Memory Controller Map Segment Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current memory systems face inefficiencies in managing map data, particularly in portable electronic devices, due to high power consumption and limited storage capacity when handling large amounts of data.
Innovation Solution
A memory system incorporating a semiconductor device with an address mapping table and a controller that compresses map segments, storing them in a RAM using metadata, allowing for efficient data management and reduced memory consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If map data is stored in uncompressed form in RAM, then data access speed is improved, but memory consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary compression of map segments and stores them in compressed form in the memory device. Before actual data access, the compression engine compresses map segments and stores them in a compressed state. When data is needed, the system retrieves and decompresses only the required portions, thus maintaining low memory consumption while ensuring fast access to decompressed data in RAM
Solution Approach 2:
The map data is divided into multiple map segments that can be independently compressed, stored, and retrieved. The controller loads only the specific map segments needed for current operations into RAM in decompressed form, while other segments remain compressed in the memory device. This segmentation allows selective decompression, reducing overall memory consumption while maintaining fast access to actively used segments
2Speed
If all map segments are loaded into RAM, then data access speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of loading all map segments into RAM, the system loads only the partial set of map segments that are currently needed for data access operations. The controller identifies which map segments contain the logical addresses requested by the host and loads only those specific segments into RAM in decompressed form. This partial loading approach maintains fast access speed for required data while significantly reducing power consumption compared to loading the entire map
3Quantity of substance
If compression is applied to map segments, then memory consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed with multi-functionality, incorporating both compression and decompression capabilities within the same device. The compression engine can compress map segments during storage operations, and the same controller can decompress segments during retrieval operations. This universal design consolidates multiple functions into a single device rather than requiring separate compression hardware and storage hardware, thus reducing overall system complexity while achieving memory reduction through compression
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein may be a memory system and a method of operating the memory system. The memory system may include: a semiconductor memory device to which an address mapping table including a plurality of map segments is stored; and a controller configured to load and store, during a read operation, one or more map segments selected from among the plurality of map segments. The controller may include: a compression engine configured to compress the one or more map segments and generate one or more compressed map segments and metadata corresponding thereto; a map data loading buffer configured to store the one or more compressed map segments and the metadata; and a processor configured to store the one or more compressed map segments to a random access memory (RAM) using the metadata.