IP Library Granted Patent US 12669938
Granted Patent B2
US 12669938 · App. 18/962,759 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Systems, methods, and media for controlling background wear leveling in solid-state drives

Inventors: David G. Dreyer (Oronoco, MN); David J. Pelster (Longmont, CO); Mark Anthony Sumabat Golez (Folsom, CA); Bhargavi Govindarajan (Milpitas, CA)
Assignee: SK hynix NAND Product Solutions Corp.
G06F3/0613G06F3/0653G06F3/0679
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12669938
App. No.
18/962,759
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Mechanisms for controlling background wear leveling are provided, including: increasing a first counter; comparing the first counter to a first threshold; and in response to the first counter meeting the first threshold: decreasing the first counter by a value of the first threshold; and triggering background wear leveling. In some embodiments, the first counter is increased in response to receiving a write trigger. In some embodiments, the first threshold is based upon a page size and a number of planes of physical media of an SSD. In some embodiments, the mechanisms further comprise: incrementing a second counter in response to receiving a host write trigger; comparing the second counter to a second threshold; and in response to the second counter meeting the second threshold, decreasing the second counter by the second threshold, wherein the increasing the first counter is performed in response to the second counter meeting the second threshold.

Claims (68)

1 . A system for controlling background wear leveling, comprising:

memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory and collectively configured to at least:

change a first value in response to receiving a host write trigger;

compare the first value to a first threshold;

in response to the first value meeting the first threshold, change the first value by a first adjustment amount,

change a second value in response to the first value meeting the first threshold;

compare the second value to a second threshold; and

in response to the second value meeting the second threshold:

change the second value by a second adjustment amount; and

trigger background wear leveling.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first adjustment amount is equal to an amount of the first threshold.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second adjustment amount is equal to an amount of the second threshold.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second threshold is based upon a page size and a number of planes of physical media of a solid-state drive.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is also collectively configured to at least:

change a third value in response to receiving a defragmentation write trigger;

compare the third value to a third threshold; and

in response to the third value meeting the third threshold:

change the third value by a third adjustment amount; and

change the second value.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the third adjustment amount is equal to an amount of the third threshold.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the third threshold is the same as the first threshold.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is also collectively configured to determine that a specific period of time has passed,

wherein the comparing the second value to the second threshold is performed in response to determining that a specific period of time has passed.

9 . A method for controlling background wear leveling, comprising:

changing a first value in response to receiving a host write trigger using a hardware processor;

comparing the first value to a first threshold;

in response to the first value meeting the first threshold, decreasing the first value by a first adjustment amount,

increasing a second value in response to the first value meeting the first threshold;

comparing the second value to a second threshold; and

in response to the second value meeting the second threshold:

decreasing the second value by a second adjustment amount; and

triggering background wear leveling.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first adjustment amount is equal to an amount of the first threshold.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the second adjustment amount is equal to an amount of the second threshold.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the second threshold is based upon a page size and a number of planes of physical media of a solid-state drive.

13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

changing a third value in response to receiving a defragmentation write trigger;

comparing the third value to a third threshold; and

in response to the third value meeting the third threshold:

decreasing the third value by a third adjustment amount; and

increasing the second value.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the third adjustment amount is equal to an amount of the third threshold.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the third threshold is the same as the first threshold.

16 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining that a specific period of time has passed,

wherein the comparing the second value to the second threshold is performed in response to determining that a specific period of time has passed.

17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for controlling background wear leveling, the method comprising:

changing a first value in response to receiving a host write trigger;

comparing the first value to a first threshold;

in response to the first value meeting the first threshold, decreasing the first value by a first adjustment amount,

increasing a second value in response to the first value meeting the first threshold;

comparing the second value to a second threshold; and

in response to the second value meeting the second threshold:

decreasing the second value by a second adjustment amount; and

triggering background wear leveling.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the first adjustment amount is equal to an amount of the first threshold.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the second adjustment amount is equal to an amount of the second threshold.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the second threshold is based upon a page size and a number of planes of physical media of a solid-state drive.

21 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:

changing a third value in response to receiving a defragmentation write trigger;

comparing the third value to a third threshold;

in response to the third value meeting the third threshold:

decreasing the third value by a third adjustment amount; and

increasing the second value.

22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the third adjustment amount is equal to an amount of the third threshold.

23 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22 , wherein the third threshold is the same as the first threshold.

24 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises determining that a specific period of time has passed,

wherein the comparing the second value to the second threshold is performed in response to determining that a specific period of time has passed.