Memory Controller Write Buffer for Fine-Grained Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems face performance degradation due to the need for read-modify-write operations when handling fine-grained access, which increases the overhead and degrades system performance.
Innovation Solution
A memory system with a memory controller that includes a host interface, a memory interface, and a write buffer, which temporarily stores data in entries reserved for continuous logical address ranges. The memory controller performs host inquiries to acquire missing data from the host cache, allowing for efficient handling of fine-grained access without executing read operations from the nonvolatile memory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If read-modify-write operation is executed for fine-grained access, then data integrity is maintained, but system performance degrades due to increased overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The memory controller checks the write buffer for the presence of valid data before executing read-modify-write operations. By performing this preliminary check, the system avoids unnecessary read operations from the nonvolatile memory when data is already available in the write buffer, thereby maintaining data integrity while improving system performance
Solution Approach 2:
The write buffer serves dual purposes: it acts as both a write cache and a source for read-modify-write operations. When data is already present in the write buffer, the system uses this self-service capability to fulfill read requirements without accessing the nonvolatile memory, thus maintaining reliability while reducing performance overhead
2Loss of information
If read operation is executed from nonvolatile memory for fine-grained access, then complete data is obtained, but access time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Data is preliminarily stored in the write buffer during write operations. When subsequent read operations are needed for fine-grained access, the controller first checks if the required data is already present in the write buffer. This preliminary storage action eliminates the need for time-consuming read operations from the nonvolatile memory while ensuring data completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The write buffer acts as an intermediary between the host and the nonvolatile memory. For fine-grained access operations, the controller retrieves data from the write buffer intermediary rather than directly from the nonvolatile memory, thereby obtaining complete data while significantly reducing access time
Data Source
AI summary
A memory controller of a memory system includes a host interface, a memory interface, and a write buffer configured to temporarily store data of a second size that is greater than a first size of a sector in each of a plurality of entries. Each of the entries includes a plurality of sectors. The memory controller is configured to select one of the entries in which write data is to be stored, determine whether the selected entry is missing data of any sector, perform a host inquiry by transmitting a request for the missing data, store the missing data in the selected entry, and then perform a write operation to store the data of the selected entry into the nonvolatile memory at a continuous physical address range of the nonvolatile memory.