Block Allocation Map for Data Storage Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data storage systems face performance regression due to substantial overhead in managing system data, such as allocation information, defective block tracking, and spare management, which leads to inefficiencies in data storage operations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a block allocation map that tracks defective physical locations and groups them into superblocks, eliminating the need for separate defective and spare tables, and allowing for efficient data storage operations by selecting alternative non-defective blocks within the same group.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate defective blocks list and superblock table are maintained, then defective location tracking is achieved, but system data redundancy and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the defective blocks list and superblock table into a single integrated block allocation map. This map uses bitmaps to simultaneously track defective blocks and superblock allocations, eliminating the need for separate data structures. The block allocation map serves multiple functions: tracking defective locations, managing superblocks, and recording free blocks, thereby reducing system data redundancy and management overhead while maintaining reliable defective location tracking.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate tables (defective blocks list, superblock table, spare blocks list) are used, then comprehensive system data management is achieved, but data storage overhead and access time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate management tables into a unified block allocation map that handles defective blocks, superblocks, and spare blocks simultaneously. This integration reduces the number of separate data structures from three to one, thereby reducing data storage overhead and improving access efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The block allocation map is designed as a universal data structure that performs multiple functions: tracking defective blocks, managing superblock allocations, and recording free/spare blocks. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate specialized tables, reducing overall system data overhead while maintaining comprehensive management capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If traditional separate table management is used, then detailed tracking is achieved, but data storage operation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple tracking functions into a single block allocation map that maintains precise tracking of defective blocks, superblocks, and free blocks simultaneously. The bitmap-based structure enables efficient bitwise operations for tracking and management, improving data storage operation performance while preserving detailed tracking precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the data structure parameters from multiple separate tables to a unified bitmap-based allocation map. This parameter change enables more efficient memory access patterns and bitwise operations, thereby improving data storage operation performance while maintaining the precision needed for tracking individual blocks and superblocks.
Data Source
AI summary
A data storage system configured to efficiently manage system data, efficiently organize system data, and reduce system data redundancy is disclosed. In one embodiment, the data storage system can maintain memory allocation information configured to track defective allocation units. Memory allocation information can be further configured to provide information for locating the memory allocation units or memory locations in physical memory. Separate information that indicates locations of the data allocation units or memory locations and/or records defective memory locations may not be needed. Hence, redundancy can be reduced, efficiency can be increased, and improved performance can be attained.