Memory Access Control Using Resident Circuitry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current computing systems face challenges in efficiently managing memory resources, particularly in multi-user networks, where reliance on volatile memory leads to high costs and limited scalability, as volatile memory resources are exhausted quickly, preventing additional users from accessing the network until more resources are added.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a memory access control method that selectively directs data to either non-persistent or persistent memory based on characteristics such as access frequency and storage duration, using control circuitry to redirect memory access requests to optimize the use of both volatile and non-volatile memory resources, and allowing non-volatile memory to be used as part of the main memory, while masking the difference in memory types to external devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If volatile memory is used to store data in computing systems, then data access speed is improved, but memory cost increases and scalability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata access speedVSAvoidmemory resources

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments memory resources into volatile memory component and non-volatile memory component, allowing different types of memory to be used for different data access patterns. The control circuitry directs frequently accessed data to volatile memory for fast access while storing less frequently accessed data in non-volatile memory, thus resolving the contradiction between access speed and resource quantity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control circuitry acts as an intermediary between the host and memory components, intelligently directing memory access requests to either volatile or non-volatile memory based on data characteristics and access patterns. This mediator enables the system to optimize both access speed and resource utilization by selecting the appropriate memory type for each data access operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If more volatile memory resources are added to support additional users, then network scalability is improved, but system cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork scalabilityVSAvoidvolatile memory resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal memory system that can serve multiple users and applications using both volatile and non-volatile memory resources. The control circuitry dynamically allocates memory resources based on demand, allowing the same physical memory infrastructure to adaptively serve varying user requirements without requiring dedicated volatile memory for each user, thus improving scalability while controlling costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Quantity of substance

If non-volatile memory is used instead of volatile memory, then memory cost is reduced, but data access speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory resourcesVSAvoiddata access speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by directing different types of data to different memory types based on their access characteristics. Frequently accessed data that requires high speed is stored in volatile memory, while less frequently accessed data is stored in non-volatile memory. This localized optimization ensures that each data item is stored in the most appropriate memory type for its specific access pattern, resolving the speed versus cost contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11789653B2Memory access control using a resident control circuitry in a memory device

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Memory access control, as described herein, can leverage persistent memory to store data that is generally stored in a non-persistent memory. An example method for memory access control can include receiving, by control circuitry resident on a memory device, a memory access request targeting an address of a volatile (e.g., non-persistent) memory component of the memory device and determining characteristics of data associated with the targeted address. The method can further include accessing data at the targeted address of the volatile memory component in response to determining that the characteristics of the data meet a first criterion and accessing data at another address of a non-volatile memory component in response to determining that the characteristics of the data meet a second criterion.