Memory Controller Buffering for Flash Write Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The mismatch in sizes between logical blocks and pages in data storage devices leads to inefficiencies in writing data, as logical blocks are smaller than the page size, resulting in suboptimal write operations and potential data loss due to prolonged storage in buffers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing data buffers of page size to temporarily store multiple logical blocks and integrating garbage-collected data with application data to create a full buffer, which is then written as a page to the data storage device, utilizing timers to manage data filling and prevent data loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is written directly from logical blocks to pages without buffering, then write operation speed is improved, but data loss risk increases due to prolonged buffer storage and write efficiency decreases due to size mismatch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-allocating buffers of page size before writing occurs. These buffers are prepared in advance to hold multiple logical blocks, allowing the system to accumulate data until a complete page is ready for writing, thus preventing data loss while maintaining write efficiency through proactive buffer management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces buffers as an intermediary component between logical blocks and pages. These buffers act as a mediator that temporarily holds logical block data, allowing for size matching and efficient batch writing to pages, thereby resolving the contradiction between data safety and write performance
2Productivity
If buffers are used to store multiple logical blocks, then write efficiency is improved by reducing write operations, but data loss risk increases due to prolonged storage time in buffers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms through timers that continuously monitor buffer occupancy and trigger write operations when thresholds are met. This feedback loop ensures that data does not remain in buffers indefinitely, automatically initiating writes to prevent data loss while maintaining the efficiency benefits of batch processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies periodic action through timer-based triggers that initiate write operations at regular intervals or when specific conditions are met. This periodic checking and writing prevents data from lingering too long in buffers, thus maintaining reliability while preserving the write efficiency gains from buffering multiple logical blocks
3Ease of operation
If logical block size matches page size, then write operation simplicity is improved, but flexibility to handle variable-sized logical blocks is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the buffer into multiple logical block-sized segments. This allows the buffer to accommodate variable-sized logical blocks while maintaining a unified page-sized structure for writing, thus simplifying write operations without reducing flexibility in handling different logical block sizes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the size mismatch contradiction by operating in another dimension - using page-sized buffers as an intermediate layer between logical blocks and physical pages. This dimensional approach allows variable-sized logical blocks to be accumulated and then written as fixed-size pages, achieving both operational simplicity and adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
A data storage device includes a plurality of flash memory devices. A memory controller is configured to receive a request from a host computing device to write a first logical block of application data to the data storage device, write the first logical block to a data buffer, wherein a size of the data buffer is larger than the logical block and may store multiple logical blocks, write one or more logical blocks of garbage-collected data to the data buffer, and write the logical blocks in the data buffer to the data storage device when the data buffer becomes full. The data buffer written to the data storage device includes at least one logical block of application data and at least one logical block of garbage-collected data. In an alternative implementation, garbage-collected data may be written to the data buffer upon expiration of a timer.