Memory Controller Metadata Backup and Restore Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing memory controllers face challenges in efficiently managing metadata updates and handling storage inhibit events, leading to abnormal operations and potential data loss when only some metadata segments are updated while others are not.

Innovation Solution

A memory controller with a metadata storage system that includes a metadata updater, a metadata restorer, and a backup data storage to manage metadata segments, where updates are suspended and restored based on storage inhibit information, ensuring all metadata segments are updated or restored consistently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If metadata segments are updated during storage operations, then metadata management performance is improved, but data integrity is compromised when storage inhibit events occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemetadata management performanceVSAvoiddata integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by creating a backup of the first metadata segment in the backup data storage before the metadata updater modifies it. This advance preparation ensures that if a storage inhibit event occurs during the update process, the original metadata can be restored, preventing data integrity issues while allowing metadata updates to proceed normally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements beforehand cushioning by maintaining a backup copy of metadata segments in separate backup data storage. This protective measure acts as a safety buffer that prevents potential data loss or corruption during metadata updates, especially when storage inhibit events occur, thus protecting data integrity without compromising update performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Productivity

If metadata updates are performed continuously, then metadata management efficiency is improved, but consistency is lost when storage inhibit events interrupt the update process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemetadata management efficiencyVSAvoidmetadata consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by implementing a mechanism where the metadata restorer continuously monitors for storage inhibit events and responds by restoring original metadata segments from backup storage. This feedback loop ensures that any inconsistencies introduced by interrupted updates are detected and corrected, maintaining metadata consistency while allowing continuous update operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements discarding and recovering by abandoning the potentially corrupted updated metadata segment and recovering the original version from backup storage when a storage inhibit event is detected. This approach sacrifices the incomplete update to preserve overall metadata consistency, allowing the system to discard the problematic segment and recover a consistent state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If backup storage is implemented for metadata segments, then data integrity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidmetadata storage structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the metadata storage into distinct components: metadata storage for active segments and backup data storage for preserved copies. This segmentation allows the system to implement comprehensive backup and restore functionality while keeping each storage component's structure simple and manageable, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements copying by creating duplicate copies of metadata segments in backup storage rather than implementing complex version control or redundant storage structures. This simple copy mechanism provides robust data integrity protection without requiring sophisticated management systems, thus minimizing device complexity while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11249849B2Memory controller and method of operating the same

Publication Date: 2022.02.15 SK HYNIX INC

AI summary

A memory controller configured to control a memory device may include: a metadata storage configured to store a plurality of metadata segments; a metadata updater configured to sequentially update the metadata segments; a backup data storage configured to store at least one original metadata segment (a metadata segment existing before being updated) among the metadata segments; a metadata backup circuit configured to store, before a selected metadata segment among the metadata segments is updated, an original metadata segment of the selected metadata segment in the backup data storage; and a metadata restorer configured to generate storage inhibit information indicating whether storing data in the memory device is inhibited based on a residual storage capacity of the memory device, and store, in the metadata storage, the original metadata segment stored in the backup data storage in response to the storage inhibit information while the metadata segments are updated.