System and method for managing storage device caching

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for caching data according to user-selected caching modes. In an embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a controller configured to pin data from a non-volatile storage medium to a data cache based on at least one user-selectable caching mode. In another embodiment, a device may comprise a processor configured to display a graphical user interface (GUI) at a display, and receive, from the GUI, an indication of a user selection of a data caching mode that determines which data to pin from a non-volatile memory of a data storage device to a data cache of the data storage device. The processor may be configured to then send an indication of the user selection of the data caching mode to the data storage device.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a controller configured to pin data from a non-volatile storage medium to a data cache based on at least one user-selectable caching mode.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising the at least one user-selectable caching mode includes:
 one or more caching modes that are modified based on cache statistical results.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the data cache includes a non-volatile cache; and   the at least one user-selectable caching mode includes an active caching mode configured to pin all data requested by a host from the non-volatile memory to the data cache.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising the controller configured to:
 implement the at least one user-selectable caching mode based on input received at a user interface; and   purge data from the data cache based on input received at the user interface.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising the user interface includes a display unit configured to display information relating to cache pinning operations performed by the controller. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the data cache;   a user interface configured to allow a user to select the at least one user-selectable caching mode; and   a housing for retaining the data cache, the controller, and the user interface.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the controller further configured to pin data based on read commands received from a host device; and   the at least one user-selectable caching mode is selectable in a manner that is independent of the host device.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 the controller configured to receive data from the host including an indication of a selection of a user-selectable caching mode.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 the controller configured to transmit statistics relating to cache pinning operations to the host for display on a graphical user interface.   
     
     
         10 . A device comprising:
 a processor configured to:
 initiate a display of a graphical user interface (GUI); 
 receive, from the GUI, an indication of a user selection of a data caching mode that determines which data to pin from a non-volatile memory of a data storage device to a data cache of the data storage device; and 
 send an indication of the user selection of the data caching mode to the data storage device. 
   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising the processor configured to:
 display a list of available data caching modes via the GUI.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising the processor configured to:
 provide tools allowing a user to generate user-defined caching modes via the GUI; and   send the user-defined caching modes to the data storage device for storage to the non-volatile memory.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising the processor configured to:
 display caching statistics received from the data storage device via the GUI.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , further comprising the processor configured to:
 receive instructions from a user via the GUI to remove specific data from the data cache; and   send the instructions to remove specific data to the data storage device.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 the specific data is specified based on file name, block numbers, or based on a threshold number of cache hits.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10 , the processor further configured to:
 receive instructions from a user via the GUI to pin selected data to the data cache; and   send the instructions to pin the selected data to the data storage device.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , the processor further configured to:
 display a list of data related to the selected data to the user via the GUI;   receive a selection to pin the related data from a user via the GUI; and   send the selected related data to the data storage device.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 the selected data includes an application, and the related data includes data files associated with the application.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 the selected data includes a data file, and the related data includes an application associated with the data file.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 the selected data includes a first data file, and the related data includes other data files related to the first data file.   
     
     
         21 . A data storage memory device storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method comprising:
 pinning data from a non-volatile memory to a data cache based on at least one user-selectable caching mode.   
     
     
         22 . The data storage memory device of  claim 21 , the method further comprising:
 purging data selected by a user from the data cache.   
     
     
         23 . The data storage memory device of  claim 21 , the method further comprising:
 pinning specific data identified by a user to the data cache.