Comparison Write Unit for Distributed Storage Response

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In resource disaggregated architectures, communication delays and excessive CPU resource utilization lead to degraded performance in exclusive control methods, particularly in distributed storage systems, due to the need for multiple server communications and context switching, which limits write permissions and causes response delays.

Innovation Solution

A storage system with a control device and memory device connected via an interconnected network, featuring a comparison write unit that compares first data with second data stored in a predetermined area to determine whether to update, reducing the need for server-to-server communications and minimizing CPU resource usage by performing the comparison write process within the memory device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If exclusive control methods are used in distributed storage systems with server-based architecture, then data consistency is maintained, but communication delays and excessive CPU resource utilization degrade performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidresponse performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the exclusive control functionality from the server layer and relocates it to the storage device layer. The storage device independently performs comparison write operations to determine whether to update data, eliminating the need for servers to communicate with each other for exclusive control. This extraction resolves the contradiction by maintaining data consistency through local comparison operations while eliminating the communication delays and CPU overhead associated with server-based exclusive control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a comparison write unit as an intermediary mechanism between the server and storage device. This unit performs local comparison operations within the storage device to determine write permissions, acting as a mediator that eliminates the need for server-to-server communication. The comparison write unit maintains data consistency by comparing incoming write data with existing data locally, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple server communications are required for exclusive control, then data consistency is ensured, but processing time increases due to communication delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidresponse time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the time-consuming server communication steps from the exclusive control process and replaces them with local comparison operations within the storage device. The comparison write unit performs data comparison and determines write permissions locally without requiring servers to communicate, thereby eliminating communication delays while maintaining data consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage device performs self-service by autonomously determining write permissions through local comparison operations. The comparison write unit compares incoming data with existing data and decides whether to allow the write operation without external intervention from other servers. This self-service mechanism eliminates communication delays while ensuring data consistency through local validation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If context switching is performed for server-based exclusive control, then resource allocation is managed, but CPU resource utilization increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocationVSAvoidCPU resource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the CPU-intensive context switching operations from the server layer and relocates the comparison logic to the storage device. The comparison write unit performs data comparison and write permission determination locally within the storage device, eliminating the need for servers to perform context switching for exclusive control. This extraction significantly reduces CPU resource utilization while maintaining adaptability in resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If write permissions are limited to specific control devices, then data consistency is maintained, but system responsiveness decreases due to permission checking overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidsystem responsiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage device performs self-service by autonomously determining write permissions through local comparison operations. The comparison write unit compares incoming data with existing data and immediately determines whether to allow the write operation without requiring permission checks from external control devices. This self-service mechanism maintains data consistency through local validation while eliminating permission checking overhead, thereby improving system responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10191690B2Storage system, control device, memory device, data access method, and program recording medium
Publication Date: 2019.01.29 NEC CORP
  • US10191690B2 patent drawing
  • US10191690B2 patent drawing
  • US10191690B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is contribution for improving response performance. For that, a storage system includes a control device and a memory device that is connected to the control device via an interconnected network, wherein the memory device includes a data memory unit that stores data and a comparison write unit that performs a comparison write process of comparing first data specified by the control device with second data stored into a predetermined area in the data memory means and determining whether to update data in the predetermined area depending on a result of the comparison, and wherein the control device includes a read command issuance unit that issues a read command to the memory device; a write buffer memory unit that holds data that has been read based on the read command; and a comparison write command unit that designates data written to the write buffer memory means as the first data and instructs, in the form of a comparison write command, the memory device to perform the comparison write process.