Segmented Cache Buffers for Ordered Overlap Write Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage devices face performance degradation due to cache coherency issues when handling overlap write commands, leading to complex solutions that break the data pipeline.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a target device with a controller that includes a random accumulated buffer, a sequential accumulated buffer, and an overlap accumulated buffer to classify and manage write commands, ensuring new commands override prior commands by flushing data in a specific order to non-volatile memory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cache coherency logic is implemented to prevent data override issues, then data integrity is improved, but device complexity and performance are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the write cache into multiple independent buffers (first buffer and second buffer) to handle different write command types separately. Random write commands are directed to one buffer while sequential write commands are directed to another buffer, eliminating the need for complex coherency checking logic and allowing parallel processing of different write types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different buffer management strategies to different types of write commands based on their characteristics. Random writes use one buffer management approach while sequential writes use another approach, optimizing performance for each write type locally without requiring global coherency management.
2Reliability
If cache coherency logic breaks the data pipeline to resolve coherency issues, then data integrity is improved, but productivity is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the write cache into multiple buffers for different write types, the system allows parallel processing of random and sequential writes simultaneously, maintaining continuous data pipeline flow without breaking it to resolve coherency issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-classifies write commands into random or sequential categories before they enter the cache, and pre-assigns them to appropriate buffers. This preliminary classification prevents coherency conflicts from occurring in the first place, eliminating the need to break the pipeline later to resolve issues.
3Device complexity
If a single buffer is used for all write commands, then device complexity is reduced, but data coherency issues occur when overlap writes are detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the write cache into multiple segmented buffers, each dedicated to specific types of write commands. This segmentation physically separates random writes from sequential writes, preventing overlap coherency issues while maintaining relatively simple buffer management for each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces buffer management logic as an intermediary that classifies and directs write commands to appropriate buffers before data is written. This intermediary layer prevents coherency conflicts by ensuring that random and sequential writes do not compete for the same cache space, while keeping the underlying buffer structure relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a target device handling overlap write commands. In one embodiment, a target device includes a non-volatile memory and a controller coupled to the non-volatile memory. The controller includes a random accumulated buffer, a sequential accumulated buffer, and an overlap accumulated buffer. The controller is configured to receive a new write command, classify the new write command, and write data associated with the new write command to one of the random accumulated buffer, the sequential accumulated buffer, or the overlap accumulated buffer. Once the overlap accumulated buffer becomes available, the controller first flushes to the non-volatile memory the data in the random accumulated buffer and the sequential accumulated buffer that was received prior in sequence to the data in the overlap accumulated buffer. The controller then flushes the available overlap accumulated buffer, ensuring that new write commands override prior write commands.