Configurable NVM Set for SSD Performance Tradeoffs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional NVM Sets fail to address the varying performance needs of different applications in terms of capacity and latency/throughput, leading to inefficient use of NAND technology and inability to customize namespaces for individual application-level QoS/throughput requirements.

Innovation Solution

Performance Configurable NVM Set (PCNS) technology allows for dedicated banks of NAND media to be configured at specific bit-per-cell program mode widths, enabling customizable latency and throughput settings within a single SSD device, supporting different applications' needs through a cache hierarchy and virtual indirection mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional NVM Sets are used, then all NAND media is allocated to user space, but performance cannot be customized for different applications and latency/throughput requirements cannot be met

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance customizationVSAvoiduser space

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the NAND media into multiple Performance Configurable NVM Sets (PCNS), where each PCNS can be independently configured with specific program mode widths. This segmentation allows different portions of the storage media to be optimized for different performance requirements while maintaining separate user spaces for each application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by allowing each PCNS to have customized program mode widths (e.g., 1-bit, 2-bit, 3-bit, 4-bit per cell) tailored to specific application requirements. This enables different regions of the storage device to have different performance characteristics (latency, throughput) and capacity characteristics simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If wider program mode width is used, then more user space is available, but latency increases and throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser spaceVSAvoidthroughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic configurability where the program mode width of each PCNS can be adjusted based on application needs. Applications requiring high throughput can be assigned PCNS with wider program modes (more user space), while applications requiring low latency can be assigned PCNS with narrower program modes (faster access), creating a dynamic performance-capacity tradeoff.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Speed

If narrower program mode width is used, then latency decreases and throughput increases, but user space is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovelatencyVSAvoiduser space

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the program mode width parameter of NAND cells to achieve different performance characteristics. By configuring PCNS with narrower program mode widths (e.g., 1-bit or 2-bit per cell), the system achieves lower latency and higher throughput for latency-sensitive applications, while accepting reduced user space in those specific PCNS.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple NVM Sets are created for different applications, then application-specific QoS can be achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication-specific QoSVSAvoidnamespace management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal PCNS framework that can serve multiple applications with different requirements within a single storage device. The controller manages multiple PCNS with different configurations, providing a unified interface for host systems while internally routing I/O operations to appropriate PCNS based on application requirements, thereby achieving multi-functionality without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11567862B2Configurable NVM set to tradeoff between performance and user space

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 INTEL NDTM US LLC

AI summary

An embodiment of an electronic apparatus may include one or more substrates, and logic coupled to the one or more substrates, the logic to determine a set of requirements for a persistent storage media based on input from an agent, dedicate one or more banks of the persistent storage media to the agent based on the set of requirements, and configure at least one of the dedicated one or more banks of the persistent storage media at a program mode width which is narrower than a native maximum program mode width for the persistent storage media. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.