Memory Refresh Counter Staggering to Reduce Row Hammering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional memory systems experience row hammering issues due to shared refresh commands causing simultaneous access to the same rows in memory devices, leading to data corruption and failure, especially in high-density memory modules.
Innovation Solution
Implementing staggered refresh address counters with unique start addresses for each memory device to prevent simultaneous refresh operations, ensuring that each device accesses different rows at different times, thereby reducing the likelihood of row hammer attacks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If shared refresh commands are used in conventional memory systems, then refresh operations can be performed efficiently across memory devices, but row hammering issues occur due to simultaneous access to the same rows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the refresh operation by dividing memory devices into different groups (first group and second group) that receive refresh commands at different times. This segmentation prevents simultaneous access to the same rows across all memory devices, thereby eliminating row hammering while maintaining refresh efficiency through organized batched operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic refresh actions with staggered timing for different memory device groups. By periodically refreshing memory devices in alternating groups rather than all at once, the system maintains data integrity while preventing the harmful simultaneous access pattern that causes row hammering.
2Speed
If refresh operations are performed simultaneously across all memory devices, then refresh speed is maximized, but the likelihood of row hammer attacks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments memory devices into multiple groups that are refreshed in sequence rather than simultaneously. This segmentation maintains high refresh speed by keeping the overall refresh operation continuous while eliminating row hammer vulnerability through temporal separation of refresh accesses across different device groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary organization of memory devices into staggered refresh groups before executing refresh operations. This preliminary segmentation ensures that when refresh commands are issued, the temporal distribution of access patterns is already established, preventing row hammer attacks while maintaining efficient refresh throughput.
3Device complexity
If all memory devices use the same refresh address counter, then synchronization is simplified, but simultaneous row access causes data corruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the refresh address counter usage by assigning different counter values or offset patterns to different memory device groups. This segmentation maintains data integrity by ensuring that simultaneous refresh operations target different rows, while the overall system complexity remains manageable through the use of standardized counter mechanisms applied to segmented groups.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices are disclosed. A device may include a number of memory devices, wherein each memory device of the number of memory devices may include a refresh address counter. A difference between an index of a first refresh address counter of a first memory device of the number of memory devices and an index of a refresh address counter of a second memory device of the number of memory devices is at least partially based on at least one of a value of the number of memory devices or a refresh rate of at least one of the first memory device or the second memory device. Associated systems are also described.