Media Cache for Sequential Data Storage in Disc Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data storage systems face challenges in achieving reliable and fast data storage and retrieval due to the slow and resource-intensive nature of writing and reading data to disc memories, which is exacerbated by the need to traverse multiple tracks and sectors.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a media cache that stores data sequentially for fast writing performance, with a media cache mirror and a main store, allowing data to be written to sequential physical blocks and later moved to the main store, optimizing write operations by minimizing seek and latency times through a tiered storage architecture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If data is written directly to disc memory, then data is stored permanently, but writing speed is slow and resource usage is high due to multiple track and sector traversals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a media cache as an intermediary storage layer between the host and disc memory. Data is first written sequentially to the media cache (which uses solid state memory with no seek time), then transferred to the disc in optimized batches. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for random access traversals across multiple tracks and sectors during initial write operations, dramatically improving writing speed and reducing resource consumption.
2Speed
If data is stored sequentially in media cache, then writing speed improves, but data must be moved later to main store requiring additional operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a media cache mirror that maintains redundant copies of cached data. When data needs to be transferred to the main store, the system can read from the mirror and write to the main store simultaneously, or transfer data from one cache to another in parallel operations. This merging approach consolidates multiple data transfer operations into fewer simultaneous operations, reducing the total time required to move data from cache to main store.
3Reliability
If multiple solid state memories and non-volatile memories are used, then reliability and performance improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage system into distinct segments with specific functions: volatile solid state memory for high-speed caching, non-volatile memory for persistent storage, and a media cache mirror for redundancy. Each segment is managed independently with dedicated control logic. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high reliability through redundancy and fault isolation while managing complexity by creating modular, independently-managed storage layers rather than a monolithic complex system.
Data Source
AI summary
Data storage devices may store selected data received from a data source to a buffer memory. The selected data may be copied from the buffer to a non-volatile memory configured for sequential storage. The selected data may then be copied from the buffer to a solid state memory, such as dynamic random access memory. The selected data may be copied from the solid state memory to a main store, such as a magnetic disc memory. If the selected data cannot be found in the solid state memory, the selected data in the non-volatile memory can be copied to the main store.