Configurable multi-level error correction in a storage controller

• US 10,318,375 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2016
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Jones
• Original Assignee: Burlywood, LLC
• Inventors: Earhart, Tod R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rizk, Samir W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahmed, Enam
• Application Number:
  US15/075,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20160274970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,178 Days
• Field of Search: 714766, 714786
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1048 using arrangements adapted for a specific error detection or correction feature
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1068 in sector programmable memories, e.g. flash disk G06F11/1072 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/08 in hierarchically structured memory systems, e.g. virtual memory systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/1044 Space efficiency improvement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/151 Emulated environment, e.g. virtual machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/214 Solid state disk
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/261 Storage comprising a plurality of storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7208 Multiple device management, e.g. distributing data over multiple flash devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0608 Saving storage space on storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0613 in relation to throughput
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0616 in relation to life time, e.g. increasing Mean Time Between Failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0626 Reducing size or complexity of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/064 Management of blocks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0644 Management of space entities, e.g. partitions, extents, pools
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0658 Controller construction arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0659 Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0661 Format or protocol conversion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0664 at device level, e.g. emulation of a storage device or system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/068 : Hybrid storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2029/0411 : Online error correction
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 29/52 : Protection of memory contents; Detection of errors in memory contents

Abstract

A method of operating a storage controller including (a) receiving host data from a host, for storage within a partition in the storage system, and (b) determining a quantity of error correction code levels based on at least one partition parameter. The method further includes (c) partitioning the host data into a plurality of payloads, (d) providing metadata for the payloads, (e) calculating error correction codes for the payloads and the metadata associated with each of the payloads, and (f) creating a plurality of codewords, each codeword comprising a payload, metadata, and error correction codes corresponding to the payload. The method includes (g) based on the quantity of error correction code levels, either storing the codewords in the storage system or partitioning the codewords into a plurality of further payloads, the further payloads iteratively processed according to steps (d) through (g) to provide the quantity of error correction code levels.

Claims

1. A storage controller for a storage system, comprising:

a host interface, configured to receive host data for storage within the storage system;

a storage interface, configured to transmit storage data to the storage system; and

processing circuitry coupled with the host interface and the storage interface, configured to;

(a) receive the host data from a host, through the host interface, for storage within a partition in the storage system;

(b) determine a quantity of error correction code levels based on at least one partition parameter corresponding to the partition, the partition parameter corresponding to a physical property of the partition;

(c) partition the host data into a plurality of payloads;

(d) provide metadata for each of the payloads;

(e) calculate error correction codes for each of the payloads and the metadata associated with each of the payloads;

(f) create a plurality of codewords, each codeword comprising a payload and metadata and error correction codes corresponding to the payload;

(g) based on the quantity of error correction code levels, either sequentially write the codewords in the partition through the storage interface or divide the codewords into a plurality of further payloads, the further payloads iteratively processed according to steps (d) through (g) to provide the quantity of error correction code levels.

2. The storage controller of claim 1, wherein each payload comprises a fraction of a codeword from a previous error correction code level.

3. The storage controller of claim 1, wherein a first error correction code level uses a first error correction code method and a second error correction code level uses a second error correction code method different from the first error correction code method.

4. The storage controller of claim 1, wherein a size of codewords in a first error correction code level is determined based on a first type of potential physical defect within the storage system and a size of codewords in a second error correction code level is determined based on a second type of potential physical defect within the storage system different from the first type of potential physical defect.

5. The storage controller of claim 1, wherein metadata describes a layout of codeword data comprising at least one from the group of:

data addresses, data boundaries, data mapping, and data characteristics.

6. The storage controller of claim 1, wherein the metadata in at least one error correction code level comprises codeword configuration data enabling the processing circuitry to pack and unpack codewords across payload boundaries.

7. The storage controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one partition parameter is received from the host before creation of the partition in the memory system.

8. A method of operating a storage controller, comprising:

(a) receiving host data from a host, through a host interface, for storage within a partition in the storage system;

(b) determining a quantity of error correction code levels based on at least one partition parameter corresponding to the partition, the partition parameter corresponding to a physical property of the partition;

(c) partitioning the host data into a plurality of payloads;

(d) providing metadata for each of the payloads;

(e) calculating error correction codes for each of the payloads and the metadata associated with each of the payloads;

(f) creating a plurality of codewords, each codeword comprising a payload and metadata and error correction codes corresponding to the payload;

(g) based on the quantity of error correction code levels, either sequentially writing the codewords in the partition through the storage interface or dividing the codewords into a plurality of further payloads, the further payloads iteratively processed according to steps (d) through (g) to provide the quantity of error correction code levels.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each payload comprises a fraction of a codeword from a previous error correction code level.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a first error correction code level uses a first error correction code method and a second error correction code level uses a second error correction code method different from the first error correction code method.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein a size of codewords in a first error correction code level is determined based on a first type of potential physical defect within the storage system and a size of codewords in a second error correction code level is determined based on a second type of potential physical defect within the storage system different from the first type of potential physical defect.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein metadata describes a layout of codeword data comprising at least one from the group of:

data addresses, data boundaries, data mapping, and data characteristics.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the metadata in at least one error correction code level comprises codeword configuration data enabling the processing circuitry to pack and unpack codewords across payload boundaries.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one partition parameter is received from the host before creation of the partition in the memory system.

15. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having stored thereon program instructions to operate a storage controller for a storage system, wherein the program instructions, when executed by processing circuitry, direct the processing circuitry to at least:

(a) receive host data from a host, through a host interface, for storage within a partition in the storage system;

(b) determine a quantity of error correction code levels based on at least one partition parameter corresponding to the partition, the partition parameter corresponding to a physical property of the partition;

(c) partition the host data into a plurality of payloads;

(d) provide metadata for each of the payloads;

(e) calculate error correction codes for each of the payloads and the metadata associated with each of the payloads;

(f) create a plurality of codewords, each codeword comprising a payload and metadata and error correction codes corresponding to the payload;

(g) based on the quantity of error correction code levels, either sequentially write the codewords in the partition through the storage interface or divide the codewords into a plurality of further payloads, the further payloads iteratively processed according to steps (d) through (g) to provide the quantity of error correction code levels.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein each payload comprises a fraction of a codeword from a previous error correction code level.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein a first error correction code level uses a first error correction code method and a second error correction code level uses a second error correction code method different from the first error correction code method.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein a size of codewords in a first error correction code level is determined based on a first type of potential physical defect within the storage system and a size of codewords in a second error correction code level is determined based on a second type of potential physical defect within the storage system different from the first type of potential physical defect.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein metadata describes a layout of codeword data comprising at least one from the group of:

data addresses, data boundaries, data mapping, and data characteristics.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the metadata in at least one error correction code level comprises codeword configuration data enabling the processing circuitry to pack and unpack codewords across payload boundaries.