WO2013189212A1

WO2013189212A1 - Method and device for controlling use of non-least-significant bit page in storage device

Info

Publication number: WO2013189212A1
Application number: PCT/CN2013/075272
Authority: WO
Inventors: 邓恩华; 李志雄
Original assignee: 深圳市江波龙电子有限公司
Priority date: 2012-06-20
Filing date: 2013-05-07
Publication date: 2013-12-27
Also published as: CN102789813B; CN102789813A

Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of data storage of storage devices. Provided are a method and device for controlling the use of a non-least-significant bit page in a storage device, the method comprising: setting a critical value for the number of times a non-least-significant bit page is used, or setting a critical value for the number of error corrections; recording the times of use or the number of error corrections of each non-least-significant bit page; when the times of use reach the critical value for the times of use in the non-least-significant bit page, or when the ratio of the number of error corrections attaining the critical value for the number of error corrections reaches a preset value, revising the non-least-significant bit page. The present invention ensures that the least significant bit page can still be used when the non-least-significant bit page in the storage device reaches a critical value for the service life thereof, thus effectively extending the service life of the storage device, and having strong practicality.

Description

Method and device for controlling use of non-least significant bit pages in storage device

Technical field

The present invention belongs to the field of data storage technologies for memories, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for controlling the use of non-least significant bit pages in a storage device.

Background technique

Flash memory can be divided into single-level cell flash memory according to its internal architecture (Single-Level Cell, SLC) and multi-level cell flash (Multi-Level Cell, MLC). The flash memory internally contains multiple memory blocks, each of which consists of multiple pages. In SLC, the lifetime of all pages (ie, the number of erases, reads and writes) is the same, more than 100,000 times. In the MLC, only the service life of the least significant page can reach the life of the page in the SLC, and the service life of the non-least significant page is only about 10,000 times.

The prior art uses the "equal wear" method to use the MLC, that is, the use of the page to ensure that the erasure, read and write times of each page is basically the same. However, since the number of erasures of the least significant bit page and the non-least significant bit page in the MLC is different, when the number of times of erasing of the non-least significant bit page reaches the limit, the entire flash memory is discarded or used incorrectly, such as data loss, Store data, etc.

Therefore, adopting the “equal wear” method only improves the overall utilization of the flash memory within the same lifetime, and fails to improve the service life of the least significant bit page in the flash memory, that is, when the life of the non-least significant bit page reaches the limit, the whole Flash life will also reach its limit, but the life of the least significant page in the MLC has not reached its limit, wasting part of the life of the least significant page.

technical problem

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for controlling the use of non-least significant bit pages in a storage device to extend the useful life of the MLC.

Technical solution

The embodiment of the present invention is implemented by the method for controlling the use of a non-least significant bit page in a storage device, and the method includes:

Setting a threshold value of the number of times the non-least significant bit page is used or a threshold value of the number of error corrections;

Record the number of uses or the number of corrections for each non-least significant bit page;

Correcting when the number of uses in the non-least significant bit page reaches the critical value of the number of uses, or the proportion of the non-least significant bit page whose error correction number reaches the critical value of the error correction number reaches a preset value The non-least significant bit page.

Another object of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for controlling the use of non-least significant bit pages in a storage device, the apparatus comprising:

a setting unit, configured to set a threshold value of the number of times of use of the non-least significant digit page or a threshold value of the number of error corrections;

a counting unit for recording the number of times of using or not correcting the number of each non-least significant bit page;

a control unit, configured to: when the number of times of use in the non-least significant bit page reaches a critical value of the number of uses, or the proportion of non-least significant digit pages whose error correction number reaches a critical value of the number of error corrections reaches a pre-pre When the value is set, the non-least significant bit page is corrected.

It is still another object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a storage device that includes the means for controlling the use of non-least significant bit pages within the storage device.

Beneficial effect

As can be seen from the above technical solution, the embodiment of the present invention sets the threshold value of the number of times of use of the non-least significant digits or the threshold of the number of error corrections, and the number of times of use in the non-least significant digit page reaches the number of uses. The threshold value, or the ratio of the number of non-least significant digits of the error correction number reaching the critical value of the error correction number reaches a preset value, correcting the non-least significant digit page, so that the corrected storage device is not When the least significant page reaches the critical value of its service life, the least significant page can still be used, which effectively prolongs the service life of the storage device and has strong practicability.

DRAWINGS

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly described below. It is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only the present invention. For some embodiments, other drawings may be obtained from those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the inventive workability.

1 is a flowchart of an implementation of a method for controlling a non-least significant bit page in a storage device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

2 is a structural diagram of a device for controlling a non-least significant bit page in a storage device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention

The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It is understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

In order to explain the technical solution described in the present invention, the following description will be made by way of specific embodiments.

Embodiment 1:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an implementation process of controlling a non-least significant bit page in a storage device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The process is detailed as follows:

In step S101, a critical value of the number of times of use of the non-least significant digit page or a critical value of the number of error corrections is set.

In this embodiment, the number of uses includes erasure, reading and writing, and the like. The critical value of the number of error corrections refers to the maximum number of errors in any non-least significant bit page exceeding the error correctable error of the error correction code.

In step S102, the number of uses or the number of error corrections for each non-least significant bit page is recorded.

In this embodiment, the number of uses of each non-least significant bit page can be recorded by a counting unit or the like, that is, the counting unit is incremented by one for each erasing or reading and writing operation of the non-least significant bit page. Or the number of error corrections of each non-least significant bit page is recorded by a counting unit or the like. When the non-least significant bit page is repeatedly read and written, the data may be in error. As the number of reading and writing increases, the number of errors will increase. When the number of errors in any non-least significant bit page exceeds the maximum value of the error correction code correctable error, the non-least significant bit page will be destroyed. Therefore, in order to prevent the non-least significant bit page from being destroyed, the number of error corrections of each non-least significant bit page may be recorded, and when the number of error correction numbers reaches the critical value of the number of error correction numbers, corresponding processing is performed.

In step S103, when the number of uses in the non-least significant bit page reaches the critical value of the number of uses, or the proportion of the non-least significant bit page whose error correction number reaches the critical value of the error correction number reaches When the value is set, the non-least significant bit page is corrected so that the least significant bit page in the corrected storage device can continue to be used.

It should be noted that the threshold for the threshold value and the preset value in this embodiment is not the “each” non-least significant bit page, but in the flash memory. The "most" non-least significant bit page, that is, when the "most non-least significant bit page" is used, or when the number of error corrections reaches a critical value, corrects all non-least significant bit pages in the flash memory. For example, there are 100 non-least significant bit pages in a flash memory, and the threshold value of each non-least significant bit page usage is 1000. When 90% of the non-least significant bit pages in the flash memory reach 1000, the flash memory is corrected. All non-least significant digit pages in .

Preferably, modifying the non-least significant bit page specifically includes:

Determining whether the non-least significant bit page and the least significant bit page in the storage device are separately managed;

If not, delete the non-least significant bit page and related information;

If yes, delete the file system corresponding to the non-least significant bit page, or set the preset state to an active state to block the operation of the non-least significant bit page.

In this embodiment, when the non-least significant bit page is corrected, first determining the first mass production mode of the storage device, when the first mass production mode is a non-least significant bit page and a least significant bit page hybrid management mode, When the number of times of use in the non-least significant digit page reaches the critical value of the number of uses, or the proportion of the non-least significant digit page whose error correction number reaches the critical value of the number of error correction reaches a preset value, the mass production station again The storage device deletes the non-least significant bit page and related information (including the storage address information corresponding to the non-least significant bit page) in the storage device, and the non-least significant bit page in the storage device cannot be used anymore. The storage space of the storage device becomes smaller, but the least significant bit page in the storage device can continue to be used.

When the first mass production mode is the non-least significant bit page and the least significant bit page separate management mode, that is, all the least significant bit pages are composed of a part, all the non-least significant bit pages are composed of a part, and each part has its corresponding file system. . When the number of times of use in the non-least significant bit page reaches the critical value of the number of uses, or the ratio of the number of non-least significant digits of the number of error corrections reaching the critical value of the number of error correction reaches a preset value, deleting The file system corresponding to the portion of the non-least significant bit page is such that all non-least significant bit pages in the storage device will no longer be usable, but the least significant bit page in the storage device can continue to be used.

Alternatively, when the mode of the first mass production is the non-least significant bit page and the least significant bit page split management mode, a status bit may also be set in advance in the storage device, and the initial state of the status bit is an invalid state. All non-least significant bit pages and least significant bit pages in the storage device can be used. When the number of times of use in the non-least significant bit page reaches the critical value of the number of uses, or the proportion of the non-least significant digit page whose error correction number reaches the critical value of the error correction number reaches a preset value, The status is in an active state. At this time, all non-least significant bit pages in the storage device will no longer be usable, but the least significant page in the storage device can continue to be used.

It should be noted that the “proportion” and the “number” are different in the embodiment, the “number” is a static value, and the “proportion” is a dynamic value, for example, if the setting is "Number", "Number" is 6, and a storage device has a small storage space, and there are only 5 non-least significant bit pages, and the number of uses of all non-least valid pages reaches the critical value of the number of uses. When the number of error corrections reaches the critical value of the number of error corrections, the condition for correction cannot be satisfied. And if the ratio is set to "scale", for example, "proportion" is 60%, if there are only 5 non-least significant digit pages, as long as the number of uses of 3 non-least significant digit pages reaches the critical value of the number of uses, or When the number of error corrections reaches the critical value of the number of error corrections, correction can be performed.

As another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in order to protect the stored data, it is convenient for the user to manage the stored data and improve the satisfaction of the user, before the step of correcting the non-least significant bit page, The method also includes:

The user is prompted to back up the data in the non-least significant bit page.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the non-least significant bit page is corrected, so that the least significant bit page in the corrected storage device can be further used, which effectively extends the service life of the storage device, and has strong practicability.

Embodiment 2:

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of a device for controlling a non-least significant bit page in a storage device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. For convenience of description, only parts related to the embodiment of the present invention are shown.

The non-least significant bit page using device in the control storage device may be applied to the storage device, may be a software unit, a hardware unit or a combination of hardware and software running in the storage device, or may be integrated into the storage device as a separate pendant. Medium or running in the application system of the storage device.

The non-least significant bit page using means in the control storage device includes a setting unit 21, a counting unit 22, and a control unit 23. Among them, the specific functions of each unit are as follows:

The setting unit 21 is configured to set a threshold value of the number of times of use of the non-least significant digit page or a threshold value of the number of error corrections;

a counting unit 22, configured to record the number of times of using the non-least significant digit page or the number of error corrections;

The control unit 23 is configured to: when the number of uses in the non-least significant bit page reaches the critical value of the number of uses, or the proportion of the non-least significant bit page whose error correction number reaches the critical value of the error correction number reaches When the preset value is set, the non-least significant digit page is corrected.

Further, the control unit 23 includes:

The determining module 231 is configured to determine whether the non-least significant bit page and the least significant bit page in the storage device are separately managed;

The control module 232 is configured to delete the non-least significant digit page and related information when the determining module 231 determines that the result is no; or delete the non-least valid when the determining module 231 determines that the result is YES. The file system corresponding to the bit page; or when the judgment module 231 determines that the result is YES, the previously set state is in an active state to block the operation of the non-least significant bit page.

Preferably, in order to protect the stored data and facilitate the management of the stored data by the user, the control unit 23 further includes:

The backup module 233 is configured to prompt the user to back up data in the non-least significant bit page before correcting the non-least significant bit page.

The non-least significant bit page using device in the control storage device provided by the embodiment may use the non-least significant bit page using method in the foregoing corresponding control storage device. For details, refer to the foregoing method for controlling the non-least significant bit page in the storage device. A related description of one will not be repeated here.

A person skilled in the art can understand that each unit and module included in the foregoing embodiment 2 is only divided according to functional logic, but is not limited to the above division, as long as the corresponding function can be implemented; The specific names of the modules are also for convenience of distinguishing from each other and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

In summary, the embodiment of the present invention sets a threshold value of the number of times of use of the non-least significant digits or a threshold value of the number of error corrections, and when the number of uses in the non-least significant digit page reaches the critical value of the number of uses, Or when the proportion of the non-least significant bit page whose error correction number reaches the critical value of the error correction number reaches a preset value, the non-least significant bit page is corrected in a plurality of manners, so that the corrected storage device The least significant page can also be used continuously, which effectively prolongs the service life of the storage device and has strong practicability. Moreover, in order to protect the stored data, it is convenient for the user to manage the stored data and improve the satisfaction of the user. Before correcting the non-least significant bit page, the user is prompted to back up the data in the non-least significant bit page.

The above is a further detailed description of the present invention in connection with the specific preferred embodiments, and the specific embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the description. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; The scope of patent protection as determined by the book.

Claims

A method of controlling the use of non-least significant bit pages in a storage device, the method comprising:

Setting a threshold value of the number of times the non-least significant bit page is used or a threshold value of the number of error corrections;

Record the number of uses or the number of corrections for each non-least significant bit page;

Correcting when the number of uses in the non-least significant bit page reaches the critical value of the number of uses, or the proportion of the non-least significant bit page whose error correction number reaches the critical value of the error correction number reaches a preset value The non-least significant bit page.
The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying the non-least significant bit page comprises:

Determining whether the non-least significant bit page and the least significant bit page in the storage device are separately managed;

If not, delete the non-least significant bit page and its related information.
The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying the non-least significant bit page comprises:

Determining whether the non-least significant bit page and the least significant bit page in the storage device are separately managed;

If yes, delete the file system corresponding to the non-least significant bit page.
The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying the non-least significant bit page comprises:

Determining whether the non-least significant bit page and the least significant bit page in the storage device are separately managed;

If so, the pre-set state is placed in an active state to block operation of the non-least significant bit page.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: before the step of modifying the non-least significant bit page, further comprising:

The user is prompted to back up the data in the non-least significant bit page.
A device for controlling the use of non-least significant bit pages in a storage device, characterized in that the device comprises:

a setting unit, configured to set a threshold value of the number of times of use of the non-least significant digit page or a threshold value of the number of error corrections;

a counting unit for recording the number of times of using or not correcting the number of each non-least significant bit page;

a control unit, configured to: when the number of times of use in the non-least significant bit page reaches a critical value of the number of uses, or the proportion of non-least significant digit pages whose error correction number reaches a critical value of the number of error corrections reaches a pre-pre When the value is set, the non-least significant bit page is corrected.
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said control unit comprises:

a determining module, configured to determine whether the non-least significant bit page and the least significant bit page in the storage device are separately managed;

And a control module, configured to delete the non-least significant digit page and related information when the determining result of the determining module is negative.
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said control unit comprises:

a determining module, configured to determine whether the non-least significant bit page and the least significant bit page in the storage device are separately managed;

And a control module, configured to delete the file system corresponding to the non-least significant digit page when the judgment module determines that the result is YES.
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said control unit comprises:

a determining module, configured to determine whether the non-least significant bit page and the least significant bit page in the storage device are separately managed;

And a control module, configured to: when the determination result of the determining module is YES, position the preset state in an active state to block operation on the non-least significant bit page.
The device according to any one of claims 6-9, wherein the control unit further comprises:

And a backup module, configured to prompt the user to back up data in the storage address corresponding to the non-least significant bit page before correcting the non-least significant bit page.
A storage device, comprising the device for controlling the use of a non-least significant bit page in a storage device according to any one of claims 6-10.