Mapping Driver Pairs Storage Commands to Reduce Overhead

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current data storage systems face inefficiencies in managing combined storage commands, leading to increased host and network overhead due to the need for separate processing of related source and destination commands.

Innovation Solution

A technique is introduced where a mapping driver in the driver stack identifies and pairs related source and destination commands, allowing for integrated copy operations to be made directly to the physical storage driver, reducing the need for separate processing and communication within the driver stack.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If separate processing of source and destination commands is used, then command processing simplicity is maintained, but host and network overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommand processing simplicityVSAvoidhost and network overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges related source and destination storage commands into a single combined storage command that is processed together at the storage array level. This eliminates the need for separate processing of source and destination commands, thereby reducing host and network overhead while maintaining processing simplicity through integrated handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If integrated copy operations are implemented, then data storage efficiency is improved, but driver stack complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata storage efficiencyVSAvoiddriver stack complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a mapping driver as an intermediary component within the driver stack that identifies and pairs related source and destination commands before they reach the physical storage driver. This mapping driver handles the complexity of command pairing and integration, allowing the physical storage driver to execute efficient combined operations without increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If separate command processing is used, then driver stack simplicity is maintained, but data transfer overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver stack simplicityVSAvoiddata transfer overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary pairing of related source and destination commands at the mapping driver level before the commands are executed. By pre-identifying and establishing relationships between commands, the system enables integrated processing that reduces data transfer overhead and improves performance without requiring complex real-time analysis during execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10025510B1Technique for copying unallocated logical regions of thin logical units

Publication Date: 2018.07.17 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC

AI summary

A technique for use in managing data storage in a data storage system is disclosed. A first and second data storage commands (DSC) are received from a storage driver stack. Determining if the first DSC and the second DSC are both related aspects of a combined storage command and if so, establishing a pairing structure to pair the first DSC and the second DSC together. Fulfilling the combined storage command by fulfilling both the first DSC and the second DSC with reference to the pairing structure.