Flash Memory Controller Dynamic Garbage Collection Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing garbage-collection processes in flash memory devices rely on a single threshold value, leading to sudden performance degradation and increased write latency, as they do not dynamically adjust to varying operational statuses and host commands.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dynamically-adjustable garbage-collection process by using multiple threshold values to determine the number of non-spare blocks corresponding to different ratios of effective pages, allowing for real-time adjustments to spare block management without fixed predetermined values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single threshold value is used to determine garbage-collection execution, then the garbage-collection process can be executed to merge inefficient blocks, but the performance of the memory device suffers with sudden write latency increase and abrupt performance decay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a fixed single threshold value to multiple dynamically adjustable threshold values. The controller selectively executes garbage-collection processes based on different threshold conditions (first threshold value for normal operation, second threshold value for performance protection), allowing the system to adapt its behavior to current operational states and prevent abrupt performance decay while maintaining reliable garbage-collection execution.
2Ease of manufacture
If a fixed predetermined value is used for garbage-collection, then the process can be executed regularly, but it does not adapt to varying operational statuses and host commands leading to performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing multiple threshold values (first threshold value and second threshold value) that can be selectively applied based on operational conditions. The controller monitors operational status and host commands, then adjusts which threshold value is used to determine garbage-collection execution, enabling the system to adapt to varying operational statuses while maintaining a relatively simple process structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A data storage device for dynamically executing the garbage-collection process is provided which includes a flash memory and a controller. The flash memory includes a plurality of blocks wherein each of the blocks includes a plurality of pages. The controller is coupled to the flash memory and is utilized to execute the garbage-collection process on the flash memory according to a number of at least one spare block in the flash memory and the number of non-spare blocks corresponding to different ratios of effective pages. The garbage-collection process is utilized for merging at least two non-spare blocks to release at least one spare block.