Selection of units for garbage collection in flash memory
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- forming a data structure referencing a garbage collection metric for each of a plurality of associated garbage collection units of a flash memory device, each garbage collection metric based on one or more device state variables of the associated garbage collection unit;
in response to a threshold change in the one or more device state variables, sorting a region of interest within the data structure based on the garbage collection metrics; and
selecting one or more garbage collection units for garbage collection operations from the sorted region of interest.
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Abstract
A data structure is formed that references a garbage collection metric for each of a plurality of associated garbage collection units of a flash memory device. Each garbage collection metric is based on one or more device state characteristics of the associated garbage collection unit. In response to a threshold change in the one or more device state variables, a region of interest within the data structure is sorted based on the garbage collection metrics. One or more garbage collection units are selected for garbage collection operations from the sorted region of interest.
8 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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forming a data structure referencing a garbage collection metric for each of a plurality of associated garbage collection units of a flash memory device, each garbage collection metric based on one or more device state variables of the associated garbage collection unit; in response to a threshold change in the one or more device state variables, sorting a region of interest within the data structure based on the garbage collection metrics; and selecting one or more garbage collection units for garbage collection operations from the sorted region of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of garbage collection units each comprising a plurality of flash memory units; a controller configured to perform a garbage collection operation on the garbage collection units, the controller causing the apparatus to; form a data structure referencing a garbage collection metric for each of a plurality of associated garbage collection units of a flash memory device, wherein each garbage collection metric is based, wherein each on one or more device state variables of the associated garbage collection unit; in response to a threshold change in the one or more device state variables, sort a region of interest within the data structure based on the garbage collection metrics; and select one or more garbage collection units for garbage collection operations from the sorted region of interest. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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maintaining a collection of elements that each comprise a garbage collection metric of a respective one of a plurality of garbage collection units, wherein the garbage collection metrics are based on one or more device state variables; forming a data structure comprising a plurality of second elements that are each associated with one of the elements of the collection, wherein the garbage collection units are selected for a garbage collection operation based on an order of the second elements within the data structure; and in response to determining a threshold change in the device state variables, sorting only a region of interest within the data structure based on the garbage collection metrics of the second elements in the region of interest. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification