SSD Domain Wear Balancing via Physical-Address Command Rerouting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data storage management systems fail to evenly distribute workload across domains in SSDs, leading to uneven wear and reduced lifespan of the most worn domain, and lack flexibility in handling changing traffic conditions.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that reroute commands between domains based on physical addresses, using L2P reroute tables to balance wear by redistributing logical-to-physical mappings and implementing garbage collection to optimize domain usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If commands are distributed to domains based on logical addresses, then command processing is simplified, but wear becomes uneven across domains

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommand processing simplicityVSAvoiddomain wear uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a wear level balancing mechanism as an intermediary layer between command processing and domain allocation. This mediator monitors wear levels across domains and dynamically adjusts command routing decisions, allowing the system to maintain simple command processing while achieving uniform wear distribution through intelligent mediation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic command routing that adapts to changing wear conditions. Instead of static domain allocation, the system dynamically adjusts which domain handles which commands based on real-time wear monitoring, enabling the system to respond to varying traffic conditions and maintain wear balance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If global wear leveling is implemented, then all domains reach end of life simultaneously, but flexibility to handle changing traffic conditions is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedomain lifespan equalityVSAvoidtraffic condition adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where wear levels are continuously monitored across domains, and this information feeds back into the command routing decisions. This closed-loop system allows the controller to adapt to changing traffic conditions while maintaining wear balance, as the feedback enables dynamic adjustment of domain allocation strategies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts command routing based on real-time wear monitoring and traffic conditions. The controller can flexibly redirect commands between domains depending on current wear states and workload patterns, maintaining both lifespan equality and adaptability to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If domains are separately managed, then domain independence is improved, but coordination for wear balancing becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedomain independenceVSAvoidwear balancing coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains domain independence through segmentation while introducing a centralized wear balancing controller that coordinates across domains. This segmentation approach allows each domain to operate independently for data storage while the wear balancing mechanism provides coordinated management to prevent uneven wear, dividing the system into independent storage domains with a coordinating control layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4641364A1Method and device for backend wear level balancing of separated storage domains
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4641364A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4641364A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4641364A1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

Methods and devices are provided in which a controller (106) of a storage device (104) receives a command. A logical capacity of the storage device (104) is split into domains. The controller (106) determines a logical address associated with the command. The logical address is associated with a first domain of the storage device (104). The command is rerouted from first resources of the controller (106) attributed to the first domain to second resources of the controller (106) attributed to a second domain of the storage device (104), based on a physical address associated with the logical address.