Host Flash Controller Data Copying in Unmanaged Flash Memory

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional unmanaged flash memory devices require multiple instructions from the host processor for each erasure operation, leading to inefficient processing power and time consumption, especially with frequent data erasures needed for efficient space utilization.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus involving a host flash controller that receives a copy command, transmits read and write commands via a bus to an unmanaged flash memory device, storing data in a buffer to facilitate efficient data copying and erasure operations, reducing the need for multiple processing tasks and memory consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional erasure techniques are used in unmanaged flash memory devices, then valid data can be preserved during block erasure, but multiple host processor instructions are required for each erasure operation, increasing processing time and power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata preservationVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The flash memory device performs self-service by automatically identifying and preserving valid data during erasure operations. The device's internal logic detects which pages contain valid data and excludes them from erasure without requiring external host processor intervention, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining data integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying valid data pages before the erasure operation begins. The host processor issues a single erasure command that includes information about valid data locations, allowing the flash device to prepare for selective erasure in advance, thus avoiding multiple sequential operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If conventional erasure techniques are used in unmanaged flash memory devices, then valid data can be preserved during block erasure, but multiple host processor instructions are required, increasing power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata preservationVSAvoidprocessing power

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The flash memory device performs self-service by automatically identifying and preserving valid data during erasure operations. The device's internal logic detects which pages contain valid data and excludes them from erasure without requiring external host processor intervention, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining data integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying valid data pages before the erasure operation begins. The host processor issues a single erasure command that includes information about valid data locations, allowing the flash device to prepare for selective erasure in advance, thus avoiding multiple sequential operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If frequent erasures are performed to maintain efficient space utilization, then data block management is improved, but the cumulative processing time and power consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilization efficiencyVSAvoidcumulative processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The flash memory device performs self-service by automatically identifying and preserving valid data during erasure operations. The device's internal logic detects which pages contain valid data and excludes them from erasure without requiring external host processor intervention, thereby reducing processing time while maintaining data integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-identifying valid data pages before the erasure operation begins. The host processor issues a single erasure command that includes information about valid data locations, allowing the flash device to prepare for selective erasure in advance, thus avoiding multiple sequential operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10613772B2Methods and apparatuses for copying a data page in an unmanaged flash memory device

Publication Date: 2020.04.07 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

The present disclosure provides methods for copying a data page in a flash memory device using a flash memory controller. A method may comprise receiving, at the host flash controller, a copy command from a host processor, in response to the copy command, transmitting a read command to the unmanaged flash memory storage device via a bus, wherein the read command indicates particular data, receiving the particular data from the unmanaged flash memory storage device via the bus, storing the particular data in a data buffer included in the host flash controller, and transmitting to the unmanaged flash memory storage device, via the bus, a write command to write the particular data.