Flash Memory Data Merging via Valid Page Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The data merging process in flash memory storage apparatuses is time-consuming, affecting data accessing performance due to the need to move all data belonging to a logical block to an empty physical block, which is inefficient and prolongs the merging procedure.
Innovation Solution
A data merging method that involves selecting a second physical block from the free area, determining if the valid logical page number of the first logical block is below a predetermined threshold, and storing the logical page-to-physical page mapping table and valid page data in the second physical block, thereby reducing the need to move all data and optimizing the merging process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all data belonging to a logical block is moved to an empty physical block during data merging, then data integrity is ensured, but the merging procedure becomes time-consuming and data accessing performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the valid page data from the logical block during data merging, rather than moving all data. The memory controller identifies and copies only the valid pages to the new physical block, leaving invalid pages behind. This selective extraction reduces the amount of data transferred while maintaining data integrity for valid pages.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing a complete data move of all pages in the logical block, the patent applies partial action by only copying valid pages. The memory controller determines which pages are valid and performs the copy operation only for those pages, reducing the overall merging time while ensuring data integrity for the valid portion.
2Reliability
If all page data is moved during data merging, then complete data recovery is possible, but data accessing performance is affected due to prolonged merging time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary valid page data during the data merging process. The memory controller identifies valid pages and copies only those to the new physical block, rather than moving all pages. This selective extraction maintains data recovery capability for valid pages while reducing merging time to improve data accessing performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing data copying only for valid pages rather than all pages in the logical block. The memory controller determines which pages contain valid data and performs the merge operation selectively, achieving sufficient data recovery for operational needs while significantly reducing the time impact on data accessing performance.
3Productivity
If the data merging procedure is performed frequently to maintain free physical blocks, then storage management efficiency is improved, but the time required for merging operations increases overall system latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only valid page data during data merging operations. When the memory controller performs data merging to maintain free physical blocks, it identifies and copies only the valid pages to the new physical block, reducing the time required for each merging operation and thereby reducing overall system latency while maintaining storage management efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing partial data copying during frequent merge operations. Instead of moving all pages each time a merge is performed, the controller copies only valid pages, making the frequent merge operations less time-consuming and reducing their impact on system latency while maintaining efficient storage management.
Data Source
AI summary
A data merging method for merging data belonging to a first logical block in a rewritable non-volatile memory module is provided. The method includes getting a second physical block from a free area of the rewritable non-volatile memory module and determining whether a valid logical page number is smaller than a predetermined number. The method also includes, when the valid logical page number is smaller than the predetermined number, storing a corresponding page mapping table in a start physical page of the second physical block and writing at least one valid page data belonging to the first logical block into at least one physical page of the second physical block. Accordingly, the method can effectively shorten the time for merging data.