Scatter-Gather Write Buffer for Memory Error Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems face challenges in efficiently handling errors when using a scatter-gather buffer method, particularly when a first program operation fails and a second program operation is forced to fail, leading to issues with error handling and program operation speed.
Innovation Solution
A memory system with a write buffer that temporarily stores data and uses a scatter-gather scheme to manage the buffer, forcing the second program operation to fail when the first operation fails, and then controls both operations to be performed again from the write buffer for error handling, ensuring all data is retained for error handling operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the second program operation is forced to fail when the first program operation fails, then data integrity is maintained and error handling is simplified, but program operation speed deteriorates due to re-execution requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by forcing the second program operation to fail in advance when the first operation fails, before actual data corruption can occur. This preemptive failure mechanism ensures that subsequent error handling routines can uniformly process all failed operations from the write buffer, maintaining data integrity while enabling efficient error recovery through batch re-programming.
2Productivity
If data is retained in the write buffer for re-programming operations, then error handling efficiency is improved, but memory resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The write buffer is designed to serve multiple functions: it temporarily stores data during normal program operations and retains failed data for re-programming operations. This multi-functionality allows the same memory resource to support both regular writing operations and error recovery operations, improving error handling efficiency without requiring separate dedicated buffer memory.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a discard and recover mechanism where data that fails to program is retained in the write buffer rather than being discarded. The buffer managing unit identifies failed operations and preserves their corresponding data in the write buffer for subsequent re-programming attempts, enabling efficient error recovery while minimizing additional memory resource requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a scatter-gather buffer scheme is used to manage the write buffer, then buffer management flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scatter-gather buffer scheme segments the write buffer into multiple regions or entries, each capable of storing independent data units. This segmentation allows the buffer managing unit to selectively manage individual buffer entries corresponding to different program operations, providing flexibility in handling successful and failed operations independently while maintaining an organized buffer structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer managing unit acts as an intermediary between the program managing unit and the write buffer, implementing the scatter-gather scheme. It translates program operations into buffer management operations, mapping logical data units to physical buffer locations and tracking the status of each buffer entry. This intermediary layer provides flexible buffer management while shielding the rest of the system from the underlying complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A memory system includes: a memory device including a memory block, a page buffer, and first and second memory dies; a write buffer suitable for temporarily storing first and second data; a program managing unit suitable for controlling the memory device to sequentially perform first and second program operations on the memory block with the first and second data; a buffer managing unit suitable for managing the write buffer based on a scatter-gather scheme; a failure processing unit suitable for forcing the second program operation to fail, when the first program operation is a failure; and an error handling unit suitable for controlling the program managing unit to perform the first and second program operations again for the first and second data that are temporarily stored in the write buffer when the second program operation is forced to fail.