# US 12,118,217 B2 · Memory system, memory controller and method for operating memory system, capable of determining target meta memory block on the basis of detected target state > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,118,217 B2 - Document ID: US12118217B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/059,356 - Filed: 2022-11-28 - Published: 2024-02-01 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2022-07-28 - Assignees: SK hynix Inc. - Applicants: SK hynix Inc. - Inventors: Jang Hun Yun - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12118217B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0619: {in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors} - G06F 11/1048: {using arrangements adapted for a specific error detection or correction feature} - G06F 3/064: {Management of blocks} - G06F 3/0653: {Monitoring storage devices or systems} - G06F 3/0659: {Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling} - G06F 3/0679: {Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]} - G06F 12/0246: {in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory} - G06F 2212/1032: Reliability improvement, data loss prevention, degraded operation etc - G06F 2212/7201: Logical to physical mapping or translation of blocks or pages - G06F 2212/7207: management of metadata or control data - G06F 2212/7208: Multiple device management, e.g. distributing data over multiple flash devices - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract In a memory system, one or more target meta memory blocks to which an entirety or a part of meta data is to be written are determined on the basis of a detected target state from among a plurality of target states. The one or more target meta memory block may be selected from among a plurality of meta memory blocks on the basis of a number of detected target states among the plurality of target states. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A memory system comprising: a memory device including a plurality of meta memory blocks to which meta data is permitted to be written; and a memory controller configured to determine, based on a number of detected target states among a plurality of target states indicating operation of the memory device may be unstable, at least one of the plurality of meta memory blocks as a target meta memory block to which an entirety or a part of types of the meta data is to be written, wherein when the number of detected target states among the plurality of target states is equal to or greater than a first value, the memory controller determines: a first meta memory block among the plurality of meta memory blocks as a first target meta memory block in which the metadata of a master data type and a history data type are to be stored, and a second meta memory block among the plurality of meta memory blocks as a second target meta memory block in which the metadata of a map data type is to be stored. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The memory system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of target states include: a first state corresponding to a first number of times, which is a number of times that respective numbers of error bits occurring in operations of reading data from the memory device during a first time period were equal to or greater than a first threshold error bit number, being equal to or greater than a first threshold number of times, a second state corresponding to a temperature of the memory device not being within a preset temperature range, a third state corresponding to a number of times a sudden power-off has occurred during a second time period being equal to or greater than a second threshold number of times, and a fourth state corresponding to an occurrence of a program status fail, an uncorrectable error correction code, an erase status fail, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The memory system of claim 1, wherein the types of the meta data includes: the master data type including data used during a booting operation of the memory system, the history data type including system data capable of being changed during a runtime, and the map data type indicating mapping information between logical addresses and physical addresses. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The memory system according to claim 3, wherein the map data type includes first level map data and second level map data. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The memory system according to claim 1, wherein when the number of detected target states is equal to or greater than the first value, the memory controller sets one or more meta memory blocks other than the first meta memory block and second meta memory block among the plurality of meta memory blocks to a closed state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The memory system according to claim 1, wherein when the number of detected target states is equal to or greater than a second value, the memory controller determines a third meta memory block as the target meta memory block in which all meta data are to be stored, and wherein the second value is greater than the first value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The memory system according to claim 6, wherein when the number of detected target states is equal to or greater than the second value, the memory controller sets a meta memory block not determined as the target meta memory block in which meta data are to be stored to a closed state. ### Claim 8 A method for operating a memory system, comprising: determining a detected target state among a plurality of target states, indicating operation of the memory device may be unstable, set in advance; and determining at least one target meta memory block to which entirety or a part of types of meta data is to be written, among a plurality of meta memory blocks to which the meta data is permitted to be written, based on a number of detected target state, wherein determining the at least one target meta memory block comprises: when the number of detected target states among the plurality of target states is equal to or greater than a first value, determining: a first meta memory block among the plurality of meta memory blocks as a target meta memory block in which the metadata of a master data type and a history data type are to be stored, and a second meta memory block among the plurality of meta memory blocks as a target meta memory block in which the metadata of a map data type is to be stored. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of target states include: a first state corresponding to a first number of times, which is a number of times that respective numbers of error bits occurring in operations of reading data from the memory device during a first time period were equal to or greater than a first threshold error bit number, being equal to or greater than a first threshold number of times, a second state corresponding to a temperature of the memory device not being within a preset temperature range, a third state corresponding to a number of times a sudden power-off has occurred during a second time period being equal to or greater than a second threshold number of times, and a fourth state corresponding to an occurrence of a program status fail, an uncorrectable error correction code, an erase status fail, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the types of the meta data includes: the master data type including data used during a booting operation of the memory system, the history data type including system data capable of being changed during a runtime, and the map data type indicating mapping information between logical addresses and physical addresses. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the map data type includes first level map data and second level map data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein determining that at least one target meta memory block further comprises: when the number of detected target states is equal to or greater than the first value, setting one or more meta memory blocks other than the first meta memory block and second meta memory block among the plurality of meta memory blocks to a closed state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein determining the at least one target meta memory block comprises: when the number of detected target states is equal to or greater than a second value, determining a third meta memory block as the target meta memory block in which all meta data are to be stored, wherein the second value is greater than the first value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein determining the at least one target meta memory block further comprises: when the number of detected target states among the plurality of target states is equal to or greater than the second value, setting a meta memory block not determined as the target meta memory block in which meta data are to be stored to a closed state. ### Claim 15 A memory controller comprising: a memory interface capable of communicating with a memory device including a plurality of meta memory blocks to which meta data is permitted to be written; and a control circuit configured to determine, based on a number of detected target states among a plurality of target states which indicate operation of the memory device may be unstable, at least one of the plurality of meta memory blocks as a target meta memory block to which an entirety or a part of types of the meta data is to be written, wherein determining the at least one target meta memory block comprises: when the number of detected target states among the plurality of target states is equal to or greater than a first value, determining: a first meta memory block among the plurality of meta memory blocks as a target meta memory block in which the metadata of a master data type and a history data type are to be stored, and a second meta memory block among the plurality of meta memory blocks as a target meta memory block in which the metadata of a map data type is to be stored.