Flash Memory Trim Method Using Test File Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data stored in flash memory that an operating system considers deleted may still occupy space, leading to performance issues due to the lack of an efficient method to manage logical to physical address mappings, which the Trim operation aims to address.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the creation of a temporary file and a test file with a unique identifier to confirm non-remapping of logical blocks, followed by allocation of the temporary file to free space, generation of trim commands, and deletion of the temporary file to clear space, ensuring accurate trimming of data on non-volatile flash media.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If Trim operation is implemented to manage deleted data in flash memory, then performance is improved by freeing space, but risk of unintended deletion of active logical blocks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by creating a test file with a unique identifier before executing the Trim operation. This test file is written to specific logical blocks to establish a baseline state. By performing this preparatory action, the system can later verify whether the Trim operation correctly targeted only deleted data and not active data, thus preventing unintended deletion while maintaining performance benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by reading back the contents of logical blocks after the Trim operation and comparing them against the expected state (determined by the test file identifier). This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect whether the Trim operation successfully freed space without accidentally deleting active data, enabling corrective actions if errors are detected and ensuring data integrity while maintaining productivity
2Reliability
If logical to physical address mapping is maintained for deleted data, then data integrity is preserved, but storage space is wasted and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the taking out principle by selectively removing (trimming) only the logical to physical address mappings for deleted data blocks, while preserving mappings for active data. The test file with unique identifier enables precise identification of which blocks contain deleted versus active data. This extraction approach frees storage space and improves performance by eliminating mappings for obsolete data without compromising the integrity of active data mappings
Data Source
AI summary
A method for trimming data on non-volatile flash media is generally presented. In this regard, in one embodiment, a method is introduced comprising allocating a temporary file that occupies free space on a flash memory, determining specific blocks of the flash memory that the temporary file occupies, generating TRIM commands for the specific blocks, and deleting the temporary file. Other embodiments are described and claimed.