of input ports, a plurality of output ports, a selector, a packet controller and a memory. The selector outputs a packet input to the input port to one of the output ports. The packet controller controls the selector. The memory stores data. The memory nodes are mutually connected at the input ports and the output ports. The memory node has an address that is determined by its physical position. The packet controller switches the output port that outputs the packet based on information including at least a destination address of the packet and an address of the memory node having the packet controller when receiving a packet that is not addressed to the memory node having the packet controller.”

The patent application was filed on July 16, 2018 (16/036,216).

Storage device and server
Toshiba Memory, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,394,741) developed by Suto, Hiroyuki, Kamakura Kanagawa, Japan, for “storage device and server device.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”According to one embodiment, a storage device includes a memory, a controller, an interface unit, a switch, and a switch control unit. The memory stores data. The controller is configured to control writing of data to the memory and reading of data from the memory. The interface unit includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first terminal has an electrical status different between a case where the storage device and a first device are connected, and a case where the storage device and a second device are connected. Through the second terminal, voltage is applied by the first device to the storage device in the case where the storage device and the first device are connected, and a control signal is input from the second device to the storage device in the case where the storage device and the second device are connected. Through the third terminal, power is supplied to the storage device. The switch switches a connection status and a disconnection status. In the connection status, the third terminal and the controller are electrically connected. In the disconnection status, the third terminal and the controller are electrically disconnected. The switch control unit is configured to control the switch to switch the connection status and the disconnection status based on electrical statuses of the first terminal and the second terminal.”

The patent application was filed on October 5, 2018 (16/152,712).

Storage system and control method
Toshiba Memory, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,389,808) developed by Kinoshita, Atsuhiro, Kamakura Kanagawa, Japan, for “storage system and control method thereof.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”According to one embodiment, a storage system includes a storage which includes a plurality of node memories including a nonvolatile memory and a control unit which controls the nonvolatile memory and a routing unit which controls packet transfer between two or more of the node memories, a connection unit which connects the storage unit to outside and controls the storage unit, and a management unit which at least monitors power supply voltages of the storage and the connection unit.”

The patent application was filed on May 29, 2015 (14/725,892).

Electronic equipment including storage
Toshiba Memory, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,387,277) developed by Matsuo, Kiyotaka, Fujisawa, Japan, for an “electronic equipment including storage device.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”According to one embodiment, a storage device includes a nonvolatile memory, controller and interface. The nonvolatile memory stores data. The controller controls the operation of the nonvolatile memory. The interface includes first and second input/output units that transmit and receive a signal with respect to a host device. The first and second input/output units are set on the first hierarchy having the same communication function. The interface issues a connection request to the first input/output unit and when the connection request to the first input/output unit is rejected, the interface issues the connection request to the second input/output unit.”

The patent application was filed on March 14, 2018 (15/920,799).

Information processing device and system capable of preventing loss of user data
Toshiba Memory, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,372,481) developed by Kanno, Shinichi, Ota Tokyo, Japan, for “information processing device and system capable of preventing loss of user data.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”An information processing device connectable to a plurality of storage devices includes a power source circuit configured to supply power from a backup power source to each of the plurality of storage devices in response to a power loss event, and a processor. The processor is configured to transmit, to each of the storage devices, a first instruction to save user data that have been transmitted to the storage device and have not been written in a non-volatile manner, in response to the power loss event, and transmit, to at least one of the storage devices, a second instruction to save updated address translation information that corresponds to the user data and has not been reflected in an address translation table, upon receiving a response indicating completion of saving the user data from each of the storage devices.”

The patent application was filed on August 23, 2017 (15/684,848).

Storage, information processing and method for controlling nonvolatile memory
Toshiba Memory, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,372,331) developed by Kanno, Shinichi, Tokyo, Japan, for “storage system, information processing system and method for controlling nonvolatile memory.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”According to one embodiment, a storage system receives, from a host, a data copy command including an address of a copy source block, an address of a copy start page in the copy source block, an address of a copy destination block, an address of a transfer start page in the copy destination block, management data indicating validity/invalidity of data in each page, and a termination condition. The storage system starts, beginning with the copy start page, a data copy operation of copying valid data in the copy source block to a copy destination region of the copy destination block beginning with the transfer start page of the copy destination block, and skipping copying of invalid data in the copy source block.”

The patent application was filed on July 17, 2018 (16/037,111).

Controller, storage, and computer program
Toshiba Memory, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,366,003) developed by Fukutomi, Kazuhiro, Kanagawa, Japan, Kanno, Shinichi, Tokyo, Japan, and Asano, Shigehiro, Kanagawa, Japan, for “controller, storage device, and computer program product for writing and transfer process.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”According to an embodiment, a controller is connected to an external storage device and controls access to a semiconductor storage device including blocks each including memory cell groups each having memory cells. The block includes pages associated with each memory cell group. A writing process for each memory cell group includes writing stages. The controller includes a determining unit configured to determine data to be transferred to the page required in the writing process for a first memory cell group before the writing stage first starts when the writing stage is performed, a reading unit configured to read the determined data from the semiconductor storage device and to store the read data in the external storage device before the writing stage starts, and a writing unit configured to perform the writing process using the data stored in the external storage device when the writing stage is performed.”

The patent application was filed on July 20, 2016 (15/215,154).

On fly RAID parity calculation
Toshiba Memory, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,365,967) developed by Margetts, Julien, Thame, Great Britain, for a “on the fly RAID parity calculation.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A data storage device comprises a nonvolatile semiconductor storage array containing data, a controller in communication with the nonvolatile semiconductor storage array, and a buffer containing RAID units, the RAID units being in communication with the nonvolatile semiconductor storage array via the controller. The controller is configured to receive write requests from a host device, and accumulate first data relating to the write requests in the RAID units. The controller is also configured to, concurrently, transfer the first data contained in the RAID units to the nonvolatile semiconductor storage array, calculate parity values of the first data contained in the RAID units, each parity value relating to each write request, and accumulate the parity values in a context identifier buffer. The controller is further configured to associate context identifiers with the parity values, and store the parity values and the context identifiers in the nonvolatile semiconductor storage array.”

The patent application was filed on August 23, 2017 (15/684,649).

Memory card having wireless function
Toshiba Memory, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,362,261) developed by Ido, Michio, Sato, Keisuke, Yokohama Kanagawa, Japan, Endo, Shigeto, Kamakura Kanagawa, Japan, Ando, Mai, Sakurai, Shuichi, and Teranishi, Masaomi, Yokohama Kanagawa, Japan, for a “memory card having a wireless function for linking location information to image data.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A method of linking location information to image data in a storage device includes: generating image files, each including image data of a captured image and a time stamp of when the image was captured, determining an first time stamp and a second time stamp within a group of the image files, wirelessly transmitting the first time stamp and the second time stamp to a device having a location logging function and, in response to the wirelessly transmitting, receiving location information corresponding to at least one of a plurality of time stamps including the first time stamp, the second time stamp, and a third time stamp that is between the first time stamp and the second time stamp, and embedding location information in each image file based on the time stamp included therein and the location information received from the device.”

The patent application was filed on March 2, 2017 (15/448,565).

Storage device
Toshiba Memory, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,359,961) developed by Ito, Mikihiko, Koyanagi, Masaru, Ota, Japan, and Hayashi, Shintaro, Yokohama, Japan, for a “storage device.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”According to one embodiment, there is provided a storage device including a control chip and a plurality of memory chips. The control chip has an input buffer common to the control chip and the plurality of memory chips and electrically connected to an external terminal. A first transmission path going through the input buffer and a second transmission path not going through the input buffer are provided between the external terminal and the plurality of memory chips. In a first mode, the control chip enables the input buffer so as to activate the first transmission path and, in a second mode, disables the input buffer so as to activate the second transmission path.”

The patent application was filed on September 12, 2014 (15/507,822).

Semiconductor storage device and manufacturing
Toshiba Memory, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,355,006) developed by Fujitsuka, Ryota, Kuge, Nobuhito, Yokkaichi, Japan, and Takahashi, Kensei, Kuwana, Japan, for “semiconductor storage device and manufacturing method thereof.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A semiconductor storage device according to an embodiment includes a plurality of memory cells, a first film, and a second film. The memory cells are placed at intervals in a first direction on a semiconductor substrate. The first film is placed continuously in the first direction above the memory cells so as to cover all of the memory cells and including mainly metal oxide. The second film is placed on the first film and including mainly silicon nitride or silicon dioxide.”

The patent application was filed on January 19, 2016 (15/000,646).

Memory with controller for storage device array
Toshiba Memory, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,353,639) developed by Law, Sie Pook, San Jose, CA, for a “memory system with controller for storage device array.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”An array controller for connection between a solid state drive controller and multiple non-volatile storage units is provided. The array controller comprises a plurality of enable outputs, each of which is connected to an enable input of one of the non-volatile storage units, and a buffer in which data to be written into or read from the non-volatile storage units is stored. The array controller further comprises a control unit configured to enable a communication path between the solid state drive controller and one of the non-volatile storage units according to an address received from the solid state drive controller.”

The patent application was filed on April 2, 2018 (15/943,616).

Storage, control method, and computer program
Toshiba Memory, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,353,623) developed by Yamaura, Takahiro, Kawasaki, Japan, Maegawa, Tomonori, Chuo, Japan, and Goto, Masataka, Yokohama, Japan, for “storage device, storage control method, computer program product, and storage system.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”According to an embodiment, a storage device includes an acquisition unit, a first generation unit, and an erase unit. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire erase permission notification which is generated based on specific data and first authentication information to authenticate the specific data, and includes a first erase code to erase the specific data and physical area information indicating a physical area of the specific data. The first generation unit is configured to generate a second erase code using the specific data stored in the physical area indicated by the physical area information and the first authentication information. The erase unit is configured to erase data stored in the physical area indicated by the physical area information when the first erase code corresponds to the second erase code.”

The patent application was filed on March 7, 2018 (15/913,949).

Storage, information processing, and method for controlling nonvolatile memory
Toshiba Memory, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,353,612) developed by Kanno, Shinichi, Tokyo, Japan, for “storage system, information processing system and method for controlling nonvolatile memory.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”According to one embodiment, a storage system includes a nonvolatile memory and a controller. The controller classifies blocks in the nonvolatile memory into a plurality of first blocks and a plurality of second blocks organized as a plurality of block groups each including a set of blocks. The controller receive a first read, write or erase command from a host, and performs a read, write or erase operation on one first block in the first blocks that is designated by a physical address of the first read, write or erase command. The controller receive a second read, write or erase command from the host, and performs a read, write or erase operation on blocks in one block group in the block groups that is designated by a physical address of the second read, write or erase command.”

The patent application was filed on August 29, 2016 (15/249,924).

Storage that has plurality of managers among which master manager is switchable
Toshiba Memory, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,353,599) developed by Manabe, Shinichiro, Kanagawa, Japan, for a “storage system that has a plurality of managers among which a master manager is switchable.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”A storage system includes a first storage unit including a first processor and a first array of node modules, each including a memory unit, and a second storage unit including a second processor and a second array of node modules, each including a memory unit. The first processor is configured to control the first and second storage units, and the second processor is configured to control the second storage unit and not the first storage unit when the first processor is set to control the first and second storage units, and control the first and second storage units, when the first processor is set to not control the second storage unit.”

The patent application was filed on March 3, 2016 (15/060,544).

Storage and control method
Toshiba Memory, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,346,083) developed by Kinoshita, Atsuhiro, Kamakura Kanagawa, Japan, for a “storage system and control method thereof.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”According to one embodiment, a storage system includes a storage which includes a plurality of node memories including a nonvolatile memory and a control unit which controls the nonvolatile memory, a routing unit which controls packet transfer between two or more of the node memories, and a packet control unit which analyzes the packet transferred from the routing unit.”

The patent application was filed on June 27, 2018 (16/020,111).

Object storage, controller and storage medium
Toshiba Memory, Tokyo, Japan, has been assigned a patent (10,339,020) developed by Fukutomi, Kazuhiro, and Tanaka, Shingo, Yokohama Kanagawa, Japan, for “object storage system, controller and storage medium.“

The abstract of the patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office states: ”According to one embodiment, an object storage system is configured to store a key and a value in association with each other. The object storage system includes a first storage region, a second storage region and a controller. The controller is configured to control the first storage region and the second storage region. The controller is configured to store the value in the first storage region, and to store first information and second information in the second storage region. The first information is used for managing an association between the key and a storage position of the value. The second information is used for managing a position of a defective storage area in the first storage region.”

The patent application was filed on September 15, 2016 (15/266,034).