Logical to Physical Address Mapping for Non-Volatile Memory Page Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Non-volatile memory (NVM) faces conflicting requirements regarding page size, where increasing page size reduces silicon area but increases time for data modification operations, leading to inefficiencies and fragmentation in memory usage.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a mapping logic that separates each page into multiple portions, allowing flexible configuration and efficient data processing by mapping logical addresses to physical addresses, thereby reducing page size and minimizing fragmentation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If page size is increased to reduce silicon area, then memory area efficiency is improved, but data modification time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesilicon areaVSAvoiddata modification time
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides each physical page into multiple portions (e.g., first portion and second portion), allowing selective modification of only the required portion during data updates. This segmentation enables the system to maintain larger physical page sizes for area efficiency while reducing the actual data modification time by operating on smaller sub-portions rather than the entire page.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If page size is increased, then memory area utilization is improved, but memory fragmentation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvememory areaVSAvoidmemory waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting pages into multiple portions and allowing each portion to be independently managed and mapped to different logical address spaces, the system reduces memory fragmentation. This enables more efficient utilization of memory area while avoiding the waste associated with traditional fixed-page approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic mapping between logical and physical addresses, where the mapping relationship can be flexibly configured and adjusted. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to different memory usage patterns and reduce fragmentation, improving overall memory area utilization without being constrained by fixed page boundaries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If traditional fixed-page mapping is used, then address mapping simplicity is maintained, but data modification efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaddress mapping complexityVSAvoiddata modification efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a segmented page structure where each page is divided into multiple portions that can be independently mapped. While this increases mapping complexity compared to traditional fixed-page approaches, it dramatically improves data modification efficiency by allowing selective updates of only the necessary portions rather than requiring copying and rewriting of entire pages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a mapping layer as an intermediary between logical addresses and physical page portions. This mapping logic translates logical addresses to specific physical page portions, enabling efficient data modification operations while managing the complexity of the segmented structure. The intermediary layer abstracts the complexity, allowing efficient data access and modification without requiring application-level awareness of the segmentation details.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10261899B2Method, device and system for data processing using dedicated mapping between logical and physical addresses
Publication Date: 2019.04.16 INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
  • US10261899B2 patent drawing
  • US10261899B2 patent drawing
  • US10261899B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method for data processing including mapping between a logical address and a physical address of a memory, wherein the memory comprises several pages, wherein a group of pages comprises at least one page that comprises at least two portions, and wherein the at least two portions of each page of the group are not part of a single-page logical address space.