Relocating Highly Read Data to Low Impact Pages

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional memory sub-systems experience increased bit error rates and reduced reliability due to read disturb effects, particularly when highly read data is stored in pages that suffer more read stress, leading to a shorter lifespan and decreased performance.

Innovation Solution

A highly read data manager identifies and relocates highly read data to low impact read disturb pages, reducing the voltage differences between adjacent wordlines and mitigating read disturb effects by intelligently selecting target wordlines for data storage during relocation and write operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If highly read data is stored in pages that suffer more read stress, then data accessibility is improved, but bit error rate increases and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accessibilityVSAvoidbit error rate
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating between high read disturb pages and low read disturb pages within the memory device. Highly read data is specifically placed in low read disturb pages, which have different characteristics (lower vulnerability to read disturb effects) compared to regular pages. This localized optimization of storage locations resolves the contradiction by maintaining fast accessibility while protecting against bit errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by proactively identifying highly read data and relocating it to low read disturb pages before read disturb effects can cause significant bit errors. The controller monitors read patterns and performs preventive relocation, rather than waiting for errors to occur. This advance action maintains reliability while preserving data accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If highly read data is stored in pages that suffer more read stress, then read operations can proceed quickly, but read disturb impact increases and lifespan decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveread operation speedVSAvoidmemory device lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates distinct storage zones within the memory device: low read disturb pages optimized for highly read data and regular pages for other data. This local differentiation allows read operations to proceed quickly on highly accessed data while protecting the overall memory device lifespan by concentrating read stress on pages designed to handle it.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of read disturb into a beneficial strategy by identifying and utilizing low read disturb pages. Instead of viewing read disturb as purely detrimental, the system leverages the natural variation in read disturb characteristics across different pages to extend memory lifespan while maintaining fast read performance for frequently accessed data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If data relocation is performed frequently to manage read disturb, then reliability is improved, but write amplification increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidwrite amplification
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces write amplification by performing preliminary relocation of highly read data to low read disturb pages during initial write operations or during off-peak times. By proactively placing data in optimal locations beforehand, the system minimizes the need for frequent corrective relocations, thus maintaining data integrity while reducing unnecessary write operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms that monitor read patterns and read disturb levels to intelligently determine when relocation is necessary. This feedback-driven approach prevents excessive relocation operations by only moving data when actually needed, balancing reliability improvement with write amplification control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11762767B2Storing highly read data at low impact read disturb pages of a memory device
Publication Date: 2023.09.19 MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC
  • US11762767B2 patent drawing
  • US11762767B2 patent drawing
  • US11762767B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A highly read data manager of a memory device receives a request to perform receives a request to perform a data relocation operation on a first wordline of a plurality of wordlines for a memory device, the memory device comprising a plurality of multi-level memory cells, wherein each multi-level memory cell comprises a plurality of pages; determines at the first wordline comprises data stored at one or more high read disturb pages of the plurality of pages; determines whether the data comprises a characteristic that satisfies a threshold criterion in relation to additional data stored on additional wordlines of the plurality of wordlines; responsive to determining that the data comprises the characteristic that satisfies the threshold criterion, identifies one or more low read disturb pages of the plurality of pages of a target wordline for relocating the data; and responsive to identifying the one or more low read disturb pages of the target wordline, stores at least a portion of the data at the one or more low read disturb pages of the target wordline.