Memory Controller for Host-Bypass Data Transfer and Tiered Storage

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing memory sub-systems require data to be routed through the host, which increases host workload and negatively affects response times and user experience, especially in applications that handle large data quantities.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a controller within the memory sub-system to directly route data between the memory device and the storage device, bypassing the host, thereby reducing host workload and improving performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data is routed through the host between memory device and storage device, then data transfer can be performed, but host workload increases and response time deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer efficiencyVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the data routing function from the host system and relocates it to a dedicated controller within the memory sub-system. This separation allows the host to focus on higher-level operations while the controller handles data movement between memory devices and storage devices, thereby reducing host workload and improving response time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary component between the memory device and storage device. This controller acts as a mediator that directly manages data transfer operations, eliminating the need for data to traverse through the host system and thereby reducing latency and improving transfer efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If data is routed through the host, then data transfer can be performed, but power consumption increases due to additional data paths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the data routing function from the host system and relocates it to a dedicated controller within the memory sub-system. This separation allows the host to focus on higher-level operations while the controller handles data movement between memory devices and storage devices, thereby reducing host workload and improving response time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary component between the memory device and storage device. This controller acts as a mediator that directly manages data transfer operations, eliminating the need for data to traverse through the host system and thereby reducing latency and improving transfer efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20260111115A1Controller for a memory device and a storage device

Publication Date: 2026.04.23 MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A controller can be directly coupled to a storage device and a memory device but not a host. The controller can monitor a plurality of regions of the memory device to determine whether the plurality of regions meet a criterion for fullness and responsive to determining that the plurality of regions meet the criterion, read data from the plurality of regions. The controller can, responsive to reading the data from the plurality of regions, store the data in the storage device and delete the data from the plurality of regions. The controller can further, responsive to storing the data, report to a host that the data has been moved from the memory device to the storage device. The controller can be implemented independent from the host.