IP Library Granted Patent US 12688121
Granted Patent B2
US 12688121 · App. 18/955,975 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Data storage device for unified management of system data and method of operating the same

Inventor: Se Joong Kim (Gyeonggi-do, KR)
Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
G06F12/0246G06F12/0292G06F13/1642
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12688121
App. No.
18/955,975
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A data storage device may include a memory device and a memory controller. The memory controller may allocate a system region. The memory controller may control the memory device to store system data in the system region without distinguishing between the plurality of memory regions in the system region based on a type of the system data. Therefore, the memory controller may randomly store the system data in the system region without allocating system region based on the type of system data.

Claims (40)

1 . A data storage device comprising:

a memory device; and

a memory controller configured to allocate, as a system region, a plurality of memory regions of the memory device, and control the memory device to store system data in the system region without distinguishing between the plurality of memory regions in the system region based on a type of the system data,

wherein the memory controller generates a mapping information table which maps a virtual address per unit system data with a physical address of the system region,

the mapping information table comprises a mapping information group assigned by the type of the system data, the mapping information group comprises at least one entry, and

the memory controller generates context data associated with the mapping information group by the type of the system data.

2 . The data storage device of claim 1 , wherein the memory controller determines a size of the system data in accordance with the type of the system data, and allocates the system region corresponding to the determined size.

3 . The data storage device of claim 1 , wherein the memory controller determines a size of the system data based on the type of the system data, and allocates the system region based on the determined size and a set margin.

4 . The data storage device of claim 1 , wherein the entry comprises an index, the virtual address and the physical address, and

wherein the context data comprises a base index of the mapping information group, an index of the entry to be assigned to new system data, a size of the mapping information group, and a size of the unit system data of the corresponding type of the system data.

5 . The data storage device of claim 4 , wherein the entry in the mapping information group is allocated in a round-robin manner.

6 . The data storage device of claim 1 , wherein the memory controller moves valid system data of a first memory region of the plurality of memory regions to a second memory region, and then erases the first memory region.

7 . The data storage device of claim 6 , wherein the memory controller controls the memory device to store data, received from an external device, in the erased first memory region.

8 . A data storage device comprising:

a memory device including a plurality of memory regions, which is allocated as a system region; and

a memory controller for controlling the memory device and configured to:

generate a mapping table, which is a set of mapping information groups, each mapping information group including a determined number of entries per type of system data,

generate context data related to the mapping information group by a type of the system data,

store a virtual address generated in response to a new system data storage event in an entry among entries in the mapping table, which is determined based on the context data,

control the memory device to store the system data in the system region without distinction between the plurality of memory regions, and

associate the virtual address with a physical address of the system region in which the system data is stored.

9 . The data storage device of claim 8 , wherein the memory controller moves valid system data from a first memory region of the plurality of memory regions to a second memory region, and then stores data, which is received from an external device, in the first memory region.

10 . A method of operating a data storage device including a memory device and a memory controller configured to control the memory device, the method comprising:

allocating, by the memory controller, as a system region, a plurality of memory regions of the memory device; and

controlling, by the memory controller, the memory device to store system data in the system region without distinguishing between the plurality of memory regions including the system region,

wherein the memory controller generates a mapping information table which maps a virtual address per unit system data with a physical address of the system region,

the mapping information table comprises a mapping information group assigned by a type of the system data, the mapping information group comprises at least one entry, and

the memory controller generates context data associated with the mapping information group by the type of the system data.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein allocating the plurality of regions comprises;

determining a total size of the system data based on the type of the system data; and

allocating the system region corresponding to the determined size.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein allocating the plurality of regions comprises:

determining a size of the system data based on the type of the system data; and

allocating the system region based on the determined size and a set margin.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the entry comprises an index, the virtual address and the physical address, and

wherein the context data comprises a base index of the mapping information group, an index of an entry to be assigned to new system data, a size of the mapping information group, and a size of a unit system data of a corresponding type of the system data.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

controlling, by the memory controller, the memory device to move valid system data of a first memory region of the plurality of memory regions to a second memory region, and

then erase the first memory region.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising controlling, by the memory controller, the memory device to store data of an external device in the erased first memory region.