Host Controller Abort Handling for Storage Queue Cleanup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data transfer management between a host and a storage device is inefficient due to uncertainty about whether a command has been received by the storage device during an error condition, leading to increased latency and resource wastage.

Innovation Solution

A host system initiates an abort of a command in a submission queue, identifies outcomes, and sends an abort request to the storage device, reclaiming hardware resources through a cleanup request, and setting a completion queue entry based on these outcomes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the storage device waits for the host controller to send an abort command after detecting an error, then the storage device can maintain simple error handling logic, but the host controller cannot retrieve data from the storage device in a timely manner

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata retrieval timeVSAvoiderror handling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage device performs preliminary action by proactively sending an abort notification to the host controller before the host controller can send an abort command. This is achieved by the storage device detecting the error condition, determining that an abort is needed, and immediately notifying the host controller through the interrupt pin, thereby initiating the abort process in advance and reducing data retrieval time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the storage device continuously monitors the interrupt pin for abort commands, then the host controller can quickly respond to errors, but the storage device consumes additional power and increases complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror response reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The storage device performs self-service by autonomously detecting error conditions and determining when an abort is needed without requiring continuous monitoring of the interrupt pin for abort commands. The storage device monitors its own operational state, detects errors internally, and proactively notifies the host controller, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing power consumption compared to continuous external monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4352616B1Abort handling by host controller for storage device
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 MEDIATEK INC
  • EP4352616B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4352616B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4352616B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~2C

AI summary

A host system initiates an abort of a command that has been placed into a submission queue (SQ) of the host system. The host system identifies at least one of a first outcome and a second outcome. When the first outcome indicates that the command is not completed and the second outcome indicates that the SQ entry has been fetched from the SQ, the host system sends an abort request to a storage device, and issues a cleanup request to direct the host controller to reclaim host hardware resources allocated to the command. The host system adds a completion queue (CQ) entry to a CQ and sets an overall command status (OCS) value of the CQ entry based on at least one of the first outcome and the second outcome.