Host Apparatus Block Size Alignment for NAND Flash Write Speed

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Solution Overview

Problem

The frequent 'move accompanying write' operations in NAND Flash memory systems, where data is erased and rewritten in block units, lead to significant overhead and reduced file rewriting speed due to the FAT file system's need to rewrite cluster data every time, causing inefficiencies in data management.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced where a host apparatus formats and manages nonvolatile semiconductor memory by reading and writing block size information, allowing for efficient data management by aligning file system operations with the erasure block size, thereby optimizing write and erase operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data is erased and rewritten in block units in NAND Flash memory, then data can be managed with block-level erasure capability, but frequent move accompanying write operations increase overhead and reduce file rewriting speed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblock-level erasure capabilityVSAvoidfile rewriting speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the parameter of data management by introducing block size information that aligns with erasure block size. By storing this information in the user data area and using it during write operations, the system optimizes the balance between block-level erasure capability and file rewriting speed, reducing unnecessary data movement while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If FAT file system rewrites cluster data every time, then file system updates are maintained, but move accompanying write operations drastically increase overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefile system update consistencyVSAvoidoverhead from move accompanying write

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces block size information as a new parameter stored in the user data area. This parameter enables the file system to understand the erasure block size and adjust its operations accordingly, reducing unnecessary move accompanying write operations while maintaining file system update consistency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If block size information is stored and aligned with erasure block size, then write and erase operations are optimized, but additional information management is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewrite and erase operation efficiencyVSAvoidinformation management overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the block size information storage with the existing user data area structure. By combining these functions, the system avoids creating separate management structures while still achieving optimized write and erase operations, thus limiting the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7822931B2File storage device, host apparatus, method for formatting nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and method of writing data in nonvolatile semiconductor memory

Publication Date: 2010.10.26 KIOXIA CORP

AI summary

A file storage device includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory which is accessed by a file system of a host apparatus. The nonvolatile semiconductor memory has a user data area. The user data area is accessible by the file system. Device information indicates that the nonvolatile semiconductor memory is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory and is written in the user data area.