System and method for allocating fail-over memory
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fail-over system comprising:
- a virtual channel memory controller providing virtual channel memories in a memory array having memory blocks, the virtual channel memories associated with respective memory blocks;
a memory fail-over controller coupled to the virtual channel memory controller, the memory fail-over controller to detect memory failure in a first segment of one of the memory blocks, the one memory block also having a second segment that has not exhibited failure; and
wherein the virtual channel memory controller allocates one or more of the virtual channel memories as one or more fail-over memories in response to detection of the memory failure, the one or more fail-over memories to store data in the first segment, andwherein the virtual channel memory controller allocates another of the virtual channel memories to the second segment of the one memory block.
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Abstract
A fail-over system for memory is provided. The fail-over system for memory includes a virtual channel memory controller providing one or more virtual channel memories in a memory array. A memory fail-over controller coupled to the virtual channel memory controller provides memory fail-over data to the virtual channel memory controller. The virtual channel memory controller allocates one or more of the virtual channel memories to one or more fail-over memory channels in response to the memory fail-over data.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A fail-over system comprising:
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a virtual channel memory controller providing virtual channel memories in a memory array having memory blocks, the virtual channel memories associated with respective memory blocks; a memory fail-over controller coupled to the virtual channel memory controller, the memory fail-over controller to detect memory failure in a first segment of one of the memory blocks, the one memory block also having a second segment that has not exhibited failure; and wherein the virtual channel memory controller allocates one or more of the virtual channel memories as one or more fail-over memories in response to detection of the memory failure, the one or more fail-over memories to store data in the first segment, and wherein the virtual channel memory controller allocates another of the virtual channel memories to the second segment of the one memory block. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for providing a fail-over memory comprising:
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associating plural memory blocks with respective virtual channel memories; detecting a memory failure condition in a first segment of one of the memory blocks, the one memory block having a second segment not exhibiting failure; redesignating one or more of the virtual channel memories as a fail-over memory to store data of the first segment of the one memory block; and reallocating another one of the virtual channel memories to the second segment of the one memory block. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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a memory array containing plural memory blocks; a plurality of virtual channels to control respective memory blocks, the virtual channels providing virtual channel memories; a fail-over module to detect a defective portion of a first one of the memory blocks, the first one of the memory blocks also having a second portion that is not defective; and a controller to change a state of a first one of the virtual channel memories to a fail-over memory, the fail-over memory to store data from the defective portion of the first memory block, and the controller to change a state of a second one of the virtual channel memories to be associated with the second portion of the first memory block. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification