Flash Fast Program Mode for Video Frame Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

High definition (HD) video and high resolution (HR) burst mode photography require higher write speeds and larger storage capacities for flash-based non-volatile memory (NVM) systems, leading to bottlenecks in data recording and reduced memory lifespan due to frequent overwriting.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a 'flash fast program mode' that compares consecutive frames to identify matching segments, creating links between them, and storing only non-matching segments, thereby reducing the amount of data written to the memory and extending device lifespan.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If all frames are stored completely in flash memory, then storage capacity is sufficient, but write speed becomes a bottleneck and memory lifespan is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidwrite speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the non-matching portions of video frames for storage in flash memory, while excluding matching portions that can be reconstructed from previously stored frames. This selective extraction reduces the quantity of data written to flash memory, thereby improving write speed and extending memory lifespan while maintaining sufficient storage capacity for unique visual information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines previously stored matching frame portions with newly stored non-matching portions to reconstruct complete video frames during playback. This merging approach allows the system to achieve full frame storage效果 with reduced actual write operations, resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and write speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If all frames are stored completely in flash memory, then complete image data is preserved, but the amount of flash memory required increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage data completenessVSAvoidflash memory quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and stores only the non-matching portions of video frames in flash memory, while excluding matching portions that can be reconstructed from previously stored frames. This selective extraction significantly reduces the quantity of flash memory required while preserving complete image data through intelligent reconstruction during playback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If matching portions are excluded from storage, then write speed increases and storage size reduces, but additional processing is required to reconstruct complete frames

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewrite speedVSAvoidframe reconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by storing metadata information about matching portions and their locations in previously stored frames. This preliminary organization of reconstruction information simplifies the frame reconstruction process, reducing the complexity that would otherwise arise from needing to reconstruct complete frames from partial data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10747659B2Flash fast program mode for high definition video recording and high resolution camera burst mode recording
Publication Date: 2020.08.18 SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • US10747659B2 patent drawing
  • US10747659B2 patent drawing
  • US10747659B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The present disclosure, in various embodiments, describes technologies and techniques for use by a memory controller or similar device for storing sequential image data or other data streams composed of pages of data. In one example, the memory controller compares data within current and previous image frames on a page-by-page basis. If a pair of pages match, the memory controller creates a link between the two pages so the duplicate page need not be stored. During a subsequent read operation, the flash controller accesses stored links to identify the physical storage addresses of any matching pages stored in connection with a previous frame to permit efficient retrieval. In some examples, a page is compared with both the previous corresponding page and with the neighboring pages of that previous page. Exemplary read, write and erase operations are described herein using the links.