Controller Map Data Management Circuit for Storage Systems
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing storage devices face challenges in synchronizing map data between host devices and storage devices due to differing storage region sizes, which affects response speed and efficiency in data operations.
Innovation Solution
A memory system with a controller that includes a map data management circuit to cache and transmit map segments with high reference counts to the host device, optimizing data synchronization and reducing processing time by caching and managing map data segments effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If map data is cached in the controller's device memory, then response speed is improved, but memory allocation and management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides map data into multiple segments and organizes them into map segment groups. The device memory is divided into a cache area for storing these segments. By segmenting the map data and using reference counts to track usage, the system can efficiently manage cached data without overwhelming complexity in memory allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic memory management through reference counting mechanisms. When reference counts change, the system automatically adjusts which map segments are cached or evicted from the device memory. This dynamic approach allows the cache to adapt to changing access patterns without manual intervention, improving response speed while keeping management complexity manageable through automated rules.
2Reliability
If map data storage region sizes are synchronized between storage device and host device, then data consistency is improved, but communication overhead and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of map data segments in the controller's device memory cache area. This cached copy allows the host device to access frequently used mapping information quickly without requiring continuous synchronization with the storage device. The reference count mechanism ensures data consistency by tracking when cached copies need to be updated or invalidated.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-loads map data segments into the device memory cache before they are actually needed by the host device. By anticipating future access patterns and caching relevant segments in advance, the system reduces synchronization time and improves response speed while maintaining data consistency through the reference counting system.
3Reliability
If all map segments are transmitted to the host device, then data completeness is improved, but transmission bandwidth and processing resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary map data segments from the complete map data and transmits them to the host device. By using reference counts to identify which segments are actually needed, the system extracts and transmits only those segments with high reference counts, avoiding unnecessary transmission of complete but unused data. This improves transmission efficiency while maintaining data completeness for accessed regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different transmission strategies to different map data segments based on their reference counts. High-reference-count segments are cached and transmitted to the host, while low-reference-count segments remain in the storage device. This local quality approach ensures that each segment receives appropriate treatment based on its actual usage needs, optimizing both data completeness and transmission efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A memory system may include a storage device and a controller. The storage device may include a non-volatile memory device. The controller may include a device memory. The controller may control operations of the non-volatile memory device in accordance with a request of a host device. wherein the controller includes a map data management circuit configured to cache one or more segments from a plurality of map segment groups stored in the storage device, each segment having information including a reference count and mapping relationships between logical addresses and physical addresses, detect, among the one or more cached segments, an upload target segment in which the reference count is greater than a predetermined count and transmit, when a predetermined number or greater of upload target segments are detected within a first map segment group, the predetermined number or greater of upload target segments to the host device.