Zoned Nonvolatile Memory Mapping for Faster Read and Write
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage devices face challenges in improving operating speed and managing storage space efficiently, particularly in nonvolatile memory devices, which affect the performance of host devices.
Innovation Solution
A storage device with a nonvolatile memory device and a controller that allocates zones to storage space, manages logical addresses sequentially, and uses zone and page map tables to optimize write and read operations, including features like shared and dedicated write booster buffers to enhance write speed and support zone-based garbage collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional memory management methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but operating speed and storage efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The storage space is divided into multiple zones, with each zone independently managed through zone map tables. This segmentation allows parallel processing of write and read operations across different zones, improving operating speed while maintaining manageable complexity through modular organization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a zoned namespace architecture that adds a hierarchical dimension to traditional flat memory management. By organizing data into zones with separate map tables and introducing generation counters, the system achieves faster operation through structured organization without proportionally increasing complexity
2Quantity of substance
If write operations are performed frequently, then data storage capacity is improved, but write speed and latency deteriorate due to erase cycle constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-allocating erase units to zones and maintaining generation counters that track zone states. This allows write operations to proceed without waiting for erase cycles to complete, improving write speed while preserving storage capacity through advance preparation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements zone-based garbage collection where inactive zones are discarded and recovered for new writes. This allows continuous write operations by recycling erased zones, maintaining both storage capacity and write speed through efficient resource reuse
3Speed
If zone map tables are maintained in internal buffer, then read access speed is improved, but buffer memory consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The zone map table is segmented into multiple pages, with only active zones loaded into the internal buffer. This segmentation allows the system to maintain fast read access for active zones while minimizing buffer consumption by loading only necessary portions of the map table
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically loads and unloads zone map table pages based on zone activity. Frequently accessed zones remain in the buffer for fast reads, while inactive zones are discarded from the buffer, optimizing the balance between read speed and buffer memory usage
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: allocate a plurality of zones to a storage space of the nonvolatile memory device based on a request received from an external host device, fixedly and sequentially manage logical addresses of data written in the plurality of zones, generate a first page map table corresponding to a first zone based on performing the write operation on the first zone, the first page map table comprising a logical address and a physical address of the first zone, based on the first zone being full, activate a read service, which is based on the zone map table, and based on the read service being activated, process read requests for the first zone from the external host device using the zone map table.