Flash Memory Variable Table Segmentation for Update Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
As flash memory storage systems grow in capacity, the time required to update the variable table becomes excessively long, leading to decreased performance due to the increasing size of the table needed to manage transient information between data and spare areas.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves dividing the logical blocks into groups and corresponding sub-variable tables when the time required for writing the variable table exceeds a processing limit, allowing for efficient access and management of data by using multiple sub-variable tables to record transient information, thereby reducing the time needed for updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the storage system uses a single variable table to record transient information of all mother-child blocks, then the system can maintain simple data structure and access logic, but the time required for updating the variable table becomes excessively long as storage capacity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single variable table into multiple sub-variable tables, each managing transient information for a specific range of logical blocks. This segmentation reduces the update time for each individual table while maintaining comprehensive tracking of all mother-child blocks across the expanded storage capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If the storage system expands its memory volume to provide larger storage capacity, then the system can serve more data access requests, but the time required for updating the variable table increases and overall access efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the variable table into multiple sub-variable tables that can be updated independently and in parallel. This allows the storage system to expand capacity while maintaining efficient access by reducing the critical path update time and enabling concurrent operations on different sub-tables.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic structure where the number of sub-variable tables can be adjusted based on storage capacity and access patterns. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize performance as it scales, maintaining high access efficiency regardless of the total storage volume.
3Ease of operation
If the storage system uses a single variable table for all logical blocks, then the system structure remains simple and easy to manage, but the update operation becomes a bottleneck affecting overall system performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the variable table into multiple sub-variable tables, each managing a portion of the logical blocks. This segmentation enables parallel update operations and reduces the critical path, thereby improving system performance while maintaining manageable complexity through organized modular structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of organization by creating multiple sub-variable tables instead of expanding a single table. This dimensional change allows the system to improve performance through parallel processing while keeping each individual sub-table simple and easy to manage.
Data Source
AI summary
A data access method for accessing a flash memory storage system, a storage system and a controller using the same are provided. A flash memory has a plurality of physical blocks, which are grouped into a system area, a data area, and a spare area. One or more variable tables are established to record transient information of each set of mother-child blocks of the data area and the spare area. The number of the variable table could be adjusted adaptively according to time required for writing the variable table into the system area, such that an overall data access efficiency of the flash memory storage system is enhanced.