Memory Controller Buffer Prefetching Across Interleaved Storage Groups
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current memory systems face inefficiencies in prefetching data from non-volatile memory cell arrays, particularly in responding to sequential read requests, as they often require direct access to the memory cell array, which can slow down response times.
Innovation Solution
The memory system employs a bank interleaving method with two parallel operation elements, each comprising a non-volatile memory cell array and a buffer, allowing the memory controller to prefetch data from one storage region to the buffer while accessing another, thereby improving prefetching efficiency and reducing direct access needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If data is read directly from the non-volatile memory cell array in response to host requests, then data access is performed, but response time is slow and prefetching efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The memory controller performs preliminary prefetching operations by reading data from the non-volatile memory cell array and storing it in the buffer memory in advance, before the host actually requests the data. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare data proactively, reducing the response time when the host subsequently requests the prefetched data.
Solution Approach 2:
A buffer memory is introduced as an intermediary component between the non-volatile memory cell array and the host. The buffer memory temporarily stores prefetched data, acting as a mediator that decouples the slow direct access path from the fast data delivery path, thereby improving response time without requiring direct access to the non-volatile memory for every host request.
2Productivity
If prefetching is performed from the non-volatile memory cell array, then data can be prepared in advance, but direct access to the memory cell array is required which slows down the process
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary prefetching actions by proactively reading data from the non-volatile memory cell array and storing it in the buffer memory before host requests are made. This preliminary action enables the system to prepare data in advance during idle periods or based on prediction algorithms, improving prefetching efficiency without impacting the speed of actual host data access operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer memory serves as an intermediary that absorbs the speed penalty of accessing the non-volatile memory cell array during prefetching operations. By separating the prefetching path from the host access path, the buffer allows efficient data preparation in advance while maintaining fast response times for host requests, thereby improving overall prefetching efficiency without sacrificing speed.
3Reliability
If error correction frames are implemented across multiple physical blocks, then data reliability is improved, but the complexity of data organization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data storage structure is segmented into multiple physical blocks, with each block containing a portion of the error correction frame. This segmentation allows the error correction capability to be distributed across multiple blocks, improving reliability through redundancy while organizing data in manageable segments that can be independently accessed and managed.
Solution Approach 2:
The error correction frame structure is designed to be universal and reusable across multiple physical blocks. The same error correction encoding and data organization pattern is applied consistently across different blocks, allowing the system to improve reliability through repeated application of the same proven structure rather than creating complex custom solutions for each block.
Data Source
AI summary
A memory system includes a memory and a memory controller. The memory includes first and second parallel operation elements, each including a plurality of first and second storage regions, respectively, and first and second buffers, respectively. The memory controller performs operations on the memory based on first and second group information. The first group information defines first groups, each first group including one first storage region and one second storage region, and each second group including at least two first groups. The memory controller, in response to a host command targeting a first storage region, (i) acquires first data from the first buffer, and thereafter (ii) causes the memory to read out second data to the first buffer. The first storage region storing the first data and the second storage region storing the second data belong to different first groups and to the same second group.