Host Device Block Map Generation for Storage Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data management systems face inefficiencies due to the lack of effective communication between host devices and storage devices regarding block validity, leading to unnecessary reliability operations on invalid data blocks, which wastes storage space.
Innovation Solution
A method where the host device performs a validity check on target host zones, generates block map information including identification and validity information of all data blocks, and sends this information to the storage device, allowing the storage device to efficiently manage valid and invalid data blocks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the storage device performs reliability operations on all data blocks without validity information, then data reliability is maintained, but storage space is wasted due to unnecessary operations on invalid data blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts validity information from the host device and transmits it to the storage device through a block map structure. This allows the storage device to identify and exclude invalid data blocks from reliability operations, thereby avoiding waste of storage space while maintaining reliability for valid data blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The host device provides feedback about the validity status of data blocks to the storage device through the block map information. This feedback mechanism enables the storage device to adjust its operations accordingly, performing reliability operations only on valid data blocks and avoiding unnecessary operations on invalid ones.
2Device complexity
If the host device does not provide validity information to the storage device, then the interface complexity is reduced, but the storage device cannot efficiently manage valid and invalid data blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data block management into two distinct parts: validity information management (handled by the host device) and reliability operation execution (handled by the storage device). The block map structure provides a segmented view of data block status, allowing efficient management without excessive interface complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The block map information acts as an intermediary between the host device and storage device. It conveys validity information from the host to the storage device in a structured manner, enabling efficient data block management while maintaining reasonable interface complexity through a standardized information exchange protocol.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is an electronic device which includes a host device and a storage device. A method of operating the electronic device includes performing, by the host device, a validity check operation of a target host zone among a plurality of host zones supporting a sequential write operation, generating, by the host device, block map information of the target host zone based on the validity check operation, the block map information including identification information of the target host zone and validity information of all data blocks in the target host zone, and sending, by the host device, the block map information to the storage device.