Controller Buffer Management for Read Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Memory systems face performance degradation and complexity issues due to the need to determine whether data is being buffered in the write buffer before performing read operations, leading to increased latency in responding to read commands.
Innovation Solution
A controller with a buffer management unit that compares address information from read commands with the write buffer's address information to determine if data is being buffered, allowing for immediate data retrieval from the read buffer when necessary, thereby minimizing latency and optimizing memory system efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the controller determines whether data is being buffered in the write buffer before performing read operations, then data accuracy is improved, but read operation latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer management unit performs preliminary determination of whether data is being buffered in the write buffer before the read operation proceeds. By checking the buffering status in advance and preparing the data transfer path beforehand, the system ensures data accuracy while minimizing the actual read latency experienced by the host.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer management unit acts as an intermediary between the read command and the data retrieval process. It determines whether data is being buffered and manages the data flow accordingly, either from the write buffer or by triggering a read operation from the memory device, thus resolving the contradiction between ensuring data accuracy and minimizing latency.
2Measurement precision
If the controller checks address information to determine buffered data status, then data retrieval accuracy is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer management unit autonomously manages the address information comparison and determines whether data is being buffered without requiring complex external control logic. By self-managing the address matching process and data routing decisions, the system achieves accurate data retrieval while keeping the overall control complexity manageable.
3Reliability
If the controller uses separate read buffer and write buffer, then data processing reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer management unit manages both the read buffer and write buffer, enabling a single buffer structure to serve multiple functions. The same buffer can act as a write buffer when receiving data and as a read buffer when providing data to the host, reducing the need for completely separate buffer structures while maintaining data processing reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller includes: a first buffer suitable for buffering data read from a memory device; a second buffer suitable for buffering data to be written into the memory device; a processor suitable for, in response to a read command, controlling the memory device to read data therefrom and the first buffer to buffer the read data; and a buffer management unit suitable for, in response to the read command, providing the buffered data of the first buffer when the second buffer does not currently buffer data to be read.