Buffered Memory Controller Invalidity Indicators

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Solution Overview

Problem

In computing systems, data considered deleted at the host level may still be stored in buffer memory and unnecessarily written to storage media due to the controller's inability to determine data validity, leading to degraded write performance and reduced storage lifespan along with unnecessary power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A storage system with a controller that selectively transfers data to the storage medium based on an invalidity indicator, such as an unwrite command from the host, to prevent writing of invalidated data and manage storage space efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data is stored in buffer memory to improve write performance, then write performance is improved, but invalid data may be unnecessarily written to storage medium degrading performance and shortening lifespan

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewrite performanceVSAvoidstorage lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controller receives invalidity information from the host system regarding data in the buffer memory, and uses this feedback to determine whether to transfer data to the storage medium. This feedback mechanism allows the controller to avoid writing invalid data while maintaining the performance benefits of buffered writing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The host system provides invalidity information about data in the buffer memory before the controller transfers data to the storage medium. This preliminary action allows the controller to proactively avoid writing invalid data, preventing unnecessary write operations and extending storage lifespan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If controller transfers all buffered data to storage medium, then data integrity is maintained, but power is wasted on unnecessary write operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The controller uses invalidity information feedback from the host to selectively transfer only valid data from buffer memory to the storage medium. This selective transfer maintains data integrity for valid data while avoiding unnecessary write operations that would waste power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of transferring all buffered data to the storage medium, the controller performs partial action by transferring only the valid portion of the data. This reduces unnecessary write operations and power consumption while maintaining data integrity for the data that needs to be persisted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Device complexity

If controller cannot determine validity of buffered data, then simple control logic is maintained, but write performance degrades due to unnecessary writes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol logic complexityVSAvoidwrite performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The host system acts as an intermediary by providing invalidity information to the controller. This intermediary mechanism allows the controller to make informed decisions about data transfer without requiring complex validity determination logic within the controller itself, maintaining simple control logic while improving write performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7802054B2Apparatus and methods using invalidity indicators for buffered memory

Publication Date: 2010.09.21 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A storage system includes a storage medium configured to store data and a buffer memory configured to buffer data to be written to the storage medium. The storage system further includes a controller configured to selectively transfer the buffered data to the storage medium responsive to an invalidity indicator received from an external source. For example, the invalidity indicator may comprise unwrite information received from an external source, e.g., information that indicates that selected buffered data corresponds to deleted file data.