Buffer device with low-latency skid mode for data freshness

A memory module, comprising:

• memory;
• and
• a buffer integrated circuit (IC) chip, comprising:
• circuitry to receive a read command from a host to retrieve read data from the memory;
• authentication circuitry to perform a freshness verification operation on the read data;
• and
• forwarding circuitry, in a skid mode of operation, to transmit at least a portion of the read data to the host prior to completion of the freshness verification operation.

A memory module, comprising:

• a memory device;
• and
• a buffer device comprising:
• circuitry to receive a request from a host to retrieve read data from the memory device;
• authentication circuitry to perform a data freshness verification operation on the read data, the data freshness verification operation based on verifying a count value that corresponds to a number of authorized write operations for previously written write data corresponding to the read data;
• and
• forwarding circuitry that is operable in a first mode of operation to transmit at least a portion of the read data to the host prior to completion of the freshness verification operation, the forwarding circuitry operable in a second mode of operation to withhold transmitting the read data to the host until completion of the data freshness verification operation.

A method of operation in a memory module, the memory module comprising a memory device and a buffer device, the buffer device comprising circuitry to receive a request from a host, the request comprising at least one read command to retrieve read data from the memory device, the method comprising:

• operating the buffer device in a skid mode of operation for data freshness verifications;
• verifying data freshness for retrieved read data;
• and
• transmitting at least a portion of the read data to the host prior to completing the verifying of data freshness.