Group Table Data Flush for Non-Volatile Memory Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing approaches to maintaining memory consistency in non-volatile memory systems, particularly in clustered or federated environments, are cost-prohibitive and do not scale well, as they rely on strict ordering and cache coherency methods that are not adaptable for remote replication and client/server relationships.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a group table and controller system that allows for selective flushing of data from processor caches to non-volatile memory based on defined memory groups and subgroups, enabling application-specific consistency requirements and reducing the amount of data to be flushed by explicitly managing memory locations for synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If strict ordering and cache coherency methods are used to maintain memory consistency, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the memory space into distinct groups (e.g., group 0, group 1, group 2) that can be independently managed and flushed. This segmentation allows the system to apply consistency rules selectively to specific memory regions rather than enforcing strict ordering across the entire memory space, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining reliability for critical data groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing different memory groups to have different flushing attributes (e.g., some groups require immediate flush, others can be deferred). The controller can apply different consistency policies to different groups based on their specific requirements, rather than using a uniform approach across all memory, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining necessary reliability.
2Reliability
If strict ordering and cache coherency methods are used to maintain memory consistency, then reliability is improved, but productivity decreases due to performance disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic flushing attributes that can be assigned to different memory groups. Instead of always enforcing strict ordering, the system can dynamically adjust flushing behavior based on group attributes - some groups may be flushed immediately while others can be deferred or batched. This dynamic approach maintains reliability for critical groups while improving overall write performance by reducing unnecessary flush operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by selectively flushing only those memory groups that require consistency guarantees, rather than flushing the entire cache. The controller can identify which groups need flushing based on their attributes and flush only those, leaving other groups in the cache longer to improve write performance. This partial approach maintains necessary reliability while reducing performance disruption.
3Reliability
If all memory data is flushed to maintain consistency, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases due to flushing overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments memory into multiple groups that can be independently flushed. Instead of flushing all memory data, the system can identify and flush only the specific groups that contain data requiring consistency guarantees. This segmentation reduces the total amount of data that needs to be flushed, thereby reducing flush time while maintaining reliability for the critical groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by flushing only the necessary memory groups rather than all memory data. The controller can determine which groups require flushing based on their attributes and the specific consistency requirements, flushing only those groups while leaving others in the cache. This approach maintains necessary data consistency while significantly reducing the time lost to flush operations.
4Productivity
If selective flushing based on groups is implemented, then productivity is improved by reducing flush overhead, but device complexity increases due to group management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a group table structure that serves multiple functions: it tracks memory group assignments, stores flushing attributes for each group, and provides the basis for selective flushing decisions. This universal data structure handles various management tasks through a single mechanism, reducing the need for separate complex management systems while enabling selective flushing to improve write performance.
Data Source
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AI summary
A group table includes one or more groups. A synch command including a synch address range is received. An order data of the one or more groups is flushed is determined by whether the synch address range is included in the one or more groups.