Zoned Nonvolatile Memory Mapping for Faster Access and Longer Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage devices face challenges in improving operating speed and managing data access efficiently, particularly in nonvolatile memory systems, which can lead to access errors and reduced lifespan due to frequent access to specific physical blocks.
Innovation Solution
A storage device with a nonvolatile memory system that allocates zones based on requests, manages logical addresses sequentially, and uses map tables to handle access errors by writing them in a recovery area, along with features like zone copy and migration to enhance performance and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If frequent access to specific physical blocks is performed to improve operating speed, then data access speed is improved, but the lifespan of the nonvolatile memory device is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The storage space is divided into multiple zones, each with its own separate map table. This segmentation allows independent management of different physical blocks, enabling the system to distribute access patterns across zones and avoid excessive access to any single physical block, thus extending device lifespan while maintaining access speed.
Solution Approach 2:
A zone-based address map is introduced as an intermediary layer between logical addresses and physical blocks. This mediator translates logical addresses to physical block addresses while considering zone boundaries and access patterns, optimizing the mapping to balance between access speed and wear distribution across the memory device.
2Productivity
If multiple map tables are generated to manage zones effectively, then data management efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The address mapping function is segmented into multiple zone-specific map tables, where each map table manages a specific zone. This segmentation simplifies the management complexity by allowing each map table to handle only its designated zone, making the overall system more manageable despite having multiple tables.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is designed with universal functionality to manage multiple map tables simultaneously, using a standardized interface and management mechanism that can handle any number of zones. This multi-functionality allows the system to scale the number of zones without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same management logic applies to each zone.
3Adaptability or versatility
If zones are allocated based on host requests to improve adaptability, then system flexibility is improved, but access error management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Access error management is segmented by zone, with each zone having its own map table that tracks and manages errors specific to that zone. This segmentation isolates error management to individual zones, preventing errors in one zone from complicating the management of other zones, thus reducing overall complexity despite dynamic zone allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where access errors in each zone are detected, recorded in the zone-specific map table, and used to adjust future access patterns. This feedback loop allows the controller to adaptively manage errors based on actual access conditions, simplifying error management through continuous monitoring and adjustment within each zone.
Data Source
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AI summary
A storage device, including: a nonvolatile memory device comprising a plurality of memory cells; and a controller configured to perform a write operation on at least one write unit included in the plurality of memory cells, and to perform an erase operation on at least one erase unit included in the plurality of memory cells, wherein the controller is further configured to: allocate a plurality of zones to a storage space of the nonvolatile memory device based on a request received from an external host device, select two or more erase units from among a plurality of erase units included in the plurality of memory cells to be allocated to each zone of the plurality of zones, fixedly and sequentially manage logical addresses of data to be written in the plurality of zones, and generate at least two map tables for the each zone