Disposition instructions for extended access commands

A memory controller, comprising:

• an interface circuit configured to receive a disposition instruction and an associated access command directed to a block of data at a logical address in a memory system managed by the memory controller, wherein the memory system includes a plurality of different types of memory having different performance characteristics, and wherein the disposition instruction is generated based on the different performance characteristics of the plurality of different types of memory;
• and
• control logic, coupled to the interface circuit, which is configured to control accesses to the memory system, wherein the control logic is configured to receive the access command and, in response to the access command, is configured to forward the access command to a first type of memory in the plurality of different types of memory;
• and
• wherein the control logic is also configured to receive the disposition instruction associated with the access command and, in response to the disposition instruction, is configured to move the block of data to a second type of memory in the plurality different types of memory to facilitate subsequent accesses to the block of data by providing a read command for the block of data to the first type of memory and a write command for the block of data to the second type of memory.

A method for moving a block of data, comprising:

• receiving a disposition instruction and an associated access command directed to a block of data at a logical address in a memory system, wherein the memory system includes a plurality of different types of memory having different performance characteristics, and wherein the disposition instruction is generated based on the different performance characteristics of the plurality of different types of memory;
• in response to the access command, accessing the block of data at the logical address in a first type of memory in the plurality of different types of memory by forwarding the access command to the first type of memory;
• and
• in response to the disposition instruction, moving the block of data to a second type of memory in the different types of memory to facilitate subsequent accesses to the block of data by providing a read command for the block of data to the first type of memory and a write command for the block of data to the second type of memory.

A computer system, comprising:

• first control logic configured to generate a disposition instruction and subsequent access commands directed to blocks of data at logical addresses;
• a communication link coupled to the control logic;
• and
• a memory system coupled to the communication link, wherein the memory system includes:
• a plurality of different types of memory having different performance characteristics, wherein the disposition instruction is generated based on the different performance characteristics of the plurality of different types of memory and a global parameter of the computer system;
• and
• second control logic configured to receive the disposition instruction and the subsequent access commands and, in response to the disposition instructions, is configured to move the blocks of data from a first type of memory to a second type of memory in the plurality of different types of memory if copies of the blocks of data are not already stored on the second type of memory;
• and
• wherein, in response to the subsequent access commands, the memory system is configured to access the blocks of data at the logical addresses in the second type of memory.

A memory controller, comprising:

• an interface circuit configured to receive a disposition instruction and subsequent access commands directed to blocks of data at a logical addresses in a memory system managed by the memory controller, wherein the memory system includes a plurality of different types of memory having different performance characteristics, and wherein the disposition instruction is generated based on the different performance characteristics of the plurality of different types of memory and a global parameter of the memory system;
• and
• control logic, coupled to the interface circuit, which is configured to receive the disposition instruction and the subsequent access commands and, in response to the disposition instruction, is configured to move the blocks of data from a first type of memory to a second type of memory in the plurality of different types of memory if copies of the blocks of data are not already stored on the second type of memory;
• and
• wherein, in response to the subsequent access commands, the control logic is configured to access the blocks of data at the logical addresses in the second type of memory.