Host-Controlled Data Compression for Storage Devices

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data storage devices automatically compress data to optimize storage capacity, but this compression and decompression process introduces computational overhead, reducing the performance of read and write operations.

Innovation Solution

Implementing host-controlled data compression, where the host device sends a compression request to the data storage device, allowing selective compression of target data only when necessary, such as at high utilization or for non-performance-critical data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the data storage device automatically compresses data to optimize storage capacity, then storage efficiency is improved, but operational performance deteriorates due to computational overhead

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacity utilizationVSAvoidread and write operation performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of the storage device automatically compressing all data (conventional approach), the host device is empowered to control which data should be compressed by sending selective compression requests. This inversion of control resolves the contradiction by allowing the host to identify and compress only non-performance-critical data, thereby improving storage efficiency without sacrificing the performance of critical operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different compression treatments to different data based on their performance requirements. Critical data that requires high read/write performance is excluded from compression, while non-critical data is compressed to maximize storage efficiency. This localized application of compression resolves the contradiction by optimizing storage capacity for specific data types without uniformly degrading overall system performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If data compression is applied to all data, then storage efficiency is maximized, but operational flexibility deteriorates due to uniform performance impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacity utilizationVSAvoidperformance optimization flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a static, uniform compression approach to a dynamic, selective compression approach. The host device can dynamically determine which data should be compressed based on current performance requirements, data characteristics, and storage utilization conditions. This dynamic control mechanism resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to adapt compression behavior to different operational scenarios, maximizing storage efficiency when needed while maintaining performance flexibility when critical operations are required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12254204B2Data storage device and method for host-controlled data compression

Publication Date: 2025.03.18 SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A data storage device and method are disclosed for host-controlled data compression. In one embodiment, a data storage device is provided comprising a memory and a controller configured to communicate with the memory. The controller is further configured to selectively compress target data, wherein the target data is only compressed in response to receiving a compression request from a host; receive the compression request from the host; and in response to receiving the compression request from the host, compress the target data. Other embodiments are disclosed.