Storage Device Volatile Nonvolatile Memory Garbage Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage devices face inefficiencies in garbage collection operations due to the limitations of existing methods for managing volatile and nonvolatile memory interactions, leading to suboptimal performance and capacity utilization.
Innovation Solution
The method involves copying valid pages from one block to another using multiple volatile memory devices and latch units, optimizing garbage collection by interleaving operations between different latch units and blocks on nonvolatile memory devices, thereby reducing the reliance on volatile memory capacity and enhancing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional garbage collection methods are used with limited volatile memory, then memory capacity is reduced, but garbage collection efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the garbage collection process into multiple parallel operations using multiple volatile memory devices and latch units. Instead of using a single volatile memory device to hold all valid pages, the system divides the work across multiple devices (e.g., first volatile memory device, second volatile memory device) and multiple latch units, allowing concurrent garbage collection operations on different blocks without requiring excessive capacity in any single memory device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple volatile memory devices and latch units into a coordinated system for garbage collection. Multiple volatile memory devices work together with multiple latch units to simultaneously perform garbage collection on multiple blocks, combining their capacities and operations to achieve high efficiency without requiring any single device to have large capacity.
2Productivity
If multiple volatile memory devices are used for parallel garbage collection, then garbage collection efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments both the volatile memory resources and the garbage collection tasks into matching groups. Each volatile memory device is paired with corresponding latch units, and each block has dedicated latch units for copying valid pages. This segmentation creates a modular architecture where complexity is distributed and managed independently for each memory device and block pair.
Solution Approach 2:
Latch units serve as intermediaries between volatile memory devices and nonvolatile memory blocks. They buffer and manage the transfer of valid pages, coordinating the parallel operations between multiple volatile memory devices and multiple blocks. This intermediary layer simplifies the control logic by providing a standardized interface for data transfer operations.
3Loss of time
If valid pages are copied using sequential methods, then device complexity is reduced, but operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic and concurrent action patterns where multiple garbage collection operations are performed simultaneously on different blocks. While one latch unit copies valid pages from the first block, another latch unit concurrently copies from the second block, and a third operation prepares to copy from the third block. This periodic parallel execution dramatically reduces total garbage collection time compared to sequential operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary identification and marking of valid pages before the actual copying operation. Latch units are pre-configured with the addresses and metadata of valid pages that need to be copied, allowing the copying phase to proceed efficiently without requiring complex real-time decision-making during the data transfer process.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a storage device comprises copying first valid pages in a first block into a first latch unit based on a first volatile memory device, the first block being set on multiple nonvolatile memory devices, copying second valid pages in the first block into a second latch unit based on the first volatile memory device, and copying the first valid pages in the first latch unit and the second valid pages in the second latch unit into a second block, the second block being set on the nonvolatile memory devices and being different from the first block.