Data Validity Tracking Granularity in Non-Volatile Memory
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory subsystems require different code bases for varying computational and memory budgets, leading to complex maintenance and inefficient data reclamation processes, which are costly in terms of both computation and memory resources.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves dynamically preparing firmware and software for data reclamation operations, allowing different memory subsystems to use a single code base, and optimizing the data reclamation process by reducing the memory footprint of validity tables and address translation tables, thereby maintaining computational efficiency while minimizing memory usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different code bases are used for varying computational and memory budgets, then memory subsystems can be optimized for specific resource constraints, but maintenance complexity increases and data reclamation processes become less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single unified code base that can operate across memory subsystems with different computational and memory budgets. The system achieves adaptability through configuration parameters and runtime adjustments rather than requiring separate code bases, allowing the same code to serve multiple resource constraints efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on available resources. The data reclamation process can modify its operations, granularity, and resource allocation in real-time according to the actual computational and memory budget, enabling the single code base to adapt to varying constraints without recompilation or reconfiguration.
2Reliability
If traditional data reclamation processes are used, then data validity can be tracked, but computational cost and memory usage become excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs data reclamation selectively rather than universally. It identifies and processes only the specific data blocks that require reclamation based on validity tracking, avoiding unnecessary computational overhead on already-valid data. This partial action approach reduces overall computational cost while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters such as reclamation granularity, processing batch sizes, and validity check frequencies based on available computational resources. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system maintains effective data validity tracking while adapting computational cost to match the resource budget.
3Reliability
If comprehensive validity tables are maintained, then data validity can be accurately tracked, but memory footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The validity tracking structure is segmented into multiple smaller data structures distributed across the memory subsystem. Rather than maintaining a single comprehensive validity table, the system divides validity information into manageable segments that can be stored and processed more efficiently, reducing the peak memory footprint while maintaining tracking accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a hierarchical validity tracking structure where validity information is nested at multiple levels of granularity. This nested approach allows the system to track data validity accurately while using smaller, more compact data structures at each level, collectively reducing the total memory footprint compared to a flat comprehensive table.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer device reads an indicator from a configuration file that identifies a granularity of units of data at which to track validity. The granularity is one of a plurality of granularities ranging from one unit of data to many units of data. The computer device generates a machine-readable file configured to cause a processing device of a memory system to track validity at the identified granularity using a plurality of data validity counters with each data validity counter in the plurality of data validity counters tracking validity of a group of units of data at the identified granularity. The computer device transfers the machine-readable file to a memory of the memory system.