Patent ID: 8429358

Claim:
A data storage device for processing a command, the data storage device comprising: a host interface for storing program information sent within the command from a host, wherein said program information is a bit pattern set by the host in an unused or reserved field instead of an address field of the command according to a data interface standard; a controller for decoding the program information that indicates a memory type to be accessed for the command, and wherein the controller determines whether said memory type can be accessed according to the command; wherein the controller performs the command by accessing said memory type when the memory type specified by the program information is available for access; and a status register for storing an indication of an error when the memory type specified by the program information is not available for access according to the command; wherein the host reads said status register with said indication of said error, and wherein the host sends modified program information for indicating an alternative memory type to be accessed for the command after the host reads said error in the status register.