Selective Host Transfer Interrupt Control for Storage Controllers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-volatile storage systems experience delays due to frequent interrupts from host transfer completions, which disrupt the processing of other tasks by the storage system controller.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that allocates resources for host transfers with predefined identification tags, allowing for reuse without interrupts, and selectively enabling or disabling hardware interrupts based on queue conditions and command types to reduce processor interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an interrupt is initiated for every host transfer completion, then resource de-allocation and new transfer determination are ensured, but controller execution of other processes is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the interrupt mechanism from being universally applied to all host transfers and selectively removes it only for read commands. This allows the system to maintain reliable resource management through interrupts when needed (write commands) while eliminating unnecessary interrupt overhead for read commands, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and execution delay.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of applying interrupts to all host transfers (excessive action), the patent applies interrupts only partially - specifically only for write commands and certain error conditions. This partial application of the interrupt mechanism maintains sufficient reliability for resource management while reducing overall interrupt frequency and controller delay.
2Reliability
If interrupts are frequently initiated, then resource de-allocation is timely, but system throughput is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the interrupt requirement from read commands entirely, recognizing that read commands do not require immediate resource de-allocation through interrupts. This extraction maintains timely resource management for write operations while eliminating throughput-reducing interrupts for read operations, thereby resolving the contradiction between timeliness and throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
By eliminating unnecessary interrupts for read commands, the controller can maintain continuous execution of other productive tasks without interruption. This continuity of useful action improves overall system throughput while resource de-allocation for read commands is handled asynchronously without impacting system productivity.
3Reliability
If resources are allocated for each host transfer, then resource management is precise, but controller processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex interrupt-based resource de-allocation process from read commands, using a simpler asynchronous notification mechanism instead. This reduces controller processing overhead for read operations while maintaining adequate resource management through the alternative notification path, resolving the contradiction between management precision and processing overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for reducing the number of interrupts on a controller for a non-volatile storage device to improve data transfer performance of the storage system. The embodiments described herein selectively enable an interrupt generated by host transfer hardware for a host command. The interrupt can be enabled or disabled by considering the command type, availability of interface resources to accept additional host transfers, and the command size. Embodiments described herein are useful for host interfaces implementing a tagging scheme for host transfers with a limited range of identification tags.