Memory Response Aggregation to Reduce Host Interrupt Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
Memory systems generate a large number of interrupts in hosts due to frequent responses with small chunk sizes, leading to significant interrupt overhead.
Innovation Solution
Aggregating multiple responses from memory systems and sending them at once to the host, rather than individually, to reduce the number of interrupts and mitigate overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple responses are sent individually to the host, then the host can process each response promptly, but the interrupt overhead increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual responses into a single aggregated response packet that is sent to the host. Instead of generating separate interrupts for each response, the memory system accumulates multiple responses and transmits them together, reducing the number of interrupts and associated overhead while maintaining data integrity and processing reliability
2Loss of energy
If responses are aggregated and sent at once, then interrupt overhead is reduced, but the response time for individual commands increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic response aggregation mechanism that adjusts aggregation parameters based on system conditions. The memory controller monitors command queues, response sizes, and timing characteristics to dynamically determine when to aggregate responses and when to send them individually, optimizing the balance between interrupt reduction and response time
3Loss of energy
If responses are aggregated, then the number of interrupts is minimized, but the complexity of response management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where the memory system automatically manages response aggregation without requiring complex host-side intervention. The memory controller autonomously determines which responses to aggregate, manages the aggregation buffer, handles timing decisions, and formats the aggregated response packet, thereby reducing the overall system complexity despite the aggregation functionality
Data Source
AI summary
Example memory systems, methods, and media for aggregating responses from memory systems to mitigate interrupt overhead in hosts coupled to the memory systems are disclosed. One example method includes receiving multiple commands from a host. Multiple responses are sent to the host at a time instant, where each of the responses is generated in a memory system during a time period and responsive to a respective one of the commands.