Configurable Response Circuit for Storage Device Latency Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage devices experience latency and reduced throughput due to the need for firmware or software to maintain state information and initiate responses during data transfer.
Innovation Solution
A storage device equipped with a hardware module, such as a response circuit, that tracks state information of host data and automatically transmits responses to the host device, eliminating the need for software or firmware to manage state information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If firmware or software is used to maintain state information and initiate response transmission, then the system can properly track data transfer state, but latency increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the software/firmware-based state tracking mechanism with a hardware-based response circuit. The response circuit includes counters and logic circuits that automatically track data transfer state and generate responses without software intervention. This hardware substitution eliminates the latency associated with software processing while maintaining accurate state tracking through dedicated hardware counters that increment/decrement based on data transfer events.
Solution Approach 2:
The response circuit is designed to autonomously track state information and generate responses without requiring software or firmware control. The hardware module self-manages the state tracking through its internal counters and logic, automatically comparing tracked state against expected states and generating appropriate responses. This self-service capability removes the dependency on software processing loops, thereby reducing latency and improving throughput.
2Ease of operation
If firmware or software processes state information, then comprehensive control is achieved, but device throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes software control with a hardware response circuit that maintains comprehensive control capability through dedicated logic circuits. The response circuit includes state tracking counters, comparison logic, and response generation circuits all implemented in hardware. This hardware implementation provides the same control functionality as software but executes at hardware speeds, thereby maintaining ease of operation while dramatically improving device throughput by eliminating software processing bottlenecks.
3Productivity
If a hardware module is used to track state information and transmit responses, then latency is reduced and throughput is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The response circuit is segmented into distinct functional modules: state tracking counters, comparison logic units, and response generation circuits. Each module performs a specific function independently, allowing for modular design and implementation. The counters track data transfer state, the comparison logic compares tracked state with expected state, and the response generation circuit produces appropriate responses. This segmentation manages complexity by breaking down the overall function into manageable, independent hardware blocks that can be designed and verified separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The response circuit is designed as a universal hardware module that can handle multiple data transfer scenarios and state conditions. The same basic circuit structure with counters and comparison logic can track various types of data transfer states and generate appropriate responses for different protocols and conditions. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by using a single versatile hardware module rather than multiple specialized circuits for different scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage device includes: a storage controller to receive one or more notifications corresponding to host data transferred from a host device to the storage device over a storage interface; and a response circuit connected to the storage controller, the response circuit to trigger a response to the host device, and including: a first counter to track the one or more notifications, the one or more notifications corresponding to an entirety of the host data such that each of the notifications corresponds to a portion of the host data; a second counter to track one or more acknowledgements received from the storage controller, the one or more acknowledgments corresponding to the one or more notifications such that each of the acknowledgments corresponds to a notification; and a response trigger to select one of the first counter and the second counter to trigger the response to the host device.