Auto-Commit Memory Power Management for Data Integrity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data management systems face challenges in ensuring data integrity and preventing corruption during unexpected power failures in solid-state storage devices, as data may not be fully committed to nonvolatile memory before power loss, leading to potential data loss and corruption.

Innovation Solution

A system with a power management apparatus that includes a secondary power supply and a power management module, which initiates a power loss mode to flush data from volatile memory to nonvolatile memory and terminate non-essential operations, ensuring essential data is committed and maintaining data integrity during power disruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If data is stored in volatile memory for fast access, then speed is improved, but data integrity deteriorates during power failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata access speedVSAvoiddata integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring power supply status and preparing to flush volatile memory data to non-volatile memory before power failure occurs. The power management module detects power anomalies and initiates data preservation procedures in advance, ensuring that critical data is committed to non-volatile storage before the power loss becomes irreversible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a power management module as an intermediary between the volatile memory system and the power supply. This module acts as a mediator that monitors power status, manages the flushing process from volatile to non-volatile memory, and coordinates the termination of non-essential operations, thereby protecting data integrity without compromising the speed benefits of volatile memory.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If data flushing is initiated during power failure, then data integrity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidpower management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power management module performs multiple functions within a single integrated component: it monitors power supply status, initiates data flushing from volatile to non-volatile memory, terminates non-essential operations, and manages the overall power failure response. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving comprehensive data protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If non-essential operations are terminated during power failure, then data integrity is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidoperational throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts its operational state based on power supply conditions. During normal operation, all functions operate at full capacity to maintain productivity. When power failure is detected, the system dynamically transitions to a power loss mode where non-essential operations are terminated while essential data flushing operations are prioritized. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize for data integrity when needed while maintaining productivity during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2652623B1Apparatus, system, and method for auto-commit memory
Publication Date: 2018.08.01 SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • EP2652623B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2652623B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2652623B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An auto-commit memory is capable of implementing a pre-configured, triggered commit action in response to a failure condition, such as a loss of power, invalid shutdown, fault, or the like. A computing device may access the auto-commit memory using memory access semantics (using a memory mapping mechanism or the like), bypassing system calls typically required in virtual memory operations. Since the auto-commit memory is pre-configured to commit data stored thereon in the event of a failure, users of the auto-commit memory may view these memory semantic operations as being instantly committed. Since operations to commit the data are taken out of the write-commit path, the performance of applications that are write-commit bound may be significantly improved.