Memory Controller Channel Grouping for Parallel Garbage Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional virtual block management in flash memory lacks flexibility, affecting storage space utilization and operational efficiency, particularly during garbage collection operations.
Innovation Solution
A memory management method that groups physical blocks into virtual blocks, allowing for partitioned binding and simultaneous execution of garbage collection and host write operations, enhancing operational efficiency by dividing channels into groups for separate virtual block mapping and garbage collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If traditional virtual block management binds all physical blocks with the same block number as a single virtual block, then the management is simple, but the flexibility is reduced and storage space utilization is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides physical blocks into different types (first-type physical blocks and second-type physical blocks) and applies different virtual block mapping operations to each type. This segmentation allows the system to optimize for both simplicity and flexibility by treating different block types differently, resolving the contradiction between simple management and flexible adaptation.
2Reliability
If garbage collection operation is performed on a virtual block, then the storage space is cleaned, but the host write operation must be halted, reducing operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments physical channels into different groups (first physical channel group and second physical channel group) and performs garbage collection and host write operations on different groups simultaneously. This allows garbage collection to be performed without halting host write operations, maintaining both reliability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous operation by allowing host write operations to proceed on the second physical channel group while garbage collection is performed on the first physical channel group. This ensures that useful actions (data writing and garbage collection) continue without interruption, resolving the contradiction between completing garbage collection and maintaining operational efficiency.
3Productivity
If partitioned binding is implemented to allow simultaneous garbage collection and host write operations, then operational efficiency increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides physical channels into distinct groups and applies different virtual block mapping operations to each group. This segmentation manages the complexity by organizing the partitioned binding into structured groups rather than ad-hoc divisions, making the increased complexity more manageable and systematic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic virtual block mapping where the mapping operation can switch between first-type and second-type physical blocks based on operational needs. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to different operational states (garbage collection vs. host write operations) while managing complexity through systematic switching rules.
Data Source
AI summary
A memory management method and a memory controller for executing virtual block mapping operations. The method performs initial virtual block mapping across multiple physical channels, then dynamically divides the channels into two groups when free blocks in a target channel fall below a threshold. By remapping blocks separately for each group, the method enables simultaneous garbage collection and host write operations across different channel groups, so as to improve operational efficiency of the storage device.