Nonvolatile memory module and storage system having the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016357481-A1
Application number	US-201615132466-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 19, 2016
Priority date	Jun 8, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The nonvolatile memory module includes at least one nonvolatile memory, and a device controller including a RAM to store data exchanged between a host and the at least one nonvolatile memory and a DIMM controller to control data exchange between the RAM and the at least one nonvolatile memory. An allocation for an access area at an access to the RAM is performed during a write transaction in which data is recorded at the RAM and is released during a read transaction of the recorded data.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A nonvolatile memory module comprising:
at least one nonvolatile memory; and a device controller including a random access memory (RAM) to store data exchanged between a host and the at least one nonvolatile memory, and a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) controller to control data exchanged between the RAM and the at least one nonvolatile memory; wherein an allocation for an access area at an access to the RAM is performed during a write transaction in which data is recorded at the RAM and is released during a read transaction of the recorded data.

2 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 1 , wherein during a write operation regarding the nonvolatile memory module, an area is allocated by the host at which the data is to be stored when storing the data in the RAM, and the DIMM controller releases the allocation for the area, at which the data is stored, when reading the data from the RAM.

3 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 1 , wherein during a read operation regarding the nonvolatile memory module, the DIMM controller allocates an area, at which the data is to be stored, when storing the data in the RAM, and the allocation for the area at which the data is stored is released by the host when reading the data from the RAM.

4 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 1 , wherein the DIMM controller includes an area manager configured to generate status information indicating whether the DIMM controller reads the data stored in the RAM.

5 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 4 , wherein the RAM includes a status area to store the status information.

6 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 1 , wherein an overwrite operation regarding the allocated access area is inhibited and an overwrite operation about the released access area is permitted.

7 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 1 , wherein at least one nonvolatile memory communicates with each the host through a dual data rate (DDR) interface.

8 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one nonvolatile memory comprises a dual in-line memory module (DIMM).

9 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one nonvolatile memory includes a three-dimensional memory array.

10 . A storage system, including:
a host; and a nonvolatile memory module including at least one nonvolatile memory, a RAM to store data exchanged between the host and the at least one nonvolatile memory, and a device controller including a DIMM controller to control data exchanged between the RAM and the at least one nonvolatile memory; wherein an allocation for an access area at an access to the RAM is performed during a write transaction in which data is recorded at the RAM and is released during a read transaction of the recorded data.

11 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 10 , wherein during a write operation regarding the nonvolatile memory module, the host allocates an area, at which the data is to be stored, when storing the data in the RAM and the DIMM controller releases the allocation for the area, at which the data is stored, when reading the data from the RAM.

12 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 11 , wherein the DIMM controller includes a first area manager configured to generate status information indicating whether the DIMM controller reads the data stored in the RAM.

13 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 10 , wherein during a read operation regarding the nonvolatile memory module, the DIMM controller allocates an area, at which the data is to be stored, when storing the data in the RAM and the host releases the allocation for the area, at which the data is stored, when reading the data from the RAM.

14 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 13 , wherein the host includes a second area manager configured to generate status information indicating whether the host reads the data stored in the RAM.

15 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 10 , wherein an overwrite operation about the allocated access area is inhibited and an overwrite operation about the released access area is permitted.

16 . A nonvolatile memory module to operate in association with a host, the nonvolatile memory module comprising:
a plurality of nonvolatile memories defined by dual in-line memory modules (DIMM); a device controller including
a random access memory (RAM) to store data exchanged between the host and the nonvolatile memories, and
a DIMM controller to control data exchanged between the RAM and the at least one nonvolatile memory;
wherein an allocation for an access area at an access to the RAM is performed during a write transaction in which data is recorded at the RAM and is released during a read transaction of the recorded data.

17 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 16 , wherein during a write operation regarding the nonvolatile memory module, an area is allocated by the host at which the data is to be stored when storing the data in the RAM, and the DIMM controller releases the allocation for the area, at which the data is stored, when reading the data from the RAM.

18 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 16 , wherein during a read operation regarding the nonvolatile memory module, the DIMM controller allocates an area, at which the data is to be stored, when storing the data in the RAM, and the allocation for the area at which the data is stored is released by the host when reading the data from the RAM.

19 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 16 , wherein the DIMM controller includes an area manager configured to generate status information indicating whether the DIMM controller reads the data stored in the RAM.

20 . The nonvolatile memory module of claim 16 , wherein an overwrite operation regarding the allocated access area is inhibited and an overwrite operation about the released access area is permitted.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Nam Hee Hyun
• Cho Youngjin

Classifications

• G06F3/0647 Primary

  Migration mechanisms · CPC title

• G06F3/0659

  Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling · CPC title

• G06F3/0619 Primary

  in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors · CPC title

• G06F3/0685

  Hybrid storage combining heterogeneous device types, e.g. hierarchical storage, hybrid arrays · CPC title

• G06F3/0688

  Non-volatile semiconductor memory arrays · CPC title