Data Whitening for Non-Volatile Memory Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
NAND Flash memory and other non-volatile memories face reliability issues due to program-disturb problems caused by densely packed memory cells, where data with a high proportion of ones or zeros can lead to incorrect programming and reading, reducing storage reliability.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a data whitening system using an encryption module, such as AES, to randomize data sequences and manage metadata, ensuring that all data, including non-sensitive information, is encrypted before storage to prevent program-disturb issues, and allowing secure and efficient data movement during operations like garbage collection and wear leveling without decrypting based on physical addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data is stored directly in non-volatile memory without whitening, then storage speed and simplicity are improved, but program-disturb errors increase and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by whitening the data before it is written to non-volatile memory. The data whitening module transforms the data into a whitened form that has a more balanced distribution of logic levels, preventing program-disturb errors during subsequent write operations. This preliminary transformation ensures reliability without slowing down the storage process.
2Reliability
If all data is encrypted for whitening including non-sensitive data, then program-disturb reliability is improved, but processing complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by implementing a single data whitening module that handles all types of data (sensitive and non-sensitive) using the same encryption mechanism. This unified approach simplifies the system architecture compared to having separate handling mechanisms for different data types, while maintaining high reliability through consistent whitening of all data before storage.
3Reliability
If data is whitened using encryption modules, then data randomness and reliability are improved, but hardware resources and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the encryption module serve dual purposes: it provides both security encryption for sensitive data and data whitening for all data before storage. This multi-functional use of the encryption module eliminates the need for separate dedicated whitening hardware, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining data integrity and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided for whitening and managing data for storage in non-volatile memories, such as Flash memory. In some embodiments, an electronic device such as media player is provided, which may include a system-on-a-chip (SoC) and a non-volatile memory. The SoC may include SoC control circuitry and a memory interface that acts as an interface between the SoC control circuitry and the non-volatile memory. The SoC can also include an encryption module, such as a block cipher based on the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). The memory interface can direct the encryption module to whiten all types of data prior to storage in the non-volatile memory, including sensitive data, non-sensitive data, and memory management data. This can, for example, prevent or reduce program-disturb problems or other read/write/erase reliability issues.