Memory Auxiliary Data Layout for Low-Latency Error Protection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Accessing extra data alongside user data for error correction and detection in memory systems increases system performance latency, particularly when the total quantity of bits accessed is less than the increased number of memory accesses.

Innovation Solution

Implement data distribution schemes that minimize the frequency and size of secondary accesses for extra data, allowing additional space for secondary extra data to enhance error correction and detection with limited performance cost.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If extra data is stored alongside user data for error correction and detection, then data protection capability is improved, but system access latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protection capabilityVSAvoidsystem access latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments extra data into multiple portions and distributes them across different memory locations. When user data is accessed, only the necessary portion of extra data is retrieved simultaneously, rather than accessing all extra data. This segmentation reduces the total amount of data transferred during each access operation, thereby reducing access latency while maintaining data protection capability through the distributed extra data portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the quantity of extra data is increased to enhance error correction, then data protection is improved, but the number of memory accesses increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror correction capabilityVSAvoidmemory access efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Extra data is divided into multiple portions that can be accessed independently. The system retrieves only the specific portion needed for the current user data access, rather than fetching all extra data. This allows the system to maintain a larger total quantity of extra data for enhanced error correction while minimizing the amount of extra data transferred during each memory access operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent organizes extra data in a distributed manner across multiple memory locations or dimensions, allowing selective access to specific portions. This dimensional organization enables the system to have abundant extra data available while only accessing the necessary subset during each operation, thus improving error correction capability without proportionally increasing access overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12541428B2Apparatuses and methods for distributing and providing data protection for auxiliary data

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Some rows of memory cells can be configured to store auxiliary data, which provides data protection for user data stored in the other rows of memory cells. The data protection provided by the auxiliary data can include, but not limited to, error correction and/or detection schemes. To further enhance the protection of data stored in the rows of memory cells, the available space in these rows of memory cells can be used to store preliminary auxiliary data, designed to provide data protection for the auxiliary data itself.