Nonvolatile Memory Direct Access via Reference Block Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nonvolatile memory devices face challenges in addressing rules that vary across different manufacturers, leading to performance and lifespan issues when loading firmware, as the address of memory blocks can differ between vendors.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a nonvolatile memory device with a reference memory block that stores an indicator, allowing direct access to specific memory blocks using page addresses without relying on block addresses, thereby simplifying the addressing rule and enabling access to firmware storage areas across different vendors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If block addresses are used for accessing memory blocks to store firmware, then the addressing rule can accommodate different manufacturers' variations, but the addressing process becomes complex and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the block address component from the addressing process by introducing a reference memory block that stores mapping information. The controller reads the indicator from the reference memory block to obtain the actual block address, thereby separating the simplified page address input from the complete block address required for memory access. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining adaptability through the indicator while simplifying the user-facing addressing interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - the reference memory block containing an indicator - that mediates between the simplified page address input and the actual block address required for memory access. This intermediary layer translates the simplified addressing input into the complete address required by the memory device, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and compatibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If block addresses are used for firmware storage access, then manufacturer-specific addressing variations can be handled, but access speed and performance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing the block address mapping information in the reference memory block before firmware access is required. When firmware access is needed, the controller simply reads the pre-stored indicator from the reference memory block and combines it with the page address, avoiding time-consuming address translation during the actual firmware loading operation. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining manufacturer compatibility through pre-configured indicators while achieving fast access speeds.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate ID reading and parsing is performed to obtain firmware storage address, then manufacturer-specific addressing rules can be satisfied, but product performance and lifespan are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the block address identification function into the memory device itself by incorporating a reference memory block that contains the indicator. This eliminates the need for separate ID reading and parsing operations that were previously required to determine the firmware storage location. The merged solution maintains manufacturer-specific addressing rule satisfaction while improving product performance by streamlining the access process into a single unified operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A nonvolatile memory device includes multiple memory blocks. A first memory block stores first data. A reference memory block stores an indicator indicating the first memory block as an indication in response to a first direct access command received from the outside. A first physical area of the first memory block is accessed according to a page address received from the outside together with the first direct access command, and the indication of the indicator.