"Storage block" refers to a set of storage cells organized such that storage operations can be performed on groups of the storage cells in parallel. The organization of the set of storage cells may be implemented at a physical level or a logical level. Thus, a storage block, in one embodiment, may comprise a physical page, such as a word line, a logical page comprising physical pages that span planes and/or memory die, a physical erase block comprising a set of physical pages, a logical erase block (LEB) comprising a set of logical pages, or the like. A storage block may be referred to herein as a "block", a "memory block", a "metablock," or an LEB. … more "Storage block" refers to a set of storage cells organized such that storage operations can be performed on groups of the storage cells in parallel. The organization of the set of storage cells may be implemented at a physical level or a logical level. Thus, a storage block, in one embodiment, may comprise a physical page, such as a word line, a logical page comprising physical pages that span planes and/or memory die, a physical erase block comprising a set of physical pages, a logical erase block (LEB) comprising a set of logical pages, or the like. A storage block may be referred to herein as a "block", a "memory block", a "metablock," or an LEB.

"Compromised firmware" refers to firmware or a firmware image that has been changed, modified, and/or altered without the knowledge or permission of the manufacturer, developer, owner, or licensee of the firmware or firmware image. … more "Compromised firmware" refers to firmware or a firmware image that has been changed, modified, and/or altered without the knowledge or permission of the manufacturer, developer, owner, or licensee of the firmware or firmware image.

"Monitor" refers to any hardware, firmware, software, circuitry, component, module, logic, device, or apparatus configured, programmed, designed, arranged, or engineered to monitor, watch, sense, detect, track, record, and/or observe certain activities or operations. In one embodiment, a monitor may detect certain signals, triggers, commands, or other activity indicative of, or related to storage operations within a storage controller. … more "Monitor" refers to any hardware, firmware, software, circuitry, component, module, logic, device, or apparatus configured, programmed, designed, arranged, or engineered to monitor, watch, sense, detect, track, record, and/or observe certain activities or operations. In one embodiment, a monitor may detect certain signals, triggers, commands, or other activity indicative of, or related to storage operations within a storage controller.

"Security chip" refers to a dedicated hardware component configured to include a processor and non-volatile memory configured, programmed, designed, arranged, or engineered to provide a specific security feature or function. In one embodiment, the security chip is manufactured in a trusted environment and configured to only interact with other electronic components under high security protocols and with limited, or no, access to internal components of the security chip, including any firmware that may be programmed onto the security chip in a trusted environment. … more "Security chip" refers to a dedicated hardware component configured to include a processor and non-volatile memory configured, programmed, designed, arranged, or engineered to provide a specific security feature or function. In one embodiment, the security chip is manufactured in a trusted environment and configured to only interact with other electronic components under high security protocols and with limited, or no, access to internal components of the security chip, including any firmware that may be programmed onto the security chip in a trusted environment.

"Historical time period" refers to a period of time in the past. A historical time period may comprise any time interval including nanoseconds, microseconds, milliseconds, seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. Additionally, a historical time period may be defined by an initial event and a subsequent event or a time period since the initial event. For example, a historical time period may be defined starting from when a product is first placed into service, or initiates a die sort testing sequence, or accepts a first request and end after a particular time interval that may include a present time. Furthermore, the historical time period may end when a certain event occurs such as an error condition or completion of a storage operation. … more "Historical time period" refers to a period of time in the past. A historical time period may comprise any time interval including nanoseconds, microseconds, milliseconds, seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. Additionally, a historical time period may be defined by an initial event and a subsequent event or a time period since the initial event. For example, a historical time period may be defined starting from when a product is first placed into service, or initiates a die sort testing sequence, or accepts a first request and end after a particular time interval that may include a present time. Furthermore, the historical time period may end when a certain event occurs such as an error condition or completion of a storage operation.

"Anomaly" refers to something different, abnormal, peculiar, or not easily classified. something anomalous. A deviation from the common rule or behavior. ("anomaly." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2020. Web. Modified. Accessed 14 May 2020.) … more "Anomaly" refers to something different, abnormal, peculiar, or not easily classified. something anomalous. A deviation from the common rule or behavior. ("anomaly." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2020. Web. Modified. Accessed 14 May 2020.)

"Host memory buffer release operation" refers to an operation that involves one or more host memory buffers. In particular, a host memory buffer release operation may include a number of steps or operations that are completed in preparing terminate, close, deallocate, release, or otherwise stop using one or more host memory buffers. Typically, a host memory buffer release operation is performed when a host seeks to recover non-volatile memory that was occupied by the host memory buffer. There may be various reasons for releasing a host memory buffer including dismounting of a non-volatile storage device, a host's request for more non-volatile memory space, a command from a user, a signal initiated by a non-volatile storage device as part of a dismount process, and the like. … more "Host memory buffer release operation" refers to an operation that involves one or more host memory buffers. In particular, a host memory buffer release operation may include a number of steps or operations that are completed in preparing terminate, close, deallocate, release, or otherwise stop using one or more host memory buffers. Typically, a host memory buffer release operation is performed when a host seeks to recover non-volatile memory that was occupied by the host memory buffer. There may be various reasons for releasing a host memory buffer including dismounting of a non-volatile storage device, a host's request for more non-volatile memory space, a command from a user, a signal initiated by a non-volatile storage device as part of a dismount process, and the like.

"LBA" refers to and abbreviation for a logical block address. … more "LBA" refers to and abbreviation for a logical block address.

"Firmware monitoring request" refers to a request for a receiving device or logic or component ("receiver") to monitor one or more sets of firmware. In particular, the firmware monitoring request may include configuration information, parameters, and/or preferences for the receiver to implement in performing the firmware monitoring. For example, in one embodiment, a firmware monitoring request may include data needed for the receiver to establish a secure communication channel between the receiver and an entity issuing the firmware monitoring request. … more "Firmware monitoring request" refers to a request for a receiving device or logic or component ("receiver") to monitor one or more sets of firmware. In particular, the firmware monitoring request may include configuration information, parameters, and/or preferences for the receiver to implement in performing the firmware monitoring. For example, in one embodiment, a firmware monitoring request may include data needed for the receiver to establish a secure communication channel between the receiver and an entity issuing the firmware monitoring request.

"Firmware initialization operation" refers to an initialization operation that pertains to or is otherwise associated with firmware or a firmware image and steps and/or operations that should be carried out to prepare the firmware for normal operations. … more "Firmware initialization operation" refers to an initialization operation that pertains to or is otherwise associated with firmware or a firmware image and steps and/or operations that should be carried out to prepare the firmware for normal operations.

"Power on reset operation" refers to an operation that may include a number of steps or operations that a storage controller, electronic components thereof, or other electronic component takes in preparing have a power supply restored. A power on reset operation may be initiated after a system or component is without power for an undefined period of time or after the system or component is without power for a relatively short period of time, intended to reset the system or component. … more "Power on reset operation" refers to an operation that may include a number of steps or operations that a storage controller, electronic components thereof, or other electronic component takes in preparing have a power supply restored. A power on reset operation may be initiated after a system or component is without power for an undefined period of time or after the system or component is without power for a relatively short period of time, intended to reset the system or component.

"Host memory buffer initialization operation" refers to an operation that involves one or more host memory buffers. In particular, a host memory buffer initialization operation may include a number of steps or operations that are completed in preparing a host memory buffer for use and to service the needs of a non-volatile storage device and/or host. Typically, a host memory buffer initialization operation is performed when a host memory buffer is first created, allocated, provisioned, assigned or associated with a non-volatile storage device, or part thereof. Where a host memory buffer comprises one or more dedicated hardware components, a host memory buffer initialization operation may initiate when the hardware components receive a stable power supply. … more "Host memory buffer initialization operation" refers to an operation that involves one or more host memory buffers. In particular, a host memory buffer initialization operation may include a number of steps or operations that are completed in preparing a host memory buffer for use and to service the needs of a non-volatile storage device and/or host. Typically, a host memory buffer initialization operation is performed when a host memory buffer is first created, allocated, provisioned, assigned or associated with a non-volatile storage device, or part thereof. Where a host memory buffer comprises one or more dedicated hardware components, a host memory buffer initialization operation may initiate when the hardware components receive a stable power supply.

"Target storage operation" refers to any storage operation for which a compromised firmware image impacts a time interval for executing the storage operation. The impact on the time interval from the compromised firmware image may be direct or indirect. A target storage operation may be designated as such when a security chip is fabricated and the storage security firmware image is installed. Alternatively, or in addition, a target storage operation may be designated by a host by including a listing of target storage operations in a firmware monitoring request, before, during or after establishing a secure communication channel with the security chip, or the like. … more "Target storage operation" refers to any storage operation for which a compromised firmware image impacts a time interval for executing the storage operation. The impact on the time interval from the compromised firmware image may be direct or indirect. A target storage operation may be designated as such when a security chip is fabricated and the storage security firmware image is installed. Alternatively, or in addition, a target storage operation may be designated by a host by including a listing of target storage operations in a firmware monitoring request, before, during or after establishing a secure communication channel with the security chip, or the like.

"Tracker" refers to any hardware, firmware, software, circuitry, component, module, logic, device, or apparatus configured, programmed, designed, arranged, or engineered to monitor, watch, track, record, and/or observe a passage of time between two events, such as a start event and a stop event. … more "Tracker" refers to any hardware, firmware, software, circuitry, component, module, logic, device, or apparatus configured, programmed, designed, arranged, or engineered to monitor, watch, track, record, and/or observe a passage of time between two events, such as a start event and a stop event.

"Firmware image" refers to a set of firmware organized into a set of organized data, such as a file. Firmware image typically refers to firmware configured for use and operation within a computing device and stored on a storage media. In certain embodiments, the firmware image conforms to a predefined firmware image layout that is defined by a manufacturer, a consortium of manufacturers, an industry standard, or the like. … more "Firmware image" refers to a set of firmware organized into a set of organized data, such as a file. Firmware image typically refers to firmware configured for use and operation within a computing device and stored on a storage media. In certain embodiments, the firmware image conforms to a predefined firmware image layout that is defined by a manufacturer, a consortium of manufacturers, an industry standard, or the like.

"DMA manager" refers to any hardware, software, firmware, circuitry, component, module, logic, device, or apparatus configured, programmed, designed, arranged, or engineered to manage transfer of data between a memory location on a host and a memory location, including a memory buffer on a client such as a peripheral device. In one embodiment, the memory location of the host is a host memory buffer. … more "DMA manager" refers to any hardware, software, firmware, circuitry, component, module, logic, device, or apparatus configured, programmed, designed, arranged, or engineered to manage transfer of data between a memory location on a host and a memory location, including a memory buffer on a client such as a peripheral device. In one embodiment, the memory location of the host is a host memory buffer.

"Storage client" refers to any hardware, software, firmware, or logic component or module configured to communicate with a storage device in order to use storage services. Examples of a storage client include, but are not limited to, operating systems, file systems, database applications, a database management system (“DBMS”), server applications, a server, a volume manager, kernel-level processes, user-level processes, applications, mobile applications, threads, processes, and the like. … more "Storage client" refers to any hardware, software, firmware, or logic component or module configured to communicate with a storage device in order to use storage services. Examples of a storage client include, but are not limited to, operating systems, file systems, database applications, a database management system (“DBMS”), server applications, a server, a volume manager, kernel-level processes, user-level processes, applications, mobile applications, threads, processes, and the like.

"Semi-predictable storage operation" refers to a storage operation that completes within a variable time interval within an acceptable tolerance level for either boundary of the time interval. A semi-predictable storage operation is a storage operation having a duration, or completing, within a time interval that is partially predictable. The semi-predictable storage operation has a degree of variance with each iteration. … more "Semi-predictable storage operation" refers to a storage operation that completes within a variable time interval within an acceptable tolerance level for either boundary of the time interval. A semi-predictable storage operation is a storage operation having a duration, or completing, within a time interval that is partially predictable. The semi-predictable storage operation has a degree of variance with each iteration.

"Word line" refers to a structure within a memory array comprising a set of memory cells. The memory array is configured such that the operational memory cells of the word line are read or sensed during a read operation. Similarly, the memory array is configured such that the operational memory cells of the word line are read, or sensed, during a read operation. … more "Word line" refers to a structure within a memory array comprising a set of memory cells. The memory array is configured such that the operational memory cells of the word line are read or sensed during a read operation. Similarly, the memory array is configured such that the operational memory cells of the word line are read, or sensed, during a read operation.

"Memory interface manager" or “Flash interface manager” refers to any hardware, firmware, software, circuitry, component, module, logic, device, or apparatus configured, programmed, designed, arranged, or engineered to support, interface with, and conduct communications between a storage controller and one or more memory die or memory chips. … more "Memory interface manager" or “Flash interface manager” refers to any hardware, firmware, software, circuitry, component, module, logic, device, or apparatus configured, programmed, designed, arranged, or engineered to support, interface with, and conduct communications between a storage controller and one or more memory die or memory chips.