Flash Memory Invalid Page Message Recording Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flash memory systems face inefficiencies in managing and collecting invalid page messages, particularly in multi-level cell memory, where conventional methods consume excessive memory or degrade efficiency due to limited mapping relationships between logical and physical addresses, leading to increased operation time and storage of old versions.
Innovation Solution
A flash memory system and method that utilizes a recording area to store address information of invalid data pages, allowing for rapid identification and selection of valid data pages for duplication, thereby optimizing the collection process and increasing available memory by rearranging recording areas and copying valid data pages to empty blocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all page statuses are recorded respectively as valid or invalid, then the status of each page can be accurately tracked, but a large amount of memory is consumed for storing the statuses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for garbage collection by recording invalid page messages (physical addresses of invalid pages) in a separate recording area, rather than storing the complete status of every page. This selective extraction reduces memory consumption while maintaining the ability to accurately identify invalid pages for collection.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of recording the status of all pages (both valid and invalid), the patent inverts the approach by only recording the addresses of invalid pages. This inversion significantly reduces the amount of data that needs to be stored and processed, as invalid pages are typically fewer in number compared to the total page count.
2Reliability
If conventional garbage collection methods are used, then invalid pages can be collected, but the process consumes excessive time due to scanning all pages in a block
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by maintaining a recording area that continuously stores invalid page messages as pages become invalid. This pre-prepared list of invalid page addresses eliminates the need to scan all pages during garbage collection, allowing the system to directly access and collect only the invalid pages, thereby significantly reducing collection time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure (recording area storing invalid page messages) that mediates between the flash memory pages and the garbage collection process. This intermediary maintains an updated list of invalid page addresses, enabling the garbage collection process to efficiently identify and collect invalid pages without scanning the entire block.
3Quantity of substance
If hot data and cold data are stored in the same logical block, then storage space is efficiently utilized, but garbage collection efficiency degrades due to the need to scan all pages to determine validity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information about page validity by creating a separate recording area that specifically stores invalid page messages. This segmentation allows the system to efficiently handle mixed hot and cold data in the same logical block by providing direct access to invalid page addresses without requiring a full scan of the block during garbage collection.
Data Source
AI summary
A flash memory system and managing and collecting methods for flash memory with invalid page messages thereof are described. When the valid data pages of the flash memory are changed to invalid data pages, a recording area is used to record the message of the invalid data pages to effectively collect the occupied space of the invalid data pages in the flash memory. Further, while garbage collecting step is performed, a block is rapidly selected according to the message of the recording area and the valid data pages in the selected block are correctly identified, copied and removed.