Memory Controller Error History Logging via SCSI Commands
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current memory systems lack the capability to log comprehensive error histories, including command information and state information, which hinders accurate error analysis and debugging, as they often only record state information at the time of error occurrence, making it difficult for hosts to identify and diagnose issues effectively.
Innovation Solution
A memory system with a controller that includes a buffer memory, capable of performing error history logging in response to host commands, allowing for the logging and retrieval of both command and state information associated with errors, enabling hosts to obtain detailed error histories for debugging purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If error history logging is implemented to record comprehensive error information, then error analysis capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A buffer memory is introduced as an intermediary component between the controller and host to temporarily store error history information. This buffer acts as a mediator that captures and preserves detailed error data (including command information and state information) without requiring the controller to maintain complex logging structures, thereby improving error analysis capability while managing controller complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary error information capture by logging error history into the buffer memory at the time of error occurrence, before the host needs to analyze the errors. This preliminary action ensures that comprehensive error data (command information, state information, and timing) is already prepared and stored, enabling accurate error analysis without requiring complex real-time data collection mechanisms during host investigation.
2Measurement precision
If detailed command and state information is logged for every error, then debugging accuracy is improved, but memory usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer memory is designed to store specific types of error information locally (command information, state information, and timing data) with appropriate detail levels for each error type. Rather than uniformly logging all possible data for every error, the system selectively captures relevant information based on the nature of the error, improving debugging accuracy while optimizing buffer memory usage by avoiding redundant or unnecessary data storage.
3Loss of information
If error logging is continuously performed, then error history completeness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous error logging that would consume constant power, the system implements periodic or event-driven logging that activates only when errors occur or when the host requests error history. The controller monitors for error conditions and triggers logging operations periodically or on-demand, ensuring complete error history capture while minimizing power consumption by keeping the logging mechanism inactive during normal operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A memory system includes: a memory device; and a controller suitable for controlling the memory device and including a buffer memory, wherein the controller performs error history logging into the buffer memory in response to a logging start command from a host, stops the error history logging in response to a logging stop command from the host, and provides the host with the logged error history in response to an output command from the host.