IP Library Granted Patent US 11,182,079
Granted Patent B2
US 11,182,079 · App. 16/825,653 · Granted Nov 23, 2021

Extended utilization area for a memory device

Inventors: Jani Hyvonen (Tampere, FI); Kimmo J. Mylly (Ylojarvi, FI); Jussi Hakkinen (Tampere, FI); Yevgen Gyl (Tampere, FI)
Assignee: Memory Technologies LLC
G06F3/061G06F3/0659G06F3/0673G06F12/0646G06F12/1458G06F13/1694G06F13/28G11C7/20G06F12/1433G06F12/1441G06F21/79G06F2212/1052Y02D10/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,182,079
App. No.
16/825,653
Granted
Nov 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems and devices for configuring access to a memory device are disclosed. The configuration of the memory device may be carried out by creating a plurality of access profiles that are adapted to optimize access to the memory device in accordance with a type of access. For example, when an application with specific memory access needs is initiated, the memory access profile that is designed for that particular access need may be utilized to configure access to the memory device. The configuration may apply to a portion of the memory device, a partition of the memory device, a single access location on the memory device, or any combination thereof.

Claims (49)

1. A memory device comprising:

two or more predefined access types to determine how access to the memory device is configured for at least one usage of the memory device, wherein the two or more predefined access types correspond to two or more of a sequential write access, a sequential read access, a random write access, and a random read access; and

a controller configured to:

receive, from a host, at least one command indicative of at least one access need, the at least one command including first information for designating at least one of the two or more predefined access types and second information for designating a portion of the memory device according to the at least one of the two or more predefined access types for the at least one usage; and

configure, based at least in part on the at least one access need and the second information, access to the memory device in accordance with the at least one of the two or more predefined access types such that the portion of the memory device is configured according to the at least one of the two or more predefined access types for the at least one usage.

2. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one access need is received via the at least one command to activate the at least one of the two or more predefined access types.

3. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one command comprises third information settable to activate the at least one of the two or more predefined access types, the third information comprising at least one bit that has been set, by the host, to activate the at least one of the two or more predefined access types.

4. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the second information comprises at least one bit that has been set, by the host, to designate the portion of the memory device.

5. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the memory device comprises at least one of:

a number of blocks;

a logical portion of the memory device;

a physical partition of the memory device;

a durable portion of the memory device; or

a separate physical memory chip.

6. The memory device of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the memory device is configured in accordance with a first access type of the two or more predefined access types and a second portion of the memory device is configured in accordance with a second access type of the two or more predefined access types.

7. The memory device of claim 6 , wherein the first portion of the memory device is configured to be accessed in accordance with the first access type at a first time and the second portion of the memory device is configured to be accessed in accordance with the second access type at the first time.

8. A method comprising:

receiving, at a memory device and from a host, at least one command in accordance with at least one access need for the memory device to use a first predefined access type of at least the first predefined access type and a second predefined access type, wherein the first predefined access type corresponds to at least one of a sequential mode of access or a random mode of access, and wherein the at least one command comprises information designating a portion of the memory device according to the first predefined access type for at least one usage; and

configuring, by a controller of the memory device and based at least in part on the at least one command, access to the memory device in accordance with the first predefined access type such that the portion of the memory device is configured according to the first predefined access type for the at least one usage.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the information is first information, and wherein the at least one command further comprises second information settable to activate the first predefined access type, the second information comprising at least one bit that has been set, by the host, to activate the first predefined access type.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the information comprises at least one bit that has been set, by the host, to designate the portion of the memory device.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the portion of the memory device comprises at least one of:

a number of blocks;

a logical portion of the memory device;

a physical partition of the memory device;

a durable portion of the memory device; or

another memory device separate from the memory device.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sequential mode of access comprises a sequential write mode.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sequential mode of access comprises a sequential read mode.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the portion of the memory device is a first portion of the memory device, the method further comprising:

configuring access to a second portion of the memory device in accordance with a second access type.

15. A host device comprising:

an interface to couple the host device to a memory device; and

a controller configured to:

determine at least one mode of access from a plurality of modes of access to be performed in association with the memory device, wherein the plurality of modes of access comprises a sequential mode of access;

set information in at least one command to designate a portion of the memory device that is to be configured according to a predefined access type associated with the sequential mode of access;

determine that multiple sequential accesses are associated with the portion of the memory device;

send the at least one command and an indication of at least one access need from the host device to the memory device that is coupled to the host device, the at least one access need capable of activating the predefined access type associated with the sequential mode of access; and

perform the multiple sequential accesses associated with the portion of the memory device.

16. The host device of claim 15 , wherein the information is first information, and wherein the controller is further configured to set second information in the at least one command to indicate the at least one access need capable of activating the predefined access type, the second information comprising at least one bit.

17. The host device of claim 15 , wherein the information comprises at least one bit.

18. The host device of claim 15 , wherein the portion of the memory device comprises at least one of:

a number of blocks;

a logical portion of the memory device;

a physical partition of the memory device;

a durable portion of the memory device; or

another memory device separate from the memory device.

19. The host device of claim 15 , wherein the sequential mode of access comprises a sequential write mode.

20. The host device of claim 15 , wherein the sequential mode of access comprises a sequential read mode.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2020
From: NOKIA CORPORATION
To: NOKIA INC
Reel/Frame 052365/0811 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2020
From: NOKIA INC.
To: MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 052365/0940 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 10, 2020
From: HYVONEN, JANI; MYLLY, KIMMO; HAKKINEN, JUSSI; GYL, YEVGEN
To: NOKIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052372/0960 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 16598894 · Oct 10, 2019
Continuation 15181293 · Jun 13, 2016
Continuation 14732507 · Jun 5, 2015
Continuation 13951169 · Jul 25, 2013
Continuation 13645588 · Oct 5, 2012
Continuation 12039672 · Feb 28, 2008
Related Publication 20200218448A1 · Jul 9, 2020
Cited By (3)
US 12,360,670 US 12,417,022 US 12,511,076