NVM Device Data Grouping by Expiration Date
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flash memory devices experience data fragmentation and reduced service life due to increased data migration and erasure times, leading to decreased I/O performance, as they manage data across multiple blocks with varying expiration dates.
Innovation Solution
An NVM device is instructed to write data with associated expiration dates to the same physical storage area, allowing for asynchronous processing and erasure when all data in that area has expired, thereby reducing data fragmentation and offloading expiration date monitoring from the upper system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data is written to multiple different physical storage areas without considering expiration dates, then data can be stored flexibly, but data fragmentation occurs and service life shortens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of data organization by grouping data according to expiration date ranges. Instead of storing data arbitrarily or purely by access pattern, the system assigns data to physical storage areas based on their expiration date parameters, creating a structured approach that balances flexibility with longevity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the storage system into multiple physical storage areas, each dedicated to storing data with specific expiration date ranges. This segmentation prevents data fragmentation within a single area and allows targeted management of data lifecycles, extending overall system service life.
2Reliability
If data migration is performed frequently to manage expired data, then data freshness is maintained, but the number of erasure times increases and service life shortens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-organizing data into storage areas according to expiration date ranges before data actually expires. This proactive organization means that when data needs to be managed, migration is minimized because data is already grouped in appropriate areas, reducing the frequency of erasure operations and extending service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically managing data migration and erasure based on expiration date information that is already embedded in the metadata. The storage device autonomously identifies which data areas need migration or erasure without requiring complex external intervention, reducing unnecessary operations.
3Productivity
If reclamation process overhead is reduced to improve I/O performance, then data collection efficiency decreases, but I/O performance improves
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting storage areas by expiration date ranges, the patent reduces reclamation process overhead. Instead of scanning and managing all data in a single large area, the system can focus on specific segments with similar expiration characteristics, making data collection more efficient and reducing the impact on I/O performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the management parameter from generic data tracking to expiration-date-based organization. This parameter change simplifies the reclamation process by providing clear criteria for when and where data should be migrated or erased, reducing the computational overhead of data collection while maintaining I/O performance.
Data Source
AI summary
An upper system of an NVM device transmits, to the NVM device, a write command that designates a logical address, the write command being associated with an expiration date corresponding to a data expiration date correlated with write target data. The NVM device correlates an expiration date correlated with the write command with a logical address specified from the write command. The NVM device writes pieces of data of which the remaining time which is the time to an expiration date belongs to the same remaining time range to the same physical storage area among the plurality of physical storage areas. The NVM device erases data from a physical storage area when the expiration dates of all pieces of data in the physical storage area have expired.