Fetching data between thread execution in a flash/DRAM/embedded DRAM-equipped system

• US 9,176,671 B1
• Filed: 01/05/2015
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: P4tents1 LLC
• Original Assignee: P4tents1 LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Michael S
• Primary Examiner(s): CARDWELL, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US14/589,932
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0811 with multilevel cache hierarchies
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0824 Distributed directories, e.g. linked lists of caches
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4234 being a memory bus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/061 Improving I/O performance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0659 Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0661 Format or protocol conversion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/068 Hybrid storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/327 Logic synthesis; Behaviour synthesis, e.g. mapping logic, HDL to netlist, high-level language to RTL or netlist
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/392 Floor-planning or layout, e.g. partitioning or placement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44557 Code layout in executable memory
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/05554 being square
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/45099 Material
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/4824 Connecting between the body and an opposite side of the item with respect to the body
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/15311 being a ball array, e.g. BGA
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An apparatus and associated method/processing unit are provided for utilizing a memory subsystem including NAND flash memory and dynamic random access memory. Further included is a first circuit for receiving DDR signals and converting the DDR signals to SATA signals. The first circuit includes embedded dynamic random access memory. Also provided is a second circuit for receiving the SATA signals and converting the SATA signals to NAND flash signals. The second circuit is communicatively coupled to the first circuit via a first memory bus associated with a SATA protocol, the NAND flash memory via a second memory bus associated with a NAND flash protocol, and the dynamic random access memory. In operation, data is fetched using a time between an execution of a plurality of threads.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

NAND flash memory;

random access memory;

a first circuit for receiving and processing DDR signals such that the DDR signals result in SATA signals, the first circuit capable of being communicatively coupled to a first memory bus including a standard bus associated with a DDR protocol including at least one of a DDR protocol, a DDR2 protocol, a DDR3 protocol, or a DDR4 protocol; and

a second circuit for receiving and processing the SATA signals such that the SATA signals result in NAND flash signals, the second circuit communicatively coupled to the first circuit via a second memory bus associated with a SATA protocol, the second circuit further communicatively coupled to the NAND flash memory via a third memory bus associated with a NAND flash protocol;

wherein the apparatus is configured for;

receiving, at the first circuit and via the first memory bus including the standard bus, a special command resulting from an execution of a first thread, the special command being one of a plurality of commands that are required to be received from a processing unit or a system component utilizing the DDR protocol for a random access data read from the NAND flash memory via the random access memory, the special command resulting in fetching of data;

providing a status; and

after the status, receiving, at the first circuit, a read command being another one of the plurality of commands that are required to be received from the processing unit or the system component utilizing the DDR protocol for completing the random access data read from the NAND flash memory via the random access memory;

wherein the apparatus is further configured such that at least a portion of the data is caused to be fetched between the execution of the first thread and a second thread.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the data includes one or more pages.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the data is fetched from the NAND flash memory.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the fetching the data includes copying the data between the NAND flash memory and the random access memory.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such at least one of the first circuit or the second circuit includes at least one buffer, and the second memory bus and the third memory bus are standard buses that are capable of being used for memory purposes as well as other purposes.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured such that the status is provided by being made accessible to the processing unit or the system component from which the special command is received.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured for emulating an appearance that only a single memory class is present.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the random access data read is one of a plurality of random access reads interspersed with a plurality of random access writes performed in real-time.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that, in response to the special command, an associated command is issued from the first circuit to the second circuit for causing a random access data read-related operation.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such that the second thread is independent of the read command.

11. A system including the apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising the first memory bus and the processing unit or the system component.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured such at least one of:

said DDR signals include at least one of DDR signals, DDR2 signals, DDR3 signals, or DDR4 signals;

said first circuit is in communication with embedded dynamic random access memory;

said second circuit is in communication with the dynamic random access memory;

said processing including converting;

said standard bus is associated with the DDR3 protocol;

said standard bus is associated with the DDR4 protocol;

said random access memory includes at least one of static random access memory, dynamic random access memory, or embedded random access memory;

said random access memory is a component of the first circuit;

said random access memory is integral with the second circuit;

said special command is received from a driver;

said special command results from a page miss in a processor;

said special command results from an operating system request;

said special command is special by causing at least the portion of the data to be fetched;

said special command is special among the plurality of commands that are required to be received from the processing unit or the system component utilizing the DDR protocol for the random access data read involving the NAND flash memory and the random access memory;

said plurality of commands are required to be received by the apparatus;

said special command includes a non-standard command;

said special command is one or more of the DDR signals;

said read command is one or more of the DDR signals;

said status is provided via one or more of the DDR signals;

said status is provided via a status message;

said status is provided by being made accessible to a source of the special command or the read command;

said status is provided by being made accessible to the processing unit or the system component;

said processing unit or the system component includes the processing unit;

said processing unit or the system component includes the processing unit, which includes a central processing unit;

said processing unit or the system component includes the system component;

said processing unit or the system component includes the system component, which includes an operating system or a driver;

said first thread and the second thread are different CPU threads;

said apparatus is a component of a system that includes the processing unit or the system component, and further comprising;

the processing unit;

said apparatus is a component of a system that includes the processing unit or the system component, and further comprising;

the system component;

or

said apparatus is a component of a system that includes the processing unit or the system component, and further comprising;

the system.

13. A memory sub-system, comprising:

NAND flash memory;

dynamic random access memory;

a first circuit for receiving and processing DDR signals such that the DDR signals result in SATA signals, the first circuit including embedded dynamic random access memory, the first circuit capable of being communicatively coupled to a first memory bus including a standard bus associated with a DDR protocol including at least one of a DDR protocol, a DDR2 protocol, a DDR3 protocol, or a DDR4 protocol; and

a second circuit for receiving and processing the SATA signals such that the SATA signals result in NAND flash signals, the second circuit communicatively coupled to the first circuit via a second memory bus associated with a SATA protocol, the second circuit further communicatively coupled to the NAND flash memory via a third memory bus associated with a NAND flash protocol, the second circuit further communicatively coupled to the dynamic random access memory;

wherein the memory sub-system is configured for;

receiving, at the first circuit and via the standard bus, a special command associated with a first thread utilizing the DDR protocol, the special command being one of a plurality of commands from a processing unit or a system component required for a random access data read from the NAND flash memory via the embedded dynamic random access memory;

providing a status; and

after the status, receiving, at the first circuit, a read command utilizing the DDR protocol, the read command being another one of the plurality of commands from the processing unit or the system component required for completing the random access data read from the NAND flash memory via the embedded dynamic random access memory;

wherein the memory sub-system is further configured for causing data to be fetched between the first thread and a second thread.

14. The memory sub-system of claim 13, wherein the memory sub-system is configured such that the data is caused to be fetched by issuances of an instruction.

15. The memory sub-system of claim 13, wherein the memory sub-system is configured such that the data is caused to be fetched by issuance of an instruction between the first thread and the second thread.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory sub-system including;

NAND flash memory;

random access memory;

first circuitry for receiving DDR signals and outputting SATA signals, the first circuitry capable of receiving the DDR signals from a first memory bus including a DDR bus associated with a DDR protocol including at least one of a DDR protocol, a DDR2 protocol, a DDR3 protocol, or a DDR4 protocol; and

second circuitry for receiving the SATA signals and outputting NAND flash signals, the second circuitry in communication with the first circuitry via a second memory bus associated with a SATA protocol, the second circuitry in communication with the NAND flash memory via a third memory bus associated with a NAND flash protocol;

wherein the first circuitry is operable for;

receiving a command that is special and is associated with a first thread via the DDR bus, the command that is special being one of a plurality of commands that are required for a random access data read involving the NAND flash memory and the random access memory;

providing a status;

after the status, receiving a read command via the DDR bus, the read command being another one of the plurality of commands that are required for the random access data read involving the NAND flash memory and the random access memory; and

causing data associated with the random access data read to be fetched between the first thread and a second thread.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is configured such at least one of:

said DDR bus is associated with the DDR3 protocol;

said DDR bus is associated with the DDR4 protocol;

said random access memory includes at least one of static random access memory, dynamic random access memory, or embedded random access memory;

said random access memory is part of the first circuitry;

said random access memory is part of the second circuitry;

said command that is special is received from a driver;

said command that is special results from a page miss in a processor;

said command that is special results from an operating system request;

said command that is special is special by causing the data to be fetched;

said command that is special is special within the plurality of commands that are required for the random access data read involving the NAND flash memory and the random access memory;

said DDR signals are processed for outputting the SATA signals;

said plurality of commands are required to be received from a processing unit utilizing the DDR protocol for the random access data read;

said plurality of commands are required to be received at the apparatus;

said plurality of commands are required to be received by the first circuitry;

said command that is special includes a non-standard command;

said command that is special is one or more of the DDR signals;

said read command is one or more of the DDR signals;

said status is one or more of the DDR signals;

said status is provided via a status message;

or

said status is provided by being made accessible to a source of the command that is special or the read command.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is operable such that the command that is special is special by virtue of enabling DDR protocol-compliant communication of control information via the DDR bus for controlling the second circuitry to effect one or more results that are undescribed in a DDR protocol specification.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is operable such that the command that is special is special by virtue of including particular data of which a portion is used in connection with a corresponding command associated with the second circuitry.