Ruggedized Memory Device Atomic Transaction Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-volatile flash memory systems face challenges in maintaining file system consistency during power interruptions, leading to potential data corruption and loss, as existing techniques for ruggedization often require specialized data structures and algorithms that are incompatible with other file systems and incur performance penalties.
Innovation Solution
A method where a non-volatile storage device includes an internal memory controller that executes flash management code, providing special commands to the host to manage atomic transactions and maintain data consistency, allowing the device to recover a consistent state without host assistance in case of power loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specialized data structures and algorithms are implemented for ruggedization, then file system consistency during power interruptions is improved, but device complexity and incompatibility with other file systems increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ruggedization functionality from the host system and places it directly in the storage device controller. The controller now independently manages atomic transactions and power failure recovery through integrated logic, removing the need for complex specialized data structures and algorithms in the host file system. This extraction maintains file system consistency while reducing overall system complexity and improving compatibility.
2Reliability
If atomic transactions are implemented through multiple separate commands, then data consistency is improved, but loss of time due to non-atomic operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the controller prepare and execute multiple commands as a pre-defined atomic transaction sequence before power failure can occur. The controller manages the entire sequence internally, ensuring that either all commands complete successfully or none take effect, eliminating the need for time-consuming post-failure recovery operations and reducing overall transaction time.
3Reliability
If host device driver manages atomic transactions through multiple commands, then data consistency is improved, but ease of operation decreases due to complex coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the storage device controller to autonomously manage atomic transactions without requiring complex host device driver coordination. The controller independently tracks transaction state, manages command sequences, and performs recovery operations, significantly simplifying host software while maintaining data consistency. The host simply issues high-level commands without needing to understand or manage the underlying atomic transaction mechanics.
Data Source
AI summary
A non-volatile storage device with built-in ruggedized features is disclosed. The device processes a write command to a logical block address by writing the data from the command to a non-volatile memory within the non-volatile storage device and conditionally associating the data received from the command with its corresponding logical block address. Two or more received write commands define a set of commands associated with an atomic transaction. When an end of set command is received, the device unconditionally associates the received data with each write command with its corresponding logical block address. If a power loss interrupts the reception of a set of commands, the non-volatile storage device may recover the last consistent data state before the atomic transaction was started. A write command transaction identifier allows the device to associate the command with a thread of commands that define an atomic transaction in a multithreaded system.