Dual Translation Map Architecture for Flash Memory Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage systems face inefficiencies in managing logical and physical resource mappings, particularly in garbage collection and data reconstruction processes, due to limitations in memory and computing power distribution between host devices and data storage devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing two translation maps: a logical-to-logical translation map on the host device and a logical-to-physical translation map on the data storage device, allowing for efficient memory operations, garbage collection, and data reconstruction by distributing complex calculations and erase unit information accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single translation map is stored on the data storage device, then the device can manage physical resources, but the host device cannot efficiently perform complex logical mappings due to limited memory and computing power on the storage device
Solution Approach 1:
The translation map is divided into two separate maps: a logical-to-logical translation map stored on the host device for complex logical sector to logical erase unit mappings, and a logical-to-physical translation map stored on the data storage device for logical erase unit to physical erase unit mappings. This segmentation allows each device to store only the translation map necessary for its function, improving efficiency while reducing individual device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If all translation information is stored on the host device, then complex logical mappings can be performed, but the data storage device cannot efficiently perform physical erase unit management and data reconstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The logical-to-physical translation map acts as an intermediary between the host device's logical-to-logical translation map and the data storage device's physical memory structures. This intermediate translation map enables the storage device to independently perform physical erase unit management and rapid data reconstruction without requiring constant communication with the host device.
3Device complexity
If the logical-to-logical translation map is stored on the data storage device, then physical resource management is simplified, but the host device loses the ability to efficiently perform garbage collection operations
Solution Approach 1:
The translation functionality is segmented between two maps stored in different locations. The logical-to-logical translation map is stored on the host device where it can be efficiently accessed by the garbage collection control engine for identifying valid data, while the logical-to-physical translation map is stored on the data storage device for physical resource management. This segmentation optimizes both garbage collection efficiency and physical resource management.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a host device and a data storage device. The host device is configured to store a first translation map for converting a logical sector to a logical erase unit. The data storage device includes a plurality of flash memory devices and a memory controller operationally coupled with the flash memory devices, each of the flash memory devices being arranged into a plurality of erase units, each of the erase units having a plurality of pages for storing data. The memory controller is configured to receive a second translation map from the host device, the second translation map for converting a logical erase unit to a physical erase unit within the flash memory devices, and store the second translation map in a memory module on the data storage device.