Memory Expander Controller Compressing Data and Storing Mapping Regions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern computing systems face challenges in efficiently processing and analyzing large amounts of data due to hardware limitations and memory overprovisioning, necessitating innovative solutions to enhance memory management and data processing efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a memory expander that includes a controller for compressing data and generating mapping data, along with a DRAM memory device, efficiently allocates data regions to improve channel overhead and read operation efficiency for compressed data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If data is stored in compressed form in memory, then memory capacity is improved, but read operation efficiency deteriorates due to decompression overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory capacityVSAvoidread operation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The memory device is divided into multiple banks, with each bank storing a specific portion of the mapping data. This segmentation allows the system to parallelize read operations by simultaneously accessing multiple banks for different mapping entries, thereby improving read operation efficiency while maintaining compressed data storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mapping data is pre-divided and distributed across multiple banks before read operations are needed. This preliminary arrangement of mapping data in separate banks enables parallel access during read operations, reducing the time required to retrieve and decompress data without compromising the space efficiency of compressed storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If mapping data is stored in a separate channel, then data access flexibility is improved, but physical overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata access flexibilityVSAvoidphysical overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mapping data is integrated into the memory device structure itself, specifically stored in multiple banks within the DRAM. This merging of mapping data storage with the main memory device eliminates the need for a separate dedicated channel for mapping data, thereby reducing physical overhead while maintaining the ability to access mapping data flexibly through the existing memory interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The memory device's multiple banks serve dual purposes: they store both compressed data and mapping data, making the memory structure universal. This multi-functionality allows the same physical hardware to handle both data storage and address translation tasks, reducing the overall physical overhead without sacrificing data access flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250190378A1Memory expander, electronic device including the memory expander and method of operating the electronic device

Publication Date: 2025.06.12 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A memory expander, an electronic device including the memory expander, and a method of operating the electronic device are provided. The memory expander includes a controller configured to perform a compression operation on data received from outside of the memory expander to generate compressed data and generate mapping data including a device physical address for the compressed data, and a first memory device including a volatile memory that is connected to the controller through a first channel and includes a first mapping data region where the mapping data is stored and a first compressed data region where the compressed data is stored.