Storage Device Differentiating General Purpose and ETS Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage devices are over-designed for general purpose data, resulting in inefficient storage density and read throughput for error tolerant or streaming (ETS) data, which requires relaxed bit error rate and time-sensitive delivery.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves differentiating the storage methods for general purpose (GP) and ETS data by adjusting block size, error correction codes, and physical formats in disk drives and flash memories, leveraging Quality of Service (QoS) parameters to increase storage density and read throughput for ETS data while maintaining data integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If storage devices use standard error correction and formatting for all data, then data integrity is maintained, but storage density and read throughput for ETS data are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different storage methods to different data types within the same storage device. ETS data receives optimized formatting with reduced error correction overhead, while GP data maintains standard error correction. This local differentiation allows higher storage density for ETS data without compromising the reliability requirements of GP data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key storage parameters specifically for ETS data, including reducing ECC overhead from typical 50% to lower levels, adjusting block sizes, and modifying physical formatting parameters. These parameter changes enable increased storage density while maintaining acceptable error rates for error-tolerant applications.
2Reliability
If storage devices use standard error correction and formatting for all data, then data integrity is maintained, but read throughput for ETS data is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements differentiated read paths where ETS data is read using optimized parameters including reduced error correction processing and adjusted read speeds. This local optimization increases read throughput for ETS data while maintaining data integrity through selective application of error correction only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial error correction to ETS data, using reduced ECC overhead and selective verification rather than full error correction processing. This partial action approach maintains sufficient data integrity for error-tolerant applications while significantly improving read throughput by reducing processing overhead.
3Reliability
If storage devices are designed for high reliability with standard error correction, then GP data integrity is maintained, but storage capacity for ETS data is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage device into different operational modes or logical regions for ETS and GP data. This segmentation allows the storage device to allocate different portions of capacity to different data types with appropriate error correction levels, effectively increasing usable storage capacity for ETS data while maintaining reliability for GP data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes error correction parameters and formatting overhead specifically for ETS data, reducing ECC ratios and optimizing block structures. These parameter changes directly increase the usable storage capacity for ETS data while maintaining sufficient reliability through adjusted error correction strategies appropriate for error-tolerant applications.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of storing data includes receiving general purpose (GP) data and special Error Tolerant or Streaming (ETS) data, storing the GP data using a data storage method, and storing the ETS data using a different data storage method which affects the access rate, resilience to errors, data integrity, storage density, or storage capacity. The storage medium, which can include a disk drive, flash memory, or holographic memory, is utilized differently depending on the required Quality of Service in aspects including block size, storage of error correction codes, utilization of error correction codes, storage area density, physical format pattern, storage verification, or reaction to failed storage verification. For disk drives these differences include spacing between tracks; overlap between tracks; spiral track formatting; concentric track formatting, and size of blocks, and for flash memories these differences include levels per cell and number of cells.