Background Data Compression in Storage Memory Translation Layers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electronic data storage systems face inefficiencies in data management and storage performance, particularly in handling frequent data access and long-term data retention, as they lack effective background data compression mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a data storage device with a memory translation layer and a compression block that compresses data during background operations, utilizing log blocks and data blocks with mapping tables to optimize storage and retrieval processes, thereby enhancing performance without external request.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If data is stored without compression in real-time, then storage speed is improved, but storage capacity efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage speedVSAvoidstorage capacity efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing data compression during background operations rather than during real-time data transfer. The controller compresses data in idle periods before potential retrieval, ensuring storage capacity efficiency is improved without impacting real-time storage speed when data is written or read from the device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If real-time compression is performed during data transfer, then storage capacity efficiency is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacity efficiencyVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs compression in advance during background operations when the device is idle or not actively transferring data. This preliminary compression ensures that when data retrieval occurs, the compressed data is already prepared, eliminating additional processing time during actual data transfer operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes its own idle time and background processing capabilities to perform compression automatically without requiring external intervention or additional processing time from the host device. The SSD serves itself by utilizing unused processing windows to compress data, making the compression process transparent to the host system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If background compression operations are implemented, then storage efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller is designed to perform multiple functions including data compression, decompression, error correction, and wear leveling. By making the controller multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated hardware for compression, thereby improving storage efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8706953B2Data storage device and method performing background operation with selected data compression

Publication Date: 2014.04.22 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A method of storing data in a storage medium of a data storage device comprises storing input data in the storage medium, and reading the input data from the storage medium and compressing the read data during a background operation of the data storage device.