Method and Apparatus to Boost Mass Memory Performance Given Power Supply Availability

Abstract

Reliability of a power supply is assessed, such as for example considering one or more of the following: whether a host device is experiencing fast acceleration; whether a portable power supply has sufficient energy to meet current needs; whether a battery or removable memory cover is in place; and whether a software failure within the host device is imminent. In dependence on the assessed reliability, there is a selection made between a first mode and a second mode for operating a mass memory. The first mode comprises better data retention than the second mode for the case that the power supply is interrupted, and the second mode comprises faster data transfer than the first mode for the case that the power supply is not interrupted. In one embodiment the first and second mode buffers write data utilizing respective non-volatile (flash) and volatile (DRAM) memory.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 assessing one or more inputs to determine whether power supply availability is anticipated to be interrupted; and   selecting, based at least in part on the assessing, between a first mode and a second mode for operating a mass memory, wherein:
 the first mode buffers at least first write data utilizing a non-volatile memory if the power supply availability is anticipated to be interrupted; and 
 the second mode buffers at least second write data utilizing a volatile memory if the power supply availability is not anticipated to be interrupted. 
   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the mass memory comprises an embedded mass memory card. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the embedded mass memory card is an embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC). 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the mass memory comprises a removable mass memory card. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the volatile memory is disposed within a host device. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the power supply availability assessment is performed by a processor within the mass memory. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising selecting the second mode if the assessed one or more inputs indicate that power is guaranteed for a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more inputs indicate at least one of the following:
 whether a host device in which the mass memory is embedded is experiencing rapid acceleration;   whether the power supply has sufficient energy to power the host device for a predetermined time period;   whether a cover of the host device adjacent to at least one of the power supply or the mass memory is in place; or   whether a software failure within the host device is anticipated.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising selecting the first mode as a default selection if the one or more inputs are unable to be assessed. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the non-volatile memory and the volatile memory are each disposed within the mass memory. 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus comprising:
 assessing means for assessing one or more inputs to determine whether power supply availability is anticipated to be interrupted; and   selecting means for selecting, based at least in part on the assessing, between a first mode and a second mode for operating a mass memory, wherein:
 the first mode buffers at least first write data utilizing a non-volatile memory if the power supply availability is anticipated to be interrupted; and 
 the second mode buffers at least second write data utilizing a volatile memory if the power supply availability is not anticipated to be interrupted. 
   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the mass memory comprises an embedded mass memory card. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the embedded mass memory card is an embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC). 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the selecting means selects the second mode if the assessed one or more inputs indicate that power is guaranteed for a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more inputs indicate at least one of the following:
 whether the apparatus in which the mass memory is embedded is experiencing rapid acceleration;   whether the power supply has sufficient energy to power the apparatus for a predetermined time period;   whether a cover of the apparatus adjacent to at least one of the power supply or the mass memory is in place; or   whether a software failure within the apparatus is anticipated.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the selecting means selects the first mode as a default selection if the one or more inputs are unable to be assessed. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the non-volatile memory and the volatile memory are each disposed within the mass memory. 
     
     
         38 . At least one computer-readable memory storing computer program code that, when executed by at least one processor, performs operations comprising:
 assessing one or more inputs to determine whether power supply availability is anticipated to be interrupted; and   selecting, based at least in part on the assessing, between a first mode and a second mode for operating a mass memory, wherein:   the first mode buffers at least first write data utilizing a non-volatile memory if the power supply availability is anticipated to be interrupted; and   the second mode buffers at least second write data utilizing a volatile memory if the power supply availability is not anticipated to be interrupted.   
     
     
         39 . The at least one computer-readable memory of  claim 38 , wherein the mass memory comprises an embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC). 
     
     
         40 . The at least one computer-readable memory of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more inputs indicate at least one of the following:
 whether a host device in which the mass memory is embedded is experiencing rapid acceleration;   whether the power supply has sufficient energy to power the host device for a predetermined time period;   whether a cover of the host device adjacent to at least one of the power supply or the mass memory is in place; or   whether a software failure within the host device is anticipated.   
     
     
         41 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processor;   at least one memory;   first logic, stored on the at least one processor and executed on the at least one processor, to assess one or more inputs to determine whether power supply availability is anticipated to be interrupted; and   second logic, stored on the at least one processor and executed on the at least one processor, to select, based at least in part on the assessing, between a first mode and a second mode for operating a mass memory, wherein:
 the first mode buffers at least first write data utilizing a non-volatile memory if the power supply availability is anticipated to be interrupted; and 
 the second mode buffers at least second write data utilizing a volatile memory if the power supply availability is not anticipated to be interrupted. 
   
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the mass memory comprises an embedded mass memory card. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein the embedded mass memory card is an embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC). 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the second logic selects the second mode if the assessed one or more inputs indicate that power is guaranteed for a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the one or more inputs indicate at least one of the following:
 whether the apparatus in which the mass memory is embedded is experiencing rapid acceleration;   whether the power supply has sufficient energy to power the apparatus for a predetermined time period;   whether a cover of the apparatus adjacent to at least one of the power supply or the mass memory is in place; or   whether a software failure within the apparatus is anticipated.   
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the second logic selects the first mode as a default selection if the one or more inputs are unable to be assessed. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the non-volatile memory and the volatile memory are each disposed within the mass memory