Memory Controller State Switching for Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current semiconductor memory devices face inefficiencies in managing data movement between main memory and secondary storage, leading to increased processor load and performance degradation due to direct access requirements and lack of efficient data swapping mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A semiconductor memory device configuration that includes a first memory, a second memory, and a switch, controlled by a processor, which switches between states to enable data movement between the memories without direct processor access, allowing for reduced processor load and improved data transfer efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the processor directly accesses main memory and swap file for data swapping, then data transfer can be performed, but processor load increases and performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a memory controller as an intermediary device between the processor and the memory system. The memory controller autonomously manages data swapping between main memory and swap file without requiring processor intervention. This mediator handles the complex data transfer operations, freeing the processor from these tasks and reducing processor load while maintaining efficient data transfer through dedicated memory control logic.
2Speed
If the processor manages data swapping between main memory and swap file, then data movement is possible, but the memory bus becomes congested and transfer speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data swapping function from the processor and relocates it to the memory controller. By taking out this function from the main processing path, the memory bus is freed from processor-mediated transfer overhead. The memory controller directly manages memory bus transactions, simplifying bus utilization and enabling faster data transfer speeds without processor intervention.
3Ease of operation
If direct processor access is used for data swapping, then data movement between memories is achieved, but system performance degrades due to processor involvement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the memory controller to autonomously perform data swapping operations without processor involvement. The memory controller independently manages data movement between main memory and swap file, making operational decisions without external control. This self-service approach maintains ease of data swapping while significantly improving system performance by eliminating processor bottlenecks.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a first memory, a second memory, a switch, and a controller. The switch switches between various states including between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the first memory is connected to a host device that reads data from and writes data to the first memory and the second memory is not connected to the host device. In the second state, the first memory is connected to the second memory and the host device is connected to neither the first memory nor the second memory. The controller directs, upon receiving a movement command from the host device, the switch to switch to the second state to move data between the first memory and the second memory.