System and method for searching mapping table of flash memory
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flash memory system for interfacing a host device to a flash memory, comprising:
- at least one random access memory for storing a mapping table mapping logical memory addresses of the flash memory to physical memory addresses of the flash memory, the mapping table retrieved from the flash memory; and
at least one dedicated hardware-based search engine, which is distinct from a memory controller, associated with each of the at least one random access memories for searching for desired physical memory addresses of the flash memory from the mapping table stored in the random access memory, wherein the dedicated hardware-based search engine comprises;
a start address register for storing a start address from which searching starts;
an ending address register for storing an ending address from which searching ends;
a search value register for storing a value of a logical address to be searched for;
a hit address register for storing a physical address corresponding to the logical address to be searched for; and
a control register for storing a control command for the dedicated hardware-based search engine.
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Abstract
A system and method for searching a mapping table of a flash memory is provided. The system includes at least one random access memory for storing the mapping table retrieved from the flash memory and at least one search engine for searching for data from the mapping table stored in the at least one random access memory using dedicated hardware. Thus, the search efficiency for the mapping table and system performance may be increased.
86 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A flash memory system for interfacing a host device to a flash memory, comprising:
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at least one random access memory for storing a mapping table mapping logical memory addresses of the flash memory to physical memory addresses of the flash memory, the mapping table retrieved from the flash memory; and at least one dedicated hardware-based search engine, which is distinct from a memory controller, associated with each of the at least one random access memories for searching for desired physical memory addresses of the flash memory from the mapping table stored in the random access memory, wherein the dedicated hardware-based search engine comprises; a start address register for storing a start address from which searching starts; an ending address register for storing an ending address from which searching ends; a search value register for storing a value of a logical address to be searched for; a hit address register for storing a physical address corresponding to the logical address to be searched for; and a control register for storing a control command for the dedicated hardware-based search engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for searching a mapping table mapping logical memory addresses of a flash memory to physical memory addresses of the flash memory, the method comprising:
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loading data of the mapping table of the flash memory into a first and second random access memory, the first and second random access memories differing in access and interface speed; inputting an address range and a logical address of the flash memory to at least a first and second dedicated hardware-based search engine, distinct from a memory controller, associated with each of the first and second random access memory, the first and second search engines being independent from each other; and searching for a physical address corresponding to the logical address from the mapping table data retrieved in the first and second random access memories using the first and second dedicated hardware-based search engines, and outputting a hit address corresponding to the physical address. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for searching a mapping table of a flash memory, the mapping table mapping logical memory addresses of the flash memory to physical memory addresses of the flash memory, the method comprising searching the mapping table using at least one dedicated hardware-based search engine, distinct from a memory controller, the dedicated hardware-based search engine comprising:
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a start address register for storing a start address from which searching starts; an ending address register for storing an ending address from which searching ends; a search value register for storing a value of a logical address to be searched for; a hit address register for storing a physical address corresponding to the logical address to be searched for; and a control register for storing a control command for the dedicated hardware-based search engine. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification