Host Memory Buffer Power Islanding for Low-Latency Transitions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data storage devices face performance-critical issues due to large host memory buffers, which introduce latencies and inefficiencies during low-power state transitions, as the entire host memory buffer may not be turned on during low-power states, leading to increased flush times and write amplification.
Innovation Solution
A data storage device with a controller that receives information from the host about which areas of the host memory buffer will be powered on during low-power states, allowing it to efficiently flush data from non-powered areas to powered areas, maintain dual copies based on thresholds, and minimize flushes to non-volatile memory, thereby optimizing power islanding and space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire host memory buffer is turned on during low-power state transitions, then data safety is ensured, but power consumption increases and transition latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The host memory buffer is divided into multiple power islands that can be independently powered on or off. The controller identifies which specific power islands contain valid data and only activates those regions during low-power state transitions, rather than powering on the entire buffer. This segmentation allows selective activation of memory regions, reducing overall power consumption while ensuring data safety for only the necessary portions.
2Reliability
If the entire host memory buffer is turned on during low-power state transitions, then data integrity is maintained, but transition time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The memory buffer is segmented into power islands that can be independently managed. During low-power state transitions, the controller identifies and activates only the specific power islands containing valid data, rather than activating the entire buffer. This selective activation significantly reduces the transition time while maintaining data integrity for the relevant data regions.
3Reliability
If data is flushed from all host memory buffer areas to non-volatile memory, then data safety is ensured, but write amplification increases and performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller extracts and identifies only the specific power islands containing valid data that need to be preserved during low-power state transitions. Instead of flushing data from the entire host memory buffer to non-volatile memory, the system only flushes or preserves data from the identified power islands. This extraction approach reduces unnecessary write operations, minimizing write amplification and improving overall system performance while ensuring data safety.
4Quantity of substance
If the host memory buffer is fully activated, then space utilization is maximized, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The host memory buffer is divided into multiple power islands that can be independently activated. The system activates only the specific power islands containing valid data when needed, rather than activating the entire buffer. This segmentation enables the system to maximize space utilization for stored data while minimizing power consumption by keeping inactive power islands in a low-power state.
Data Source
AI summary
A data storage device and method for low-latency power state transitions by having power islanding in a host memory buffer are provided. In one embodiment, a data storage device is provided comprising a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive information from a host about which area, if any, in a host memory buffer will be powered on during a low-power state; and in response to the information indicating that a first area of the host memory buffer will be powered on during the low-power state, flush data from a second area of the host memory buffer that will not be powered on during the low-power state to the first area of the host memory buffer prior to entering the low-power state. Other embodiments are provided.