NAND flash based content addressable memory

摘要

A NAND Flash based content addressable memory (CAM) is used for a key-value addressed storage drive. The device can use a standard transport protocol such as PCI-E, SAS, SATA, eMMC, SCSI, and so on. A host writes a key-value pair to the drive, where the drive writes the keys along bit lines of a CAM NAND portion of the drive and stores the value in the drive. The drive then maintains a table linking the keys to location of the value. In a read process, the host provides a key to drive, which then broadcasts down the word lines of blocks storing the keys. Based on any matching bit lines, the tables can then be used to retrieve and supply the corresponding data to the host.

主权项

1. A method of operating a memory system, the memory system including an array of non-volatile memory cells arranged into a NAND type of architecture, including a plurality NAND strings and a plurality word lines spanning the NAND strings, each of the word lines connected to a corresponding one of the memory cells thereof, the method comprising:
receiving a search data pattern from a host device to which the memory system is connected; biasing a first plurality of the word lines according to the search data pattern; and concurrently determining those of the NAND strings that conduct in response to the first plurality of the word lines biased according to the search data pattern being applied thereto.