Method and system for using non-volatile memory as a replacement for volatile memory

1. A method for using non-volatile memory as a replacement for volatile memory, the method comprising:

performing the following in a host in communication with a memory system having volatile memory, a first non-volatile memory, and a second non-volatile memory, wherein the first non-volatile memory has a faster performance and a higher endurance than the second non-volatile memory:

analyzing data to be stored in the volatile memory to determine if it should be stored in the volatile memory or in the first non-volatile memory;

in response to determining that the data should be stored in the volatile memory, storing the data in the volatile memory; and

in response to determining that the data should be stored in the first non-volatile memory, storing the data in the first non-volatile memory instead of in the volatile memory, thereby avoiding reducing available storage space in the volatile memory;

wherein the data is analyzed for its response time and refresh rate, and wherein if the response time is faster than what the first non-volatile memory provides and if the refresh rate is faster than a refresh rate of the volatile memory, it is determined that the data should be stored in the volatile memory; otherwise, it is determined that the data should be stored in the first non- volatile memory.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data is analyzed for its expected number of write operations relative to an endurance of the first non-volatile memory.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data is analyzed for its worst-case latency relative to the performance of the first non-volatile memory.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising using operating system data to gather characteristics of data stored in the volatile memory and the first non-volatile memory and applying that data as a storage policy.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the volatile memory, the first non-volatile memory, and the second non-volatile memory is a three-dimensional memory.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the memory system is embedded in the host.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the memory system is removably connected to the host.

8. A host comprising:

an interface configured to communicate with a memory system having volatile memory, a first non-volatile memory, and a second non-volatile memory, wherein the first non-volatile memory has a faster performance and a higher endurance than the second non-volatile memory; and

a controller in communication with the interface, wherein the controller is configured to:

determine if data to be stored in the volatile memory is suitable for storage instead in the first non-volatile memory; and

in response to determining that the data is suitable for storage instead in the first non-volatile memory, routing the data to the first non-volatile memory instead of the volatile memory, thereby avoiding reducing available storage space in the volatile memory;

wherein the controller k configured to analyze the data for its response time and refresh rate, and wherein if the response time is faster than what the first non-volatile memory provides and if the refresh rate is faster than a refresh rate of the volatile memory, it is determined that the data should he stored in the volatile memory; otherwise, it is determined that the data should be stored in the first non-volatile memory.

9. The host of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to analyze the data for its expected number of write operations relative to an endurance of the first non-volatile memory.

10. The host of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to analyze the data for its worst-case latency relative to the performance of the first non-volatile memory.

11. The host of claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to use operating system data to gather characteristics of data stored in the volatile memory and the first non-volatile memory and applying that data as a storage policy.

12. The host of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the volatile memory, the first non-volatile memory, and the second non-volatile memory is a three-dimensional memory.

13. The host of claim 8 , wherein the memory system is embedded in the host.

14. The host of claim 8 , wherein the memory system is removably connected to the host.

15. A host comprising:

an interface configured to communicate with a memory system having volatile memory, a first non-volatile memory, and a second non-volatile memory, wherein the first non-volatile memory has a faster performance and a higher endurance than the second non-volatile memory;

means for analyzing data to be stored in the volatile memory to determine if it should be stored in the volatile memory or in the first non-volatile memory;

means for in response to determining that the data should be stored in the volatile memory, storing the data in the volatile memory; and

means for in response to determining that the data should be stored in the first non-volatile memory, storing the data in the first non-volatile memory instead of in the volatile memory, thereby avoiding reducing available storage space in the volatile memory;

wherein the data is analyzed for its response time and refresh rate, and wherein if the response time is faster than what the first non-volatile memory provides and if the refresh rate is faster than a refresh rate of the volatile memory, it is determined that the data should be stored in the volatile memory; otherwise, it is determined that the data should be stored hi the first non- volatile memory.

16. The host of claim 15 , wherein the data is analyzed for its expected number of write operations relative to an endurance of the first non-volatile memory.

17. The host of claim 15 , wherein the data is analyzed for its worst-case latency relative to the performance of the first non-volatile memory.

18. The host of claim 15 further comprising means for using operating system data to gather characteristics of data stored in the volatile memory and the first non-volatile memory and applying that data as a storage policy.

19. The host of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the volatile memory, the first non-volatile memory, and the second non-volatile memory is a three-dimensional memory.

20. The host of claim 15 , wherein the memory system is embedded in the host.