Memory Garbage Collection Using Program Suspend to Cut Buffer Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional garbage collection processes in memory systems require significant buffer usage, leading to inefficient use of local memory resources, increased power consumption, and accelerated wear on NAND-type memory devices due to the need for proactive garbage collection during idle periods.
Innovation Solution
Implementing program suspend and resume techniques during garbage collection to temporarily move data from page buffers to registers, allowing for reduced buffer size and improved buffer management, enabling efficient data relocation and reduced wear on memory devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional garbage collection processes are used, then garbage collection can be performed, but buffer usage is significant and local memory resources are inefficiently used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the buffer management process into multiple stages: allocating a first buffer for reading valid data, suspending the program when the buffer is full, transferring data to a second buffer, and resuming the program. This segmentation allows efficient buffer usage by processing data in manageable chunks rather than requiring a single large buffer throughout the entire garbage collection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements buffer recovery by releasing the first buffer after its data has been transferred to the second buffer and programmed to destination blocks. This discarding and recovering mechanism allows the same buffer memory to be reused for subsequent read operations, significantly reducing the total buffer usage requirement while maintaining garbage collection productivity.
2Loss of energy
If conventional garbage collection processes are used, then garbage collection can be performed, but power consumption is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by suspending the program at buffer-full conditions, performing data transfer and programming operations, then resuming the program. This periodic suspend-resume pattern allows the system to manage power consumption by controlling when buffer operations occur, rather than continuously accessing memory buffers throughout the garbage collection process.
3Reliability
If conventional garbage collection processes are used, then garbage collection can be performed, but wear on NAND-type memory devices is accelerated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by reading and validating data into buffers before programming operations are initiated. This ensures that only valid data is programmed to destination blocks, reducing unnecessary write operations and thereby reducing wear on NAND-type memory devices while maintaining garbage collection productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments described herein provide for performing garbage collection with reduced buffer usage on a memory system. In particular, various embodiments use program suspend and program resume during garbage collection to facilitate performance of the garbage collection using a buffer that is smaller in size than buffers used during conventional garbage collection processes.