Non-volatile Memory Data Integrity Verification via Syndrome Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for verifying data integrity in non-volatile memory systems consume considerable time and power, especially when error correction techniques fail to correct errors, leading to inefficiencies in data scrubbing and verification processes.
Innovation Solution
A method that estimates the bit error rate (BER) by determining the syndrome weight of data without full decoding, using techniques like XOR codeword formation and syndrome calculation, allows for fast verification of data integrity by reporting errors based on thresholds, reducing the need for full decoding and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If full decoding is performed to verify data integrity, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and use of energy worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential verification information (syndrome weight) from the full decoding process. By calculating syndrome weight without completing full ECC decoding, the system obtains sufficient data integrity information while avoiding the time-consuming full decoding operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs partial decoding by calculating only the syndrome weight rather than completing full ECC decoding. This partial action provides adequate verification for most cases, and full decoding is reserved only for situations where syndrome weight indicates potential errors, thus optimizing the time-accuracy tradeoff.
2Measurement precision
If full decoding is performed to verify data integrity, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential verification information (syndrome weight) from the full decoding process. By calculating syndrome weight without completing full ECC decoding, the system obtains sufficient data integrity information while avoiding the energy-consuming full decoding operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs partial decoding by calculating only the syndrome weight rather than completing full ECC decoding. This partial action provides adequate verification for most cases, and full decoding is reserved only for situations where syndrome weight indicates potential errors, thus optimizing the energy-accuracy tradeoff.
3Reliability
If multiple tiers of error correction are implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the error correction verification process into distinct tiers: first calculating syndrome weight for quick error detection, then selectively applying full ECC decoding only when needed. This segmentation maintains high reliability while reducing average complexity by avoiding unnecessary full decoding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a tiered approach where partial decoding (syndrome weight calculation) is performed first, and full decoding is applied only when necessary. This multi-tier strategy enhances reliability through comprehensive error handling while managing complexity by using simpler operations for the majority of cases.
Data Source
AI summary
Fast verification of data integrity of non-volatile memory cells is disclosed. In one aspect, an estimate is made of a bit error rate (BER) associated with the data to be verified without fully decoding the data. If the estimated BER is below a threshold, then the storage system reports that the data meets a data integrity criterion. If the estimated BER is above the threshold, the storage system may decode the data to determine a BER and report whether the data meets the data integrity criterion based on the determined BER. The estimate of the BER may be based on a syndrome weight of the data, a BER of an XOR codeword formed from multiple codewords of the data, or a BER of a sample of the data. Hence, considerable time and power are saved verifying data integrity, at least when the data is not fully decoded.