External HDD Management Data Storage in Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage systems face increased power consumption and decreased host data transfer performance due to the need to write and update internal drive management data to disc media, which can be time-consuming and affected by external disturbances like vibration or shock.
Innovation Solution
Storing internal drive management data, such as ATI information and super parity tables, in the system controller's non-volatile memory instead of the HDD's disc media, using new commands and interfaces like SATA read/write log extent or SAS read/write buffer mode to transfer this data externally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If internal drive management data is stored and updated on disc media, then data persistence is maintained, but power consumption increases and data transfer performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the storage function for internal drive management data from the HDD's disc media and relocates it to the system controller's non-volatile memory. This separation allows the HDD to operate without the power-intensive seek and write operations, while the system controller maintains data persistence responsibilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system controller acts as an intermediary between the HDD and the internal drive management data. It receives, stores, and manages this data in its non-volatile memory, eliminating the need for the HDD to directly write to disc media while ensuring data persistence through the controller's storage capabilities.
2Loss of time
If internal drive management data is written to disc media, then data is persisted, but time to ready (TTR) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the time-consuming write operation from the HDD's critical path by extracting the storage function to the system controller. The HDD no longer needs to perform seek and write operations for internal drive management data, significantly reducing TTR while the controller maintains data persistence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system controller performs preliminary storage of internal drive management data in its non-volatile memory, so that data persistence is established before the HDD needs to access or use this data. This eliminates the need for the HDD to perform time-consuming write operations during its operational sequence.
3Productivity
If internal drive management data is stored on disc media, then data is available, but host data transfer performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the internal drive management data storage function from the HDD's disc media, freeing up the HDD's data transfer channels. This allows the HDD to focus exclusively on host data transfer operations, improving productivity while the system controller ensures data availability through its own storage capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A data storage system includes a plurality of data storage drives, and a system controller coupled to each data storage drive of the plurality of data storage drives. The system controller is configured to store internal drive management data for each data storage drive of the plurality of data storage drives.