Address Map Management During Power Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current disk drive technologies face challenges in managing address map information effectively, particularly during abnormal power states, which affects record density and data storage efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that involve storing address map change data in a nonvolatile memory device, saving it to another nonvolatile medium during abnormal power states, and updating the address map information when power is restored, using a processor to manage and retrieve this data for efficient data storage and retrieval.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If address map information is stored in volatile memory for fast access, then data access speed is improved, but data loss occurs during abnormal power events
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting abnormal power events and automatically saving address map change data from volatile memory to nonvolatile memory before data loss can occur. This proactive approach ensures that even though volatile memory loses data during power events, the address map information is preserved through the preliminary save operation triggered by power event detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces nonvolatile memory as an intermediary storage medium between volatile memory and the external environment. When abnormal power events occur, the nonvolatile memory serves as a buffer to preserve address map change data, mediating between the volatile memory's speed advantage and the need for data reliability during power events.
2Reliability
If address map change data is continuously saved to nonvolatile memory, then data reliability is improved, but storage write operations increase causing performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The system accumulates address map change data in volatile memory as a preliminary step, and only performs the save operation to nonvolatile memory when an abnormal power event is detected. This approach maintains data reliability by ensuring the latest changes are saved before potential data loss, while avoiding continuous write operations that would degrade performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous writing, the system employs periodic action by saving address map change data only at specific intervals - namely when abnormal power events are detected. This periodic save mechanism ensures data reliability while minimizing the frequency of write operations to maintain storage efficiency.
3Quantity of substance
If address map information is updated frequently to reflect new write methods, then record density is improved, but address map management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments address map management into two independent parts: address map information (stored in volatile memory for fast access and frequent updates) and address map change data (stored in nonvolatile memory for reliability). This segmentation allows frequent updates to support high record density while simplifying management by separating the volatile and nonvolatile storage responsibilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and separates the change detection and save functionality from the main address map management process. By identifying and extracting address map change data specifically for saving to nonvolatile memory upon power events, the system reduces the complexity of continuous management while maintaining support for frequent updates needed for high record density.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for managing address map information are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a processor configured to store address map changes to a first data storage medium, save the address map changes to a nonvolatile data storage medium when an abnormal power state is detected, and when the power state is no longer abnormal retrieve the last saved address map information and address map changes and update the address map information using the address map changes. The apparatus may be configured to retrieve the instructions for the processor operation over a network connection.