Memory Controller Boot Stage Validation for Reset Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory controllers perform unnecessary reset operations based on all reset requests from hosts, leading to increased boot times and reduced memory device lifetime due to irrelevant reset requests during specific boot stages.
Innovation Solution
A memory controller with a boot workload information storage and reset controller that determines the validity of reset requests based on boot stages, ignoring invalid requests and performing resets only during valid stages such as power-on or kernel recovery, thereby reducing unnecessary resets and extending memory device lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the memory controller performs reset operations on all reset requests from the host, then the host system can maintain proper operation during boot stages, but the boot time increases and memory device lifetime decreases due to unnecessary resets
Solution Approach 1:
The memory controller performs preliminary analysis of the reset request timing relative to host boot stages before executing the reset operation. By determining the current boot stage in advance and comparing it against valid reset stage criteria, the controller pre-identifies whether the reset request should be honored or skipped, preventing unnecessary reset operations that would extend boot time
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediate validation mechanism that sits between the host reset request and the memory device reset operation. This intermediary layer analyzes the boot stage information and acts as a gatekeeper, allowing only valid reset requests to pass through to the memory device while blocking invalid ones, thus resolving the contradiction between system reliability and boot time
2Reliability
If the memory controller performs reset operations on all reset requests from the host, then the host system can maintain proper operation during boot stages, but the memory device lifetime decreases due to excessive reset operations
Solution Approach 1:
The memory controller performs preliminary validation of reset requests by checking whether the current host boot stage corresponds to a valid reset stage before executing the reset operation. This advance determination prevents unnecessary reset operations that would otherwise occur during invalid boot stages, thereby reducing the total number of reset cycles the memory device must endure and extending its operational lifetime
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary validation mechanism is introduced between the host reset request and the memory device reset operation. This intermediary layer serves as a protective gatekeeper that filters out invalid reset requests based on boot stage analysis, preventing harmful reset operations from reaching the memory device while still allowing valid resets to maintain host system reliability
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the memory controller validates reset requests based on boot workload information, then unnecessary reset operations are reduced and memory device lifetime is extended, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The validation mechanism is segmented into discrete, manageable components: boot stage detection module, valid reset stage determination module, and reset request validation module. Each segment performs a specific function in the validation chain, making the overall complexity more manageable and maintainable while achieving the goal of reducing unnecessary reset operations
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary validation mechanism is introduced that adds a layer of intelligence between the host and memory device. This intermediary component, while increasing device complexity, is structured to provide significant benefits by preventing multiple unnecessary reset operations, thereby extending memory device lifetime through smart request filtering based on boot stage analysis
4Loss of time
If the memory controller skips invalid reset requests during boot stages, then the total boot time is shortened, but the risk of missing valid reset requests increases
Solution Approach 1:
The memory controller performs preliminary determination of valid reset stages based on host boot workload information before processing reset requests. By pre-establishing which boot stages correspond to valid reset opportunities, the controller can quickly validate incoming reset requests without risking false negatives, ensuring that valid requests are never missed while still skipping invalid ones to reduce boot time
Solution Approach 2:
The validation mechanism incorporates feedback from boot stage detection to dynamically adjust reset request handling. The controller continuously monitors host boot progress and uses this feedback to make informed decisions about whether to honor or skip each reset request, creating a reliable system that adapts to the current boot state while maintaining short boot times
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein may be a memory controller and a method of operating the same. The method of operating a memory controller may include determining whether a reset request received from a host is valid, based on boot workload information related to a plurality of boot stages of the host, and performing a reset operation on a memory device depending on whether the reset request is valid.