Dynamic Memory Controller Mapping for Power Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory management techniques in electronic devices are inefficient in reducing power consumption during idle periods, as they either continue to draw power or require inefficient data copying and remapping, lacking on-the-fly memory remapping capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dynamic memory mapping system that allows for the independent activation and deactivation of memory banks, using a memory controller to translate physical addresses to hardware locations and remap data on-the-fly when a memory bank is deactivated, ensuring minimal latency and power conservation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If memory banks are shut down to conserve power, then power consumption is reduced, but data copying efficiency deteriorates and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by copying data from memory banks to be shut down before actually deactivating them. The memory controller identifies which memory banks need to be powered down and proactively copies their data to remaining active banks, ensuring continuous operation without interruption. This preliminary data migration enables the memory banks to be safely shut down while maintaining system performance and minimizing latency.
2Use of energy by moving object
If memory banks are shut down to conserve power, then power consumption is reduced, but data copying efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The memory system is segmented into multiple independently controllable memory banks. The memory controller can selectively shut down individual banks based on current workload requirements, rather than shutting down the entire memory subsystem. This segmentation allows for fine-grained power management, copying data only from banks that need to be powered down while leaving other banks operational, thereby improving overall data copying efficiency and reducing power consumption simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The memory controller autonomously manages the power-down process by automatically identifying which memory banks should be shut down and performing the data copying operations without external intervention. The system monitors memory usage patterns and independently makes decisions about which banks to power down, optimizing both power consumption and data copying efficiency through self-managed operations.
3Device complexity
If traditional memory mapping structures like TLBs are used, then memory mapping is simplified, but power consumption cannot be reduced effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The memory mapping system transitions from a static mapping approach to a dynamic one. The memory controller dynamically adjusts memory mappings in real-time based on which memory banks are active and which are powered down. When memory banks are shut down, the controller automatically remaps address translations to redirect access to remaining active banks. This dynamic adaptation enables effective power reduction while maintaining simplified memory mapping through on-demand reconfiguration rather than requiring complex pre-configured structures.
Data Source
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AI summary
[00134] Systems, methods, and devices for dynamically mapping and remapping memory when a portion of memory is activated or deactivated are provided. In accordance with an embodiment, an electronic device may include several memory banks, one or more processors, and a memory controller. The memory banks may store data in hardware memory locations and may be independently deactivated. The processors may request the data using physical memory addresses, and the memory controller may translate the physical addresses to hardware memory locations. The memory controller may use a first memory mapping function when a first number of memory banks is active and a second memory mapping function when a second number is active. When one of the memory banks is to be deactivated, the memory controller may copy data from only the memory bank that is to be deactivated to the active remainder of memory banks.