Memory Controller Folding for Partial Block Stripe Garbage Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional memory systems face inefficiencies in performing garbage collection and folding operations due to the need to analyze and fold entire block stripes, consuming significant resources and time, especially when only portions of the block stripes contain valid data.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a memory controller that utilizes a Valid Translational Unit Count (VTC) table to selectively perform folding operations on specific portions of block stripes based on the quantity of valid translational units, reducing the need to analyze and fold entire block stripes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If folding operations are performed on entire block stripes, then data integrity is ensured, but operational efficiency deteriorates due to analyzing and folding all portions including invalid data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a block stripe into multiple portions and maintains a Valid Translational Unit Count (VTC) table that tracks the number of valid translational units in each portion. This segmentation allows the system to identify and process only those portions containing valid data, rather than analyzing entire block stripes. The VTC table enables selective folding operations on specific portions based on their validity status, thereby improving operational efficiency while ensuring data integrity for valid portions.
2Reliability
If folding operations are performed on entire block stripes, then all data is processed uniformly, but resource consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by performing folding operations only on portions of block stripes that contain valid data, as indicated by the VTC table. Instead of uniformly processing entire block stripes, the system applies folding operations selectively to specific portions where needed. This partial processing approach maintains reliability for valid data while significantly reducing resource consumption by avoiding unnecessary operations on invalid or empty portions.
3Ease of operation
If conventional folding operations are used, then simplicity is maintained, but operational complexity increases due to unnecessary processing of invalid data portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing the Valid Translational Unit Count (VTC) for each portion of a block stripe in a VTC table before folding operations are performed. This preliminary information about data validity allows the system to quickly identify which portions require processing without performing complex analysis during the folding operation itself. The VTC table is maintained and updated in advance, enabling simple selective processing based on pre-computed validity information.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure configure a memory sub-system controller to fold data based on valid translational unit count (VTC) values in a memory sub-system. The controller receives a request to perform a folding operation on data stored in an individual block stripe of the set of memory components. The controller retrieves, from a VTC table, a plurality of VTC values corresponding to a plurality of portions of the individual block stripe. The controller compares a first VTC value of the plurality of VTC values associated with a first of the plurality of portions to a second VTC value of the plurality of VTC values associated with a second of the plurality of portions. The controller performs the folding operation on a subset of the plurality of portions based on a result of comparing the first VTC value to the second VTC value.