Hybrid Direct Virtual Addressing with Generation Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtual addressing in large file and storage systems introduces latency due to the redirection process, while direct addressing can incur computational costs from full file system scans.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid direct/virtual addressing system that stores both direct and virtual addresses for files, using a generation indicator to quickly invalidate cached mappings and reduce latency by falling back to virtual addressing when direct addresses are invalidated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If virtual addressing is used to mitigate issues in large file and storage systems, then data relocation efficiency is improved, but access latency increases due to the redirection process
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes virtual address mappings in a data structure before data relocation is needed. When data is moved to a new physical location, the virtual address mapping is updated in advance, so that subsequent access operations can immediately use the new location without traversal delays. This preliminary update of the address mapping resolves the contradiction by preparing the redirection path before it is actually needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual address as an intermediary layer between the logical file system address and the physical storage location. This virtual address acts as a mediator that can be updated to point to new physical locations without requiring changes to the file system structure or full traversals. The intermediary virtual address layer enables efficient relocation while maintaining fast access through direct virtual-to-physical mapping.
2Speed
If direct addressing is used for fast data access, then access speed is improved, but computational cost increases due to full file system scans
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-computes and stores direct virtual-to-physical address mappings in a data structure before access operations occur. This preliminary computation eliminates the need for full file system scans during actual data access, as the physical location can be determined directly from the virtual address through the pre-established mapping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copied or mirrored address mapping structure that directly associates virtual addresses with physical locations. This copied mapping allows the system to perform direct address translation without scanning the original file system structure, thereby maintaining fast access speed while reducing computational overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for direct addressing in virtual addressed systems includes obtaining, by a system including a processor and in response to receiving a request to access a data item stored by a storage system, address information for the data item from a data structure. The address information includes a first physical storage address of the storage system, a first generation number associated the first physical storage address in the data structure, and an address redirector. The method also includes accessing, by the system and in response to the first generation number being determined to be different from a second generation number associated with the first physical storage address, the data item at a second physical storage address of the storage system instead of the first physical storage address, the second physical storage address being determined based on the address redirector.