External Storage Controller Garbage Collection Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional storage systems with internal storage controllers perform redundant garbage collection processes on flash storage devices, leading to increased wear and reduced lifespan of erase blocks, as multiple controllers erase data blocks unnecessarily, causing inefficiency and performance issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a direct-mapped storage system where the storage controller, external to the storage devices, initiates and controls the garbage collection process, identifying and grouping valid data based on characteristics like erase frequency, data age, and importance to minimize redundant operations and extend erase block lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple internal storage controllers perform garbage collection on flash storage devices, then data management is distributed and reliable, but redundant erase operations increase wear and reduce erase block lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the garbage collection control function from multiple distributed internal storage controllers and consolidates it into a single external storage controller. This centralization eliminates redundant erase operations by ensuring only one controller initiates garbage collection on each erase block, thereby extending erase block lifespan while maintaining data management reliability through the external controller's coordinated oversight.
2Reliability
If multiple controllers perform redundant garbage collection processes, then data validity is verified multiple times, but unnecessary write operations increase and performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple redundant garbage collection processes into a single coordinated process initiated by the external storage controller. By consolidating the control function, the system maintains data validity verification while eliminating duplicate write operations, thereby improving storage system performance without sacrificing reliability.
3Ease of operation
If internal storage controllers autonomously manage garbage collection, then local data management is efficient, but coordination overhead and redundant operations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external storage controller as an intermediary that coordinates garbage collection operations across multiple internal storage controllers. This mediator approach maintains local data management efficiency by allowing internal controllers to execute operations while the external controller prevents coordination conflicts and redundant operations through centralized control.
Data Source
AI summary
A plurality of characteristics associated with a plurality of erase blocks are received from two or more of a plurality of storage devices. A garbage collection process is performed by grouping valid data from the plurality of erase blocks based on a similarity of the plurality of characteristics between the valid data and storing the grouped valid data at another erase block at the plurality of storage devices.