Apple patents memory system that disables specific parts of RAM
Apple describes a method for managing computer memory by intentionally leaving certain sections unused during normal operation. The system uses specific mathematical formulas to route data requests away from designated memory controllers, effectively shrinking the active memory space.
In the filing’s own words
Provisioning portions of a memory subsystem of a computer system that has at least a first dimension and a second dimension, such that those portions are not used during normal operation. The apparatus includes a memory interface circuit having provisioning circuits performing different provisioning operations. The memory interface circuit is configured to receive a physical memory address, and output, based on provisioning information indicating a first provisioning operation, a first set of selection signals that are usable to access some, but not all, elements in the first dimension. The first provisioning operation may include an operation of the form ((y mod (C−1))+z) mod C, where C is a total number of elements in the first dimension, y is a relevant portion of the physical memory address, and z is an offset value indicating which elements in the first dimension are to be unused.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An apparatus, comprising: a set of storage circuits configured to store provisioning information for a memory subsystem of a computer system, wherein the memory subsystem is organized according to a hierarchy having at least a first dimension and a second dimension, wherein the provisioning information specifies one of a plurality of provisioning operations that cause portions of the memory subsystem to be unused; and a memory interface circuit that includes: a first provisioning circuit configured to perform a first provisioning operation to exclude memory access requests from being routed to a specified one of m memory controllers in the first dimension of the memory subsystem; and a second provisioning circuit configured to perform a second provisioning operation; wherein the memory interface circuit is configured to: receive a memory access request that includes a physical memory address; and output, based on the physical memory address and on the provisioning information indicating the first provisioning operation, a first set of selection signals from the first provisioning circuit that are usable to access some, but not all, elements in the first dimension of the memory subsystem to fulfill the memory access request.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Configurable memory provisioning
- Patent number
- US12769455B2
- Application number
- 18954100
- Filed
- Nov 20, 2024
- Granted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G06F 3/0619 Physics & computingG06F 3/0659 Physics & computingG06F 3/0673 Physics & computingMore from Apple in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.