Media Controller Pre-fetch via Seek Intervals

Solution Overview

Problem

Current data storage systems inefficiently handle seek operations in media playback, leading to unnecessary data transfer and bandwidth consumption, as they lack effective pre-fetching mechanisms based on seek intervals and timestamp information.

Innovation Solution

A data storage device with a controller that decodes media files to extract timestamp information and receives seek commands, allowing it to remove unnecessary frames and transmit only a subset based on the seek interval, optimizing data transfer during seek operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If all frames are transmitted during seek operations, then complete data is provided to the host, but bandwidth consumption increases and transfer efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth consumptionVSAvoiddata transfer efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs preliminary decoding of the media file to extract timestamp information associated with each frame before the host issues seek commands. This advance preparation enables the controller to quickly determine which frames to transmit during seek operations, eliminating the need to transfer unnecessary frames and thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while improving transfer efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller extracts only the necessary frame data corresponding to the seek interval specified in the seek command, rather than transmitting all frames. By using the pre-extracted timestamp information to identify and transmit only the relevant subset of frames, the system reduces bandwidth consumption and improves data transfer efficiency during seek operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If timestamp information is decoded and stored for each frame, then precise frame selection during seek operations is enabled, but processing complexity and memory usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveframe position accuracyVSAvoidcontroller processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs preliminary decoding of the media file to extract timestamp information associated with each frame before the host issues seek commands. This advance preparation enables the controller to quickly determine which frames to transmit during seek operations, eliminating the need to transfer unnecessary frames and thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while improving transfer efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The timestamp information acts as an intermediary data structure that bridges the media file and the seek command processing. By storing these timestamps in advance, the controller can efficiently map seek intervals to specific frames without complex real-time calculations, reducing processing complexity during seek operations while maintaining precise frame selection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of energy

If the controller processes and removes frames based on seek intervals, then unnecessary data transfer is reduced, but processing time during seek operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth consumptionVSAvoidseek operation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs preliminary decoding of the media file to extract timestamp information associated with each frame before the host issues seek commands. This advance preparation enables the controller to quickly determine which frames to transmit during seek operations, eliminating the need to transfer unnecessary frames and thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while improving transfer efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller transmits only the necessary subset of frames corresponding to the seek interval, rather than all frames. By using the pre-extracted timestamp information to identify and transmit only the relevant frames, the system reduces bandwidth consumption and improves data transfer efficiency during seek operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11750893B2Pre-fetch of data using seek intervals

Publication Date: 2023.09.05 SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A data storage device comprises a non-volatile memory, a buffer, and a controller. The controller is configured to decode a media file to extract timestamp information related to a set of frames of the media file and receive, from a host, a seek command associated with playback of the media file. The seek command includes a seek interval. The controller is further configured to remove at least a portion of the set of frames based at least in part on the seek interval and the extracted timestamp information and transmit a subset of the set of frames, not including the removed at least a portion of the set of frames, to the host.