Patent ID: 8452934
Filing Date: 2013-05-28
Classification: G06F,G11C

Abstract:
1. A non-volatile data storage device comprising: a memory array to store data, the memory array including a plurality of address ranges one or more of which corresponding to a protected portion of the memory array and one or more of which corresponding to an unprotected portion of the memory array; an authentication module adapted to access stored credentials to validate authorization to access a selected portion of the memory array, the selected portion identified by one or more addresses within the protected portion; and an interface adapted to receive memory access requests to perform one or more operations on the selected portion of the memory array; wherein the interface is further adapted to communicate to a host device an indication that a memory access request to the selected portion of the memory array is denied, wherein the indication is communicated to instruct the host device to avoid a timeout when the memory access request is denied, wherein the indication is determined based on a type of the host device, and wherein the interface is further adapted to refrain from communicating to the host device the indication that the memory access request is denied when the memory access request would not alter data previously stored in the protected portion of the memory array.