Memory Mirroring via Single Write Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional memory mirroring techniques in server systems require additional channel bandwidth and power, and result in inefficient memory utilization due to the need for separate write operations and unused memory slots, leading to suboptimal performance and capacity utilization.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a memory system that allows duplicate copies of a data element to be stored in different memory locations using a single write operation, with signal latency adjustments enabling concurrent writing across multiple modules within a channel, thereby eliminating the need for additional bandwidth and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional memory mirroring techniques are used with separate write operations, then memory reliability is improved through backup storage, but channel bandwidth consumption increases and memory utilization becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate write operations into a single concurrent write operation that simultaneously stores data in both primary and backup memory locations. This merging approach maintains memory reliability through backup storage while eliminating the need for additional channel bandwidth and improving memory utilization efficiency by avoiding wasted memory slots.
2Reliability
If separate write operations are used for primary and backup memory, then data redundancy is ensured, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate write operations for primary and backup memory into a single concurrent write operation. This approach ensures data redundancy is maintained while significantly reducing power consumption by eliminating the need for multiple separate write cycles and their associated power requirements.
3Reliability
If additional channel bandwidth is allocated for memory mirroring, then backup memory access is enabled, but overall system performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines backup memory access with primary memory access into a single concurrent write operation using the same channel bandwidth. This eliminates the need for additional channel bandwidth allocation while maintaining backup memory access capability, thereby preserving overall system performance.
4Reliability
If memory slots are reserved for backup memory, then memory reliability is improved, but available memory capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines primary and backup memory operations into a single concurrent write that utilizes existing memory slots efficiently. This approach maintains memory reliability through backup storage while maximizing available memory capacity by avoiding wasted slots that would result from reserved dedicated backup memory regions.
Data Source
AI summary
Described is memory system enabling memory mirroring in single write operations for the primary and backup data storage. The memory system utilizes a memory channel including one or more latency groups, with each latency group encompassing a number of memory modules that have the same signal timing to the controller. A primary copy and a backup copy of a data element can be written to two memory modules in the same latency group of the channel and in a single write operation. The buses of the channel may have the same trace length to each of the memory modules within a latency group.