Event lock storage device

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for an event lock storage device. The storage device includes a user partition and an event partition (which may be associated with an event). The storage device receives data from a host device, and stores the data in the user partition. In response to receiving an indication of an event, the storage device may designate the data as part of the event partition. The event partition may include a set of access rules that is different from the user partition, such as more restrictive rules for modification or deletion of a file containing the data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage device comprising:
 memory comprising a user partition and an event partition; and   a controller in communication with the memory, the controller configured to manage files in the user partition according to a first set of rules and manage files in the event partition according to a second set of rules different from the first set of rules, the controller configured to:
 receive data, from a host device, the host device being external to the storage device, wherein the data comprises sensor values generated by or derived from a sensor; 
 store the data in the memory, the data being associated with the user partition in the storage device; 
 determine an indication of occurrence of an event, the occurrence of the event being based on analysis of the sensor values in the data; and 
 in response to determining the indication of occurrence of the event, associate the data with the event partition of the storage device solely by performing one or more internal operations within the storage device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein deletion or modification of files associated with the event partition is more restrictive than deletion or modification of files associated with the user partition. 
     
     
         3 . The storage device of  claim 2 , wherein deletion or modification of files associated with the event partition is disallowed. 
     
     
         4 . The storage device of  claim 2 , wherein deletion or modification of files associated with the event partition is allowed only after an age indicator associated with at least a part of the storage device changes by a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         5 . The storage device of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive a command from the host device to delete a file;   determine a difference between an age indicator associated with the file and the age indicator indicative of age of at least a part of the storage device;   determine whether the difference is greater than a predetermined amount;   in response to determining that the difference is greater than a predetermined amount, delete the file; and   in response to determining that the difference is not greater than a predetermined amount, reject the command to delete the file.   
     
     
         6 . The storage device of  claim 5 , wherein the age indicator comprises program/erase count for at least a part of the user partition of the storage device. 
     
     
         7 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to store the data in a file in the memory;
 wherein the controller is configured to associate the file with the event partition of the storage device by tagging the file so that the file is associated as part of the event partition; and   wherein, in response to tagging the file, the controller is further configured to de-designate part of the event partition so that the de-designated part is part of the user partition.   
     
     
         8 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the indication of an event associated with the data by receiving a command; and
 wherein the controller is further configured to:
 analyze an LBA range in the command; 
 determine whether the LBA range in the command is outside an acceptable range; and 
 in response to determining that the LBA range in the command is outside an acceptable range, process the command to determine whether the command includes the indication of the event. 
   
     
     
         9 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises a silicon substrate and a plurality of memory cells forming a monolithic three-dimensional structure, wherein at least one portion of the memory cells is vertically disposed with respect to the silicon substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to store the data in a file in the memory, and wherein the file is associated with the user partition; and
 wherein the controller is configured to, in response to determining the indication of the occurrence of the event, associate the data with the event partition by associating the file with the event partition.   
     
     
         11 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the indication of the occurrence of the event based on receiving, from the host device, the indication of the occurrence of the event. 
     
     
         12 . The storage device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive first data and second data from the host;
 wherein the controller is configured to store the first data in the memory prior to receipt of the indication of the occurrence of the event from the host device; and   wherein the controller is configured to determine the indication of the occurrence of the event based on receiving, from the host device, the indication of the occurrence of the event based on analysis of the second data.   
     
     
         13 . A method for a storage device having a memory with a user partition and an event partition, the method comprising:
 performing in the storage device:
 receiving data, from a host device, the host device being external to the storage device, wherein the data comprises sensor values generated by or derived from a sensor; 
 storing the data in the memory, the data being associated with the user partition in the storage device, the storage device using a first set of rules for controlling files in the user partition; 
 determining an indication of occurrence of an event; and 
 in response to determining the indication of occurrence of the event, associating the data with the event partition of the storage device solely by performing one or more internal operations within the storage device, the storage device using a second set of rules for controlling files in the event partition, the event partition associated with the event, the second set of rules being more restrictive in at least one aspect than the first set of rules. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein deletion or modification of files associated with the event partition is more restrictive than deletion of files associated with the user partition. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein deletion or modification of files associated with the event partition is disallowed. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein deletion or modification of files associated with the event partition is allowed only after an age indicator associated with at least a part of the storage device changes by a predetermined amount. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving a command from the host device to delete a file;   determining a difference between an age indicator associated with the file and the age indicator indicative of age of at least a part of the storage device;   determining whether the difference is greater than the predetermined amount;   in response to determining that the difference is greater than a predetermined amount, deleting the file; and   in response to determining that the difference is not greater than a predetermined amount, not deleting the file.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the age indicator comprises program/erase count for at least a part of the user partition of the storage device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the data is stored in a file in the memory;
 wherein associating the file with the event partition of the storage device comprises tagging the file so that the file is associated as part of the event partition; and   further comprising, in response to tagging the file, de-designating part of the event partition so that the de-designated part is part of the user partition.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein determining the indication of an event associated with the data comprises receiving a command; and
 further comprising:
 analyzing an LBA range in the command; 
 determining whether the LBA range in the command is outside an acceptable range; and 
 in response to determining that the LBA range in the command is outside an acceptable range, processing the command to determine whether the command includes the indication of the event.