# US 7,609,564 B2 · Systems and techniques for non-volatile memory buffering > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,609,564 B2 - Document ID: US7609564B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/323,551 - Filed: 2005-12-31 - Published: 2007-07-05 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2005-12-31 - Assignees: Intel Corporation - Inventors: Kirk Blum - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609564B2 ## CPC - G11C 16/102: {External programming circuits, e.g. EPROM programmers; In-circuit programming or reprogramming; EPROM emulators} - G06F 12/0246: {in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory} - G06F 2212/7203: Temporary buffering, e.g. using volatile buffer or dedicated buffer blocks - G11C: STATIC STORES (semiconductor memory devices H10B) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An apparatus, system, method, and article for non-volatile memory buffering are described. The apparatus may include a data storage manager to store a data item in a rewritable non-volatile memory buffer. The data item may have a file size less than or equal to a threshold value. The rewritable non-volatile memory buffer may include one or more rewritable memory regions configured to store the data item. Other embodiments are described and claimed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a data storage manager to store a data item in a non-volatile memory buffer, said data item comprising a file size less than or equal to a threshold value, said non-volatile memory buffer comprising a rewritable non-volatile memory buffer including one or more rewritable memory regions configured to store said data item, each of said one more rewritable memory regions having a data storage capacity comprising a portion of a full data storage capacity of said non-volatile memory buffer, said data storage manager to mark said non-volatile memory buffer to reclaim free space when a data capacity threshold of said non-volatile memory buffer has been met. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, said data storage manager to store multiple data items in said non-volatile memory buffer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, said data storage manager to copy contents of said non-volatile memory buffer to a separate memory location. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a non-volatile memory to implement said non-volatile memory buffer. ### Claim 5 A system comprising: an operating system; and a data storage manager to integrate with said operating system, said data storage manager to store a data item in a non-volatile memory buffer, said data item comprising a file size less than or equal to a threshold value, said non-volatile memory buffer comprising a rewritable non-volatile memory buffer including one or more rewritable memory regions configured to store said data item, each of said one more rewritable memory regions having a data storage capacity comprising a portion of a full data storage capacity of said non-volatile memory buffer, said data storage manager to mark or initiate a process on said non-volatile memory buffer to reclaim free space when a data capacity threshold of said non-volatile memory buffer has been met. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, said data storage manager to store multiple data items in said non-volatile memory buffer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, said data storage manager to copy contents of said non-volatile memory buffer to a separate memory location. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, further comprising a non-volatile memory to implement said non-volatile memory buffer. ### Claim 9 A method, comprising: receiving a data item comprising a file size less than or equal to a threshold value; storing said data item in a non-volatile memory buffer, said non-volatile memory buffer comprising a rewritable non-volatile memory buffer including one or more rewritable memory regions configured to store said data item, each of said one more rewritable memory regions having a data storage capacity comprising a portion of a full data storage capacity of said non-volatile memory buffer; and marking said non-volatile memory buffer to reclaim free space when a data capacity threshold of said non-volatile memory buffer has been met. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising storing multiple data items in said non-volatile memory buffer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising copying contents of said non-volatile memory buffer to a separate memory location. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising allocating said non- volatile memory buffer in non-volatile memory. ### Claim 13 An article comprising a machine-readable storage medium containing instructions that if executed enable a system to: receive a data item comprising a file size less than or equal to a threshold value; and store said data item in a non-volatile memory buffer, said non-volatile memory buffer comprising a rewritable non-volatile memory buffer including one or more rewritable memory regions configured to store said data item, each of said one more rewritable memory regions having a data storage capacity comprising a portion of a full data storage capacity of said non-volatile memory buffer: and mark or initiate a process on said non-volatile memory buffer to reclaim free space when a data capacity threshold of said non-volatile memory buffer has been met. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The article of claim 13, further comprising instructions that if executed enable a system to store multiple data items in said non-volatile memory buffer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The article of claim 13, further comprising instructions that if executed enable a system to copy contents of said non-volatile memory buffer to a separate memory location. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The article of claim 13, further comprising instructions that if executed enable a system to allocate said non-volatile memory buffer in non-volatile memory.