In-Band ECC Compression Using Delta Bases for Memory Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ECC memory systems require additional resources and incur performance penalties due to the need for separate ECC storage and bandwidth overhead, making them costly and inefficient, especially in low-end systems where cost is a critical factor.
Innovation Solution
Implementing in-band ECC compression using delta compression from select arbitrary bases, which allows storing both compressed data and ECC metadata in the same space, reducing the need for additional storage and bandwidth by compressing data at a configurable granularity and utilizing a recent syndrome buffer to minimize read requests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional ECC memory is used to provide error correction, then data reliability is improved, but device cost and complexity increase due to additional storage devices and data lanes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines ECC storage with data storage in the same memory space. Instead of using separate ECC devices, the system stores compressed data and ECC information together in the same memory locations, eliminating the need for additional ECC storage devices and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The memory system is designed to serve multiple functions: storing both data and ECC information in the same storage resources. The compression algorithm enables the memory to simultaneously hold compressed data and generate/store ECC codes without requiring dedicated ECC hardware, making the memory system multi-functional.
2Reliability
If separate ECC storage is used, then error correction capability is improved, but bandwidth overhead increases due to additional data lanes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges ECC information transmission with data transmission by storing and transmitting both in the same memory bandwidth. The compressed data and ECC codes share the same data lanes, eliminating the need for separate ECC data lanes and reducing bandwidth overhead.
3Quantity of substance
If compression is used to save storage space for ECC, then storage efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to complex compression algorithms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simpler compression approach that sacrifices some compression ratio to dramatically reduce complexity. The compression algorithm is designed to be lightweight and easy to implement, trading off optimal compression for practical deployability in resource-constrained environments.
4Quantity of substance
If in-band ECC compression is implemented, then bandwidth usage is reduced, but the number of processing operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs compression and ECC generation in advance during the write operation, so that the compressed data with embedded ECC is ready for storage. This preliminary processing avoids the need for complex real-time processing during read operations, balancing the overall processing load.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of an electronic apparatus may include a substrate, and logic coupled to the substrate, the logic to determine a base value to compress a block of data, wherein the block of data consists of a first number of data words, replace original values from a second number of data words from the block of data with respective delta values from the base value to provide compressed data, wherein the second number of data words is at least two less than the first number of data words, and store metadata associated with the block of data together with the compressed data in the block of data. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.