US 11709772

US Patent 11709772: Storage System with Multiplane Segments and Cooperative Flash Management

Title: Storage system with multiplane segments and cooperative flash management

Assignee: Radian Memory Systems LLC

Inventors: Andrey V. Kuzmin, James G. Wayda

Filing Date: 2022-07-29

Issue Date: 2023-07-25

Abstract:
A storage system is described that features a memory controller configured to provide information about memory geometry, including multi-plane capabilities, to a host. This enables the host to manage the physical assignment of memory space for data writes in a way that optimizes multi-plane access. The system supports multi-plane read, write, and other memory operations initiated by the host through a command structure. Additionally, the memory controller can cooperate with the host in performing memory management tasks such as wear leveling, garbage collection, defect management, and data integrity management, further reducing latency and improving overall system efficiency.

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Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

Independent Claim 1:
This claim describes a storage system that includes a host and a memory controller managing a multi-plane memory device. The core idea is that the memory controller shares information about the memory's layout and multi-plane capabilities with the host. This allows the host to decide where to store data (physical address assignment) in a way that lets it perform operations across multiple planes of memory simultaneously, such as reading or writing, more efficiently. The host can issue a single command or a series of connected commands to carry out these multi-plane operations, reducing the need for the memory controller to do complex address translations, which speeds things up.

Independent Claim 8:
This claim details a method for operating a storage system with a host and a multi-plane memory controller. The method involves the memory controller telling the host about the memory's organization, including its multi-plane features. The host then uses this information to choose specific physical locations in the memory to store data, making sure that related data is placed in a way that allows for efficient access across multiple planes. The host can then send commands to the memory controller to perform actions like writing or reading data across these multiple planes based on the physical addresses it assigned.

Independent Claim 15:
This claim outlines a memory controller for a multi-plane memory device designed to work with a host. The memory controller has internal storage for keeping track of the memory's physical layout and usage details for each section of the memory. It also includes special processing parts that can communicate this memory information to the host. Crucially, the memory controller can perform certain memory management tasks (like relocating data or handling bad memory blocks) in a way that doesn't require sending the data back and forth to the host, freeing up the host to focus on other operations and improving overall system speed.