Memory Sub-System Zoned Namespace Capacity Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Memory sub-systems face challenges in managing capacity reductions due to device failures, leading to inefficient resource utilization and increased costs, as existing fault tolerance mechanisms are limited in handling storage losses and can affect performance and reliability.

Innovation Solution

The memory sub-system detects failures, communicates with the host system to manage capacity reductions, allowing the system to operate at a reduced capacity while preserving data and relocating affected data, thereby extending the system's operational duration and maintaining reliability and performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional fault tolerance mechanisms are used to handle storage device failures, then data protection is maintained, but system capacity is significantly reduced and performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protectionVSAvoidsystem capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the storage namespace into multiple zones (host-visible zone and device-internal zone). The host-visible zone presents a consistent capacity to the host system, while the device-internal zone manages actual storage allocation and failure recovery. This segmentation allows the system to maintain full capacity appearance to the host while internally managing failures without reducing host-visible capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a zone management component as an intermediary between the host system and the storage devices. This intermediary manages capacity allocation, handles failure recovery, and maintains the namespace mapping without requiring host system intervention. It acts as a buffer that absorbs the impact of failures while maintaining consistent capacity presentation to the host.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If storage devices are replaced upon failure, then system reliability is restored, but operational duration is reduced and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidoperational duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary failure isolation by creating device-internal zones that can be independently managed. When failures are detected, the zone management component can isolate affected zones and redistribute data before failures propagate or require system replacement. This preliminary action extends operational duration by maintaining system functionality during failure recovery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables selective discarding of failed storage zones while recovering and redistributing their data to healthy zones. The zone management component identifies failed zones, isolates them from the host-visible namespace, and migrates data to available capacity in other zones. This allows the system to continue operating with reduced internal capacity rather than requiring full system replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Duration of action of stationary object

If capacity is reduced to accommodate failures, then system lifespan is extended, but resource utilization efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem lifespanVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic capacity management where the zone management component continuously monitors device health and dynamically adjusts zone allocations. As failures occur, the system dynamically redistributes data and reconfigures zones to maximize utilization of remaining healthy capacity. This dynamic approach maintains high resource utilization efficiency while extending system lifespan by adapting to changing device conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If traditional namespace management is used, then simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to failures is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenamespace management simplicityVSAvoidfailure handling capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a device-internal dimension to the traditional host-visible namespace. This second dimension allows the storage device to manage capacity and failures independently without affecting the host-visible namespace structure. The host continues to see a simple, unchanged namespace, while the device-internal zone provides sophisticated failure handling capabilities through multi-dimensional namespace management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11307931B1Using zones to manage capacity reduction due to storage device failure

Publication Date: 2022.04.19 MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A system and method for managing a reduction in capacity of a memory sub-system. An example method involving a memory sub-system: configuring the memory device with a zoned namespace comprising a plurality of zones; notifying a host system of a failure associated with a zone of the plurality of zones, wherein the failure affects stored data; receiving from the host system an indication to continue at a capacity that is reduced; recovering the stored data of the zone affected by the failure; and updating the set of memory devices to change the capacity to a reduced capacity.