Hard Disk Logical Units for Append-Only Data Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage devices have single and inefficient data storage and access manners, leading to inconsistent processing results and reduced accuracy due to overwriting of historical data.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a hard disk with logical units that store data in an append-only write manner, using logical unit identifiers for data access and deletion, and incorporating metadata for enhanced interaction with controllers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If data is stored by overwriting existing data in the same storage space, then storage space utilization is improved, but data consistency and processing result accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The storage space is segmented into multiple logical units, each with its own identifier. This segmentation allows the system to track and manage data in discrete units, preventing inconsistent overwriting while maintaining storage efficiency. Each logical unit can be independently managed, ensuring data consistency within each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating logical unit identifiers and establishing append-only write rules before data storage operations. This preliminary structure prevents data inconsistency by ensuring that historical data is preserved and new data is appended rather than overwriting, thereby maintaining processing result accuracy.
2Device complexity
If traditional data storage and access methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but data access efficiency and processing consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Logical unit identifiers serve as intermediaries between the controller and the physical storage spaces. This intermediary layer enables efficient data access by providing a structured reference system, allowing the controller to quickly locate and access specific data without complex direct addressing, thereby improving data access efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If historical data is overwritten to store new data, then storage capacity is improved, but processing result accuracy deteriorates due to inconsistent data states
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of overwriting historical data with new data, the system inverts the traditional approach by appending new data to storage spaces while preserving historical data. This inversion ensures that historical data remains intact for accurate processing, while new data is added to expand storage capacity, thereby maintaining processing result accuracy while improving storage capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
A hard disk includes a storage medium, an interface, and a processor. The storage medium is configured to provide a storage space including a plurality of logical units. Each logical unit internally stores data in an append-only write manner, a storage space corresponding to each logical unit comes from one or more erase blocks in the hard disk, and the erase block is a minimum erase unit of the hard disk. The interface is configured to provide a controller with a logical unit identifier, and receive a data access request that includes the logical unit identifier and that is sent by the controller. The processor is configured to search for a to-be-accessed storage space based on the logical unit identifier in the data access request.