Multi-tier address mapping in flash memory
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- grouping a user data portion of a flash memory arrangement into a plurality of mapping units, wherein each of the mapping units comprises a user data memory portion and a metadata portion;
forming the mapping units into a plurality of groups, wherein the groups are associated with at least one lower tier of a forward memory map;
for each of the groups, determining a last written mapping unit within the group, wherein the last written mapping unit includes mapping data in the metadata portion that facilitates determining a physical address of other mapping units within the group;
forming a top tier of the forward memory map that includes at least physical memory locations of the last written mapping units of each of the groups; and
determining a physical address of a targeted memory using the top tier and the metadata of the at least one lower tier.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A user data portion of a flash memory arrangement is grouped into a plurality of mapping units. Each of the mapping units includes a user data memory portion and a metadata portion. The mapping units form a plurality of groups that are associated with at least one lower tier of a forward memory map. For each of the groups, a last written mapping unit within the group is determined. The last written mapping unit includes mapping data in the metadata portion that facilitates determining a physical address of other mapping units within the group. A top tier of the forward memory map is formed that includes at least physical memory locations of the last written mapping units of each of the groups. A physical address of a targeted memory is determined using the top tier and the metadata of the at least one lower tier.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
grouping a user data portion of a flash memory arrangement into a plurality of mapping units, wherein each of the mapping units comprises a user data memory portion and a metadata portion; forming the mapping units into a plurality of groups, wherein the groups are associated with at least one lower tier of a forward memory map; for each of the groups, determining a last written mapping unit within the group, wherein the last written mapping unit includes mapping data in the metadata portion that facilitates determining a physical address of other mapping units within the group; forming a top tier of the forward memory map that includes at least physical memory locations of the last written mapping units of each of the groups; and determining a physical address of a targeted memory using the top tier and the metadata of the at least one lower tier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An apparatus, comprising:
-
a user data portion of a flash memory arrangement grouped into a plurality of mapping units, wherein each of the mapping units comprises a user data memory portion and a metadata portion; and a controller configured to provide access to the user data portion of the flash memory based on logical addresses, the controller configured with instructions that cause the apparatus to; form the mapping units into a plurality of groups, wherein the groups are associated with at least one lower tier of a forward memory map; for each of the groups, determine a last written mapping unit within the group, wherein the last written mapping unit includes mapping data in the metadata portion that facilitates determining a physical address of other mapping units within the group; form a top tier of the forward memory map that includes at least physical memory locations of the last written mapping units of each of the groups; and determine a physical address of a targeted memory using the top tier and the metadata of the at least one lower tier. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method comprising:
-
receiving, at a flash memory device, an access request for user data based a logical memory address; determining, from a top tier of a forward map based on the logical memory address, a physical address of a last written mapping unit of a lower tier group of the forward map, wherein the lower tier group comprises a plurality of mapping units, including the last written mapping unit, and wherein the mapping units each comprise a user data memory portion and a metadata portion; determining, from lower tier mapping data within the metadata portion of the last written mapping unit, a second physical address of a mapping unit of the lower tier group; and facilitating access to the user data based on the second physical address. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification