Memory Latency Management via ECC Pipelining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Remote memory devices with higher latency in memory systems negatively impact system performance, and existing techniques to reduce latency, such as error correction algorithms, introduce additional latency during read operations.

Innovation Solution

Pipelining error correction logic with data transfer to the host, allowing remote memory devices to return data before error correction is complete, and using a controller to store data temporarily until an ECC indicator confirms its correctness, thereby reducing overall latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If error correction algorithms are implemented in remote memory devices, then data reliability is improved, but read latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata reliabilityVSAvoidread latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs error correction in advance during the data read process, and prepares replacement data beforehand. When an error is detected, the corrected replacement data is already available to immediately replace the erroneous data, eliminating the need to wait for error correction to complete after data retrieval.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A buffer memory is introduced as an intermediary component between the remote memory device and the host. The buffer temporarily stores read data and correction data, allowing the host to receive data immediately while error correction processes occur in the background, thus decoupling the data transfer time from the error correction time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If data is transferred before error correction completion, then read latency is reduced, but data integrity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveread latencyVSAvoiddata integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the error correction result is monitored and used to control the data replacement process. When error correction completes successfully, a signal is generated to trigger the replacement of the original data with the corrected replacement data in the buffer memory, ensuring data integrity is verified before final delivery to the host.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Correction data is generated and stored in advance in the buffer memory before the host requests the data. This preliminary preparation ensures that when data is transferred, the corrected version is already ready to be delivered, eliminating the need to wait for error correction after data transfer initiates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2972916B1Memory latency management
Publication Date: 2020.12.30 INTEL CORP
  • EP2972916B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2972916B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2972916B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

Apparatus, systems, and methods to manage memory latency operations are described. In one embodiment, an electronic device comprises a processor and a memory control logic to receive data from a remote memory device, store the data in a local cache memory, receive an error correction code indicator associated with the data, and implement a data management policy in response to the error correction code indicator. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.