Flash Memory Page Structure for Index and Data Node Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flash memory devices face inefficiencies in data storage and retrieval due to the high time required for write operations and limited write cycles, which can shorten their lifespan and hinder performance in applications like solid-state disks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an indexing scheme based on a μ-tree structure that stores leaf nodes and index nodes in the same page, allowing for efficient correction, insertion, and deletion operations by minimizing write operations and optimizing node storage based on tree height and level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional indexing schemes are used in flash memory, then data can be stored and retrieved, but the write operation time is excessive and write cycles are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines index nodes and data nodes into the same page structure in flash memory. This merging eliminates the need for separate index pages and data pages, reducing the number of write operations required when inserting or updating data. When a data node is modified, only the specific page containing both the index and data needs to be updated, rather than updating index pages and data pages separately, thus reducing write cycle consumption and write time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the flash memory into pages that contain both index and data nodes, and further segments nodes into multiple levels (root level, intermediate levels, leaf level). This segmentation allows selective updating of only the necessary portions of the memory structure during write operations, rather than updating entire index structures, thereby reducing write operation time and preserving write cycles.
2Speed
If more index nodes are stored separately from data nodes, then data retrieval can be optimized, but the number of write operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges index nodes and data nodes within the same page, allowing both indexing and data storage to coexist in a unified structure. This maintains fast data access through the index while eliminating redundant write operations that would occur if index and data were stored separately. The unified structure ensures that a single write operation updates both the index and associated data atomically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary organization of index and data nodes during the initial page structure creation, placing related index and data nodes together in the same page. This preliminary action prevents future separate write operations for index and data updates, as they are already co-located and can be updated together in subsequent operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A tree data structure is stored in a flash memory device by storing a leaf node and an index node comprising a pointer to the leaf node in a same page of the flash memory device, which may be read on a per-page basis. A modified version of the leaf node and a modified version of the index node may be stored in a new page of the flash memory device when, for example, a key value is added to or deleted from the leaf node.