Methods and devices for avoiding lower page corruption in data storage devices

A data storage device controller, comprising:

• a processor configured to couple to a buffer comprising non-volatile memory and to a plurality of Multi-Level Cell (MLC) non-volatile memory devices that comprise a plurality of lower pages and a corresponding plurality of higher-order pages, the buffer being separate from the plurality of MLC non-volatile memory devices, the processor being further configured to:
• read data from the plurality of lower pages and the corresponding plurality of higher-order pages;
• and
• write data to the plurality of lower pages and the corresponding plurality of higher-order pages by at least:
• accumulating data to be written to the MLC non-volatile memory devices;
• allocating, space in the buffer and writing the accumulated data to the allocated space in the buffer;
• writing at least a portion of the accumulated data in a lower page of the MLC non-volatile memory devices;
• detecting a loss of power;
• reading data from the buffer and writing at least a portion of the read data to the MLC non volatile memory devices after power is restored to the data storage device subsequent to detecting the loss of power;
• and
• de-allocating space in the buffer that stores data written to the lower page when all higher-order pages corresponding to the tower page have been written in the MLC non-volatile memory devices.

A method of controlling a data storage device, the data storage device comprising a buffer comprising non-volatile memory and a plurality of Multi-Level Cell (MLC) non-volatile memory devices that comprise a plurality of lower pages and a corresponding plurality of higher-order pages, the buffer being separate from the plurality of MLC non-volatile memory devices, the method comprising:

• reading data from the plurality of lower pages and the corresponding plurality of higher-order pages;
• and
• writing, data to the plurality of lower pages and the corresponding plurality of higher-order pages by at least:
• accumulating data to be written to the MLC non-volatile memory devices;
• allocating space in the separate buffer and writing the accumulated data to the allocated space in the separate buffer;
• writing at least a portion of the accumulated data in a lower page of the MLC non-volatile memory devices;
• detecting a loss of power;
• reading data from the separate buffer and writing at least a portion of the read data to the MLC non-volatile memory devices after power is restored to the data storage device subsequent to detecting the loss of power;
• and
• de-allocating space in the separate buffer that stores data written to the lower page when all higher-order pages corresponding to the lower page have been written in the MLC non-volatile memory devices.