Memory Read Error Injection via Profiled Retry Vectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems face challenges in accurately predicting and simulating error tolerance, especially at the end-of-life stage, due to complex dependencies on operation conditions, making it difficult to verify the effectiveness of defense algorithms and ensure compliance with memory specifications during performance tests.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of error injection techniques that utilize error injection profiles and read retry vectors to simulate errors based on probability distributions, allowing for flexible testing from realistic to artificial scenarios, enabling robust testing and maintenance across different development stages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If error injection techniques are introduced to simulate errors based on probability distributions, then the reliability of memory systems is enhanced and defense algorithms are improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for error injection profiles and read retry vectors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining error injection profiles that contain read retry vectors and probability distributions before actual testing occurs. These profiles are prepared in advance and stored in the device, allowing the error injection mechanism to directly retrieve and apply predefined error scenarios without complex real-time analysis, thus reducing operational complexity while maintaining high reliability testing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by modifying read parameters or read command result status based on the error injection profile. The system dynamically adjusts parameters such as read retry counts and error probabilities according to the selected profile, enabling flexible error simulation without requiring complex hardware modifications. This parameter-based approach simplifies the error injection mechanism while maintaining accurate error modeling
2Measurement precision
If error injection profiles with hierarchal read retry vectors are used to simulate realistic errors, then the measurement precision of error tolerance is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to the complexity of probability distributions and defense algorithms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the error injection mechanism into distinct components: error injection profiles, read retry vectors, and defense algorithms. Each component is independently defined and can be separately verified. The hierarchal structure of read retry vectors allows systematic breakdown of complex error scenarios into manageable units, making it easier to detect and measure individual algorithm performances while maintaining overall measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the error injection profile to guide the error simulation process and then measuring the device's response against the expected outcomes defined in the profile. The read retry vector provides feedback information about successful reads versus errors, allowing the system to verify defense algorithm effectiveness. This feedback mechanism simplifies measurement by providing clear success/failure criteria without requiring complex analysis of probability distributions
3Reliability
If defense algorithms are executed to recover read data during error injection testing, then the reliability of data recovery is improved, but the loss of time increases due to the execution time of multiple defense algorithms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the expected behavior of defense algorithms in the error injection profile before actual testing. The profile specifies which algorithms should be executed and their expected outcomes, allowing for efficient verification without redundant algorithm execution. This pre-planning reduces the time spent during testing while maintaining comprehensive verification of data recovery capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes partial action by selectively executing only the necessary defense algorithms based on the error injection profile and actual error conditions. Rather than always executing the full hierarchy of defense algorithms, the system applies partial execution strategies where simpler algorithms are tried first and only complex algorithms are invoked when necessary, reducing overall execution time while maintaining adequate data recovery reliability
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for injecting memory read errors may include obtaining an error injection profile from a test library. A defense level in the defense hierarchy can be selected for execution according to the probabilities in the error injection profile. One or more errors can be injected into read operations of the storage device according to the defense-level read retry vector of the selected defense level, and a defense algorithm of the selected defense level is executed to recover read data of the read operations.