Memory Command Timer Interrupt for Stalled Command Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Some memory systems lack a recovery mechanism for stalled commands, leading to increased system latency and potential impacts on safety-critical systems.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a host-driven memory system with a timer to track command processing and issue an interrupt signal if a response is not received within a specified time, allowing for corrective action on stalled commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no timer mechanism is implemented to track command processing, then the system structure remains simple, but system latency increases and reliability deteriorates due to inability to recover from stalled commands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a timer mechanism that is preliminarily configured to track command processing time. The timer is started when a command is issued and automatically triggers an interrupt signal when a predetermined time threshold is reached, enabling proactive detection of stalled commands before they cause system failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where the timer continuously monitors command processing duration and provides feedback to the host system through interrupt signals. When the timer detects that a command exceeds the predetermined time threshold, it generates an interrupt signal that feeds back to the host, enabling the host to take corrective action.
2Loss of time
If a timer mechanism is added to track command processing, then system latency is reduced through timely recovery, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The timer is preliminarily configured with a predetermined time threshold that represents the maximum acceptable command processing time. This preliminary setup enables the system to automatically detect and respond to stalled commands without requiring complex real-time analysis during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The timer mechanism operates autonomously to monitor command processing and generate interrupt signals when thresholds are exceeded. The host system simply needs to respond to the interrupt signal, rather than continuously polling or managing the timing logic, thereby reducing the burden on the host while still achieving timely recovery.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for command timer interrupt are described. In some cases, a memory system having a host-driven logical block interface may maintain a timer to measure processing of commands. For example, upon receiving a command and storing the command in a command queue, a protocol controller of the memory system may issue the command to a command controller of the memory system and initiate the timer. Upon receiving a response for the command from the command controller, the protocol controller may reset or stop the timer, depending on whether the command queue is empty. If the timer expires prior to receiving a response for the command, the protocol controller may issue an interrupt signal to the command controller.