Write Credit Return for Memory Buffer Capacity Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory systems require the host system to issue commands to request information about available write buffer capacity, consuming communication resources that could be used for other commands.
Innovation Solution
The memory sub-system proactively signals the host system about available write buffer capacity without the need for the host system to issue a command, using write credit managers to track and transmit this information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the host system issues commands to request information about available write buffer capacity, then the host system can obtain buffer status information, but communication resources are consumed that could be used for other commands
Solution Approach 1:
The memory sub-system performs preliminary action by proactively signaling available write buffer capacity to the host system before the host system needs to request this information. The write credit manager monitors buffer capacity and transmits write credit information autonomously, eliminating the need for host-initiated request commands and thus conserving communication resources.
2Loss of energy
If the memory sub-system proactively signals write buffer capacity information, then communication resources are conserved, but the system complexity increases due to proactive signaling mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The memory sub-system serves itself by implementing a self-monitoring and self-signaling mechanism. The write credit manager autonomously tracks write buffer capacity and proactively transmits write credit information to the host system without external intervention, reducing communication overhead while managing the complexity through dedicated hardware logic.
3Productivity
If write credits are returned proactively without host request, then command execution efficiency improves, but reliability may be affected by unsynchronized communication
Solution Approach 1:
The proactive write credit signaling mechanism implements feedback by continuously monitoring the write buffer capacity and automatically transmitting write credit information to the host system. This feedback loop ensures the host system always has accurate buffer status information, enabling efficient command execution while maintaining communication reliability through synchronized state updates.
Data Source
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AI summary
A memory system having memory components and a processing device to receive, from a host system, write commands to store data in the memory components, store the write commands in a buffer, and execute at least a portion of the write commands. For example, this write buffer capacity can be represented by write credit values on the host and the subsystem. The processing device determines an amount of available capacity of the buffer that becomes available after execution of at least the portion of the write commands, and signals the host system to receive information identifying the amount of available capacity, without a pending information request received from the host system.