# US 10,372,361 B2 · Data storage device including multiple memory modules and circuitry to manage communication among the multiple memory modules > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,372,361 B2 - Document ID: US10372361B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/121,136 - Filed: 2014-02-27 - Published: 2017-08-03 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-27 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Inventors: Ryota Tsujio; Tetsuro Kato; Yasunori Ido - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10372361B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0631: {by allocating resources to storage systems} - G06F 3/061: {Improving I/O performance} - G06F 3/0619: {in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors} - G06F 3/0647: {Migration mechanisms} - G06F 3/0685: {Hybrid storage combining heterogeneous device types, e.g. hierarchical storage, hybrid arrays} - G06F 11/142: {Reconfiguring to eliminate the error (group management mechanisms in a peer-to-peer network H04L67/1044)} - G06F 11/1428: {with loss of hardware functionality} - G06F 11/1441: {Resetting or repowering} - G06F 12/0866: for peripheral storage systems, e.g. disk cache - H04L 45/742: {Route cache; Operation thereof} - G06F 2212/261: Storage comprising a plurality of storage devices - G06F 2212/285: Redundant cache memory - G06F 2212/313: In storage device - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A memory system includes a plurality of volatile memory modules to temporarily store data in a distributed manner, a V storing place management unit included in each of the volatile memory modules, a plurality of nonvolatile memory modules to store the data stored in each of the volatile memory modules in a distributed manner, and a NV storing place management unit included in each of the nonvolatile memory modules. Each V storing place management unit and each NV storing place management unit communicate and determine the destination nonvolatile memory module for each volatile memory module. The data is transmitted to the determined destination nonvolatile memory module and stored in the destination nonvolatile memory module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A data storage device comprising: a plurality of first memory modules to temporarily store data, each of the plurality of first memory modules including a first storing place manager and volatile semiconductor memory; and a plurality of second memory modules to store data stored in each of the first memory modules, each of the plurality of second memory modules including a second storing place manager and non-volatile semiconductor memory, wherein the first storing place managers included in the first memory modules and the second storing place managers included in the second memory modules communicate and determine, for each first memory module storing data, a destination second memory module as a destination of the data, the first storing place manager of each of the first memory modules transmits a living confirmation message and a connection request message to each of the second memory modules, each of the second storing place managers included in the second memory modules transmits, to the first storing place manager of each of the first memory modules, a connection acceptance message indicating an acceptance to be the destination second memory module, and each of the first memory modules transmits the data to a corresponding destination second memory module determined as the destination of data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the first storing place manager transmits the connection request message including a number of responses to the living confirmation message received. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The data storage device according to claim 2, wherein each of the second storing place managers transmits the connection acceptance message to the first storing place manager having a smallest number of received responses, and when the connection acceptance message has already been transmitted to the first storing place manager and the connection request message is received from the first storing place manager having the smallest number of received responses, transmits the connection acceptance message to the first storing place manager having the smallest number of received responses and transmits a connection withdrawal message to withdraw to be the destination second memory module to the first storing place manager to which the connection acceptance message has already been transmitted, and the first storing place manager restarts transmission of the connection request message upon receiving the connection withdrawal message. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the second memory modules include at least one secondary module in a stand-by state for back-up, and when there is a second memory module which has not responded to the living confirmation message, the first storing place manager transmits an activation message to the at least one second memory module in the stand-by state and causes the at least one second memory module in the stand-by state to be operational. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the first memory modules include at least one first memory module in a stand-by state for back-up, and each of the second storing place manager transmits a living confirmation message to each of the first memory modules and, when there is the first memory module which has not responded to the living confirmation message, transmits an activation message to the at least one first memory module in the stand-by state to cause the at least one first memory module in the stand-by state to be operational. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The data storage device according to claim 1, wherein first memory modules are connected to fewer than all of the second memory modules. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The data storage device according to claim 1, wherein the volatile semiconductor memory includes DRAM memory, and the non-volatile semiconductor memory includes FLASH memory.