Virtual Address Layer Metadata Management for SSD Power Loss Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumer SSDs face data loss due to power loss during abnormal shutdowns, as they cannot protect data that has not been written to flash memory, leading to inconvenience for users.
Innovation Solution
A metadata management method and device that generates a virtual address layer and establishes a mapping table to store metadata corresponding to memory blocks, allowing data to be written and updated even if power is lost, enabling data retrieval after recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If data is written to DRAM and metadata is updated after writing completes, then writing speed is improved, but data loss occurs when power is lost before writing completes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by creating a virtual address layer and mapping table structure before actual data writing occurs. This pre-established framework allows the system to track data locations and maintain metadata consistency even during power loss events, resolving the contradiction between fast writing and data protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual address layer acts as an intermediary between the host and the physical memory blocks. This intermediary layer absorbs the impact of power loss by maintaining address mappings independently, allowing the system to recover data locations even when physical data may be incomplete, thus protecting against data loss while maintaining writing speed.
2Stability of the object's composition
If metadata is updated immediately after each write operation, then data consistency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the address space into a virtual address layer and physical address layers, with metadata organized in a structured mapping table. This segmentation allows metadata to be managed in discrete, organized units rather than as a monolithic structure, maintaining data consistency while reducing the complexity of metadata management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual address dimension that maps to physical addresses through a mapping table. This dimensional transformation allows metadata to be organized and accessed more efficiently, maintaining data consistency across power cycles while simplifying the overall system architecture through abstracted address management.
Data Source
AI summary
A metadata management method for a memory device includes generating a virtual address layer in a memory space of a non-volatile memory of the memory device; establishing a mapping table in the virtual address layer to store at least one metadata corresponding to at least one storing block, wherein the at least one storing block comprises at least one physical address and the at least one physical address is related to the memory space; when writing at least one datum to the memory device, writing the at least one datum to at least one memory block of the memory space according to the at least one physical address; and updating the at least one metadata of the at least one storing block when finishing writing the at least one datum.