Page Table NonDRAM Tag Data Wear Leveling Flash Memory
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information handling systems using semiconductor storage devices face issues with memory wear, slower access speeds, and inefficient block access, particularly with flash memory, which is vulnerable to memory wear and latency penalties when accessed in smaller blocks.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a page table system that stores nonDRAM tag data to indicate attributes of semiconductor storage devices, such as wear leveling requirements and block mode access, allowing for efficient distribution of erase-write cycles and handling of unique access characteristics, thereby addressing wear leveling, access speed, and block access challenges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If flash memory is used to provide intermediate cache storage and store persistent data, then cost per bit and power rating are improved, but memory wear increases due to limited erase-write cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cache storage into multiple ways (e.g., 4 ways) with different associativity levels. Each way has its own tag storage, allowing the system to distribute access patterns across multiple segments. This segmentation enables wear leveling by spreading erase-write cycles across different memory blocks, thereby improving reliability while maintaining the energy-efficient flash memory architecture.
2Loss of energy
If semiconductor storage alternatives are used, then cost and power consumption are improved, but access speed deteriorates with slower response times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements different associativity levels for different ways in the cache structure. Some ways have higher associativity for frequently accessed data requiring fast access, while other ways have lower associativity for less frequently accessed data. This local quality differentiation allows the system to optimize access speed for critical data paths while maintaining overall power efficiency, effectively managing the speed-power tradeoff.
3Productivity
If caching is implemented in flash memory, then data access efficiency is improved, but vulnerability to memory wear increases due to increased write cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic wear leveling strategies where the cache controller monitors and tracks erase-write cycle counts across different memory blocks. Based on this monitoring, the system dynamically adjusts data placement and access patterns to distribute wear evenly. This dynamic adaptation maintains caching efficiency for productivity while preventing concentration of write cycles, thereby protecting against memory wear.
4Productivity
If flash memory is accessed in blocks large relative to DRAM, then block access efficiency is improved, but latency penalty increases when smaller blocks are read
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cache into multiple ways that can be accessed independently. When a small block is needed, the system can retrieve data from a single way or a subset of ways rather than requiring a full large block transfer. This segmentation enables fine-grained access to small data blocks without incurring the full latency penalty of large block transfers, while still maintaining efficient block access when larger data sets are needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for using a page table in an information handling system including a semiconductor storage device are disclosed. A page table in an information handling system may be provided. The information handling system may include a memory, and the memory may include a semiconductor storage device. NonDRAM tag data may be stored in the page table. The nonDRAM tag data may indicate one or more attributes of one or more pages in the semiconductor storage device.