Memory Subsystem Error Control for Undetectable Critical Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional memory sub-systems fail to detect and correct errors effectively when critical data used for error handling contains undetectable errors, leading to failures in retrieving user data.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an undetectable error control process that changes the operating characteristic, such as temperature read offset, used in error control operations after a failure, allowing the error control operation to be performed again with a complementary characteristic, thereby mitigating undetectable errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional error detection and correction operations are performed using critical data, then errors can be detected and corrected, but undetectable errors in critical data cause failure in retrieving user data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary validation of critical data by executing the error control operation in advance to detect undetectable errors before they cause user data retrieval failure. This preliminary action allows the system to identify problematic critical data and prevent subsequent retrieval operations from failing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the result of the error control operation on critical data is used to determine whether to proceed with user data retrieval. If the error control operation fails on critical data, the system receives feedback to abort the retrieval operation, preventing loss of information.
2Productivity
If the error control operation is performed using critical data specifying operating characteristics, then data retrieval can proceed, but undetectable errors in critical data lead to incorrect operation and retrieval failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary error control operation on critical data before using it to guide user data retrieval. This preliminary check ensures that the operating characteristics in critical data are valid, preventing retrieval failures while maintaining efficiency for valid data.
Solution Approach 2:
The error control operation serves as an intermediary validation step between having critical data and using it for user data retrieval. This intermediary process checks the validity of critical data before it influences the retrieval operation, ensuring reliability without permanently blocking productivity.
3Speed
If no validation of critical data is performed, then the system operates quickly, but undetectable errors cause silent data corruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial validation by performing the error control operation only on critical data rather than all data operations. This selective approach provides sufficient validation to prevent silent corruption while minimizing the speed penalty, as the validation is performed only when necessary for retrieval operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A processing device reads data from a memory device in response to a received request and performs a first error control operation on the data based on an initial operating characteristic to correct one or more errors in the data. The processing device determines that the first error control operation based on the initial operating characteristic failed to correct the one or more errors in the data, modifies the initial operating characteristic to generate a modified operating characteristic and performs a second error control operation on the data based on the modified operating characteristic to correct the one or more errors in the data.