Memory Controller Journal Timing for Metadata Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage devices face challenges in efficiently managing meta data to maintain performance while minimizing performance degradation during power interruptions.

Innovation Solution

A memory controller that manages a journal to maintain an open time of a storage device by determining a recovery time for meta data blocks based on journal times and performing meta writing when the recovery time reaches a threshold, thereby reducing stalls and optimizing performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If frequent meta writing is performed to ensure data safety, then reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to increased write operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata safetyVSAvoidperformance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by maintaining a journal buffer that pre-records meta data update information before actual meta writing occurs. This allows the system to quickly recover from power interruptions by replaying journal entries without needing to perform frequent full meta writes, thus improving reliability while reducing performance impact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The journal buffer serves as an intermediary between meta data updates and actual meta writing operations. It temporarily stores update information and allows batched recovery operations, reducing the frequency and impact of meta writes on overall system performance while ensuring data safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If journal data is accumulated for longer periods, then productivity is improved by reducing write frequency, but loss of time increases during recovery operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewrite frequencyVSAvoidrecovery time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamics by adaptively managing the journal buffer based on system state. The memory controller monitors journal buffer status and dynamically decides when to perform meta writing operations, balancing between accumulating enough journal entries to reduce write frequency and limiting accumulation to prevent excessive recovery times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by adjusting the threshold for triggering meta writing operations. When the journal buffer reaches a certain size or age threshold, meta writing is triggered, optimizing the balance between write frequency and recovery time based on current system conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the open time is reduced to improve performance, then productivity is improved, but reliability worsens due to less time for proper meta data synchronization

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveperformanceVSAvoidmeta data synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By pre-recording meta data updates in the journal buffer during the open time, the system ensures that even with reduced open time, all necessary update information is captured before potential power loss. This maintains reliability without requiring extended open times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4432067B1Storage device, and operating method of memory controller
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4432067B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4432067B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4432067B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A storage device, and an operating method of a memory controller are provided. A storage device includes a non-volatile memory device, a buffer memory configured to store a plurality of meta data blocks and journal data corresponding to the plurality of meta data blocks, the journal data including a plurality of journal entries indicating update information on the meta data included in one of the plurality of meta data blocks, and a memory controller configured to determine a recovery time of the plurality of meta data blocks based on journal times corresponding to each of the journal entries, the recovery time being a predicted time for recovering the plurality of meta data blocks using the journal data, and perform a meta writing based on the recovery time, the meta writing including writing one of the plurality of meta data blocks to the non-volatile memory device and writing the journal data to the non-volatile memory device.