Multi-Channel Memory Device Channel Switch Response Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-channel memory devices face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption and switching between low power consumption and high memory bandwidth modes, leading to potential performance bottlenecks and reduced battery life in portable devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for managing a multi-channel memory device by reserving partial memory space when switching between modes, allowing for efficient data migration and power management, enabling seamless transitions between M-channel and N-channel modes without user-aware data migration latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If all memory channels are kept active to provide high memory bandwidth, then memory throughput is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic channel switching that allows the memory device to transition between different channel configurations (M-channel mode with M channels active, N-channel mode with N channels active) based on real-time bandwidth requirements. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to use only the necessary number of channels, reducing power consumption when full bandwidth is not needed while maintaining high throughput when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the memory device by switching between different channel modes. The system adjusts the number of active channels (parameter change) based on workload demands, thereby optimizing the balance between power consumption and memory throughput. This parameter adjustment allows the memory device to operate efficiently across different performance levels.
2Use of energy by moving object
If memory channels are switched between M-channel mode and N-channel mode to optimize power consumption, then power utilization is improved, but channel switch response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by reserving a partial memory space in advance when operating in M-channel mode. This reserved space is prepared beforehand and contains data that will be needed when switching to N-channel mode. By pre-positioning this data in the reserved space, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming data migration during channel switching, thereby reducing channel switch response time while maintaining power optimization benefits.
3Ease of operation
If data migration is performed when switching from M-channel mode to N-channel mode, then data accessibility is improved, but system performance degrades due to migration latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates data migration latency by pre-positioning required data in a reserved partial memory space before the channel switch occurs. When switching from M-channel to N-channel mode, the data is already in the reserved space and immediately accessible, removing the performance-degrading migration step entirely. This preliminary preparation ensures both data accessibility and maintains system performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the reserved partial memory space that contains pre-positioned data. This copy mechanism allows the system to have duplicate data availability - the original data remains in the M-channel configuration while a copy exists in the reserved space for rapid access during N-channel operation, thereby eliminating migration needs and maintaining performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing a multi-channel memory device includes at least following steps: when the multi-channel memory device is controlled to operate in an M-channel mode, reserving a partial memory space in the multi-channel memory device that is not used under the M-channel mode, where M and N are positive integers, and M is smaller than N; and when the multi-channel memory device is controlled to switch from the M-channel mode to an N-channel mode, accessing data in the reserved partial memory space used under the N-channel mode.