Systems and methods for reclaiming flash blocks of a flash drive
First Claim
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1. A method of reclaiming flash blocks of a flash array, the method comprising:
- selecting a block grid for reclamation, wherein block grids contain complete page grids;
for valid data stored in the block grid, reading, performing error correction, and journaling into available page stripes of the flash array, wherein valid data includes valid allocation blocks, wherein an ECC decoder used for performing error correction generates an indication as to whether or not correction for at least the valid data from the flash array has met criteria indicating that a different gear to be selected;
erasing the blocks of the block grid;
updating gear settings for the page stripes of the block grid based at least partly on corresponding indications from the ECC decoder; and
making the page stripes of the block grid available for writing;
wherein at least selecting and making are performed by an integrated circuit.
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods provide relatively low uncorrectable bit error rates, low write amplification, long life, fast and efficient retrieval, and efficient storage density such that a solid-state drive (SSD) can be implemented using relatively inexpensive MLC Flash for an enterprise storage application.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of reclaiming flash blocks of a flash array, the method comprising:
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selecting a block grid for reclamation, wherein block grids contain complete page grids; for valid data stored in the block grid, reading, performing error correction, and journaling into available page stripes of the flash array, wherein valid data includes valid allocation blocks, wherein an ECC decoder used for performing error correction generates an indication as to whether or not correction for at least the valid data from the flash array has met criteria indicating that a different gear to be selected; erasing the blocks of the block grid; updating gear settings for the page stripes of the block grid based at least partly on corresponding indications from the ECC decoder; and making the page stripes of the block grid available for writing; wherein at least selecting and making are performed by an integrated circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus comprising:
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a first circuit configured to select a block grid for reclamation, wherein block grids contain complete page grids; an ECC decoder; for valid data stored in the block grid, the first circuit is further configured to read, the ECC decoder is configured to perform error correction, and the first circuit is further configured to journal into available page stripes of a flash array, wherein valid data includes valid allocation blocks, wherein the ECC decoder generates an indication as to whether or not correction for at least the valid data from the flash array has met criteria indicating that a different gear to be selected; the first circuit further configured to erase the blocks of the block grid; the first circuit further configured to update gear settings for the page stripes of the block grid based at least partly on corresponding indications from the ECC decoder; and the first circuit further configured to make the page stripes of the block grid available for writing. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for reclaiming flash blocks of a flash array, the apparatus comprising:
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a means for selecting a block grid for reclamation, wherein block grids contain complete page grids; a means for reading; a means for ECC decoding; a means for journaling; for valid data stored in the block grid, the reading means further reading, the ECC decoding means further performing error correction, and the journaling means further journaling into available page stripes of the flash array, wherein valid data includes valid allocation blocks, wherein the ECC decoding means is configured to generate an indication as to whether or not correction for at least the valid data from the flash array has met criteria indicating that a different gear to be selected; a means for erasing the blocks of the block grid; a means for updating gear settings for the page stripes of the block grid based at least partly on corresponding indications from the ECC decoder; and a means for making the page stripes of the block grid available for writing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification