Segmented Memory Subsystem for Selective ECC Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The use of error correction code (ECC) protection in memory subsystems results in substantial reduction of available storage capacity, as ECC information requires significant space, leading to inefficient use of memory resources.

Innovation Solution

Configuring the memory subsystem into multiple portions, where one portion stores data with ECC information and another without, allowing for selective enabling and disabling of ECC protection based on data criticality, optimizing storage capacity usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ECC protection is enabled for all data in the memory subsystem, then data integrity is improved, but storage capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidstorage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The memory subsystem is divided into multiple portions, with at least one portion configured to store data with ECC information and another portion configured to store data without ECC information. This segmentation allows selective application of ECC protection to different data types, improving storage efficiency while maintaining data integrity where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the memory subsystem are assigned different quality characteristics regarding ECC protection. Critical data portions receive full ECC protection for maximum reliability, while non-critical data portions use reduced or no ECC protection to maximize storage capacity. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying the appropriate level of protection to each specific data type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If ECC information is stored for every byte of data, then error detection and correction capability is improved, but available storage capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror detection and correction capabilityVSAvoidavailable storage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying ECC protection to all data uniformly, the system applies partial ECC action only to specific portions of the memory subsystem where it is most needed. This partial application reduces the overall overhead of ECC information while maintaining sufficient error detection and correction capability for critical data, thereby increasing available storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20120124448A1Memory subsystem having a first portion to store data with error correction code information and a second portion to store data without error correction code information

Publication Date: 2012.05.17 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP

AI summary

A system comprising a memory subsystem having at least one memory device, and a memory controller to control access of the memory subsystem, wherein the memory controller is configured to store data with error correction code (ECC) information in a first portion of the memory subsystem, and to store data without ECC information in a second portion of the memory subsystem.