Memory Controller Recovery Timing for Translation Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems face challenges in efficiently recovering translation and location information after a power supply interruption, leading to potential data loss and increased recovery time, especially when dealing with large datasets and multiple partial address spaces.
Innovation Solution
A memory system architecture that separates recovery processes for translation and location information into different timing phases, utilizing a controller to manage the recovery of each type independently, with on-demand recovery triggered by access requests and background recovery during idle periods, and employing log areas for efficient partial space recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the memory system recovers all location information continuously after power supply interruption, then data integrity is ensured, but recovery time and system unavailability increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the location information recovery process by dividing the address space into multiple partial spaces. Instead of recovering all location information continuously, the system recovers only the necessary partial spaces on-demand or in the background, significantly reducing the time the system is unavailable while maintaining data integrity for accessed data.
2Speed
If the memory system recovers location information on-demand for each access request, then system responsiveness improves, but recovery overhead increases for frequently accessed data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic recovery strategy where the recovery mode (on-demand vs. background) adapts based on system state and access patterns. The controller can switch between recovering location information immediately for on-demand access or scheduling it during idle periods for background recovery, optimizing the balance between responsiveness and energy consumption based on current system conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic background recovery during idle periods to proactively restore location information for partial spaces that are not currently being accessed. This periodic action prevents future on-demand recovery delays while spreading the energy consumption over time rather than concentrating it during critical access operations.
3Speed
If the memory system stores all translation and location information in volatile memory, then access speed improves, but data loss risk increases after power supply interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by continuously writing updated translation information to non-volatile memory and maintaining location information in a recoverable state. Before power loss occurs, the system has already persisted critical translation data, enabling faster and safer recovery of location information without requiring complete re-synchronization, thus balancing speed and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a memory system is connectable to a host. The memory system includes a first memory, a second memory, and a controller. The first memory stores translation information associating a logical address and a physical address. The second memory stores location information associating the logical address and a location of the translation information. The controller updates the translation information and the location information. After returning from a power supply interruption, the controller starts, at different timing, recovery of first location information and recovery of second location information. The first location information is a part of the location information. The second location information is a part of the location information different from the first location information. The controller executes processing different from recovery of the location information between the recovery of the first location information and the recovery of the second location information.