Memory Controller Low Power Mode Status Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Memory systems, such as solid state drives (SSDs), face challenges in efficiently responding to status acquisition commands when in a low power mode, as existing technologies struggle to quickly retrieve and transmit data indicating the system's status within the required time limits, leading to potential timeouts and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A memory system architecture that includes a controller capable of storing necessary data for status responses in a volatile memory before transitioning to low power mode, allowing for rapid restoration and data transmission when a management command is received, thereby maintaining power to essential interfaces and volatile memory, enabling timely and efficient status reporting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the memory system transitions to low power mode by stopping power supply to most components, then power consumption is reduced, but the system cannot quickly respond to status acquisition commands
Solution Approach 1:
The controller proactively acquires status data from the nonvolatile memory and stores it in the volatile memory before transitioning to low power mode. This preliminary action ensures that when a status acquisition command arrives during low power mode, the data is already prepared and can be transmitted immediately, resolving the contradiction between power saving and response speed.
2Speed
If the controller maintains power to all components to respond quickly to commands, then response speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential status data from the nonvolatile memory and stores it in the volatile memory before low power mode transition. This extraction allows the system to maintain minimal power consumption while having the necessary response data ready, resolving the contradiction between maintaining response capability and reducing power usage.
3Loss of time
If the system stores status data in volatile memory before low power mode, then response time to status commands is reduced, but memory architecture complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary data preparation by copying status data from nonvolatile to volatile memory before entering low power mode. This preliminary action reduces response time significantly while adding minimal architectural complexity, as it utilizes existing memory structures without requiring new hardware components.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a memory system connectable to a host via each of a first bus and a second bus includes a nonvolatile memory and a controller. The controller stores first data that is necessary for responding to a management command for acquiring a status of the memory system in a first volatile memory before causing the memory system to transition to a low power mode. The controller causes the memory system to transition to the low power mode by stopping supply of power to each of components of the controller except for a first interface circuit connected to a first bus, a second interface circuit connected to a second bus, and the first volatile memory, and stopping the supply of power to the nonvolatile memory.