Shared-Resource Storage Controllers for Scalable Performance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage devices lack scalability in their storage controller performance, making them inflexible across different performance criteria and systems.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a storage device with multiple storage controllers that can share resources, such as cache memories and buffer memories, allowing for scalable performance adjustments based on desired criteria.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a storage device uses a single storage controller with fixed performance criteria, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different performance criteria deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different performance criteriaVSAvoidstorage controller structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage controller is divided into multiple independent controller units, each capable of operating autonomously. Each controller unit includes its own processing unit and interface unit, allowing the system to be segmented into functional modules that can be selectively activated based on performance requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple controller units share common resources including buffer memory, cache memory, and mapping tables. This resource sharing enables a single storage device to function across multiple performance criteria and system configurations, achieving universality without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple storage controllers are implemented, then the scalability of storage device performance is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescalability of storage device performanceVSAvoidnumber of storage controllers

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple controller units are merged into a single integrated storage device structure with shared resources. The buffer memory, cache memory, and mapping tables are common to all controllers, allowing performance scaling while avoiding proportional increases in total device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage device dynamically activates or deactivates specific controller units based on performance requirements. This dynamic configuration allows the system to scale performance up or down without permanently fixing the number of active controllers, adapting to different operational criteria as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12346251B2Storage device, system including storage device and method operating storage device

Publication Date: 2025.07.01 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A storage device includes; a first memory subsystem including a first nonvolatile memory device (NVM), a first storage controller configured to control operation of the first NVM, and a first resource, and a second memory subsystem including a second NVM, a second storage controller configured to control operation of the second NVM, and a second resource, wherein the first resource is a shared resource useable by the second memory subsystem, and the second resource is shared resource useable by the first memory subsystem.