High efficiency garbage collection method, associated data storage device and controller thereof

A data storage device, comprising:

• a non-volatile (NV) memory, configured to store information, wherein the NV memory comprises at least one NV memory element;
• and
• a controller, coupled to the NV memory, configured to control operations of the data storage device, wherein the controller comprises:
• a processing circuit, configured to control the controller according to a plurality of host commands from a host device, to allow the host device to access the NV memory through the controller, wherein:
• the controller starts and executes a garbage collection procedure;
• the controller determines whether a Trim command from the host device is received;
• in response to the Trim command being received, the controller determines whether target data of the Trim command is stored in a source block of the garbage collection procedure;
• in response to the target data being stored in the source block, the controller determines whether the target data stored in the source block has been copied to a destination block of the garbage collection procedure;
• and
• in response to the target data stored in the source block having been copied to the destination block, the controller changes at least one physical address of the target data of the Trim command to a Trim tag in a logical-to-physical (L2P) address mapping table, wherein the Trim tag indicates invalidation of the target data.

A controller of a data storage device, the data storage device comprising the controller and a non-volatile (NV) memory, the NV memory comprising at least one NV memory element, the controller comprising:

• a processing circuit, configured to control the controller according to a plurality of host commands from a host device, to allow the host device to access the NV memory through the controller, wherein:
• the controller starts and executes a garbage collection procedure;
• the controller determines whether a Trim command from the host device is received;
• in response to the Trim command being received, the controller determines whether target data of the Trim command is stored in a source block of the garbage collection procedure;
• in response to the target data being stored in the source block, the controller determines whether the target data stored in the source block has been copied to a destination block of the garbage collection procedure;
• and
• in response to the target data stored in the source block having been copied to the destination block, the controller changes at least one physical address of the target data of the Trim command to a Trim tag in a logical-to-physical (L2P) address mapping table, wherein the Trim tag indicates invalidation of the target data.