End of life prediction of flash memory

Abstract

Disclosed are a method, electronic device, and computer readable medium for determining an end-of-life stage of the flash memory. The method comprises detecting at least one life cycle event associated with a flash memory residing on an electronic device A counter that is associated with the life cycle event is then incremented. Based on the counter, a total number of occurrences for the one life cycle event is determined. The total number of occurrences for the at least one given threshold are also determined. A current life cycle stage of the flash memory is identified based at least in part on the determining if the total number of occurrences exceeds at least one given threshold. The life cycle stage is associated with the at least one given threshold. A user is then notified of the life cycle state of the flash memory.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention generally relates to the field of memory devices, and more particularly relates to end of life prediction for flash memory.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Flash memory provides non-volatile memory where blocks (which include multiple locations) of flash memory are erasable in a flash operation. Flash memory comprises cells, which are an array of floating gate transistors, for storing information. Traditionally one bit of information can be stored in each cell. However, some flash memory devices such as multi-cell memory devices can store more than one bit per cell. Two well-known types of circuitry that are present in flash memory cells are NAND and NOR.[0003]Flash memory is currently limited by the fact that it has a finite number of erase-write cycles. Current flash memory does not have a way to notify a user of its erase-write cycle life is being approached or has been exceeded. In other words, users are not able to predict when ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]One advantage of the present invention is that a user is notified when a flash memory device is reaching its end-of-life cycle. The device itself can include a notification means such as LED lights, an audible notification, and the like so that a user can be notified by the device when it is reaching its end-of-life cycle. Additionally, the end-of-life cycle of a flash memory can be monitored by another device such as a computer system housing the flash memory. Physical hardware and / or software on the external device can monitor the flash memory so that a user can be notified when the flash memory's end-of-life cycle is approaching or has been exceeded. Accordingly, a user can transfer critical data off of the flash memory prior to the memory failing.

is that a user is notified when a flash memory device is reaching its end-of-life cycle. The device itself can include a notification means such as LED lights, an audible notification, and the like so that a user can be notified by the device when it is reaching its end-of-life cycle. Additionally, the end-of-life cycle of a flash memory can be monitored by another device such as a computer system housing the flash memory. Physical hardware and / or software on the external device can monitor the flash memory so that a user can be notified when the flash memory's end-of-life cycle is approaching or has been exceeded. Accordingly, a user can transfer critical data off of the flash memory prior to the memory failing.

Problems solved by technology

Flash memory is currently limited by the fact that it has a finite number of erase-write cycles.

Current flash memory does not have a way to notify a user of its erase-write cycle life is being approached or has been exceeded.

In other words, users are not able to predict when their flash memory devices are about to fail.

When a flash memory device fails, the device is inoperable and any data stored on the device is lost or corrupted.

Without being informed of a possible device failure, a user may continue to store critical information on the flash memory, which will be lost when the flash memory device fails.

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