Memory Subsystem Controller for Autonomous Data Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory sub-systems require data to be routed through the host, which increases host workload and negatively impacts response times and user experience, especially in applications requiring large data transfers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a controller within the memory sub-system to directly route data between memory and storage devices, bypassing the host, thereby reducing host workload and improving performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If data is routed through the host between memory device and storage device, then the host system can manage data flow, but host workload increases and response time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a memory sub-system as an intermediary component between the host system and storage device. This sub-system includes a memory device and storage device that can communicate directly with each other, bypassing the host for data transfers. The host only needs to communicate with the memory sub-system through a simplified interface, while internal data movement between memory and storage occurs autonomously within the sub-system, thus reducing host workload and improving response time
2Productivity
If data is routed through the host, then data can be transferred between memory and storage, but power consumption increases due to additional data paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data transfer function from the host system and relocates it to the memory sub-system. By taking out the data routing operation from the host's responsibility, the system creates a dedicated data path between memory device and storage device within the sub-system. This extraction eliminates the need for data to traverse the host's communication interfaces and bus systems, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining data transfer capability
3Ease of operation
If data is routed through the host, then the host can control data flow, but device complexity increases due to additional routing paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the system into two distinct functional layers: the host system layer and the memory sub-system layer. The host system retains high-level control authority through simplified commands, while the memory sub-system handles detailed data routing operations internally. This segmentation allows the host to maintain control without being burdened by complex routing logic, as the sub-system's internal architecture manages the complexity of data movement between memory and storage devices
Data Source
AI summary
A controller can be directly coupled to a storage device and a memory device but not a host. The controller can monitor a plurality of regions of the memory device to determine whether the plurality of regions meet a criterion for fullness and responsive to determining that the plurality of regions meet the criterion, read data from the plurality of regions. The controller can, responsive to reading the data from the plurality of regions, store the data in the storage device and delete the data from the plurality of regions. The controller can further, responsive to storing the data, report to a host that the data has been moved from the memory device to the storage device. The controller can be implemented independent from the host.