US 11,082,449 B2 · Remote memory diagnostics

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for diagnosing the health of a plurality of memory cells in a memory array. Diagnostics are initiated from a remote server via an encrypted channel on the memory device embedded in an end-use system. The memory device includes a plurality of memory cells in a memory array. At the remote server, encrypted diagnostics data is received in response to execution of a diagnostics program by the memory device on the plurality of memory cells. The diagnostics data pertains to the health of the memory cells. The encrypted diagnostics data is decrypted into decrypted diagnostics data and the decrypted diagnostics data is analyzed to determine the health of the memory cells. Failure mitigation is performed for the memory device if the analyzing indicates unhealthy memory cells.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A system, comprising:

a memory device comprising a memory array having a plurality of memory cells and a crypto subsystem for performing encryption and decryption of diagnostic data;
and
a processor coupled with the memory array and crypto subsystem, wherein either a same integrated circuit (IC) device comprises the processor and the memory device or the processor is a separate IC device mounted on a same printed circuit board as the memory device, the processor being configured to receive encrypted diagnostic data from the crypto subsystem and communicate such encrypted diagnostic data to a remote server while the IC is embedded in an end-user system, wherein the encrypted diagnostic data pertains to the health of the memory cells of the memory array, wherein the encrypted diagnostic data is received and communicated to the remote server after receiving at the system a test mode command for instructing the memory device to switch to test mode prior to receiving an encrypted diagnostics program at the system.

A method of diagnosing the health of a memory device, the method comprising:

from a remote server, initiating diagnostics via an encrypted channel on the memory device embedded in an end-use system, wherein the memory device includes a plurality of memory cells in a memory array, wherein the initiating diagnostics comprises:
by the remote server, sending a test mode command for instructing the memory device to switch to test mode prior to sending an encrypted diagnostics program to the memory device, and
appending a TCP/IP (transport control protocol/internet protocol) header to the encrypted diagnostics program prior to sending it to the memory device, wherein the TCP/IP header is replaced with a bus protocol header by a bridge driver device prior to being received by the memory device:
and
at the remote server, receiving encrypted diagnostics data in response to execution of the diagnostics program by the memory device on the plurality of memory cells, wherein the diagnostics data pertains to the health of the plurality of memory cells, wherein the encrypted diagnostics data is appended with a secure protocol header that is appended with a TCP/IP header with which the bridge driver device, coupled with the memory device, has replaced a bus protocol header prior to sending such encrypted diagnostic data to the remote server.

2 more elements

At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer program instructions stored thereon that are arranged to perform the following operations:

from a remote server, initiating diagnostics via an encrypted channel on a memory device embedded in an end-use system, wherein the initiating diagnostics comprises:
by the remote server, sending a test mode command for instructing the memory device to switch to test mode prior to sending an encrypted diagnostics program to the memory device, and
appending a TCP/IP (transport control protocol/internet protocol) header to the encrypted diagnostics program prior to sending it to the memory device, wherein the TCP/IP header is replaced with a bus protocol header by a bridge driver device prior to being received by the memory device:
and
at the remote server, receiving encrypted diagnostics data in response to execution of the diagnostics program by the memory device on a plurality of memory cells in an array of the memory device, wherein the diagnostics data pertains to the health of the plurality of memory cells, wherein the encrypted diagnostics data is appended with a secure protocol header that is appended with a TCP/IP header with which the bridge driver device replaced a bus protocol header prior to sending such encrypted diagnostic data to the remote server.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Remote memory diagnostics

Life of this patent

Remote memory diagnostics

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21