Storage Module Selective Backup for Data Integrity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In storage modules with memory cells that can store multiple bits per cell, backing up lower pages before writing upper pages protects against data loss but reduces performance and causes excessive wear on memory cells.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to selectively back up lower pages only when a command to protect them has been received, using a snapshot of a data structure to determine if the lower page is at risk of being corrupted during upper-page programming, and backing it up only if necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lower page of data is backed up every time an upper page is written, then data integrity is protected against power loss, but performance of the storage module is reduced and excessive wear is caused to memory cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively backing up the lower page only when necessary (when a power loss would corrupt it), rather than performing full backups every time an upper page is written. The controller determines whether the lower page is already protected or would be corrupted by the upper page programming, and performs the backup operation only in cases where protection is needed, thus reducing unnecessary write operations and improving performance while maintaining data integrity.
2Reliability
If the lower page of data is backed up every time an upper page is written, then data integrity is protected against power loss, but excessive wear is caused to memory cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces wear on memory cells by performing partial backup operations only when the lower page requires protection. By checking whether the lower page would be corrupted by upper page programming and only backing up when necessary, the system minimizes the number of write operations to memory cells, thereby extending their operational lifespan while still protecting data integrity when needed.
3Productivity
If the lower page of data is not backed up, then performance is improved and wear is reduced, but data may be lost if power loss occurs during upper-page programming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves optimal balance by performing selective backup operations based on the actual risk of data corruption. The controller evaluates whether the lower page would be corrupted by the upcoming upper page programming and performs the backup operation only when necessary. This partial action approach maintains high performance by avoiding unnecessary backups while ensuring data integrity is protected in the specific cases where power loss would cause corruption.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage module and method are disclosed for determining whether to back-up a previously-written lower page of data before writing an upper page of data. In one embodiment, a storage module receives a command to write an upper page of data to memory cells that have already been programmed with a lower page of data. The storage module determines whether a command to protect the lower page of data was previously received. The storage module backs-up the lower page of data in another area of the memory before writing the upper page of data to the memory cells only if it is determined that the command to protect the lower page of data was previously received. The storage module then writes the upper page of data to the memory cells.