Flash Controller Active Management via File System Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Flash memory management technologies face challenges in balancing operation performance and system resource management, particularly in MLC Flash memories, leading to issues like low performance, improper storage space usage, and inefficient buffering, as they primarily rely on low-level logical block address information.
Innovation Solution
A method of active Flash management that extracts high-level file system information from the Flash memory contents, allowing the controller to optimize operations by using this information to manage the Flash memory blocks, thereby improving performance and resource management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If MLC Flash memories are used to increase storage capacity and reduce cost, then storage density and capacity are improved, but operation stability and reliability deteriorate due to unstable characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a file system information layer as an intermediary between the controller and Flash memory blocks. This intermediary provides high-level semantic information (file names, paths, sizes, locations) that enables the controller to make intelligent decisions about block management, thereby improving operational stability and reliability while maintaining the high capacity benefits of MLC Flash memories.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts file system information from the Flash memory contents and uses this feedback to optimize block operations. By continuously monitoring file system state (file locations, sizes, access patterns) and adjusting block management strategies accordingly, the system achieves better reliability without sacrificing storage capacity.
2Device complexity
If only low-level logical block address information is used for control, then device complexity is reduced, but operation performance deteriorates due to unnecessary operations and improper storage space usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds another dimension of information (high-level file system semantics) to the traditional low-level block address control. Instead of only using LBA addresses, the system now operates with dual-layer information: physical block addresses and logical file system metadata (file names, paths, sizes). This dimensional enhancement enables performance optimization without significantly increasing control complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary extraction and analysis of file system information from Flash memory contents before executing block operations. By pre-processing the data to understand file locations, sizes, and access patterns, the controller can proactively optimize storage space usage and minimize unnecessary operations, thereby improving performance without adding complex real-time decision-making mechanisms.
3Reliability
If physical discontinuous write operations are performed, then data integrity is maintained, but access speed and operation efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic block management that adapts write operation strategies based on file system information. For small files, the system dynamically consolidates writes into continuous sequences to improve speed. For large files or critical data, it maintains discontinuous writes for integrity. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize access speed while preserving data integrity based on real-time file system state.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different write strategies to different regions of the Flash memory based on local file characteristics. Small files in certain regions may be written continuously for speed, while critical or large files in other regions maintain discontinuous writes for integrity. This localized quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing both continuous and discontinuous writes in appropriate contexts.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of active Flash management is provided. The method is applied to a controller of a memory device, where the controller is utilized for accessing a Flash memory in the memory device, and the Flash memory includes a plurality of blocks. The method includes: extracting high level information of a file system of the Flash memory from contents stored in the Flash memory; and according to the high level information, managing operations that the controller performs on the Flash memory, in order to optimize at least one portion of the operations. An associated memory device and the controller thereof are further provided.