Memory Subsystem Hibernation via Host Memory State Copying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Frequent power cycling in managed memory subsystems leads to delays and power loss due to the overhead of reading and processing state information from non-volatile memory, which negates the power-saving benefits of shutting down the memory subsystem.
Innovation Solution
Copying state information from volatile memory to host system memory during power down and back to volatile memory during power up, utilizing a standard interface for faster and more power-efficient data transfer, thereby reducing the reliance on non-volatile memory operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If power is frequently shut down to save energy, then power consumption is reduced, but boot time increases due to reading and processing state information from non-volatile memory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by copying state information from non-volatile memory to volatile memory during the power down process. This advance preparation ensures that when power is restored, the system can quickly retrieve state information from volatile memory instead of reading from non-volatile memory, thus reducing boot time while maintaining power savings from frequent power cycling.
2Reliability
If state information is read from non-volatile memory during power up, then system state is restored, but processing overhead increases boot time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the state information copying from non-volatile to volatile memory in advance during power down. This preliminary action ensures that when power is restored, the state information is already available in volatile memory, eliminating the need for time-consuming read and processing operations during power up while ensuring reliable state restoration.
3Stability of the object's composition
If non-volatile memory is used to store state information, then data persistence is achieved, but data access speed is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces volatile memory as an intermediary between non-volatile memory and the system operations. State information is copied from non-volatile memory to volatile memory during power down, and then accessed from volatile memory during power up. This intermediary approach maintains data persistence through non-volatile memory while achieving fast data access through volatile memory, resolving the speed-persistence tradeoff.
Data Source
AI summary
In a managed memory subsystem, information associated with the memory subsystem is copied from volatile memory in the memory subsystem to host system memory. The copying can be over a standard interface. Responsive to memory subsystem power up from a powered down state or power loss, the information is copied from the host system memory back to the volatile memory in the memory subsystem, where the information can be used by the memory subsystem to perform memory operations. Transferring information from host system memory to volatile memory in a memory subsystem is faster and more power efficient than transferring the same information from non-volatile memory to volatile memory in the memory subsystem.