Memory Controller Block Grouping for Erase Operation Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems face inefficiencies in performing erase operations, particularly in managing and prioritizing these operations across different groups of memory blocks, which can lead to suboptimal performance and resource utilization.
Innovation Solution
A memory system with a controller that divides memory blocks into groups, manages operations differently for each group, and prioritizes erase operations based on predetermined conditions, such as free block ratios and thresholds, to efficiently perform erase tasks while suspending and resuming operations as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If erase operations are performed uniformly across all memory blocks, then simplicity of operation is maintained, but resource utilization becomes suboptimal and other operations suffer interference
Solution Approach 1:
The memory blocks are divided into two distinct groups: a first group managed by a first operation task and a second group managed by a second operation task. This segmentation allows erase operations to be performed on the first group while other operations proceed on the second group, and vice versa, thereby improving resource utilization and reducing interference between different operation types without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
2Productivity
If erase operations are prioritized based on free block ratios and thresholds, then resource utilization is optimized, but operation management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors the ratio of free memory blocks to used memory blocks within each group and compares this ratio against predetermined thresholds. When the ratio falls below the threshold, erase operations are automatically triggered for that group. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic, condition-based erase operation scheduling that optimizes resource utilization while maintaining manageable control logic through clear threshold-based decision rules.
3Reliability
If erase operations are suspended for foreground operations and resumed later, then interference with high-priority operations is minimized, but total operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The operation task dynamically suspends and resumes erase operations based on the priority and timing of foreground operation requests. When a foreground operation is initiated, the erase operation is suspended; when the foreground operation completes, the erase operation automatically resumes. This dynamic adjustment ensures that high-priority foreground operations are not interfered with while minimizing the total time loss by automatically resuming erased operations rather than abandoning them.
Data Source
AI summary
A memory system includes: a nonvolatile memory device including a plurality of memory blocks; and a controller suitable for dividing the plurality of memory blocks into a first group and a second group, and controlling the memory blocks included the first group and the second group, respectively, wherein the controller is further suitable for: managing all operations except for an erase operation to the memory blocks of the first group through a first operation task; managing all operations except for an erase operation to the memory blocks of the second group through a second operation task; and managing the erase operation to the memory blocks of the first group and the memory blocks of the second group through an erase operation task.