Storage Controller Page Invalidation for Flash Memory Life Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
In flash memory devices and other nonvolatile semiconductor storage systems, unnecessary data is not effectively identified and managed, leading to reduced operating life as the devices continue to manage and write unnecessary data, reducing their lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A storage system with a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device and a storage controller that identifies and invalidates pages storing unnecessary data, reducing the number of pages used and extending the device's operational life by managing data more efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the flash memory device continues to manage and write unnecessary data, then the data management process is simple, but the operating life of the device is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The storage controller receives information from the higher-level device about which data is unnecessary, and uses this feedback to update its page management. The controller identifies pages containing unnecessary data and invalidates them, preventing further writes to these pages. This feedback mechanism allows the system to extend operating life without requiring complex manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage controller autonomously identifies pages containing unnecessary data and invalidates them without requiring complex external management. By automatically comparing its internal page information with the unnecessary data information received from the higher-level device, the controller self-manages the invalidation process, extending device life while keeping the system relatively simple.
2Quantity of substance
If the storage controller manages all pages as valid data, then data management is simplified, but storage space is wasted on unnecessary data
Solution Approach 1:
The storage controller uses feedback from the higher-level device about unnecessary data to accurately identify and invalidate only the pages containing such data. This selective invalidation approach maximizes usable storage space by removing only unnecessary pages while maintaining simple management through the feedback mechanism rather than requiring complex autonomous analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage system coupled to a host has a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device that includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory configured by a plurality of pages, and a storage controller coupled to the semiconductor storage device. In the case where data stored in the plurality of pages become unnecessary, with this plurality of pages being the basis of a region of a logical volume based on the nonvolatile semiconductor storage device, the storage controller transmits, to the nonvolatile semiconductor storage device, an unnecessary reduction request for reducing the number of pages that are the basis of the region having the unnecessary data stored therein. On the basis of the unnecessary reduction request, the nonvolatile semiconductor storage device invalidates the plurality of pages that are the basis of the region having the unnecessary data stored therein.