Flash Memory Block Mapping Table Recovery via Wear-Sorted List
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for recovering flash memory block mapping information after a power loss are time-consuming and resource-intensive, as they require scanning all blocks to restore the mapping table in RAM.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a wear-sorted block list (WSBL) stored in the flash memory to rapidly recover the block mapping table by reading address information from spare regions of erased blocks, reducing the need for extensive scanning and minimizing operational overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional scanning of all blocks is performed to restore the mapping table, then complete mapping information can be recovered, but the recovery process consumes excessive time and system resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary mapping information from the wear-sorted block list (WSBL) structure rather than scanning all blocks. The WSBL contains pre-organized mapping data that can be directly read and restored, eliminating the need for exhaustive block scanning while maintaining complete mapping information recovery
Solution Approach 2:
The mapping information is pre-organized into a wear-sorted block list structure during normal operation, sorted by wear level. This preliminary organization allows the system to directly read and restore mapping data during reboot without performing time-consuming scanning operations, as the data is already arranged in an accessible format
2Reliability
If conventional scanning of all blocks is performed to restore the mapping table, then complete mapping information can be recovered, but system resources are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary mapping information from the wear-sorted block list (WSBL) structure rather than scanning all blocks. The WSBL contains pre-organized mapping data that can be directly read and restored, eliminating the need for exhaustive block scanning while maintaining complete mapping information recovery
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing a complete scan of all blocks (excessive action), the patent performs a partial read operation only on the WSBL structure which contains the essential mapping information. This partial action is sufficient for complete recovery and significantly reduces computational resources and energy consumption
Data Source
AI summary
A method is for recovering a block mapping table in a system including a flash memory device, where the block mapping table utilizes address mapping in accordance with a wear-leveling scheme. The method includes reading block arrangement information from the flash memory device for the wear-leveling scheme, restoring the block mapping table with reference to allocation block information included in the block arrangement information and scanning address allocation information included in spare regions of erased blocks of the flash memory device with reference to erased block information included in the block arrangement information and updating the block mapping table in accordance with the scanned address allocation information.