Disk Drive Task Manager for Controlling Performance Spikes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional disk drive systems experience performance spikes due to the concurrent execution of priority background tasks with host commands, leading to reduced disk drive performance from the host system's perspective, as they require significant time and resources, especially when multiple priority background tasks need to be executed simultaneously with read/write commands.

Innovation Solution

A controller with a task manager inserts one or more priority background tasks into the command execution sequence while maintaining a specified ratio of priority background task execution and host command execution constant, limiting the number of priority background tasks based on estimated completion times to prevent performance spikes, and converts or divides tasks to optimize execution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple priority background tasks are executed concurrently with host commands, then task completion efficiency is improved, but disk drive performance spikes occur and host system responsiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask completion efficiencyVSAvoidhost system responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments background tasks into different priority levels (priority background tasks and non-priority background tasks) and separates their execution from host commands. The task manager independently manages background tasks while maintaining a dedicated command execution sequence for host commands, preventing background tasks from causing performance spikes that would affect host system responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The task manager acts as an intermediary between background tasks and the command execution sequence. It receives background tasks, determines their execution timing, and inserts them into the command execution sequence at appropriate intervals, thereby mediating between the need to execute background tasks and the need to maintain host system responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If priority background tasks are executed with host commands, then overall system throughput is improved, but performance spikes reduce disk drive performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem throughputVSAvoidperformance spikes

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The task manager implements periodic action by executing background tasks at regular intervals rather than continuously. It maintains a specified ratio of background task execution to host command execution, inserting background tasks periodically into the command execution sequence. This periodic approach ensures system throughput while preventing performance spikes by avoiding continuous background task execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Use of energy by moving object

If background tasks are executed concurrently with host commands, then resource utilization is improved, but execution time increases and responsiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidexecution time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The task manager dynamically adjusts the execution timing of background tasks based on the current system state. It monitors the command execution sequence and inserts background tasks at optimal intervals, dynamically balancing resource utilization with execution time. This dynamic approach ensures that background tasks are executed when resources are available without significantly increasing overall execution time or reducing responsiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11307805B2Disk drive controller incorporating task manager for reducing performance spikes

Publication Date: 2022.04.19 SEAGATE TECH LLC

AI summary

A disk drive comprises non-volatile rotatable media and a controller operatively coupled to the non-volatile rotatable media. The controller is configured to receive a series of host commands to be executed by the controller and generate a command execution sequence comprising the series of host commands. A task manager, integral or coupled to the controller, is configured to receive a plurality of background tasks comprising a least two priority background tasks to be executed by the controller along with execution of the series of host commands, and insert one or more of the at least two priority background tasks into the command execution sequence while maintaining a specified ratio of priority background task execution and host command execution substantially constant. The controller is configured to execute the command execution sequence with the one or more inserted priority background tasks.