Remote Memory Controller for Seamless Local Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing devices face limitations in Random Access Memory (RAM) capacity, leading to data being stored on slower storage mediums when memory is filled, which affects performance.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a controller to seamlessly integrate local and remote physical memory, allowing data to be stored and accessed in remote memory instead of slower storage mediums, expanding the virtual address space without modifying the operating system or memory management system, and performing memory transfers based on page fault notifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If physical memory modules are added to the motherboard to increase memory capacity, then the amount of locally accessible memory is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from local physical memory expansion to remote memory access over a network, moving the memory resource from the same physical device to a different dimension (remote server). This allows applications to access additional memory capacity without adding physical memory modules to the local motherboard, thereby avoiding increased device complexity while still expanding available memory.
2Quantity of substance
If data is moved to slower storage mediums when memory is filled, then the memory capacity is effectively increased, but the access speed and performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a memory management component that acts as an intermediary between applications and remote memory resources. This intermediary manages page faults and data transfer, allowing frequently accessed data to be kept in local memory while less frequently accessed data resides in remote memory, thereby maintaining access speed for critical data while expanding overall memory capacity.
3Speed
If local memory is expanded to avoid using slower storage, then the access speed is improved, but the cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal memory access mechanism that can transparently access both local and remote memory resources through a unified interface. Applications can access remote memory as if it were local memory, with the memory management system automatically handling the access routing. This provides expanded memory capacity without requiring applications to be modified or aware of the remote memory architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a controller for providing applications seamless access to local and remote memory so that data of a particular application that is moved out of the Random Access Memory (“RAM”) of a local device may be stored and accessed in RAM of a remote device rather than on higher latency and slower performing storage mediums. The controller provides an application with a first allocation of RAM from the local device running the application, and a second allocation of RAM from the remote device. The controller registers to receive a page fault notification for a particular page that the application attempts to access and that is not stored in the first allocation of RAM. The controller retrieves the particular page from the second allocation of RAM, and loads it into the first allocation of RAM where it becomes accessible by the application.