Memory Controller Buffering Fractional Writes to Extend Lifetime
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current memory systems face inefficiencies in the non-volatilization process due to frequent execution of flush commands, leading to increased write amplification factors and reduced memory lifetime, particularly when handling fractional data, as they often require padding or temporary storage in smaller units, which increases the number of write operations.
Innovation Solution
The memory system suspends the non-volatilization process until the write buffer reaches the unit size of writing, thereby reducing the number of write operations to the nonvolatile memory and avoiding unnecessary padding or temporary storage in smaller units, ensuring data is written only when a full unit is available.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the non-volatilization process is executed frequently to ensure data safety, then data reliability is improved, but the write amplification factor increases and memory lifetime is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system accumulates fractional data in the write buffer before executing the non-volatilization process. By performing preliminary accumulation of data that would otherwise be written individually, the system reduces the frequency of write operations to nonvolatile memory, thereby extending memory lifetime while maintaining data reliability through buffered storage.
2Reliability
If fractional data is written immediately to nonvolatile memory, then data safety is improved, but the number of write operations increases due to padding requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple fractional data portions into a complete unit size before writing to nonvolatile memory. By combining fractional data from the write buffer with additional incoming data to form complete write units, the system eliminates the need for padding operations and reduces the total number of write operations, thereby improving writing efficiency while maintaining data safety.
3Reliability
If fractional data is temporarily stored in smaller units, then data integrity is maintained, but device complexity increases due to multiple storage mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The write buffer serves multiple functions: it temporarily stores fractional data, accumulates data from multiple write commands, and provides a staging area for forming complete write units. By making the write buffer multi-functional, the system maintains data integrity without requiring separate specialized storage mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory and a controller circuit. The controller circuit configured to control the volatile memory and the nonvolatile memory and to perform a write process and a non-volatilization process. The controller circuit is further configured to, during the write process, store write data in the volatile memory, and during the non-volatilization process, upon determining that data size stored in the write buffer being less than unit of writing of the nonvolatile memory, suspend completion of the non-volatilization process and not return a notification of completion of the non-volatilization process.