Extended Block Device Single IO Access Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing block storage devices lack flexibility and features necessary for high-performance and high-value storage subsystems, limiting their ability to provide efficient single IO access and atomic updates.

Innovation Solution

The Extended Block Device (EBD) paradigm introduces variable-sized blocks, sparse Logical Block Addresses (LBAs), and atomic updates, allowing for more flexible allocation and update strategies, and enabling single IO access to any file.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional block devices use fixed-size blocks with linear mapping, then the device structure is simple and easy to implement, but the storage system lacks flexibility and cannot achieve single IO access to any file

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in storage accessVSAvoidblock device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic block size adjustment where the block size is not fixed but can be varied based on access patterns and storage requirements. The system dynamically determines optimal block sizes to enable single IO access to any file while maintaining manageable complexity through adaptive rather than rigid structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The storage device is segmented into variable-sized blocks rather than uniform fixed blocks. This segmentation allows different portions of the storage device to be accessed independently with optimal block sizes, enabling single IO access to any file while the segmentation itself is managed through a coordinated control mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If traditional block devices use fixed block sizes, then allocation is straightforward, but the system cannot optimize for different data access patterns and file sizes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage access performanceVSAvoidallocation management

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of block size from fixed to variable, allowing optimization for different data access patterns and file sizes. The block size parameter is adjusted dynamically to match actual storage needs, improving productivity while the parameter change is managed through controlled allocation mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If traditional block devices use sequential address mapping, then the mapping is simple, but atomic updates and data integrity are difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidupdate mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple update operations are merged into atomic transactions that maintain data integrity. The system combines several update operations into a single atomic unit, ensuring consistency while managing complexity through the atomic nature of these merged operations rather than through complex individual update mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250036298A1System, method and apparatus for improved local object storage

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 DUMITRU DOUGLAS

AI summary

The instant invention builds upon and greatly extends the concept of a block device to encompass additional features and functionality needed to implement high performance and high value storage subsystems. This “Extended Block Device” (EBD) paradigm eliminates restrictive concepts that the block device imposes and replaces them with more flexible options for the application layer to exploit, providing single IO access to any file.