Storage and access of neural network outputs in automotive predictive maintenance

A vehicle, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• at least one sensor configured to generate a sensor data stream;
• and
• a data storage device, having:
• a host interface configured to receive the sensor data stream;
• non-volatile memory configured into a plurality of partitions, the partitions respectively having different sets of memory operation settings configured for different types of data related to an artificial neural network, wherein the partitions include an output partition configured to store output data from the artificial neural network;
• a controller configured to operate memory units in the partitions according to the sets of memory operation settings;
• and
• a neural network accelerator configured to generate the output data in the output partition;
• wherein the controller is configured to report, to the at least one processor, availability of the output data in response to the neural network accelerator completing computation of the output data.

A method, comprising:

• configuring non-volatile memory of a data storage device into a plurality of partitions;
• storing, for the partitions respectively, different sets of memory operation settings for different types of data related to an artificial neural network, wherein the partitions include an output partition configured to store output data from the artificial neural network;
• receiving, in the data storage device, a sensor data stream generated via at least one sensor configured on a vehicle;
• operating memory units in the partitions according to the sets of memory operation settings in response to the sensor data stream;
• generating, in the output partition in the data storage device, the output data;
• saving the output data in a buffer of the data storage device;
• providing a response to a processor of the vehicle to identify availability of the output data;
• communicating the output data to the processor;
• storing the output data into the output partition;
• and
• predicting, using the artificial neural network, a maintenance service of the vehicle based on the sensor data stream.