US 2020/0004445 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMIC ALLOCATION TO A HOST OF MEMORY DEVICE CONTROLLER MEMORY RESOURCES

Abstract

Systems and methods for a non-volatile memory (NVM) system to allocate controller memory buffer resources to multiple host functions based on host input are disclosed. The NVM system may include a NVM controller configured to advertise total available controller buffer resources to a host. The NVM system includes host writable controller buffer allocation registers for receiving host selected amounts of available controller buffer resources, where a physical function on the host selects a portion of the buffer resources for itself and also selects portions of NVM system controller buffer resources for each other of the secondary, or virtual, host functions also in communication with the NVM system. In this manner, a host in a non-volatile memory express (NVMe) system may dynamically designate controller buffer resources for itself and all other hosts of the NVM system rather than relying on a static NVM system default distribution of controller buffer resources.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for a memory device to dynamically configure an amount of controller memory resources located on the memory device, the method comprising the memory device:

detecting a memory device initialization trigger;
in response to detecting the memory device initialization trigger, communicating to a physical function of a virtualized host a total amount of controller memory resources on the memory device that are available for use by the physical function and any virtual functions in communication with the memory device;
receiving, from the physical function, a controller memory resources configuration setting identifying both a first portion of the controller memory resources located on the memory device to be reserved for the physical function and a second portion of the controller memory resources located on the memory device to be reserved for a virtual function;
storing the received controller memory resources configuration setting on the memory device identifying the first portion and the second portion;
and
accessing the first portion in response to received commands identifying the physical function, and accessing the second portion in response to received commands identifying the virtual function, in accordance with the received controller memory resources configuration setting.

3 more elements

A non-volatile memory device comprising:

a non-volatile memory having a plurality of memory cells;
a communication interface configured to communicate with a host device;
and
a controller in communication with the non-volatile memory and the communication interface, the controller configured to:
during an initialization phase of the non-volatile memory device:
advertise to the host device a total amount of available controller memory resources on the non-volatile memory device that are available for use by the host device;
and
store a controller memory resources configuration setting received from the host device, based on the total amount of available controller memory resources, identifying a host device determined portion of the total amount of available controller memory resources that the host device reserves for host device use.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for dynamic allocation to a host of memory device controller memory resources

Life of this patent

System and method for dynamic allocation to a host of memory device controller memory resources

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20