Memory Region Read Count Grouping for Reliability Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems face challenges in efficiently managing read access counts across multiple memory regions, leading to frequent unnecessary reliability management operations and requiring substantial memory capacity for accurate data reliability assessment.
Innovation Solution
A memory system with a count management circuit that adjusts group read counts and reduces remaining region read counts based on individual memory region access thresholds, coupled with a reliability management circuit that performs data relocation when group read counts reach a certain threshold, thereby optimizing memory usage and reducing frequent reliability management operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If individual region read counts are tracked for each memory region to assess data reliability, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need to manage multiple region read counts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual region read counts into a single group read count that represents the cumulative read accesses across all memory regions. This merging approach maintains the ability to assess data reliability by tracking total read operations while significantly reducing the memory resources needed to store and manage read count information, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The group read count serves multiple functions: it tracks overall data reliability for the entire memory device, triggers reliability management operations when thresholds are exceeded, and reduces the complexity of managing individual region counts. This multi-functional approach allows a single counter to perform what previously required multiple separate counters, reducing memory capacity requirements while maintaining assessment accuracy
2Reliability
If reliability management operations are performed frequently to ensure data integrity, then reliability is improved, but productivity decreases due to unnecessary operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the group read count is continuously monitored and compared against a threshold value. Reliability management operations are triggered only when the group read count exceeds the threshold, indicating actual data reliability concerns. This feedback-based approach prevents unnecessary reliability management operations from occurring when data is still reliable, thereby improving productivity while maintaining data integrity when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment by tracking the group read count and comparing it to a predetermined threshold before initiating reliability management operations. This preliminary check ensures that operations are only performed when actually necessary, avoiding unnecessary interruptions to normal memory operations and improving overall system productivity while maintaining reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A memory system includes a storage medium including a memory region group having a plurality of memory regions; a memory configured to store a plurality of region read counts respectively corresponding to the plurality of memory regions and a group read count corresponding to the memory region group; a count management circuit configured to, when a first memory region among the plurality of memory regions is read-accessed, based on a first region read count corresponding to the first memory region among the plurality of region read counts, increase the group read count and reduce remaining region read counts other than the first region read count among the plurality of region read counts; and a reliability management circuit configured to perform a reliability management operation for the memory region group, based on the group read count.