Flash Controller Offloading Processing to Host
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity and cost of controllers in flash memory devices due to enhanced storage density lead to a processing burden, which can be alleviated by offloading computations from the data storage device to a host device.
Innovation Solution
The data storage device sends instructions to a host device to perform computations, using identifiers to specify operations such as data recovery, wear leveling, or data scrambling, allowing the host device to execute these tasks and relieve the controller of processing burdens, enabling it to focus on other operations like read and write operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If storage density is increased by storing multiple bits per flash memory cell, then storage capacity is improved, but controller complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts computation-intensive tasks from the data storage device controller and relocates them to the host device. The controller sends computation requests containing identifiers to the host, which executes the computations and returns results. This extraction reduces the controller's processing burden and complexity while maintaining the benefits of high storage density.
2Productivity
If more computations are performed at the data storage device, then data processing capability is improved, but controller processing burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication mechanism where the controller sends computation requests with identifiers to the host device, which acts as an external processor. The host executes the computations and returns results through the same communication interface. This intermediary approach enables enhanced data processing capability without increasing the controller's processing burden.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage device includes non-volatile memory and a controller. A method performed in the data storage device includes sending an instruction to a host device to cause the host device to perform one or more specified computations. The method further includes receiving a response from the host device. The response is based on execution of the one or more specified computations.