Memory System Firmware Updates Using Virtual Slots Before Commit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional memory sub-systems face inefficiencies in firmware updates due to operations exceeding the maximum allowable threshold, violating timing requirements and restricting vendor flexibility, as image verification and storage take significant time during the commit stage.
Innovation Solution
The system component, such as a memory sub-system controller, performs image verification and storage during the download stage, associating a verified firmware image with a slot before committing, reducing operations during the commit stage to meet timing requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If image verification and storage operations are performed during the commit stage, then firmware update reliability is improved, but the duration of commit stage operations exceeds the maximum allowable threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing image verification and storage operations during the download stage before the commit stage begins. The controller verifies the firmware image and stores it in a dedicated segment of memory components during download, so that when the commit stage starts, these time-consuming operations are already complete, thereby reducing the commit stage duration below the maximum allowable threshold while maintaining update reliability
2Duration of action of moving object
If image verification is performed during the download stage, then the duration of commit stage operations is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the firmware update process into distinct stages: download stage and commit stage. During the download stage, the controller performs image verification and storage in a dedicated segment of memory components. This segmentation allows the complex verification operations to be isolated from the commit stage, reducing its duration without significantly increasing overall device complexity, as the verification logic is integrated into the existing download flow
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure configure a system component, such as memory sub-system controller, to update firmware using a virtual slot. The memory sub-system controller receives an image that includes a firmware update and performs a verification of the image. The verified firmware update is stored in a storage location on a set of memory components prior to receiving a commit request from a host. After the commit request is received from the host, a firmware slot identified by the commit request is linked to the verified image that is stored in the storage location. The memory sub-system is then booted from the firmware slot using the verified image that is stored in the storage location.