Valid Data Merging in Memory Storage Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing memory management technologies face challenges in reducing the time required for data merging operations in rewritable non-volatile memory modules, particularly when the number of physical erasing units in the spare area is insufficient, leading to inefficiencies in data collection during the garbage collection process.
Innovation Solution
A valid data merging method that involves collecting data based on candidate information, which includes logical-to-physical address mapping tables, to determine if the data amount matches the valid data count, and if not, obtaining additional mapping tables to accurately collect and copy valid data to a target unit, thereby optimizing data merging operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the garbage collection process is executed to collect valid data from source physical erasing units, then the number of available physical erasing units in the spare area is increased, but the time required for data collection and merging operations is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces candidate information that pre-records the logical-to-physical address mapping table before the garbage collection process. This preliminary action allows the memory management circuit to directly access the mapping relationship without performing time-consuming lookups during the actual data collection process, thereby significantly reducing the time required for valid data merging operations while maintaining the ability to collect comprehensive valid data from source physical erasing units.
2Measurement precision
If the memory management circuit loads and searches through the logical-to-physical address mapping table during garbage collection, then accurate valid data collection is ensured, but the processing time and system complexity are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-stores the logical-to-physical address mapping table in the candidate information structure before the garbage collection process begins. This allows the memory management circuit to directly retrieve the mapping relationship without performing sequential searches through the mapping table during data collection, thereby maintaining accurate valid data collection while significantly reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a candidate information structure that copies or stores a reference to the logical-to-physical address mapping table. This copying mechanism allows the system to work with a pre-loaded mapping reference during garbage collection operations, eliminating the need for real-time table lookups and reducing both time consumption and processing complexity while ensuring accurate data collection.
3Reliability
If the memory management circuit performs comprehensive data movement during garbage collection, then data integrity is maintained, but the operational time and energy consumption are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-prepares the candidate information structure with the logical-to-physical address mapping table before initiating the garbage collection process. This preliminary preparation enables the memory management circuit to directly access accurate mapping relationships during data movement operations, ensuring data integrity is maintained while significantly reducing the time required for comprehensive data movement and merging operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A valid data merging method, a memory storage device and a memory control circuit unit are provided. The method includes: collecting a first valid data in a source unit according to a first logical-to-physical address mapping table recorded in a candidate information, and determining whether a first data amount of the first valid data is same as a second data amount of a valid data corresponding to a valid count of the source unit; in response to determining that they are the same, copying the first valid data to a target unit; and in response to determining that they are not the same, obtaining one or more second logical-to-physical address mapping table according to a management information of the source unit to collect a second valid data in the source unit, and copying the second valid data to the target unit.