Memory Controller Early Suspend Handling for Storage Background Operations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage devices do not receive early suspend information from mobile devices entering power saving modes, leading to inefficient power consumption and operation during early suspend states.

Innovation Solution

The storage device is equipped with a memory controller that receives early suspend information from an external device, allowing it to perform appropriate background operations during power saving modes, including cache flush, data movement, and adjusting the ratio of background to foreground operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the storage device performs background operations continuously, then data management reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata management reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The storage device dynamically adjusts the execution of background operations based on power saving mode status. When early suspend information is received indicating power saving mode, the controller selectively suspends or adjusts background operations that are not critical, while maintaining essential operations. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain data management reliability for critical functions while reducing overall power consumption during power saving modes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The storage device receives early suspend information in advance before the host device enters power saving mode. This preliminary notification allows the controller to proactively adjust background operations, completing critical data management tasks before suspension and deferring non-critical operations. This preliminary action ensures data reliability is maintained for essential operations while enabling power reduction when the host is in power saving mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by moving object

If the storage device receives early suspend information and adjusts background operations, then power consumption is reduced, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidoperational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage device implements a feedback mechanism where the controller monitors for early suspend information from the host device and automatically adjusts background operations in response. When early suspend information is received, the controller receives feedback about the host's power saving state and autonomously modifies the execution of background operations accordingly. This feedback-driven approach reduces power consumption without requiring complex manual configuration, as the system self-adjusts based on host device state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Use of energy by moving object

If background operations are suspended during power saving mode, then power consumption is reduced, but data management reliability may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata management reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The storage device applies different quality levels of background operation execution based on local conditions. When early suspend information is received, the controller identifies which background operations are critical to data management reliability and maintains those at full performance, while suspending or reducing non-critical operations. This selective approach ensures that local critical functions maintain high reliability even during power saving mode, while non-essential functions are reduced to conserve power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12547536B2Storage device with memory controller and methods of operation

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 SK HYNIX INC

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a storage device capable of receiving early suspend information from an external device (e.g., host) and performing an appropriate operation during a power saving mode for an application installed on the external device, and a method of operating a memory controller of the storage device. The method of operating a memory controller may include: receiving early suspend information from an external device; and controlling a background operation according to the reception of the early suspend information. The background operation refers to an operation that is performed internally regardless of a request from the external device.