SSD Memory Block Allocation for Wear-Balanced Data Migration

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Solution Overview

Problem

SSDs in data centers have a shorter lifespan than HDDs, necessitating a management method to improve their lifespan.

Innovation Solution

A storage system and method that performs data migration by receiving data, read count, and write count information, selecting memory blocks based on wear levels, and storing data in zones and sub-zones to balance read and write operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If data is stored in SSD memory blocks without wear leveling, then write speed is improved, but SSD lifespan deteriorates due to uneven wear distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewrite speedVSAvoidSSD lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by tracking wear levels individually for each memory block and making targeted migration decisions. The system identifies specific blocks with high wear levels and migrates data from those blocks to lower wear blocks, rather than uniformly redistributing all data. This localized approach maintains write performance while extending SSD lifespan by addressing wear issues only where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of data organization by migrating data between memory blocks based on wear level parameters. The system monitors wear levels as a dynamic parameter and repositions data to optimize the distribution of wear across blocks. This parameter-based management allows the SSD to maintain high write speeds while extending overall device lifespan through intelligent data relocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If data migration is performed across entire storage devices, then wear level differences are reduced, but data access time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear level distributionVSAvoiddata access time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the storage system into multiple memory blocks with individual wear level tracking. Instead of treating the entire storage device as a single unit for migration, the system divides it into manageable blocks that can be independently assessed and migrated. This segmentation allows selective data migration only from high-wear blocks, reducing the overall time impact while still achieving wear level balancing across the storage device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by performing data migration only on a subset of memory blocks that exhibit high wear levels, rather than migrating data from all blocks. The system identifies and targets specific blocks for migration based on wear level thresholds, leaving data in low-wear blocks undisturbed. This partial migration approach reduces data access time penalties while still achieving the goal of wear level distribution stabilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If memory blocks are allocated without considering read/write counts, then allocation simplicity is maintained, but memory block wear uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveallocation simplicityVSAvoidwear uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring read counts and write counts for each memory block. This feedback information is used to dynamically adjust data migration decisions, ensuring that blocks with higher cumulative read/write activity are prioritized for migration. The feedback loop maintains wear uniformity without significantly complicating the allocation process, as the monitoring and decision-making are automated through wear level tracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12493425B2System and method for improved memory allocation and management
Publication Date: 2025.12.09 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • US12493425B2 patent drawing
  • US12493425B2 patent drawing
  • US12493425B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is a system and method for migrating data. The method includes: receiving data, read count information about the data, and write count information about the data; selecting at least one memory block among a plurality of memory blocks based on a wear level of a plurality of memory blocks and the read count information and the write count information; and storing the data in the at least one memory block.