Flash Memory Exception Handling via Reserved Response Bytes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for communicating exception events in memory systems consume additional signaling time and power, reducing efficiency on the memory system interface.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating exception event information into an existing response message transmitted by the memory system, utilizing reserved bytes in a response packet to encode the event, and acknowledging its receipt by the host controller to reduce overhead and improve efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional signaling is used to communicate exception events from memory system to host controller, then exception event information can be transmitted, but bandwidth consumption increases and system efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines exception event information with regular data packets by utilizing reserved bytes in the existing packet structure. Instead of creating separate signaling messages, the exception information is merged into the data path, thereby eliminating additional transmissions and reducing power consumption while maintaining reliable exception communication.
2Reliability
If additional signaling is used to communicate exception events from memory system to host controller, then exception event information can be transmitted, but system performance decreases due to additional overhead
Solution Approach 1:
Exception event information is merged into existing data packets using reserved bytes, eliminating the need for separate signaling transactions. This reduces protocol overhead and allows exception information to be transmitted alongside regular data operations, thereby improving system performance while maintaining reliable exception communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing data packet structure is made multi-functional by incorporating exception event information alongside regular data transmission. The reserved bytes in the packet structure serve dual purposes: carrying data when no exception occurs and carrying exception information when needed, thereby improving overall system efficiency.
3Reliability
If additional messaging is used to fetch exception event information, then exception events can be reported, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges exception event reporting with regular data transmissions by embedding exception information in the data path. Reserved bytes in existing packets are utilized to carry exception information, eliminating the need for separate messaging transactions and thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining reliable exception reporting.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices for memory systems that support exception event handling and reporting. In a first aspect, a method of exception event handling in a flash memory system includes a host memory controller receiving a response from the memory system, the response comprising user data, an indication that an exception event was encountered by the memory system, and information regarding the exception event encountered by the memory system; and transmitting an acknowledgement of receiving the indication that the exception event was encountered by the memory system. Other aspects and features are also claimed and described.