Host Memory Buffer Allocation for Sustained Sequential Writes

The patent introduces host memory buffers (HMBs) as an intermediary storage mechanism between the host device and the storage device's SRAM. The HMBs are allocated on the host device's memory, allowing relocation data to be stored externally during sustained write operations. This mediator approach enables the SRAM to be freed for other operations while maintaining continuous data accumulation capability, thus resolving the capacity limitation of SRAM without sacrificing write speed.

The patent employs a copying strategy by creating virtual copies of the SRAM buffer capacity on the host device through memory mapping. Instead of physically increasing SRAM capacity on the storage device, the system creates a virtual extension of the buffer using the host's memory resources. This allows sustained write performance to be improved without the actual hardware cost of larger SRAM, as the additional capacity is simulated through software/memory management rather than physical component expansion.

The patent segments the data handling process into distinct phases and locations: host memory buffers are used for storing relocation data during folding/compaction operations, while SRAM is dedicated to data accumulation during sustained writes. By segmenting these functions across different memory resources, the system allows folding/compaction to proceed without blocking sustained write operations, thus maintaining both robustness and sequential write performance simultaneously.