How Memory Devices Dynamically Manage Overly Busy Data Rows
This patent describes a method for memory devices to identify and manage frequently accessed data rows by dynamically adjusting a threshold based on how many such 'aggressor rows' are already detected.
Original patent title: “Apparatuses and methods for aggressor queue based mitigation threshold”
This patent describes a method for memory devices to identify and manage frequently accessed data rows by dynamically adjusting a threshold based on how many such 'aggressor rows' are already detected. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
A memory device detects 'aggressor rows' by tracking how often individual memory rows are accessed. When a row is accessed, a count value associated with that row changes. If this count value exceeds a 'mitigation threshold', the row is identified as an aggressor. These identified aggressor rows are then stored in an 'aggressor queue'. The system intelligently adjusts the 'mitigation threshold' based on the current number of addresses already stored in the aggressor queue. For example, the abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more → states that the threshold may increase as more addresses are added to the queue, making it harder for new rows to be flagged as aggressors when many are already identified.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover memory management techniques that do not involve tracking individual row access counts.
- Does not cover systems that use a fixed or static mitigation threshold for identifying aggressor rows.
- Does not cover methods for mitigating memory issues that do not involve an 'aggressor queue' to store identified rows.
- Does not cover identifying aggressor rows based on factors other than a changing count value compared to a threshold.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The truly novel aspect is the dynamic adjustment of the 'mitigation threshold' based on the number of aggressor rows already detected and queued. This allows the system to adapt its sensitivity, preventing over-mitigation when only a few rows are busy, and becoming more selective when many rows are already flagged.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
DRAM modules in servers and personal computers
Memory controllers in high-performance computing systems
Embedded memory in mobile devices
Solid-state drive (SSD) controllers
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Modern memory devices, especially DRAM, can suffer from reliability and performance issues when certain data rows are accessed too frequently, a phenomenon sometimes called 'Rowhammer'. This patent offers a way to intelligently detect and manage these 'aggressor rows' to prevent performance degradation or potential data corruption. By dynamically adjusting the detection sensitivity, it aims to optimize memory performance and longevity in high-demand computing environments.
Filed
June 12, 2024
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major memory manufacturers such as Samsung, Micron Technology, and SK Hynix are continuously developing advanced memory management techniques to improve performance and reliability. Companies designing CPUs and GPUs, like Intel, AMD, and Nvidia, also integrate sophisticated memory controllers that could benefit from such dynamic mitigation strategies. Data center operators and cloud providers are also keenly interested in memory reliability and performance at scale.
Market impact
This technology could lead to more robust and higher-performing memory products, especially in demanding applications like servers, data centers, and high-end consumer devices. By reducing the impact of 'aggressor rows', it could extend the lifespan of memory modules and prevent performance bottlenecks, potentially influencing design choices for future memory architectures and controllers across the industry.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
A memory device detects 'aggressor rows' by tracking how often individual memory rows are accessed. When a row is accessed, a count value associated with that row changes. If this count value exceeds a 'mitigation threshold', the row is identified as an aggressor. These identified aggressor rows are then stored in an 'aggressor queue'. The system intelligently adjusts the 'mitigation threshold' based on the current number of addresses already stored in the aggressor queue. For example, the abstract states that the threshold may increase as more addresses are added to the queue, making it harder for new rows to be flagged as aggressors when many are already identified.
The clever bit
The truly novel aspect is the dynamic adjustment of the 'mitigation threshold' based on the number of aggressor rows already detected and queued. This allows the system to adapt its sensitivity, preventing over-mitigation when only a few rows are busy, and becoming more selective when many rows are already flagged.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover memory management techniques that do not involve tracking individual row access counts.
- Does not cover systems that use a fixed or static mitigation threshold for identifying aggressor rows.
- Does not cover methods for mitigating memory issues that do not involve an 'aggressor queue' to store identified rows.
- Does not cover identifying aggressor rows based on factors other than a changing count value compared to a threshold.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$19K – $61K
Midpoint $38K · 17.7 yr remaining · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). How Memory Devices Dynamically Manage Overly Busy Data Rows (U.S. Patent No. 12,737,123). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12737123/apparatuses-and-methods-for-aggressor-queue-based-mitigation-threshold
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Memory Devices Dynamically Manage Overly Busy Data Rows cover?
This patent describes a method for memory devices to identify and manage frequently accessed data rows by dynamically adjusting a threshold based on how many such 'aggressor rows' are already detected.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Modern memory devices, especially DRAM, can suffer from reliability and performance issues when certain data rows are accessed too frequently, a phenomenon sometimes called 'Rowhammer'. This patent offers a way to intelligently detect and manage these 'aggressor rows' to prevent performance degradation or potential data corruption. By dynamically adjusting the detection sensitivity, it aims to optimize memory performance and longevity in high-demand computing environments.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover memory management techniques that do not involve tracking individual row access counts.
Patent monitoring