Metadata-based operations for use with solid state devices

A controller for use with a non-volatile memory (NVM) array, the controller comprising:

• a metadata extraction controller configured to extract metadata from memory access commands received from a host device;
• a hint derivation controller configured to derive a hint from the metadata;
• a host behavior determination controller configured to determine host device behavior for the commands;
• a correlation controller configured to correlate the host device behavior with the hint derived from the metadata by determining a degree of correlation between the host device behavior and the hint based on a ratio value derived from occurrences of the hint within the memory access commands and occurrences of a predetermined indicator of host device behavior;
• and
• a hint reliability determination controller configured to determine whether the host device behavior remains consistent with the hint derived from the metadata.

A method for use by a controller coupled to a non-volatile memory (NVM) array, the method comprising:

• extracting metadata from memory access commands received from a host device;
• deriving a hint from the metadata;
• controlling NVM access operations based on the hint;
• determining a degree of correlation between host device behavior and the hint based on a ratio value derived from occurrences of the hint within the memory access commands and occurrences of a predetermined indicator of host device behavior;
• and
• adjusting control of the NVM access operations based on the degree of correlation.

A data storage apparatus, comprising:

• means for extracting metadata from commands obtained from a host device;
• means for deriving hints from the metadata of the commands;
• means for tracking host device behavior associated with the commands;
• means for correlating the host device behavior with the hints based on a ratio value derived from occurrences of the hints within the commands and occurrences of predetermined indicators of host device behavior;
• means for controlling memory access operations to a non-volatile memory (NVM) array based on the hints;
• means for determining whether the host device behavior remains consistent with the hints derived from the metadata;
• and
• means for suspending control of the memory access operations based on the hints if the host device behavior no longer remains correlated with the hints.