Host-Managed Remapping for Storage Block Degradation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current storage devices, particularly small form factor hard drives in handheld devices, face significant development costs and time-to-market challenges due to complex remapping algorithms and memory requirements, which are not efficiently optimized in existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where a host device, equipped with processor and memory, assumes responsibility for remapping degraded storage blocks by communicating with the data storage device to identify and relocate data from degraded blocks, thereby simplifying remapping logic and reducing memory needs in the storage device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex remapping algorithms are implemented in small form factor hard drives, then data integrity and error correction are improved, but development costs and memory requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the remapping algorithm from the storage device and relocates it to the host system. The storage device simply provides degraded block information through status registers, while the host system performs the actual remapping operations using its own memory and processing capabilities. This division of labor reduces the complexity and memory requirements of the storage device while maintaining data integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The host system acts as an intermediary that receives degraded block information from the storage device and coordinates the remapping process. The host system maintains a mapping table that tracks degraded blocks and their replacements, serving as an intermediary mechanism that eliminates the need for complex remapping algorithms within the storage device itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If larger memory is allocated in storage devices to execute remapping algorithms, then remapping capability is improved, but cost and size of the storage device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the remapping algorithm and its associated memory requirements from the storage device. The storage device only retains minimal information about degraded blocks in status registers, while the host system assumes responsibility for maintaining the remapping table and executing remapping operations, thereby eliminating the need for large memory in the storage device.
3Ease of manufacture
If remapping algorithms are simplified in storage devices, then development costs are reduced, but data integrity and error correction capabilities deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The host system serves as an intermediary that compensates for the simplified storage device. It receives degraded block information from the storage device, maintains a comprehensive mapping table, and executes the remapping operations that ensure data integrity. This allows the storage device to be manufactured with simpler, lower-cost logic while maintaining reliable error correction through the host system's intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and arrangements to remap degraded storage blocks on, e.g., IDE/ATA drives are disclosed. Embodiments may comprise a host and/or a data storage device for, e.g., a handheld device. The host may comprise remapping logic. In many embodiments, the remapping logic may track degraded storage blocks as indicated by the data storage device. In several embodiments, the host may remap data from degraded storage blocks in response to indications from the data storage device that the degraded storage blocks have degraded to a point at which further use may risk loss of data. The data storage device may execute error correction code to acquire valid data and if error correction measures exceed a threshold, or are otherwise determined to be excessive, the data storage device may communicate the degradation of the storage block to the host. Other embodiments may be disclosed and claimed.