Apparatus, method and computer program for managing memory page updates within non-volatile memory

Abstract

An apparatus, method and computer program are provided for managing memory page updates within non-volatile memory. The apparatus has processing circuitry for performing read and write operations for data to be stored in the non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory is arranged as a plurality of memory pages, where each memory page comprises a plurality of chunks. A non-volatile chunk buffer is used to store data updates for multiple chunks prior to those data updates being made to the data stored in the non-volatile memory. Chunk tracking storage is then used to identify, for each chunk, when current data of that chunk is stored in the non-volatile chunk buffer rather than the non-volatile memory. The processing circuitry is arranged when performing a write operation for data within a specified chunk, to generate the data update for that specified chunk, to cause the data update to be stored within the non-volatile chunk buffer, and to cause the chunk tracking storage to be updated to identify that the current data of that specified chunk is stored in the non-volatile chunk buffer. The processing circuitry is also arranged, when performing a read operation, to reference the chunk tracking storage in order to determine when to access the non-volatile chunk buffer instead of the non-volatile memory in order to obtain the data required by the read operation. Such a technique allows the endurance of the non-volatile memory to be improved, whilst also maintaining access speed for accesses performed by the processing circuitry.