Buffer Memory Management for Non-Volatile Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The frequent access and modification of management information in rewritable non-volatile memory modules, such as during garbage collection and host write operations, lead to increased wear and reduced lifespan of these modules due to write amplification.
Innovation Solution
A memory management method that involves recording updating data from host write operations and data merge operations in a buffer memory, allowing for periodic updating of management information from the rewritable non-volatile memory module, thereby reducing the number of direct accesses and minimizing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If management information is frequently accessed and modified during garbage collection and host write operations, then data management functionality is improved, but wear of the rewritable non-volatile memory module increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a buffer memory as an intermediary between the host system and the rewritable non-volatile memory module. Management information is cached in the buffer memory, allowing frequent updates and accesses to occur in the buffer without directly affecting the non-volatile memory. This mediator layer decouples the high-frequency management operations from the wear-prone non-volatile memory, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of management information in the buffer memory that can be freely updated without modifying the original in the non-volatile memory. This copying approach allows the system to perform multiple read/write operations on the management information copy while the original remains intact, reducing wear on the non-volatile memory module while maintaining full data management functionality.
2Quantity of substance
If the number of spare physical units is insufficient, then storage capacity is maximized, but garbage collection operations must be performed more frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by proactively managing spare physical units and performing garbage collection operations before the memory becomes fully utilized. The buffer memory tracks management information and can initiate garbage collection in advance, preventing the need for frequent emergency garbage collection operations that would otherwise be required when spare units are depleted.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer memory serves as an intermediary that tracks and manages spare physical unit status, allowing the system to optimize garbage collection timing and reduce its frequency. By maintaining management information in the buffer, the system can make informed decisions about when to perform garbage collection, balancing storage capacity utilization with operational efficiency.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If write amplification is reduced by minimizing accesses to rewritable non-volatile memory, then memory lifespan is extended, but data update responsiveness may be degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer memory acts as a high-speed intermediary that handles data updates rapidly without requiring immediate writes to the non-volatile memory. This allows the system to maintain fast data update responsiveness in the buffer while batch processing or asynchronously writing to the non-volatile memory, thus extending its lifespan without sacrificing update speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by batch-processing management information updates to the non-volatile memory at intervals rather than immediately for each update. This periodic synchronization approach allows frequent updates to occur in the high-speed buffer while reducing the frequency of writes to the non-volatile memory, extending its lifespan while maintaining responsive data updates through the buffer.
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure provide a memory management method for a rewritable non-volatile memory module including the following steps. A host write operation is performed to receive a write command from a host system and store a first data corresponding to the write command to a first physical unit. A first updating data corresponding to the host write operation is recorded. A data merge operation is performed to read a second data from a second physical unit and store the second data to a third physical unit. A second updating data corresponding to the data merge operation is recorded. A management information is read from the rewritable non-volatile memory module to a buffer memory and updated in the buffer memory according to the first updating data and the second updating data.