Patent ID: 8010738

Claim:
A method for processing requests for a device comprising: receiving a first value indicating an expected usage of said device prior to failure of said device; receiving a second value indicated a specified lifetime of said device, said second value being in units of time; determining a target rate of usage for the device in accordance with said first value and said second value; determining a current rate of usage for the device, wherein said determining, the current rate of usage includes adjusting a first current rate of usage using a predicted number of cumulative writes performed, said first current rate of usage being based on a number of observed write or erasures, said predicted number of cumulative writes performed being based on a number of bit failures observed in connection with writing to the device; determining whether the current rate of usage is greater than the target rate of usage; and if said current rate of usage is greater than the target rate of usage, performing an action to reduce the current rate of usage for the device.