Dynamic Multiple Indirections in Storage Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current disk drives face challenges in improving reliability and performance due to fixed logical and physical block sizes, which limit flexibility and lead to issues like data loss and reduced storage capacity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dynamically mapped storage device that replicates user data across multiple physical locations, allowing for variable physical block sizes and strategic placement to reduce latency and enhance reliability, while also enabling dynamic recording density adjustments based on operational parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is stored in fixed physical locations with fixed block sizes, then storage structure is simple, but reliability is reduced due to data loss risks and performance is reduced due to access latencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data storage by creating multiple indirection levels (first indirection table mapping LBA to first physical location, second indirection table mapping to second physical location). This segmentation allows data to be stored in multiple locations while maintaining a simple logical interface, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by storing duplicate data blocks at different physical locations (first data block at first location, second data block at second location) with different access characteristics. This allows the system to select the most appropriate copy based on local conditions, improving reliability while managing complexity through targeted duplication.
2Reliability
If multiple copies of data are stored at different physical locations, then reliability is improved by reducing data loss probability, but storage capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying to create multiple indirection table entries that map the same LBA to different physical locations. Rather than duplicating actual data, the system copies the mapping information, achieving reliability improvement with minimal storage overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds another dimension to storage management by introducing multiple indirection levels. Instead of simple one-to-one mapping, the system creates a many-to-one mapping structure where multiple physical locations map to the same logical address, improving reliability without proportionally increasing storage requirements.
3Loss of time
If data is accessed from multiple physical locations, then access time is reduced by minimizing latency, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing multiple indirection table mappings before data access is needed. The first and second indirection tables are prepared in advance, allowing the system to quickly select the optimal data copy without complex real-time decision-making, thus reducing access time while managing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses indirection tables as intermediaries between the logical block address and physical data locations. These intermediary structures simplify the access process by providing a standardized interface that abstracts the complexity of multiple physical locations, reducing access time without exposing the underlying complexity to the user.
4Adaptability or versatility
If fixed block sizes are used for logical and physical blocks, then mapping is simple, but adaptability is reduced and data loss risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics by allowing the mapping structure to adapt between different block size configurations. The system can dynamically switch between fixed block size mapping and variable block size mapping with multiple indirection levels, providing adaptability while managing complexity through structured approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by designing a mapping system that can handle both fixed and variable block sizes through the same multi-level indirection structure. This universal approach allows the system to adapt to different storage requirements without requiring completely different mapping mechanisms, improving adaptability while controlling complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and structures for dynamic multiple indirections to improve reliability and performance of a dynamically mapped storage devices. In a dynamically mapped storage device in which all user supplied logical blocks are dynamically mapped by the storage device controller to physical disk blocks, features and aspects hereof provide for dynamically altering the number of replicated copies (multiple mapped indirections) of user data stored on the storage device. Performance information regarding operation of the storage device may be gathered by the storage device controller such that where physical capacity of the storage device permits and as degrading reliability is detected, additional copies (multiple indirections) of stored user data may be written to the mapped storage device. Increased multiple indirections improves reliability by decreasing the probability of data loss in response to various failure modes of the storage device. Strategic physical placement of the multiple copies (multiple indirections) may improve performance by reducing latencies associated with accessing the user data.