Buffer memory reservation techniques for use with a NAND flash memory

A data storage device comprising:

• a NAND flash memory array;
• a buffer memory;
• and
• a memory controller, the memory controller configured to:
• receive a read/write request from a host, the read/write request corresponding to a plurality of data transfer requests between the host and the NAND flash memory array;
• dynamically reserve, responsive to the read/write request, a plurality of buffer regions from the buffer memory;
• assign a dynamic buffer group index (DBGI) to each reserved buffer region;
• associate the DBGI with the read/write request;
• receive at least one of the plurality of data transfer requests;
• associate the DBGI with the at least one data transfer requests between the host and the NAND flash memory array;
• select one or more reserved buffer regions having been assigned the DBGI;
• and
• execute the at least one data transfer request between the NAND flash memory array and the host, using the selected one or more reserved buffer regions.

A method comprising:

• receiving, at a memory controller, from a host, a request to read a data block from a memory;
• performing a sense operation, in response to a sense command, on a first portion of a NAND flash memory, the first portion being within the data block and substantially smaller than the data block;
• preparing first results of the sense operation for transfer to the host;
• reserving a first region of a buffer, the reserved buffer region being at least as large as the first portion and substantially smaller than the data block;
• storing the first results in the reserved buffer region;
• and
• transferring the first results from the reserved buffer region to the host.

A memory device comprising:

• a NAND flash memory array;
• a buffer memory;
• and
• a memory controller, the memory controller configured to:
• receive, from a host, a request to read a data block from the NAND flash memory array;
• perform a sense operation, in response to a sense command, on a first portion of the NAND flash memory array, the first portion being within the data block and substantially smaller than the data block;
• prepare first results of the sense operation for transfer to the host;
• reserve a first region of a buffer, the reserved buffer region being at least as large as the first portion and substantially smaller than the data block;
• store the first results in the reserved buffer region;
• and
• transfer the first results from the reserved buffer region to the host.