Memory Copyback Header Data Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional memory systems cannot update header data during a copyback operation, as they error encode header and user data together, preventing independent management and potential errors in header data from being retained when transferring data between memory blocks.
Innovation Solution
Decoupling header data from user data during the copyback operation allows for separate management and ECC encoding of updated header data, enabling independent transfer and reduction of errors by performing ECC operations only on the header data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If header data and user data are error encoded together, then data integrity is maintained through comprehensive ECC protection, but independent management and updating of header data during copyback operations is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traditional unified ECC structure into separate ECC mechanisms: one for user data and another for header data. This segmentation allows independent management and updating of header data during copyback operations while maintaining ECC protection for both data types. The separate header data ECC encoder and updater components enable this independent operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts header data from the traditional unified data structure and creates a separate handling path for header data ECC encoding and updating. This extraction allows the header data to be managed independently from user data, enabling updates during copyback operations without affecting user data integrity.
2Productivity
If header data is transferred together with user data during copyback, then data transfer is simplified, but updated header data cannot be applied and errors may be retained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary updating of header data before the copyback operation completes. The header data updater receives new header data from the host system and updates it in advance, so that when data is transferred during copyback, the most current and accurate header data is already in place, preventing error retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary header data updater component that sits between the host system and the memory device. This intermediary receives header data from the host, processes and updates it separately, and ensures accurate header data is available during copyback operations, mediating between the host's data requirements and the memory device's transfer operations.
3Reliability
If ECC operations are performed on both header data and user data during copyback, then comprehensive error protection is maintained, but time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial ECC action by performing ECC operations selectively: user data undergoes ECC encoding during copyback, while header data uses a separate, optimized ECC path that updates in advance. This partial approach maintains comprehensive error protection for both data types while reducing the overall time and energy burden compared to applying full ECC operations to all data during the copyback operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes performing a copyback operation comprising transferring, using an internal processing device, user data and header data corresponding to the user data from a first block of memory in a memory device to a register in the memory device, decoupling the user data from the header data, performing an error correction code (ECC) operation on updated header data using an external processing device, transferring, via the external processing device, the updated header data to the register, and transferring the user data and the updated header data from the register to a second block of memory in the memory device.